Rural Farmers’ Perceptions and Utilization of Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge in Farming Practices in Delta State, Nigeria

Purpose: Globalization has led to the neglect and gradual extinction of valuable Indigenous agricultural knowledge. The research focused on exploring the viewpoints and sentiments of rural farmers concerning the application of indigenous agricultural knowledge in farming practices and factors hindering farmers’ extent to usage in Ika northeast local Government Area of Delta State.
Research Method: A sampling approach consisting of three stages was employed to select 20 farmers each, from 11 villages, resulting 220 participants for the study. Quantitative data were gathered using a validated interview schedule, and the findings summarized using descriptive statistics, with the hypotheses adequately tested.
Findings and Values: The survey findings indicated that farmers possessed good knowledge of indigenous agricultural practices and agreed to the fact that some of the practices were more effective, and as such, they were more frequently utilized than the others. The farmers also had a positive perception about the use of indigenous knowledge in agricultural production. Furthermore, a noteworthy correlation was observed between the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and their attitudes toward the use of indigenous knowledge. The study has contributed novel insights into indigenous agricultural knowledge, highlighting the importance of recognizing and promoting these practices to enhance agricultural development. Furthermore, it underscores the significance of preserving community knowledge and facilitating its dissemination its dissemination to benefit a broader audience.