Perception and Challenges of Small-Scale Farmers to Human Labour Access in North Central Nigeria
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Abstract
The study evaluated perception and challenges of small-scale farmers to human labour access in north central Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used for sample selection while questionnaire was used for data collection. A total of 1,750 farmers were randomly interviewed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and two-way mixed factorial analysis of variance and mean separation was done at 5% probability level. Result shows that the farmers are aware of lack of access to labour. Mean separation showed Abuja (2.01) and Kwara State (1.72) having least access to labour. High cost of labour is the biggest challenge for farmers in accessing labour in north central Nigeria. Based on the findings, the research concluded that there is an ongoing decline in the availability of agricultural labour which will result in increased cost of production for the small-scale farmers. The study recommends that government should implement sector-specific policies that would protect the sectors most vulnerable from minimum wage shocks in order to boost their outputs and exports
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References
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Apata T. G., K. D Samuel, and Adeola A.O, (2010) Analysis of Climate change perception and Adaptation among Arable Food Crop Farmers in south Western Nigeria. paper presented at the conference of International Association of Agricultural Economics pp.2-9.
Aphunu, A. and Nwabueze, G.O. (2012). Fish farmer’s perception of climate change impact on fish production in Delta State. Journal of Agricultural Extension, Vol. 2(16), pp.1- 13.
Assefa. T.W. (2018). Raising labour productivity to solve the paradox; labour shortage in the labour surplus economy; Malawi (Is Targeted Fertilizer Subsidy the solution?) Norwegian university of life science, Department of Economics and Resource Management unpublished Master Thesis
Bawa, D. B., Donye, A. O., and Nuhu, H. S. (2010) Analysis of involvement of women in seed systems in Borno State, North-East Nigeria. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America, 1(6), 1237-1242.
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Didar S. and R, Wahi (2017). Labour in Indian Agriculture: A Growing Challenge 60pp
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Nagler, P., and W. Naudé. (2014). Non-Farm Entrepreneurship in Rural Africa: Patterns and Determinants. Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Discussion Paper 8008. Bonn, Germany.
National Population Commission (NPC) (2006) Population and housing census: Enumerators’ Manual. Federal Republic of Nigeria, pp.1-16
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Nmadu J.N and A. Akinola (2015). Farm Labour Supply and Utilization for Food Crop Production in Nigeria - Istanbul, Turkey Proceedings of INTCESS15- 2nd International Conference on Education and Social Sciences
Osugiri, I.I, Albert I. Ugochukwu, Onyaguocha, S.U.O. Onyemauwa, C.S. and Ben-Chendo, G.N. Population Dynamics, Labour and Small-Holder Farmers’ Productivity in Southeast Nigeria (2012) Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development Vol.3, No.12, 95-101.
Tasker, J., (2018). Farm Labour Shortage ‘Worse Than Expected’. Retrieved on September 2019 from, https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/eu-referendum/farm-labour-shortage-worse-expected.
Prabakara C., K. Sita Devia and S. Selvamb (2011). Labour Scarcity - Its Immensity and Impact on Agriculture Agricultural Economics Research Review Vol. 24 pp 373-380
Rapsomanikis G. (2015). The economic lives of smallholder farmers: An analysis based on household data from nine countries Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2015.
Yeboah, F. K., and T. S. Jayne. (2016). Africa’s Evolving Employment Trends. International Development Working Paper. East Lansing, MI, US: Michigan State University.
Akintobi, O. S., Evinemi, C. A, And Achagwa, S. M. (2018). Analysis of the Problems Associated with Cowpea Storage among Farmers in Kuje Area Council, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria. FUDMA Journal of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology Vol. 4 No. 1, pp 91-98
Apata T. G., K. D Samuel, and Adeola A.O, (2010) Analysis of Climate change perception and Adaptation among Arable Food Crop Farmers in south Western Nigeria. paper presented at the conference of International Association of Agricultural Economics pp.2-9.
Aphunu, A. and Nwabueze, G.O. (2012). Fish farmer’s perception of climate change impact on fish production in Delta State. Journal of Agricultural Extension, Vol. 2(16), pp.1- 13.
Assefa. T.W. (2018). Raising labour productivity to solve the paradox; labour shortage in the labour surplus economy; Malawi (Is Targeted Fertilizer Subsidy the solution?) Norwegian university of life science, Department of Economics and Resource Management unpublished Master Thesis
Bawa, D. B., Donye, A. O., and Nuhu, H. S. (2010) Analysis of involvement of women in seed systems in Borno State, North-East Nigeria. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America, 1(6), 1237-1242.
Christiaensen, L.; Sheahan, M.; Shimeles, A. (2017). "On the Structural Transformation of Rural Africa" in Journal of African Economies, 26, AERC Supplement 1, i11–i35.
Didar S. and R, Wahi (2017). Labour in Indian Agriculture: A Growing Challenge 60pp
Didar, S., & Rajat, W., (2017). Labour in Indian Agriculture: A Growing Challenge. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry pp 60.
Duvall, Z., (2019) Another Year of Labour Shortage. Retrieved on November 10th 2019 from, https://www.fb.org/viewpoints/another-year-of-farm-labour-shortages.
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). (2016). Global Food Policy Report. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Retrieved on 10th December 2019 from https://www.ifpri.org/publication/2016-global-food-policy-report. http://dx.doi.org/10.2499/9780896295827
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), (2009). Key elements for supporting the renewed focus on agricultural productivity and small-scale agricultural development in Nigeria. Insight No. 10, September.
Issa, F. O. Kagbu, J. H. and Abdulkadir, S. A (2016) Analysis of Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Maize Production Practices in Ikara Local Government Area Of Kaduna State, Nigeria Agrosearch 16 No. 2: 15-24 http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/agrosh.v16i2.3.
Jeff Daniels, (2019) California farmers increasingly turning to mechanization due to labor shortages, says survey. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/01/farmers-turning-to-mechanization-due-to-labor-shortages-says-survey.html
Lawal A.S and T. A, Okeowo (2014). Effect of rural urban migration on labour supply in cocoa production in Ondo east local government area of Ondo state, International letters of Natural sciences Vol 18, pp1-11 Sci press Ltd switzerland
Lobeck. J. (2018) https://www.farmprogress.com/vegetables/labor-shortage-threatens-export-opportunities Accessed December 15, 2019
Magaret Adesugba and George Mavrotas (2016) Youth Employment, Agricultural Transformation and rural labour dynamics in Nigeria. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) discussion paper 01579.
Maïga, E., L. Christiaensen, and A. Palacios-Lopez. (2015). Are Youth Exiting Agriculture En-Masse? Paper presented at the 2016 Center for the Study of African Economies Conference, Oxford, UK.
Mgbenka, R.N. and A.E. Agwu, (2011). Communication platforms existing among research, extension and farmers in Abia and Enugu States of Nigeria. A pre-Ph. D research seminar, Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Nagler, P., and W. Naudé. (2014). Non-Farm Entrepreneurship in Rural Africa: Patterns and Determinants. Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Discussion Paper 8008. Bonn, Germany.
National Population Commission (NPC) (2006) Population and housing census: Enumerators’ Manual. Federal Republic of Nigeria, pp.1-16
Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and World Bank. (2013). Nigeria’s Living Standard Measurement Study–Integrated Survey on Agriculture, 2012-2013. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Nmadu J.N and A. Akinola (2015). Farm Labour Supply and Utilization for Food Crop Production in Nigeria - Istanbul, Turkey Proceedings of INTCESS15- 2nd International Conference on Education and Social Sciences
Osugiri, I.I, Albert I. Ugochukwu, Onyaguocha, S.U.O. Onyemauwa, C.S. and Ben-Chendo, G.N. Population Dynamics, Labour and Small-Holder Farmers’ Productivity in Southeast Nigeria (2012) Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development Vol.3, No.12, 95-101.
Tasker, J., (2018). Farm Labour Shortage ‘Worse Than Expected’. Retrieved on September 2019 from, https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/eu-referendum/farm-labour-shortage-worse-expected.
Prabakara C., K. Sita Devia and S. Selvamb (2011). Labour Scarcity - Its Immensity and Impact on Agriculture Agricultural Economics Research Review Vol. 24 pp 373-380
Rapsomanikis G. (2015). The economic lives of smallholder farmers: An analysis based on household data from nine countries Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2015.
Yeboah, F. K., and T. S. Jayne. (2016). Africa’s Evolving Employment Trends. International Development Working Paper. East Lansing, MI, US: Michigan State University.