Abstract

Sunday B. Akpan, Ini-mfon V. Patrick, Samuel J. Udoka and Udoro J. Udo

The study analyzed factors that influence the choice of soil management technique among fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) farmers in Ikot Ekpene area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It was assumed that, the adoption of any soil management technique apart from zero tillage was due to the changing effect of climate. One hundred and fifty fluted pumpkin farmers were randomly sampled and used for this study. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data needed for the analysis. Multinomial Logit model regression was used to analyze the data collected. The choice of the multinomial Logit model was based on the multi-variate nature of the dependent variable. The explanatory variables used in this study were derived following a careful review of the literature and observed characteristic of respondents. The analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of Telfairia farmers revealed that, most of them were educated, married, aged, experienced and possessed moderate family size. The result of the empirical estimation revealed that, gender (female), age, household size, farm size, extension agent contact, member of a social group, access to credit, farming experience and marital status of fluted pumpkin farmers are important decision variables that influenced the use of bedding and tillage soil management techniques instead of zero tillage in the study area. Based on the research findings, it is recommended that, the socio-economic characteristics of vegetable farmers should be taken into consideration when formulating climate change policies and also when introducing adaptation strategies or technologies to rural farmers in the study area.