Analysis of Farm Household Income Diversification Among Yam Farmers in Niger State, Nigeria
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study examined income diversification among yam farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. The study adopted a three-stage random sampling technique in the selection of respondents. In the first stage, three Local Government Areas were selected randomly from agro-ecological zone II of the State based on the preponderance of yam production in these Local Government Areas located in the zone. The second stage involved the random selection of three villages from each of the selected Local Government Areas summing up to nine villages. The third stage involved the random selection of yam farmers from each of the villages using stratified sampling technique. Data were collected through the aid of structured questionnaire. To analyse the collected data, the study employed Diversification Index and Farm Budgeting Techniques. . The study showed that 90% of the respondents were male and 45% were within the age range of 40-49 years, with a mean age of 43years. 91% of the respondents were married while about 44% had average household size of 8 members. 42% of respondents had no formal education. 58% sourced their funds from personal savings. The decomposition of the overall income between farm and off-farm income, revealed that the farm income accounted for 76.68% while off-farm income accounted for 23.32%. .The mean income diversification index was found to be 2.41. The study recommended that since there is poor access to credit facilities among respondents inhibiting livelihood diversification, there is a need to revamp rural financial systems.. Targeted education and skill development trainings could help enhance livelihood diversification strategies among respondents.. Efforts should be made at enhancing access to remunerative non-farm opportunities among the rural households. This includes the development of rural infrastructure in terms of road, market, electrification, telecommunication and storage facilities.
Authors: Sani T P, Baba K M, Abubakar U K, Abdullahi S
Institution: Federal University of Technology Minna
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4394973133