Abstract

Aims: Increasing food production through improving land productivity, while conserving the environment and preventing climate change is pertinent to policy makers. This study assessed the predictors of composted poultry waste use intensity (CUI) among arable farmers and its implication for climate change. Study Design: Survey design was used. Primary data was collected from surveyed participants. Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in Ogun state, south-west Nigeria between August 2014 and April 2015. Methodology: multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 farmers. They were interviewed using well structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the ordinary least square regression model were used in analyzing the data collected. Results: Most of the farmers had below secondary education (57%), did not participate in cooperative (51%), had poor access to extension education (62%) and sourced compost too far from farm. Mean age and years of experience were 45±9.99 and 10.5±6.10 years respectively. Average farm size and income were 2.68±1.44 and N 107,315 (approx. $537) respectively. About 78% of the respondents use both composted and untreated poultry manure while 38 % use only composted poultry manure which protects both the soil and the environment. Most of the farmers perceived vulnerability of their farms to degradation (53%) hence the need for conservation. The regression result showed that factors which increased CUI among farmers were farmers’ education (P< 0.05), access to credit (P< 0.01), farm income (P<0.01), cooperative participation (P<0.05), perceive efficacy of compost (P<0.05), number of quality contacts with extension agents (P<0.01), enterprise combination by keeping poultry birds (P<0.01) and male farmers (P<0.01) while factors which decreased CUI included household size (P< 0.01), farm size (P<0.01), access to fertilizer subsidy, especially for inorganic fertilizers (P<0.05) and distance to the source of compost (P<0.01). Conclusion: Policies to improve organic fertilizer subsidy, extension services and cooperatives for educating farmers on the advantages of intensifying the use of composted poultry manure, especially as regards climate change and public health should be put in place.