FACTORS INFLUENCING MAIZE FARMERS PARTICIPATION UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND AGRIBUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME IN JIGAWA AND KATSINA STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the factors influencing maize farmers’ participation under Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP) in Jigawa and Katsina States, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 254 participating maize farmers. Descriptive statistics and Tobit regression were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the mean age of household heads was 42 years, average household size of 7 persons, and mean amount of credit received was N237118. The analysis of the revealed that over 90% were male and over 80% of the participating maize farmers were married. The results revealed that the factors that significantly influenced the maize farmers’ participation in CASP programme were farm size, amount of credit and extension visit. The study concluded that farm size, access to credit and extension visit were the factors influencing maize farmers participation in CASP in the study area. Based on this, it is recommended that the community through Development Associations should pull their resources together to have private extension services delivery and the government should strengthened extension services delivery to the farmers by increased funding of extension agencies. Regular visits/contact of farmers by extension agents affords them the better chances of getting better information on the issues about maize production.