ECONOMICS OF WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES USED AMONG ONION FARMERS IN ALIERO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA.

The economics of several weed control strategies on onion fields in Aliero local government,
Kebbi state, Nigeria, were investigated. The study relied on original data gathered from 120
farmers. The villages that were questioned were chosen at random using a stratified random
sampling approach. Onion producers were found to primarily adopt two key weed management
practices: cultural (hoe or hand weeding) and pesticide usage. The average weed cost of family
labour utilizing cultural practices was ₦50,000.0, hired labour cost ₦185,000.0, herbicide
spray cost ₦2,500.0/liter, liters of herbicide cost ₦5500.0/liters, and herbicide purchase cost
per hectare was ₦22,000.0. The study reveals that onion farmers in Aliero Local Government
Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria, primarily use chemical and manual weed control methods, with
hired labor being the most expensive at an average cost of ₦185,000.0 per hectare. It was
suggested that the government provide various and more herbicides to farmers at subsidized
rates, which would increase their production and eliminate drudgery. To minimize direct
contact with their crops and plant harm, onion farmers should be instructed on how to
administer herbicides. Many farmers were found to be uninformed about pesticide spraying and
its impacts on health.