Counselling Farmers on Improving the Yield of Flowering Crops through Integrated Apicultural Farming for Wealth Creation

Abstract

This study focused on counselling farmers on improving the yield of flowering crops through integrated apicultural farming for wealth creation. The researchers used a descriptive survey research design and a sample of 50 participants, including traditional bee farmers, staff of agricultural education, and intending apiarists which were purposively selected from a public state owned university, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI). Data was collected using a well-structured questionnaire, which was validated by agricultural science and counselling education experts. The instrument's reliability was established through a pilot test, and the data analysis involved descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, and mean scores. The two major focus of the questionnaire was to identify various challenges that hinder subsistence farming of apiculture as wealth creation strategies and to also establish the fear level of those who are interested in bee keeping but are afraid of sting. The challenges identified from the findings of this study included poor credit services, shortage of forage, inadequate training and manpower, poor apiculture policies, diseases affecting honey bees and poor utilization of technology. In addition, the study found that subsistence farmers and intending apiarist exhibited high levels of apiphobia, which negatively impacted their engagement in apiculture. The researchers through group counselling educated participant on strategies for improving apiculture farming, such as effective crop production management, planting of flowering crops like beans, maize, and mango, and selecting suitable apiary locations away from windy areas. To unlearn anxiety and phobia of bee sting, systematic desensitization (a Counselling Therapy) was used to assist both subsistence farmers and intending apiarists. Keywords: Apicultural Farming, Wealth Creation, Apiphobia, Systematic Desensitization. Journal Reference Format: Makinde, V.I. & Ogunjobi, P.O. (2023): Counselling Farmers on Improving the Yield of Flowering Crops through Integrated Apicultural Farming for Wealth Creation. Humanities, Management, Arts, Education & the Social Sciences Journal. Vol. 11. No. 2, Pp 19-32. www.isteams.net/humanitiesjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/HUMANITIES/V11N2P3