SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUCING THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF MAIZE FARMERS ON THE SAFE USE OF AGROCHEMICAL IN AGAIE AND BIDA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study accessed 0the socio-economic factors influencing the knowledge and attitudes of maize farmers on the safe use of agrochemicals in zone 1 Niger state, Nigeria. To achieve the study objectives, four stage sampling procedures techniques was used to randomly select 110 maize farmers for the study. Datra were collected using questionnaire, complimented with interview schedules and analyzed using descriptive statistics and probit regression model. Based on the findings of the research, it was discovered that the mean age of the respondents was 42 years, 85% of the maize farmers were male, 86% were married. Mean number of dependents of maize farmers was 8 persons. The mean of total years spent in school was 10% years , about 95% had no training on the use of agrochemical handling, while 92% had no extension contact, about 24% of the maize farmers use agrochemical to increase yield, with fertilizer as one of the major agrochemicals used. More so, 24% of the respondents used safety nose mask, 29%claim that personal protective equipment slows one down. While on knowledge and attitude, knowledge that agrochemical improves crop yield had mean score of 2.05, and knowledge of agrochemical hazards had a mean score of 2.01. Sex, marital status, level of education and farm size were positively significant while maize farming experience, sources of capital and amount of credit were negatively significant at different probability levels. The study recommends that training, safe agrochemical use should be organized by extension agencies since experience does not increase awareness