Abstract:
This study examined vegetable farming and the socio- economic empowerment of rural
farmers in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, Enugu state, Nigeria. Questionnaire, in-depth interview, and focus group discussion guides were used as instruments for data collection. One thousand, one hundred and eighteen (1118) respondents constituted the sample for the quantitative data while 65 respondents participated in the qualitative survey. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20 while the qualitative data were analysed using Nvivo software. Frequency distribution tables, percentages and charts were used to present the result. Chi square (χ²) was used to test the hypotheses; hierarchical regression were
used to ascertain the variables that have the most significant effect in the level of empowerment among the respondents The findings show that significant proportion of the respondents (84.2) relied solely on vegetable farming for their daily sustenance. The study revealed that vegetable farming has empowered rural farmers. A good proportion of the respondents (91.8%) indicated that their income has increased through engagement in vegetable farming, 99.6% indicated that their diet has improved which shows that vegetable farming has increased food and nutritional security in the respondents’ households. Access to credit and years of experience were significant
positive predictors of level of empowerment as they both accounted for 7% variance (p < .05) in rural farmers’ empowerment. The challenges facing vegetable farmers were limited access to fertilizer and credit, high prevalence of pest and diseases as well as limited access to storage facilities. This was indicated by 91.1%, 81.1%, 77.4%, and 84.9% of the respondents respectively. The results of the hypotheses show that access to credit and years of experience significantly predicted level of empowerment at χ²= 78.37, Tabulated value= 3.84, df = 1, p< 0.05 and χ²= 7.98 Tabulated value= 3.84, df = 1, p< 0.05 respectively. The study revealed through vegetable farming, farmers have had increased access to income and were able to solve their day to day problems and contribute to community development projects. Equipped with better resources, these farmers are in a position to promote rural development and increase food and nutritional security in both rural and urban communities. This will help in achieving the first three goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed to (1) end poverty in all its forms everywhere; (2) end hunger and achieve food security and improved nutrition; and (3) ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. The study, therefore, ecommends that government at all levels and donor agencies should support vegetable farmers with credit facilities and other agricultural inputs to increase the productivity of these farmers which will contribute to the achievement of some of the key sustainable development goals.
