TRENDS IN SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES IN AGRICULTURE AMONG THE TIV OF NIGERIA

Well Researched and Ready to use Ph.D Thesis, page number: 230, Department: Ph.D Agricultural Extension

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of the study was to assess trends in social and technological changes in agriculture among the Tiv of Nigeria from colonial period to date to ascertain implication for extension and policy. Specifically, the study was designed to ascertain changes in the farming systems; ascertain the frequency of use of the technologies introduced during contact with colonialism/intervention programmes; ascertain changes in the socio-cultural

practices, inter and intra-household labour roles and social organization of labour and capital in agriculture; identify perceived factors that bring about changes and constraints to agricultural production; and ascertain the living conditions of the people that can be attributed to their agricultural operation. The study was conducted among the Tiv in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States, Nigeria. The population of the study comprised all the farm families in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States. Two agricultural zones predominantly populated by the Tiv, namely, zones A and B in Benue state and one each in Nasarawa and

Taraba were purposively selected. Three blocks from zone A , two from B in Benue State and one each from southern zones of Nasarawa and Taraba were purposively selected giving a total of seven blocks. Three cells/villages were purposively selected from each block giving a total of 21 cells/villages. From the list of farm families from each of the cells/villages, 15 farm families were purposively selected to ensure only Tiv farmers constituted the sample, giving a sample size of 315 farm families. Also, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were held with 5-10 experienced farmers in each of the selected blocks. Data for this study were collected through the use of structured interview schedule and FGD and were analyzed with the use of frequencies, percentage, percentage change, ranking, mean, factor analysis, t-test and presented in tables and charts. Most of the farmers were male (51.7%), their mean age was 60 years (59.8%) and majority (84.8%) were married. Most of the farmers were educated and had lived in the area for mean years of 55.6 years with a mean household size of 8

persons. Mean (years) of farming experience was 36.8 years and greater proportion (33.3%) belonged to two social organizations even though 22.2% of them did not belong to any social organization. The farmers were involved in different agricultural activities like crop farming (100%), trading in crop produce (100%), livestock/crop farming (99.4%), trading in livestock (83.5%) and different non- farming economic activities like Arts and crafts (56.3%), trading

in clothing (56.2%), eatries (46.2%), locally brewed drinking beer parlour (38.2%) as sources of livelihoods . Majority (53.0%) did not have contact with extension, but indicated remarkable improvement in the mean estimated annual income (N 218, 000) against (N100,001 – N 200,000) in 2004. Hunting and gathering (100%), land rotation(100%), and shifting cultivation (100%) ,were the dominant agricultural systems practiced in the colonial period but in post colonial period, shifting cultivation, hunting and gathering were completely

abandoned (-100% changed) for mixed farming (+15% change) and crop rotation(+ 43.2% change), while land rotation and mono cropping decreased by -69.8% change and -50.1% change respectively. The most dominant crop in the colonial period was benniseed (96.8%), but yam (76.9%), became the most dominant in post-colonial period. Cassava which ranked 9th position in the colonial period rose to 2nd position in the post-colonial period with +145.9% change. Sweet potato ranked 11th position in the colonial period but rose to 8th

position in the post-colonial period with +41.0% change. Benniseed, ranked highest in the colonial period, dropped to the 9th position with -71.8% change; while Millet ranked 3rd in the colonial period, dropped to last position in post-colonial period with -93.1%change. Yam and cassava were 100% cultivated, weeded, processed and stored using traditional tools and methods during the colonial period but in post-colonial period herbicides were used for weed control alongside traditional hoe weeding in (yam 72%)(cassava 70%). There was increased inter/mixed cropping of different species/cultivars of trees, vegetables, tubers and cereals with the sole cropping of some crops such as: orange solely + 470.5% change and vegetables solely + 284.2% change. Purposes for cultivation of crops and rearing of livestock remarkably changed in favour of commercial production. There was increased processing of maize (+145%change), soybean (+2550% change), cassava (+135% change) and cow pea (+367% change) into flour; while millet (+313% change) , and cassava (+487% change) and sweet potatoes (+2730% change) into pounded form. Soybean was processed into dadawa (a local maggi known as nune in Tiv), baked (+68.8% change) into soy cake, and soymilk (+10900% change). Use of all livestock as source of household meat supply was on the increase. Increased use of improved technological tools such as wheelbarrows (95.2%) +2620.0% change, pushing truck (Amaliki) (79.4%) +260.9% change, tractors (97.5%)

+4331.8% change, drying sheets(per) (83.5%)+ 449.3% change and processing machines (88.2%) +1256.9% change was observed in the post colonial period. There was significant change in frequency of use of innovation/technologies at P 0.05. Men were involved in fertilizer application (+433% change) and marketing (+311% change) among others which were earlier women’s roles. Exchange labour system (ihumbe M=2.64) in colonial period was replaced by hired labour system (M=2.46) in the post-colonial period and there were more joint decision of husband/wife in all agricultural operations. By post-colonial period, more respondents very strongly agreed that crop failures could be corrected by improved inputs (M=3.51) and livestock do better with traditional attention but prefer veterinary attention (M=3.46); while less respondents strongly agreed that traditional practices would result to improved farm output (M=2.51). Extracted factors that bring about change in agriculture

included: population increase factor, medium of exchange factor and rural development factor; while the extracted factors that were very serious constraint to agricultural production included: Policy inconsistency factors, communal conflict factors, bureaucratic bottle necks and farm environment factors. Conditions attributable to social and technological changes in agriculture include: enhanced ICT use (M=2.47), increased competition (M=2.40) and long

distance trade in farm produce (M=2.21).Based on the result of the study, it was concluded that subsistence agriculture has been replaced by commercial agriculture among the Tiv of Nigeria, as most households produce for the market. 

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