Socio-Economic Survey Of Farm-Level Constraints To Fertilizer Use, In Tahoua, Niger Republic.

ABSTRACT

Given the low level of fertilizer use in Niger, and the well established contribution of fertilizer in increasing of yields in other countries and regions of the world, it is apparent that in Niger there is a great potential to expand food production and promote economic development through increased use of fertilizer. But the problem in not a single matter of offering people one of the most important inputs needed. To be successful, proper assessment of the different factors affecting the acceptance and use of such input must form an integral part of the scheme thus, this survey was objected to examine the socio economic factors related to the use of fertilizer in Tahoua zone of Niger Republic. The survey was carried out in two phases. General survey and data collection by the use of questionnaire was analysed by simple descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, percentage). Result shows that there availability of household labour and distance from household to the market and field are significant at one percent level of significant. The principal constraints to fertilizer use among farmers include illiteracy, lack of financial resources, poor transportation, assess and supply of fertilizer o inefficient household labour lack of knowledge and training about the use of fertilizer. As government alleviate those problems, fertilizer use will become more attractive and widespread.