ASSESSMENT OF INDIGENOUS VEGETABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG VILLAGE ALIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (VADI) FARMERS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA
Publication Type: Journal Article.
Publication Year: 2026
Author(s): Popoola, O.P; Adesina, B.S, Olorunfemi, O.E.; Ilori, T.O; Adara, C. T and Opakunle, A.A.
Journal Name: (IJAEMD)
ABSTRACT
Indigenous agricultural practices have long played an important role in sustaining food production and maintaining ecological balance in many African communities. However, the increasing adoption of modern farming techniques has raised concerns regarding their environmental and health implications. This study examined the level of utilization of indigenous vegetable management practices among vegetable farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 324 vegetable farmers from selected 3 communities in Ifelodun and Ekiti Local Government Areas of the state. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statisticsincluding. The findings revealed that the mean age of farmers was 41 years. The majority were male, married, and had at least a secondary education. Most farmers operated on small farm holdings with a mean farm size of 1.21 hectares, while 56.2% relied primarily on personal savings as their main source of farm financing..The results further showed a high level of utilization of several indigenous practices such as (85.2%) watering, (84.6%) shifting cultivation, (77.8%) crop rotation, (78.7%) weeding, (76.5%) soil management, and (78.4%) indigenous pesticides among the respondents.. The study concludes that indigenous vegetable management practices remain widely utilized and play a significant role in promoting sustainable vegetable production and food security.
Key words: Indigenous agricultural practices, Vegetable production, Indigenous vegetable management, Farmers’ adoption, Sustainable agriculture, Food security.