GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT
The study determined the socio-economic characteristics of vegetable farmers and adoption of organic farming practices in Calabar agricultural zone. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire and oral interview. The instrument was face and content validated by experts in the field. Data obtained were analysed using frequency counts, percentage, and mean and rankings analysis. Findings of the study revealed that socio-economic characteristics of vegetable farmers (Age, level of education, marital status, household size, land tenure right, income, years of experience, access to credit facility, extension VTSH, taboo, cost of adoption of organism, farming and Involvement in social organization significantly relates with their adoption of organic farming practices in the study area. It was recommended that since vegetable farmers’ level of education was generally found to be relatively low, effort should be made by governmental and non-governmental agencies as well as other stakeholders in vegetable-producing settlements to organize and operationalize adult literacy programmes.
KEYWORDS: Calabar agricultural zone, Socio-economic characteristics, vegetable farmers, organic farming practices