AWARENESS AND PRACTICES OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AMONG FARMERS IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR FOOD SECURITY

Abstract

The study examined awareness and practices of sustainable agriculture among farmers in Cross River State. Three research questions were raised, one of which was transformed to one hypothesis which was answered with data drawn from 444 respondents, representing 10% of the population of 4,435 registered farmers in Cross River State. The survey research design was adopted for the study. Interview and questionnaire on awareness and practices of sustainable agriculture among farmers questionnaire (APOSAQ) were the instruments used for data collection. The instruments were validated by two lecturers, one from Environmental Education Department and the other from Department of Educational Foundations, University of Calabar. The reliability of the instrument was established through the use of Cronabach Alpha reliability method with a range of 0.87 to 0.93 which was considered high enough to accept that the instrument was reliable for the study. Simple percentage and Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis were adopted in testing and analyzing the data obtained. The hypothesis was tested at the 0.05 level of significance. Finding of the study indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between awareness and practices of sustainable agriculture. Based on the finding the researcher concluded that, the higher the awareness of sustainable agriculture the higher the practices, all things being equal. It was therefore recommended by the researcher that; government and non governmental organizations should create awareness and assist farmers by creating enabling environment for the practice of sustainable agriculture which will enhance the achievability of food security.