IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science (IJAES )

E- ISSN 2489-0081
P- ISSN 2695-1894
VOL. 8 NO. 5 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56201/ijaes.v8.no5.2022.pg1.16

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An Assessment of the Factors Inhibiting the use of Plastic Materials among Selected Agro-Enterprises and Farmers in Calabar Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria

Ntui, Oliver Effiong , Effiong, John Ben , Etim, Ofem Usang , and Okoi, Kennedy Obu

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Abstract

This study assessed the factors inhibiting the use of plastic materials among selected agro- enterprises and farmers in Calabar Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to indicate the number of registered agro-enterprises that uses plastic materials in the study area, ascertain the ways in which the Government can discourage the use of plastic among farmers and their agro-enterprises in the study area, ascertain the level of participation of respondents in sustainable plastic use in the study area and identify inhibiting factors or constraints to utilization of plastic products by agro-firms in the study area. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. Primary data was through a structured questionnaire while secondary data was gotten from the Cross River State Ministry of Agricultural. A total of 153 respondents were surveyed. The population of the study included farmers who operates selected agro-enterprises in the study area. Findings revealed that there are about 1230 registered agro-firms in the Calabar Agricultural Zone of Cross River State which make use of plastic input. Ways in which the government can discourage the use of plastic materials were; Government policies that restrict the import/export of plastic materials ( ? =1.7), Government taxes on plastic production ( ? =1.9), among others which were all significant. The highest level of participation in sustainable plastic use in the study area occurred among agro-packaging enterprises ( ? =2.6). Farmers indicated that the constraints of plastic use as identified in this study are insignificant except that it causes death due to ingestion and entanglement. This study therefore recommend the support of the government at all level to support the use of plastic in agriculture due to it many benefits, while seeking better ways to manage plastic menace.

keywords:

Plastic Materials, Agro-enterprises, Plastic Constraints, Plastic Use

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