ANALYSIS OF INDIGENOUS YAM VARIETIES PREFERENCE AMONG FARMERS’ IN YAGBA EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE
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Date
2022-12
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Annals of West University of Timişoara, ser. Biology
Abstract
Preferences in the species of yam have been major issues affecting yam production. This study analysed indigenous Yam varieties preference among farmers’ in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to examine the indigenous yam varieties in the study area; identity the sources of information on indigenous yam varieties and identify the constraints to yam cultivation in the study area. The study engaged 133 yam farmers that were randomly selected. Structured questionnaire complimented with interview scheduled were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result showed that majority of the yam farmers were male (90.2%), married (91.7%), had farming as primary occupation (65.4%), had farm size of ≤ 2 (72.9%) and with a mean age of 52 years. The findings revealed that 94.0% of the respondents had preference for white yam (Dioscorea rotundata), 88.7% had preference for guinea yam (Dioscorea spp) while 85.7% and 81.2% had preference for aerial yam (D. bulbifera) and Gambari respectively. Radio (94.7%) and 87.2% were the major sources of information on improved yam variety. The major constraints to indigenous yam cultivation were bulkiness of yam tubers (𝑋̅ = 3.47), access road to farm (𝑋̅ = 3.33) and inadequate capital (𝑋̅ =3.31).The study concluded that yam farmers prefer to cultivate some varieties of yam more than the other. The study therefore recommended that farms should be opened up with accessible roads to facilitate easy transportation of farm produce.
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Keywords
indigenous; yam varieties; preference; farmers