Environmental Risks Management Practices among Rice Farmers in Rice Producing Areas of Imo State, Nigeria
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Abstract
The study estimated environmental risks management practices among rice farmers in rice producing areas of Imo State, Nigeria. Multistage, purposive and random sampling techniques were used to sample 120 rice farmers across four LGAs of Imo State. Using well structured close-ended questionnaire, data were collected from 120 rice farmers. Out of the 120 questionnaires administered, 133 were properly responded to and considered suitable for analysis. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, means and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple regression analysis. The results show that pests and diseases outbreak, occasional flooding, destruction by birds, soil fertility depletion and injury during field operation are some of environmental risks facing the rice farmers. Some environmental risk management measures practiced by rice farmers include: wearing of boots in rice farms, construction of Birds scaring objects and planting of pest and disease resistant variety of rice. The result of the Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis shows that the semi-log functional form had the best fit with R2 value of 0.9438, F-value of 158.38 and Prob>F value of 0.0000. Out of the 11 explanatory variables specified in the model, eight variables which include: education, gender, household size, cooperative, access to credit, extension contact, farm size and income statistically and significantly influenced rice farmers’ practices of environmental risk measures at 1% and 5% level of significance. Based on the findings, the study recommended proactive government’s intervention policies and programmes to rice farming in order to cushion the effects of environmental risks facing rice farmers among others.
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References
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