Adoption of Draught Animals by Farmers in (West and South Kordofan State

Abstract

This study was conducted in two localities in Kordofan State one of them En-nuhoud locality, West Kordofan State and Aldebibat locality South Kordofan state during 2015 - 2018 to Adoption of Draught Animals by Farmers. The study based on a cross-sectional survey with a sample of 200 farmers that was selected from ten different villages around En-nuhoud and Aldebibat areas. Villages were selected using the simple random sampling technique, while individuals from each village were selected using the systematic random sampling technique by selecting the first of each four farmers along a survey line across the area starting by the upper and of the farming area until ten farmers were selected. Data were collected using a formal survey questionnaire. The questionnaire was filled by interview in a face to face for literacy reasons and by direct field measurements. Some information was recorded as observations to avoid farmers’ bias on issues they can be considered “sensitive”. Survey data were thereafter entered into SPSS 20.) Computer programme (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) and analysed to produce frequency tables and chart, also chi-square was calculated at level of significance 0.05 to measure the significant of the relation between farmers skills and adoption of animal traction technology. The dominant type of harness was the collar and saddle. All most the farmers (80%) used light mouldboard plough. The results showed that farmers in targeted area do not have extension services .Extension faces many constraints and problems; the most important of which are: Lack of development organization, service do not meet farmers need, neglecting the extension side, majority of services was provided by agriculture extension foundation. The agriculture extension concentrates in two activities service improve seed distribution and visit farm. This reflected on a weak role and negative impact on the farmers’ and their husbandry and management practices were less than optimal and consequently field performance. More than half of a respondent was cultivated groundnuts to increase their income. All the farmers believe the use of animal traction useful for soil, convenient for small farmer, increase production, easy to use and available. The result showed half of the target farmers use the animal traction for ploughing, while the rest for planting. Farmers owned their knowledge and received training about animal traction for long time by different institution and NGOs and peer farmers. XII The poor management of draught animals and the technology resulted in low work rates and masked the positive impact that could be brought by good management. However, in all the parameters tested there was no significant difference resulting from management on both field capacity and efficiency. The study recommended intensive farmers for adopting the technology by providing tools and credits also to raise farmers’ knowledge through extension programs and encourage them to adopt the technology, formal and informal education should be provided to facilitate training process