The Pull and Push Factors of Farm Income Diversification among Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook) Farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines the magnitude and factors influencing agricultural income diversification among small-scale fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) farmers in Akwa Ibom State in the south-south region of Nigeria. The required information was collected from Telfairia farmers using a structured questionnaire. A regression analysis tool was used to analyse the specific objective. The finding revealed an average farm income diversification index of 2.29 suggesting that agricultural income diversification among small-scale Telfairia farmers is high and disturbing. The empirical results revealed that farmers' household size, hired labour, and educational qualification are the major “push factors” of agricultural income diversification. In contrast, “the pull factors” are farmers' age, extension visit, membership in a social group, land size, the quantity of fertilizer and manure, and household labour. To intensify farm income earnings among small-scale vegetable farmers, it is recommended that the government should encourage child spacing and family planning among fluted pumpkin farmers as these would reduce the household size and family burden always carried along with agricultural expenditures. Providing input subsidies to small-scale vegetable farmers is important to cushion the adverse effect of increased production costs. Agricultural extension services should be strengthened to render more effective services to vegetable farmers. The formation of social groups should be encouraged, primarily through cooperative farming. The government of Akwa Ibom State should set up tractor hiring centres in all the local government areas; these would help reduce the hard time vegetable farmers encounter hiring labour.