ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF HIV/AIDS ON COMMERCIAL CROP FARMERS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to analyze the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) among commercial crop production famers in Giwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to 65 respondents selected using a cocktail of sample methodologies, which elicited information on socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, HIV status, types of crop produced, effects of HIV on crop production, increase or decrease in commercial crop production of infected famers. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) and results were presented using simple descriptive statistical analysis as well as analysis of variance for testing the significance of means between groups. The result revealed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the crops output among men, women and youth, with the calculated F=13.724 greater than the Table F= 3.33. The results, therefore, accepts the fact that HIV/AIDS affects commercial crop output as well as income of the farmers in the study area. The study recommends that poverty reduction strategies or measures need to be given top priority and further enlightenment campaigns on the need for safe sexual practices to reduce HIV infection rates to the farmers.