Constraints to the use of NARICT neem organic fertiliser among smallholder tomato farmers in Kaduna state, Nigeria

Recognizing the myriad of deficiencies inherent in the use of inorganic fertilisers in developing countries, many agricultural-based agencies have advocated the use of organic fertilizers as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers. Therefore, this study described the constraints to the use of NARICT neem organic fertilizer among smallholder tomato farmers in Kaduna state. Four Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected from the four ADP zones of the state. One village was randomly selected from each of the four selected LGAs and then 11% of the tomato farmers from each of the four villages were randomly selected to arrive at the sample size. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and both inferential and descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the assembled data. The major constraint to the use of NARICT neem fertilizer was availability with 52.3% of the farmers, acknowledging it as a constraint and was ranked 1st, with slow action being ranked 2nd with about 45.6% while the high cost of transportation was ranked 4th with 41.7%. The average productivity of tomatoes in the study area was 1,820.3kg per hectare for non-NARICT organic fertilizer users, while for NARICT fertilizer users, their average tomato productivity was 2,226.11kg per hectare. Based on the research findings, it was concluded that even though NARICT neem organic fertilizer had some major use constraints, in the study area, its use results in some significant level of influence on the farmer's productivity and income.