FACTORS AFFECTING THE CULTIVATION OF SELECTED UNDERUTILIZED INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study focused on the factors affecting the cultivation of some selected Underutilized Indigenous Vegetables (UIVs) in Osun State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 180 respondents used for the study. Data were collected using validated and pre-tested structured interview schedule. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that the majority (80%) of the vegetable farmers were women with household sizes of 1-5 members and farm sizes below an acre. The majority of the farmers cultivated UIVs such as Telfairia occidentalis (Fluted pumpkin, Apiroko), Solanum macrocarpon (Garden egg, Igbagba), Solanum nigrum (Glossy nightshade, Odu, Solanum scabrum (Huckleberry, Ogummo)), Trichosanthes cucumerina (Snake tomato, Tomati elejo), omygdalina (Bitter leaf, Ewuro), Curcubita pepo (Field pumpkin, Elegede}, Crassocephalum crepidoides (Fireweed, Ebolo) at low level. Also, 84.4percent of the farmers generated more money from vegetables than other sources of income. The factors affecting the cultivation of some selected underutilized vegetables include poor market (81.28%), inadequate extension services (77.66%), unavailable seed (71.34%), and inadequate finance (76.21%).The constraints to the cultivating UIVs include theft, inadequate fertilizer/manure and poor irrigation. There was no taboo against planting and consumption of UIVs. There was a positive and significant relationship between farm size (r = 0.165), farm land acquisition (r = 0.258), level of education (r = 0.207) and the cultivation of the underutilized-indigenous vegetables (UIVs) at P ≤ 0.05. The study recommends the concentration of extension services towards enhancing the cultivation of underutilized indigenous vegetables.