URBAN VEGETABLE FARMER’S LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT IN UNCONVENTIONAL AGRONOMIC PRACTICES

ABSTRACT

This research focused on urban vegetable farmers’ involvement in unconventional agronomic practices in Ovia North East, Edo state, Nigeria. The study looked at the socioeconomic characteristics, the various unconventional agricultural practices among urban vegetable farmers, the level of involvement of the respondents in unconventional practices, the types of vegetables grown by urban farmers in these unconventional spaces and the constraints militating against the respondents’ involvement in unconventional practicesin Ovia North East, Edo state. Fifty eight respondents (58) were interviewed for the study. These were selected from Oluku, Isihor, Ovbiogie, and Ekosodin communities. A well-structured questionnaire (primary data) was used in data collection from the respondents who were engaged in vegetable farming business in the selected communities and secondary data was used in data collection from relevant literature, agricultural journals and internet. The data analysis was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and Spearman Rank Correlation analysis.