EFFECTS OF FARM LABOUR MIGRATION ON CROP PRODUCTIVITY AMONG FARMERS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined effects of farm labour migration on crop productivity among farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 242 farmers from the study area. Data were collected through interview schedule using structured questionnaire with the help of trained enumerators under the supervision of the researcher. Analytical tools used were descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, percentages and mean) and inferential statistics (multiple regression) was employed in this study. The results showed that the mean age of the respondents was 45 years and were married; and 84.7% were male. These implied that crop farmers were in their productive stage of life and had the capacity of carrying out agricultural production. More so, the mean household size of the farmers was 11 persons, and about 80.6% had formal education. This implied that high educational level of farm household could increase income earnings and reduce poverty level in Kaduna State. The multiple regression analysis on the effects of farm labour migration on farmers’ crop productivity showed that the double-log functional form gave the best fit based on the significance of F-statistics and adjusted R-squared parameter estimated in conformity with the a priori expectation. Farm size (P<0.01), labour (P<0.05), manure (P<0.05) and poverty incidence of the farmers (P<0.01) were statistically significant. Farm labour migration (-0.05822)’ was found to negatively influenced crop farmer’s productivity. Major constraints encountered by the crop farmers in the study area include high cost of inputs, inadequate credit facilities and inadequate market linkages. In conclusion, poverty incidence had a negative and significant effect on crop productivity. It was recommended that farmers should form rotating saving association to enable them have access to micro loan; rural crop farmer should be linked to the urban market through appropriate information channels such as extension agent and media to attract good value for their crops and Government and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) should make farm inputs readily available at a subsidized rate.