Relationship Between Farmers' Awareness of Environmental Sustainability and the Adoption of Smart Farming Techniques in Benue State

This study explores the relationship between farmers’ awareness of environmental sustainability and their
adoption of smart farming techniques in Benue State. The primary objectives are to assess the correlation between
farmers’ environmental awareness and their adoption of smart farming, examine the link between environmental
awareness and participation in agricultural training or extension services, and determine how farmers’
knowledge influences their willingness to adopt innovative farming practices. Guided by the Environmental
Behavior Theory (EBT), the research population includes all farmers actively engaged in agriculture across
various local government areas within Benue State, with a sample size of 350 respondents selected for detailed
analysis. Using chi-square analysis, the results showed that a calculated value of 77.8 exceeds the critical value
of 7.82 at a 0.05 significance level, indicating a significant relationship between farmers’ awareness of
environmental sustainability and their adoption of smart farming techniques. Additionally, participation in
extension services was found to be significantly associated with environmental awareness, with a chi-square value
of 71.3 surpassing the critical threshold. Moreover, a chi-square value of 62.2, also greater than the critical
value, demonstrated a significant relationship between farmers’ environmental awareness and their adoption of
smart farming methods. The findings suggest that environmental awareness have a meaningful impact on the
adoption of smart farming techniques. Based on these insights, it is recommended that agricultural stakeholders
including government agencies, extension services, and non-governmental organizations prioritize efforts to
increase farmers’ awareness of environmental sustainability. This can be achieved through targeted training,
workshops, and extension services that emphasize environmental conservation principles, thereby encouraging
the widespread adoption of sustainable and innovative farming practices.

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