The Factors Influencing Participation of Cassava Farmers in Survival Farming Intervention Programme in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the factors influencing participation of cassava farmers in Survival Farming Intervention Programme (SFIP) in Agricultural Zone C of Kogi State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 180 respondents comprising of cassava grower in the study area. Primary data were collected with the aid of questionnaires complemented with interview schedule. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The results of the analysis revealed that the majority (72.8%) of the respondents were within the age range of 36 - 55 years while 94.5% the respondents were married with just few divorced and widowed. Similarly, 30.0% of the respondents had no formal education while 28.9%, 35.6% and 3.9% attained primary, secondary and tertiary education respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed coefficient of determination, R2 of 0.67969 meaning that about 68% of the variation in the participation in SFIP were explained by the independent variables in the model. Age, labour, education, household size, awareness, extension contact and planting material were significant at 1% level of probability while marital status was significant at 5% level of probability. They all had positive coefficients and direct relationship with participation in SFIP implying that one unit increase in any of the variable coefficients will result to an increase in level of participation. Participation in SFIP was statistically influenced by socio-economic factors such as age, education, household size and others in the study area. Therefore, provisions of basic amenities that will improve the socio-economic status of the cassava farmers are highly recommended through government and non-governmental organisations. Keywords: intervention, programme, participation.