KNOWLEDGE OF FARMERS IN THE UTILIZATION OF CROP RESIDUES AND AGRICULTURAL BY-PRODUCTS FOR DRY-SEASON FEEDING OF RUMINANTS: A CASE STUDY IN THE YENDI DISTRICT

Abstract

A total of 60 questionnaires were administered in 10 communities in the Yendi District to determine the knowledge of farmers in the utilization of crop residue and agro by-product for feeding ruminants. The result from the study indicates that 55 of the farmers (91.7%) use legume crop residues (groundnut haulm) and 19 (31.7%) use cereal crop residue (maize stover). A total 43 (71.7) of the farmers use root and tuber by-products (cassava peels), 38 (63.3%) use cereal by-product (pigeon pea husk). Majority of the farmers (73%) use bicycles in transporting crop residues and agro-by products. The peak collection periods of the crop residues and by-products were noted to be from September to December. Chopping and drying were also noted as the basic processing methods adopted by farmers. It was also noted that the recommended treatment of crop residues with alkali and fertilizer grade urea were not practiced by farmers.