DETERMINANTS OF THE LEVEL OF SMALLHOLDER MAIZE FARMER’S PARTICIPATION IN BABBAN GONA FARMER SERVICES IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the factors influencing the level of smallholder maize farmer’s participation in Babban Gona farmer services in Kaduna State. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 377 participants for the study in 2017/2018 crop season. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model. The results revealed that majority of participating farmers were male (92%), married (86.2%), about 93.3% were within the productive age bracket 20-49 years with the mean age, household size and farm size of 34 years, 9 persons and 1.69 ha, respectively. The result of the analysis revealed that there is a very high level of farmer’s participation (79.3%), and the farmers had positive perception towards the effectiveness of the programme with threshing services ( =3.38), fertilizer supply ( =3.19), access to credit ( =3.17), transportation ( =3.13), storage facilities ( =3.12) and agrochemical application ( =3.01) were perceived to be moderately effective among the Babban Gona goals. The results also revealed that the estimated coefficient of household size (β = 0.008; P<0.01), level of education (β = 0.022; P<0.01), farm size (β = 0.019; P<0.10) and cooperative membership (β = 0.029; P<0.01) were statistically significant factors influencing level of farmer’s participation in Babban Gona Services. The study concluded that household size, education, farm size and membership of cooperatives were the determinants of maize farmers participation in Babban Gona services in the study area. The study recommended that capacity development for field agents on knowledge transfer to farmers should be enhanced. Concerted efforts should be made to extend the services of Babban Gona to female folks.