ASSESMENT OF MAIZE PRODUCTION ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME AMONG SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN BOSSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study focused on assessment of the effect of maize production on small-scale farming households in Bosso L.G.ANiger State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used for the selection of 122 smallholder maize farmers for the study. A well-structured questionnaire containing both open- and closed-ended questions was used to collect the data for the study. Descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies and multiple regression analysis were used to achieve the objectives of the study. The findings revealed that majority (87%) of the farmers were male, 93% were married, 33.41% were between the age range of 31-40 years, 39.34% had no formal education. On factors affecting maize production, 73.77% have no access to credit, 68.03% have no access to modern farm implements, 88.53% have no access to extension services and 92.62% have no access to irrigation. On the effects of maize production on household income for four years, the result of the multiple regression analysis showed that farm size (coefficient of 0.108), experience (coefficient of 0.039), and age (coefficient of 0.013) were all statistically significant at 1% probability level (< 0.01), while access to modern implements (coefficient of 0.189) was statistically significant at 10% probability level (< 0.10). Identified challenges facing maize farmers within the study area were high cost of inputs, climate change, high interest rate, absence of training programs, and lack of access to market support. Major recommendations were to subsidize farm inputs and modern farm implements, provide a low interest rate, and allocate more land for agricultural purposes.