TRAINING NEEDS OF SMALLHOLDER VEGETABLE FARMERS IN URBAN-FARM CLUSTERS OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Food production in and around cities is an integral part of the urban fabric. The study investigated the training needs of smallholder vegetable farmers in urban-farm clusters of Lagos State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was deployed, and a total of eighty-six respondents were sampled. The study revealed that the majority were male (82.6%), middle-aged (  years) and had spent (  years) as duration on the enterprise. Hired labour was mostly sourced (55.8%) while leasehold (66.3%) and farm gate (52.5%) was the prominent modes of land tenure practiced and source of market for produce, respectively. Income generation (  1.87) and source of employment (  1.83) ranked highest as perceived prospects of vegetable farming in urban farm-clusters. Testing for seed viability (  2.69), seed treatment (  2.64), and pest and disease control (  2.73) ranked highest for pre-planting, planting, and post-planting activities, respectively. Non-recognition by government institutions. (  1.93), inadequate capital (  1.90) and lack of extension services (  1.90) took the lead among the constraints associated with smallholder vegetable farming in urban-farm clusters in Lagos State. There was a positive correlation between constraints associated with vegetable farming in urban-farm clusters (r = 0.629, p = 0.000), perceived prospects of vegetable farming in urban-farm clusters (r = 0.385, p = 0.000), and the training needs among smallholder vegetable farmers in urban-farm clusters in Lagos State. The study recommends that smallholder vegetable farmers in urban-farm clusters in Lagos State be profiled and mainstreamed into the relevant government agencies to facilitate their access to government support and ancillary services.