Articles
Agricultural professionals’ knowledge of hydroponic farming in Edo State, Nigeria
Abstract
The practice of Hydroponic Farming (HF) may not have been adequately explored in Nigeria despite its potential to contribute to income, food, and nutrition security as well as environmental safety. This is due to lack of information resulting to dearth of knowledge among agricultural stakeholders, most especially the professionals. Thus, this study assessed agricultural professionals’ knowledge of hydroponic farming in Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the personal characteristics of the professionals, analysed their perception of hydroponic farming benefits, and identified constraints to the practice among the professionals. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select 152 agricultural professionals from public agricultural institutions. Data were collected using structured questionnaire, and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics like frequency counts, percentages, mean and Analysis of Variance at 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that more of the agricultural professionals were male (55.9%), and married (76.3%) with a mean working experience of 13 years. Majority (86.8%) of them were aware of HF, although they had relatively low access to information on the practice (x̄ = 1.54). Professionals’ knowledge of HF was limited to the basics, while only an insignificant proportion (0.66%) had practical knowledge of the practice. Agricultural professionals, however, had highly favourable disposition towards the benefits of HF. They favourably perceived it as a suitable alternative to traditional farming methods (x̄ = 3.53). The significant constraints to the practise of hydroponic farming are low level of knowledge and skill (x̄ = 4.29) and limited crop diversity (x̄ = 3.37). Significant difference existed in the knowledge of HF among the professionals in the university, ADP and research institutes with F= 7.10; < 0.05) as university professionals had the highest knowledge of the practice compared to the professionals in ADP and research institutes. Therefore, capacity development in hydroponic agriculture is recommended.
Keywords
- Hydroponics
- knowledge
- agriculture professionals
- sustainable development
References
Adebayo, K., & Anyanwu, S. (2020). Age dynamics and productivity among Nigeria’s agricultural workforce. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 24(2), 45–56.
Adesiji, G.B., Musa, M.O. and Musa, M. (2021). Vegetable farmers' perception of
hydroponics farming technologies in Ogun State, Nigeria. Scientific Papers Series 204
Adesina, O. O., & Favour, I. (2016). Gender participation in Nigeria’s agricultural research
system. Nigerian Journal of Rural Sociology, 17(1), 22–34.
Afsar, N., and Idrees, M. (2019). Farmer's Perception of Agricultural Extension Services in Disseminating Climate Change Knowledge. Sarhad J. Agric, 35(3),942-947.
Ajibade, L. T., and Oyeniyi, S. T. (2018). Soilless Farming- A Key Player in the Realisation of "Zero Hunger" of the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria. International Journal of Ecological Sciences and Environmental Engineering, 5(1):1-7.
Akinnagbe, O. M., Ukaegbu, E. O., and Saddiq, O. A. (2013). Role of agricultural extension services in generation and dissemination of agricultural biotechnology in Abia State, Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology, 12(6), 554-562.
Akpomedaye, J. (. (2014). Agricultural Extension as a Strategy to Boost Food Production in Nigeria. Department of Vocational Education, 1-13.
Alakpa, O., Afolabi, A., & Ighodalo, F. (2019). Professional experience and knowledge dissemination in Nigerian agriculture. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Development Studies, 9(3), 112–123.
Alakpa, S. O., Afolabi, S., and Ighodalo, I. J. (2019). Assessment of Extension Agents' Perception of Mobile Phone Usage for Communication with Farmers in Edo South of Edo State, Nigeria. Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, 7(3), 131-135.
Anaeto, F. C., Asiabaka, C. C., Nnadi, F. N., Ajaero, J. O., Aja, O. O., Ugwoke, F. O., Onweagba, A. E. (2012). The Role of Extension Officers and Extension Services in the Development of Agriculture in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Research, 1(6):180-185.
Antwi-Agyei, P., Dougill, A., Stringer, L., and Codjoe, S. (2018). Adaptation Opportunities and Maladaptive Outcomes in Climate Vulnerability Hotspots of Northern Ghana. Climate Risk Management., 19(1), 83-93.
Asao, T. (2012). Hydroponics: A Standard Methodology for Plant Biological Researches. BoD Books on Demand.
Balqiah, E. T., Pardynato, A., Astuti, D., and Mukhtar, S. (2020). Understanding how to increase hydroponic attractiveness: economic and ecological benefit. E3S Web of Conferences, 211. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202021101015
Barbosa, G., Gadelha, F., Kublik, N., Proctor, A., Reichelm, L., Weissinger, E., Halden, R. (2015). Comparison of Land, Water, and Energy Requirements of Lettuce Grown Using Hydroponic vs. Conventional Agricultural Methods. International Journal Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(1),6879-6891.
Bhardwaj, R. (2019). The Potential of Hydroponic Farming as A Sustainable Alternative to Traditional Agriculture: A Quantitative Investigation. European Journal of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, 6(2), 34-40.
Bisbis, M., and Gruda, M. (2018). Potential impacts of Climate Change on Vegetable production and Product quality: A review. Journal Cleaner and Production, 170:1602-1620.
Chowdhary, S. K., Jain, S. K., Rawat, S., and Urooj, S. (2022). Smart Monitoring IoT-Based System for Hydroponic Agriculture. Transitioning From Globalized to Localized and Self-Reliant Economies, 24.
Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. (2023, September 21st). The Basic Principles of Hydroponics. Retrieved from https://ceac.arizona.edu/sites/default/filesChapter%205.pdf
Debangshi, U. (2021, September 25th). Hydroponics-An Overview. Chronicle of Bioresource Management, pp. 5(3),110-114.
Eta, H. C., and Angba, A. O. (2017). Climate Change Adaptation in Yam and Cassava Production, Cross River State, Nigeria: The Role of Higher Educational Institutions. Climate Change Research at Universities, 275-289. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-58214-6_17
Ezeh, C., & Okoye, B. (2017). Agricultural specializations and their implications for sustainable development in Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 20(1), 56–65.
FAO. (2016). FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: Key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
FAOSTAT Database, F. (2020). Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations, FAO. Rome, Italy.
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. (2022, December 6). Retrieved from Interview with FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo on FAO at COP27: https://www.fao.org/brussels/news/news-detail/Interview-with-FAO-Deputy-Director-General-Maria-Helena-Semedo-on-FAO-at-COP27/en
IITA. (2019, February 13). Pressing challenges to food security in Nigeria and ways forward.
Retrieved from IITA BLOGS, WESTERN AFRICA: https://blogs.iita.org/index.php/pressing-challenges-to-food-security-in-nigeria-and-ways-forward/
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. (2018, March 19-20). Nigeria Cites Weeds as Major Productivity Drawback in Cassava Farming. International Institute of TropicalAgriculture (IITA) News (2429), 1-7. Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
Juhola, S., Glass, E., Linner, B., and Neset, T. (2016). Redefining Maladaptation. Environmental Science Policy, 55(1), 135-140.
Karbasioun, M., Beimansand, H., and Mudler, M. (2007). Supporting Role of the Agricultural Extension Services and Implications for Agricultural Extension Instructors as Perceived by Farmers in Esfahan, Iran. International Agricultural and Extension Education, 8(3), 65-71.
Kumar, S., Singh, M., Yadav, K.K. and Singh, P.K. (2021). Opportunities and constraints in
hydroponic crop production systems: A review. Environment Conservation Journal 22 (3):401-408. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.2021.22346
Liao, P., Liu, J., Sun, L., and Chang, H. (2020). Can the Adoption of Protected Cultivation Facilities Affect Farm Sustainability? Sustainability, 12(23): 1 - 5.
Lokendra, K., Adhiraj, K., Dipak, R. B. (2024). Hydroponics: Advantages And Challenges in Soilless Farming, Big Data in Agriculture, 6(2): 81 -88. ISSN: 2682-7786 (Online) CODEN: BDAIDR
Maja, M. M., and Ayano, S. F. (2021). The Impact of Population Growth on Natural Resources and Farmers' Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change in Low-Income Countries. Earth Systems and Environment, 5(1),271-283.
Marginson, S. (2010, June 11). Aero Farms Urban Agriculture System: Less space, less water and no pesticides. Retrieved from NEW ATLAS: https://newatlas.com/aerofarms-urban-agriculture/15371/
Mariyappillai, A., Arumugam, G., and Raghavendran, V. B. (2020). The Techniques of Hydroponic System. ACTA SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE, 4(7), 79-84.
Masqood, A. W., and Farhan, A. W. (2022). A Study on Hydroponic Farming System of Wheat for Sustainable Development of Agriculture. International Journal of Agricultural Economics, 7(1): 1-3.
Mir, Y. H., Mir, S., Ganie, M. A., Shah, A. M., Majeed, U., Chesti, M., Wani, F. J. (2022). Soilless Farming: An innovative Sustainable approach in agriculture. The Pharma Innovation Journal, SP-11(6):2663-2675.
Mmurari Suvedi, R. G. (2017). Farmers' participation in extension programs and technology adoption in rural Nepal: a logistic regression analysis. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 1(1): 351-371.
Mohammed, B. T., and Abdulquadri, A. F. (2012). Comparative analysis of gender involvement in agricultural production in Nigeria. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 4(8), 240-244.
Mtega, W. P. (2012). Access to and Usage of Information among Rural Communities: A Case Study of Kilosa District Morogoro Region in Tanzania. Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, 7(1), 1-12. doi:https://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/perj/issue/view/136
Niu, G., and Masabni, J. (2022). Hydroponics. In Plant Factory Basics, Applications and Advances (pp. Chapter 9; 153-166). Academic press.
Obasi, I. N., & Eboh, E. (2021). Postgraduate education and research productivity in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. African Journal of Education and Development Studies, 11(2), 89–104.
Olayemi, J. K., & Adenegan, K. O. (2019). Experience, age, and efficiency in Nigeria’s agricultural extension workforce. Journal of Development Studies in Agriculture, 15(2), 77–91
Olowu, T. A. (2018). Marital status, family obligations, and work commitment among Nigerian professionals. Nigerian Journal of Social Sciences, 14(4), 201–214.
Putra, A., and Yuliando, H. (2015). Soilless Culture System to Support Water Use Efficiency and Product Quality; a Review. Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia (pp. 283-288). Elsevier B.V.
Quintas, P. (2008). Tools and Techniques for Knowledge Management. In C. J. Anumba, C. H. Egbu, and P. M. Carillo, Knowledge Management in Construction (pp. pp. 10-30). John Wiley and Sons.
Rai, D., Maishra, N., and Saxena, M. (2016). Comparative Studies on Growth and Yield Parameters of Transplanted Wheat (Trilicum aestivum L.) with Seedling Produced in Hydroponics system Vis-a-Vis Conventional Cultivation. Journal of Global Bioscience, 5(2):3645-3649.
Rajkumar, G., Dipu, M., Lalu, K., Shayama, K., and Banakar, P. S. (2018). Evaluation of hydroponics foodder as a partial feed substitute in the ration of crossbred calves. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 52(12): 1809-1813.
Shiru, M. S., Shahid, S., and Dewan, A. e. (2020, June 22). Projection of meteorological droughts in Nigeria during growing seasons under climate change scenarios. Scientific Reports, 10,10107. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67146-8
Stenmark, D. (2002). The Relationship between Information and Knowledge and the Role of IT in Knowledge Management. Proceedings of the 35th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, (pp. 1-11). Gothenburg.
Thakulla, D., Dunn, B., and Hu, B. (2021, September). Soilless Growing Mediums. Retrieved from Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service: https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/print-publications/hla/soilless-growing-mediums-hla-6728.pdf
Yasir, H. M., Shakeel, M., Miumtaz, A. G., Aanisa, M. S., Uzma, M., MH, C., Fehim, J. W. (2022). Soilless Farming: An innovative sustainable approach in agriculture. The Pharma Innovation Journal, SP-11(6):2663-2675.
Zossou, E., Arouna, A., Diagne, A., and Agboh-noameshie, R. A. (2017). Gender Gap in acquisition and practice of Agricultural Knowledge: Case Study of Rice Farming in West Africa. Experimental Agriculture, 53(4), 566-577.