Abstract

This paper focuses on determination of constraints and utilization among breadfruit farmers in two selected local government areas of Osun State, Nigeria. Specifically, this study identified the Socio-economic characteristics of breadfruit farmers, Knowledge of utilization of breadfruit and the Constraints faced by farmers in breadfruit production. A well-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from one hundred and fifty-six (156) breadfruit producing farmers in Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West local government areas of Osun State. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that majority of the breadfruit farmers were males (86.5%), married (92.9%), mostly within the age bracket of 31 and 50 years (63.3%) with half of them having secondary education (50%). Almost all the breadfruit farmers operated on a low farm size of 0.5-4.5 hectares (69.7%) of land with household size ranging between 6 and 10 persons (58.90%). Factors hindering effective production and maximal usage of breadfruits among others include storage facilities (85.3%). Multiple regression analysis shows a significant relationship between income generation (β = -0.162; p= 0.056), other food products (β = -0.295; p= 0.002), wood (β = 0.179; p= 0.089) and the constraints faced by the respondents. This paper therefore recommends that farmers should collaborate to form cooperative societies in order to address the problems of preservation and storage so as to keep the fruits more viable for longer period and as well as to improve their production such that their livelihood would be improved.

Key words: Breadfruit Production, Constraints, Farmers, Utilization, Nigeria