Title: Determinants of Occupational Diversification among Farmers in Benue State Nigeria
Abstract: Farmers especially those in developing countries like, Nigeria diversify their occupations in order to guard against risk of agriculture failure, keep themselves busy during the slack season and boost their incomes. The study was therefore carried out to ascertain occupational diversification areas of farmers in Benue State, Nigeria as well as factors that pre-dispose them to this act. Four hundred and thirty two farmers systematically selected from the State constituted the sample for the study. Data were collected through validated interview schedule while mean score, multiple regression and factor analysis were used in analyzing the data. Findings show that majority of the respondents were males who were married with a mean household size of 8 persons, mean farming experience of 20 years and mean age of about 48years. Greater proportion (57.4%) engaged in farming as their primary occupation but there was no significant difference (t=1.35; P= 0.18) in the income they made from farm and non- farm occupations. The farmers had diversified into crop production, rearing of animals and marketing of agricultural products while trading was the only non-farm occupation they had diversified. Years spent in formal education (t = 2.056; P = 0.040) and size of farm land owned (t= 2.069; P = 0.039) had significant relationships with occupational diversification of these farmers. The study concluded that the farmers had diversified their occupations mainly within the farm sector while acquisition of formal education and ownership of farm land were factors that influenced them in diversifying their occupations.
Publication Year: 2016
Publication Date: 2016-09-24
Language: en
Type: article
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