Socioeconomic Determinants of Farmers’ Participation in Off-Farm Income Employment in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The socio-economic determinants of farmers’ participation in off-farm income employment in Ezza south local government area of Ebonyi state, Nigeria were studied. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, identify the off-farm income employments participated by the farmers, ascertain the determinants of farmers’ participation in off-farm income employments and identify the limiting factors to the farmers’ participation in off-farm income employments in the study area. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. One hundred and twenty farmers (120) were randomly selected for the study.  Data collected were analyzed using percentage responses and frequency distribution, logistic regression and 4-point Likert scale. The findings revealed that the farmers that participated in off-farm income activities were aged, educated, well experienced, large farm size, females, married and large household size. The result further revealed that high proportion of the respondents engaged in civil service, trading, motor cycle riders, auto mechanics and tricycle riders. The determinants factors to the farmers’ participants in off farm employments were household size, education level, farming experience, farm size and membership of cooperative societies. Factors limiting farmers’ participation in off-farm activities were high level of Illiteracy, poor access to credit facility, old age, inadequate power supply, poor extension services and ill health of farmers identified. There is need to enhance farmers’ access to extension services, educational program, encouraged farmers to join or form cooperatives.