Assessment of arable crop farmers’ involvement in non-farm income generating activities in Iwo Agricultural Development

Abstract

This study assessed the farmers’ involvement in non-farm income-generating activities inIwoAgricultural Zone, Osun State, Nigeria. A structured interview schedule was used tocollect information from 129 respondents selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Dataobtained were analysed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statisticsemployed in the study included frequency distributions, mean, standard deviation, andpercentages while Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used in testingthehypothesis. The results showed that more than half (60%) of the respondents were male, married(69%) with mean age, household size, and years of formal education of 50 years, 7 persons, and10 years, respectively. Petty trading (Weighted Mean Score=1.55) and sales of agricultural produce (1.41) were the most common non-farm income-generating activities amongtherespondents. Lack of capital (WMS=1.58) and migration of youth (WMS=1.51) were rankedasthe most severe constraints. The major benefit derived from non-farm activities was employment (WMS=2.50). Results of hypotheses testing showed a significant relationship betweenage, household size, years of farming experience as well as years of schooling and level ofinvolvement in non-farm income generating activities; there was a significant difference inlevelsof involvement. The study found that the respondents in the study area practised non-farmincome generating activities moderately. It is therefore recommended that rural farmers shouldbe encouraged to engage in more productive and profitable non-farm activities to complement their income from farming activities in order to ameliorate poverty among them.