INVESTIGATING THE STRATEGIES OF MARKET ACCESS DYNAMICS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY AMONG SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN IDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the strategies, market access dynamics, and barriers affecting agricultural productivity among small-scale farmers in Ido LGA, Oyo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was applied to select 80 farmers. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean, frequency, and percentage. The result revealed that the average age of respondents was 38.57 years, with a household size of 7.12 persons. However, the respondents had an average farm size of 2.21 hectares and 9.26 years of farming experience. The annual income averaged N1.296 million, highlighting the economic constraints faced by farmers. Market access strategies were occasionally applied, with the highest mean score of 1.77 for partnering with grocery stores, followed by online marketing (1.65) and local farmers’ markets (1.61). The lowest score (1.36) was recorded for attending agricultural fairs, suggesting underutilization of networking opportunities. Barriers to market access included inadequate transportation infrastructure (1.70), reliance on middlemen (1.65), and limited adoption of mobile technology (1.53). Government support (1.79) and farmers’ cooperatives (1.78) were identified as key facilitators. Constraints such as poor literacy levels (1.83), high planting material costs (1.79), and inadequate extension services (1.78) were significant challenges. Poor road networks (1.75) and limited market access (1.70) further hindered productivity while lack of finance (1.61) remained a critical obstacle to purchase necessary inputs, invest in infrastructure and adopt advanced technologies. Overall, the study highlights the need for improved infrastructure, financial access, and digital adoption to enhance market participation and sustainability for small-scale farmers.