ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN GURARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN GURARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2016-12
Authors
ADAMU, Abubakar
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Abstract
Agricultural production remains the main source of most rural communities in developing countries like Nigeria. Unfortunately, this sector is highly vulnerable to changes, which affect the rural people. This study assessed the changes in agricultural production in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger state. The objectives were to characterize the changes in agricultural productivity; factors inducing the changes, compare changes in crop production and animal production as well examine farmer’s perception to these changes. Multi stage sampling technique was used to administer questionnaire to 382 respondents. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution tables, graphs as well as inferential statistics in SPSS version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2010. The result reveals that majority (81%) of the respondents observed the significant changes in agricultural productivity. Yam was the most (32.9%) cultivated crop, followed by maize, then sorghum with 20.3%. Regarding animal production, 29.2% of the respondents were into poultry production, 25% were into catfish production, while only 6.9% and 9.7% were into sheep and pig rearing respectively. It shows that majority of respondents in Gurara west raised 51-100 chickens (local breeds) as against 5-20 chickens in Gurara East. Over 60.6% respondents did not have access to farm inputs such as herbicides and pesticides, fertilizer and improved seeds. Also, over 80% lack access to extension services and micro finance credit. Weather variations in terms of temperature increase and rainfall decrease over the last 30 years has contributed to low crop yield. Empirical evidence revealed that there is a spatial variation between the divisions and over the years with regards to crop such as rice, sorghum, groundnut and yam and animal productions such as catfish, cattle, poultry, and sheep in the study area. The study recommended among others that government should increase access to farm inputs with ease and at affordable price; meteorological forecast should be translated and interpreted into various local languages for effective utilization by farmers by NiMET.
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A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA DECEMBER,
Keywords
ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, GURARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE,, NIGERIA