AN ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF PILFERAGE ON ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN IDAH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

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Date
2009-11
Authors
ODEKINA, Odekina Friday
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Abstract
The effects of pilferage on the welfare status of arable crop farmers in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State have been assessed. A total of 110 household farmers were enumerated using purposive and random sampling technique. The broad objective of the study was to assess the incidence and outcome of pilferage on the livelihood of arable crop farmers with emphasis on three selected crops – maize, yam and cassava. The purposive sampling technique was used to select six villages based on their high involvement in arable crop production. Descriptive statistics and regression model were used to achieve the objectives of this study Data for the study were collected using structured questionnaire administered to 110 arable crop farmers. The results revealed that 78 farmers representing 70.9 % suffered pilferage on the year 2007 while 32 farmers representing 29.10 % did not. The results further revealed that the level of pilferage on yam, maize and cassava were 22.8 %, 14.7 % and 11.3 % respectively. Average level of all crops pilfered was 16.4 %. It was further discovered that the level of financial loss per farmer stands at 20.66 % and that the effects of pilferage on arable crop farmers in the study area included abandonment of farming activities 10 %, withdrawal from growing yam 32 %, withdrawal from growing maize 22 % and unwillingness to adopt technology that will lead to the expansion of farming business 16 %. Results further revealed that 13.64 %, 11.82 % and 20.00 % of farmers relied solely on fence, charms and vigilance group for pilferage prevention. Others who combined 2 measures included 04.54 %, 07.27 % and 03.64 % of farmers for vigilance group with charms, fence with vigilance group and charms with fence respectively. While 04.54 percent of the entire farmers studied relied mainly on the three measures, 34.55 % utilized no measure for pilferage prevention. The result of regression analysis revealed that farming inexperience (1t 10 % level), large household size (at 5 % level) and large farm size, inadequate/inappropriate security measures and the use of hybrid variety of crop on an attractive farm (at 1 % level) were significant predisposing factors of farmers produce to pilferage. Finally, the result of the hypothesis tested using z-test showed that there was significant difference (Zcal of 2.96 as against Ztab of 1.96) between the output of affected farmers and the output of those not affected by pilferage. Based on the findings of this study, the major recommendations are that the poverty alleviation programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria be extended to the rural areas so that rural youths will be empowered to fend for themselves with a view to discouraging them from taking to pilferage as a result of unemployment and strengthening/recognition of social control measures such as norms, mores and values will help discourage pilferage. This can be achieved by the Local and State Government delegating powers to bidded chiefs of the communities and villages to negatively sanction criminals in their domain. It is also recommended that inexperienced farmers discuss the rudiments and strategies for effective pilferage prevention with experienced farmers before venturing into arable crop production. Farmers with large farm size and those who use hybrid variety of crops are also advised to take the issue of security of their farms very seriously since these groups constituted the greatest majority affected by pilferage.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POST GRADUATE SCHOOL,AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND RURAL SOCIOLOGY. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL SOCIOLOGY FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA NOVEMBER, 2009
Keywords
ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS,, PILFERAGE ON ARABLE CROP FARMERS,, IDAH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,, KOGI STATE,, NIGERIA
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