Use of Indigenous Knowledge in Rice Production in Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State

Abstract

This study investigated the use of indigenous knowledge in rice production in EwekoroLocal Government Area Ogun State. Three out of the ten political wards in Ewekoro Local Government Area namely: Mosan, Waisimi, Abalabi wards were randomly selected. Four villages werepurposivelyselectedfromeach ofthe wards to give a totalof twelve villages. Ten respondents each were selected through snowballingmethod from each of the villagesmaking a totalof 120 respondents. The data were collected through the use ofinterview - schedule. Thelevelofproduction of the farmersin the study area as well as the factors affecting the use of indigenous knowledge in rice production in the study area was determined. Data were analyzed with the use of Chi- square. Majority (70.83%) the farmers involved in rice production are aged 51-70 years of age while males form the majority (74.17%) rice producing farmers. Result further reveals that most (43.33%) themhave no formaleducationand35.00percenthave 31-40years of rice farming experience. Most (50.83%) of the respondents are producing below 4 tons of rice. Also, 96.67 percent the of respondents have never made use of ceremonies in cropping season while majority (55.83%) makes use of traditional medicine to test soil fertility Significant relationship exists between age(X=27.96) education (X2=19.07), religion (X2=45.79) and the reliance on the use indigenous knowledge at (P=<0.05) Furthermore, insignificantrelationship was also found to existbetween frequency visit of extension agents and the use ofindigenous knowledge in rice production (X2=47.12, p<0.0001). Age, education andreligion determine the reliance on the use ofindigenous knowledge. Moreover, frequency of visit extension agents does not determine use of indigenous knowledge (IK). It is therefore suggested that farmers' level of education should be improved while efforts should be made to blend the traditional and conventional (improved) technologies in rice production with a view increasing farmers'levelofproduction.