ANALYSIS OF WELFARE DETERMINANTS AND CONSTRAINTS TO SEED YAM FARMERS IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA

Authors

  • M. BOLAJI
  • R.O. BABATUNDE
  • O.A. OMOTESHO
  • A.O. ADEKUNLE

Keywords:

Agriculture, Seed yam, Technology, Welfare

Abstract

Welfare, for most developing and underdeveloped countries, has become an important phenomenon for discussion. In Nigeria, the prevalence of food insecurity and poor welfare of farming households have been increased by problems such as climate change, and insurgencies. This situation has led to the development of many intervention programmes in Nigeria and across Africa.  This study sought to evaluate the welfare determinants of seed farmers and examine the constraints to the usage of seed yam production technologies. The study made use of a quantitative research design; a Multistage sampling technique was used to select 283 seed yam farmers. Cross-sectional data were collected through the use structured questionnaire. The target population were seed yam farmers in the FCT and Benue State. Data were analysed using Ordinary Least Square regression and Weighted Average Index (p<0.05). The findings of the studies indicated that access to credit (-0.1557), years of schooling (-0.0105), farm size (0.0504), source of labour (0.0558) and extension service (0.1031) significantly affected the welfare of the seed yam farmers. Likewise, crop and field management was ranked the most important constraint for CAY-Seed (43%) and NRCRI-Seed yam farmers (26%). The study concludes that access to credit and the years of schooling for the seed yam farmers did not improve their welfare. However, land and labour availability and access to extension services helped to improve the seed yam farmers’ welfare. Similarly, land, labour and extension services should be made readily available for seed yam farmers which would help to improve their welfare status.

Published

2023-05-30