Land Productivity of Root Crop Farmers amidst Pesticide Application in Southeast, Nigeria

The study evaluated the land productivity of root crop farmers amidst pesticide application in southeast, Nigeria. 358 root crop producers were chosen using a multi-stage sample and given a questionnaire. The analysis of the data included the use of mean, frequency, percentage, total factor and partial factor productivity, analysis of variance, multiple regression model, and local average treatment effect (LATE). Data were acquired using primary means. The results show that root crop growers were mostly women (76.9%), married (85.1%), educated (mean=12.0), and in their prime working age (51). Estimates of total factor productivity (TFP) and partial factor productivity (PFP) gave 7.69 and 177.25, which indicates higher land productivity values across Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi State. Education, access to farm inputs, soil/land improvement practices, size of farm, and extension relations were important components of land productivity across the States. Use and application of pesticides according to specified recommendation increased land productivity by (727.07%) and (880.28%). Erosion problems (99.7%), pests and disease (96.9%), high cost of inputs (99.1%), climate change (99.4) and land fragmentation (93.0%) constrained land productivity in the States. Study recommends farmers to practice more of land improvement practices and adhere to specified pesticide use and application to increase land productivity