FARMERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND WILLINGNESS TO PLANT
MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM. FOR FOOD SECURITY AND
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.
Progress Report of Research proposal submitted to:Institute
of Food Security,Environmental Resources and Agircultural
Research (IFSERAR)
Environmental Resources and Conservation Research
Programme
PRESENTED BY :DR. ADEKUNLE,MF
PROF.ADEDIRE, MO
PROF.LADEBO,O
Mr. OLADOYE A.O
January 2011
Introduction
There has been a clamour for the cultivation and utilisation of
lesser known indigenous plant species like Moringa oleifera in
farming systems. Moringa, because of its socio-economic,
cultural and environmental importance as a drought tolerant
plant.
while a number of studies have been carried out on the origin,
morphology and chemistry of Moringa, little or no efforts have
been made to unearth the prevailing socio-cultural perceptions
and willingness to adopt innovations on the plant amongst its
custodians.
Objectives of Study
Identify the socio-economics attributes of the
farmers in the study area.
-Identify their awareness, knowledge and
willingness to plant Moringa oleifera
-To establish relationship between their
perception of Moringa and selected socio
economic characteristics.
Methodology
This study will be conducted in Ogun state. The state lies
between latitudes 6o and 8 o N and longitudes 2 o. 31 E and 5o E
and covers an area of about 16,400Km2 i.e 1.9% of Nigeria’s
land area. The population in homogenous mostly Yoruba
speaking with 4 sub-ethnic groups namely Egba, Yewa, Ijebu and
Remo. Ogun state has a population of 3.7 million people (NPC,
2006)and predominantly an agrarian society. Further
descriptions of the state are in line with Adekunle (2005).
The multi-stage stratified sampling techniques will be
adopted with random selection of at least a local
government (LGA) in each of Egba, Yewa, Ijebu and Remo
administrative divisions. There after 5 farming villages will
be randomly selected to form the second stage of
sampling.
Investigation on its prevailing socio-cultural perceptions could
accelerate the adoption of the plant and enhance sustainable
development especially among the farming populace who are
more vulnerable to poverty, malnutrition and climate change
related problems.
Hence the relevance of this study as it will assist decision makers
and planners for development of relevant innovative activities on
the plant for subsequent adoption by farmers.
Thirty (30) respondents will later be selected randomly in each of
the 5 villages in each selected LGAs as shown in Table 1 below.
This will sum up to a total of 150 respondents in each LGA
selected. Snow-ball techniques will be used to identify crop
farmers in each of the selected villages.
• The respondents will be interviewed using pre-tested questionnaire
across the selected LGAs with the aid of field assistants who will be
trained about the subject matter and are familiar with the
environment
• The questionnaire will be made to address issues such as socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers, farmer’s awareness,
knowledge and willingness to plant Moringa and their perceptions
of Moringa. This will be complemented with discussions with key
informants to probe into some of the issues not properly addressed
with structured interviews.
• Simple descriptive statistical tools such as frequencies, percentages,
mean bar and pie-charts will be used to summarise the data
collected. The chi-square and correlation analysis will be used to
establish the relationship between the farmers’ perception of
Moringa and some of their selected socio-economics characteristics
• In order to determine how Moringa is perceived by the
farmers, 6 positive and 4 negative validated perceptional
statements against a 5-point Likert scale ranging from strongly
agree (5), agree (4), undecided (3), disagree (2) to strongly
disagree (1) for positive and vice versa for negative
perceptions will be administered to the farmers in line with
Odeyinka et al, (2007).
• Results will be presented in form of tables, chats and figures
for discussions and management prescriptions.
Table 1.Procedures and scope of sampling.
Division
LGA
No of Villages
No of Respondnet
Total per LGA
Egba
?
5
30
150
Yewa
?
5
30
150
Remo
?
5
30
150
Ijebu
?
5
30
150
5
20
120
600
Result and Discussion
• A survey has been carried out to identify study areas
for primary data collection. The areas identified so far
includes Alabata, Ilugun, Odogbolu, Isoyin and Ayepe.
• The instrument of data collection especially the
questionnaire has been prepared and Field
enumerators and research assistants has been
identified, briefed and debriefed about the object and
scope.
• Field enumerations is near completion and the result
will be made available in due course