Survey on the Use and Management of Animal Traction Technology by Farmers in some selected Local Government Areas of Gombe State, Northeast Nigeria
Abstract
A study was conducted to examine the use and management of animal traction in Gombe State, Northeastern, Nigeria. The study was carried out in six out of the eleven Local Government Areas of Gombe State. Twenty five (25) farmers were randomly selected from each local government area, making a total of 150 farmers. Data were collected by use of structured questionnaires and information were generated on the types and breeds of animals used for traction, production systems employed, supplementary feeding of the draught animals, methods of land acquisition, size of farmlands under cultivation, years of animal traction experience, preference of animals among others. The results showed that most of the respondents used bulls (96.6%) for their farming operations and the most preferred breed was Bunaji (91.3%) and 76.0% of the respondents acquired their farmlands through inheritance. The result showed that subsistence farming was the most practiced farming system (34.0%) in the study area on land areas of 1-5 hectares (72.0%). Also, majority of the respondents provided supplementary feeding to their animals (68.6%) and have 6-10 years of traction experience (40.0%). Most of the farmers (83.3) preferred draught power to tractors due to their availability and affordability in the area. It is concluded that farmers in the study area preferred draught animal power to tractors for their farming operations.Â
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