Socio-Economic Determinants of Commercialization among Small Holder Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

Type Journal Article - Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Title Socio-Economic Determinants of Commercialization among Small Holder Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 2
Issue 8
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2012
Page numbers 392-397
URL http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/161518/2/N.M. AGWU, C.I. ANYANWU AND E.I. MENDIE.pdf
Abstract
The general objective of the study is to analyse the socio- economic determinants of
commercialization among small holder farmers in Abia state, Nigeria. The specific
objectives of the study are to: examine the level of commercialization among the
farmers; estimate the determinants of commercialization among the small holder
farmers in the study area; and make recommendations based on the findings. A multistage
sampling technique was adopted for this study, leading to the selection of one
hundred and eighty (180) farmers / respondents. Primary source of data was used for
the study. This was actualized with questionnaire administered to the already selected
respondents. Household commercialization index (HCI) and multiple regression were
employed in analyzing the data. The result of the commercialization index showed that
none of the crops studied attained a ratio above 30 percent. Cassava had the highest
ratio of 29.58 percent, while water yam was the least with 13.55 percent. The
coefficient of household size, income, farming experience, farm size, distance to
market, membership of society and access to credits, were all significant at various
probability levels and with different signs in influencing commercialization in the study
area. It is therefore recommended that markets should be created where none exist.
Support to facilities in storage, business management, capacity building, packing and
processing should be provided. Furthermore, interlocked transaction institutional
arrangement model is recommended.

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