Socio-Economic Determinants of Yam Production in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the socio-economic determinants of yam production in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. This study employed multistage sampling technique in selection of respondents for the study. Primary data were collected from 160 respondents in the study area using a structured questionnaire that was administered as interview schedule. Analytical techniques such as descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the specific objectives. Majority (70%) of the yam farmers were males, with mean age of 46 years. Majority (62%) of the yam farmers were married; and had an average household size of 8 persons. Most (39.4%) of the farmers engaged in civil service in addition to farming occupation and operated on an average farm size of 1.45 hectares. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that the coefficient of multiple determination (R2) of the regression model was 0.945. The co-efficient of sex (7873.994) had a positive sign and was statistically significant at 1% level of significance. Marital status (4426.857) of the respondents bore positive relationship with quantity of yam produced and statistically significant at 1% level of probability. The coefficient of household size (6012.118) of the farmers had a positive relationship with the output of yam in the area. The coefficient of farm size (36532.842) was found to be positive and statistically significant at 1% level of probability. The result had shown that the annual income of the respondents bore positive relationship with the output of yam in the area and statistically significant at 1% level of probability. The F-ratio of 255.209 which was significant at 1% probability level showed that the coefficient of the explanatory variables included in the model were statistically different from zero, thus the goodness-of-fit of the model and its explanatory power. Constraint to the yam production were of infrastructural, institutional and economic factors as bad roads, lack of Storage facilities, lack of improved varieties, lack of government assistance and lack of extension agents’ visit among others. The null hypothesis (Ho) which stated that the socio-economic characteristics of the yam producers have no significant influence on the quantity of yam produced in the area was tested using F-test at 5% level of significance, rejected and the alternative accepted. This study concludes that yam production is profitable although the farmers were hindered by infrastructural, institutional and economic factors. Agricultural extension agents who are saddled with the responsibility of disseminating timely, complete actionable information should be repositioned and strengthened to ensure farmers access to information, through appropriate channels. This will shift the balance between success and failure of the farmers.