Abstract
The study examined the effect of the European Union infrastructural development on the productivity of food crop farmers and development of rural areas in Imo State. The specific objectives were to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, determine the extent of infrastructural development in the area and ascertain the impact of the scheme on the productivity of the rural food crop farmers. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured and validated questionnaire from 240 respondents comprising of farmers in the beneficiary and non-beneficiary communities using the multi-stage sampling technique. The data retrieved from the questionnaire were analysed with the use of the descriptive statistics, the infrastructural index model and the ordinary least squares regression model. The mean infrastructural index for the beneficiary and the non-beneficiary communities was 0.84 and 1.01, respectively; these figures were used to rank communities based on their level of development. The study showed that 18.2, 72.7 and 9.1% of the sampled beneficiary communities were developed, moderately developed and underdeveloped, respectively while 81.8 and 18.2% of the non-beneficiary communities were moderately developed and underdeveloped, respectively. The pooled result of the ordinary least square regression model showed a good fit at p < 0.05, that a reduction in distance and cost of accessing the infrastructural facilities in the benefiting communities would increase food crop production in the area. The null hypothesis that the EU (MPP6) infrastructural facilities has no significant influence on the value of food crop production in the beneficiary communities was rejected as the F-cal obtained was greater than the F-tab at p 0.01 level. European Union through their Micro Project Programmes (MPP6) should expand it geographical scope to ensure that more infrastructural facilities are provided particularly in the non –beneficiary communities as this will bring about an increase in the productivity level of food crop farmers and the development of the rural areas. Key words : rural infrastructure, agricultural productivity, infrastructural index, European Union Micro Project Program
Highlights
The main objectives of agricultural development are to increase productivity and income, diversify rural economy and generally enhance the quality of life of the rural farmers who are resident in the rural areas
Imo State was purposively chosen for the study because it was among the six Niger Delta states that benefitted from the European Union (EU) MPP6 and because of its proximity to the researcher
Had a lower infrastructural index of 0.840 and they were more developed when compared with their counterparts in the non-beneficiary communities
Summary
The main objectives of agricultural development are to increase productivity and income, diversify rural economy and generally enhance the quality of life of the rural farmers who are resident in the rural areas. Larger percentage of these small scale farmers will remain poor unless basic infrastructures are provided in these rural areas (Ale et al, 2011). Infrastructures are those underlying or basic forms of physical, social and institutional capital which enhance production and consumption activities and improved the wellbeing of rural communities. Infrastructural facilities refer to those basic services without which primary, secondary and tertiary productive activities cannot function effectively (Hirschman, 1958). Infrastructural facilities are elements in the package of basic needs, which a community would like to procure for better living (Olayiwola, 2005)
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