The Effects of Off-Farm Income on Smallholders’ Rice Production in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The basis of this study was to investigate the effects of off-farm income on smallholders’ rice production in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. To achieve this, the study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of the smallholder rice farmers, described the off-farm activities of rice farmers, estimated the factors determining participation in off-farm activities among the smallholder rice farmers, determined the effects of off-farm income on the output of rice farmers and identified factors limiting farmers’ participation in off-farm activities in the study area. The study was carried out in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The research employed a multistage sampling technique in the selection of respondents for the study. One hundred and twenty (120) farmers were selected using random sampling procedure. Data were collected using well-structured questionnaires as an interview guide. Descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage, mean and inferential statistics like regression model were used in data analysis. Results of the study showed that half (50%) of the respondents were males among whom 42.50% were married. The highest age bracket is between the ages of 21 to 30 years representing 55.83% of the entire respondents. The average household size was approximately five persons. Four of the respondent interviewed constituting 3.3% of them had no formal education, 24 of them constituting 20% had primary education. Forty-three respondents constituting 35.83% had post-primary education while 33 of the respondents constituting 27.50% acquired tertiary education. Majority of the respondents (74.17%) participated in off farm activities. The average farming experience was above 12 years, and half of the respondents had access to extension services delivery. Results of the findings showed that Gender, Farm size and Access to credit by the farmers were the major determinants of off farm activities’ participation among other factors that could influence it. More so, off-farm income significantly influenced the output of rice produced by the farmers. The identified constraints/factor limiting farmers participation in off farm income in the study area include: lack of education, Farm size, Age of the farmer, Health status, limited time, poor access to credit, poor assess to extension services, among others. The hypothesis tested confirmed that off-farm income of the rice farmers had significant effects on their output. The second hypothesis tested confirmed that socio-economics characteristics of the rice farmers influenced their participation in off-farm activities in the study area. Recommendations were made based on the findings to encourage the farmers’ participation in off farm income in order to diversify their economics aiming at improving their overall standard of living.