Technological Capabilities among Soybean Producers in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The utilization of soybean in local diets and local industries across Nigeria, as well as the contribution to export, has increased the demand for the crop over the years. However, small-scale farmers have not been able to significantly increase their production and productivity to meet these demands. The study assessed the technological capabilities of small-scale soybean producers in Benue State, Nigeria in 2010. A random sample of 120 soybean farmers was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority (84.2%) of the farmers had informal training in soybean production and all the respondents invested personal savings in soybean production with a mean investment per hectare of N6, 489.00 ($41.60) for labour, N4, 815.00.00 ($30.87) for fertilizer and N2, 166.00 ($13.88) for seeds. All farm operations were carried out with indigenous implements (hoes and cutlasses) and 65% produced less than the average grain yield of 1.2 metric tons per hectare recommended by the Benue Agricultural and Rural Development Authority. Additionally, all farmers modified the recommended two rows at 75 cm inter-rows plant spacing and manual weeding, 88.3% modified the bed preparation of 1m wide flattened top beds and 82.5% fertilizer application while 87.5% sold their produce through middlemen at distant markets. The link between soybean producers and stakeholders was weak and chemical weed control constitutes farmers’ most important training need. The majority of the respondents were smallholder producers with low formal and informal training, limited resources for scaling up production that will meet market demands, low crop yields per hectare, poor linkages and undeveloped marketing channels. In view of this, farmers’ capacities should be strengthened through continuous training in soybean management practices and marketing and provision of labour-saving devices at subsidized rates. In addition, farmers should be facilitated to access credit for the purchase of vital inputs for increased soybean production and productivity.

Keywords: soybean farmers, investment, learning, linkage, marketing, production, technical, capabilities