Effect of Farmers Socioeconomic Factors on Production of Staple Food Crops in Oil Polluted and Non-Oil Polluted Areas of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analyzed the effect of farmers socioeconomic factors on production of staple food crops in oil polluted and non-oil polluted areas of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique were used to select 150 staple crops farmers for the study. Primary data were used for the study. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result indicated that most of the respondents (56%) had secondary education in both oil-polluted and non-oil polluted, majority (74.7% and 78.6%) were married, greater percentage were females (63.0% and 55.0%) in oil-polluted and non-oil polluted respectively. Most of the respondents (61.3% and 62.7%) had labour source from family labour in oil-polluted and non-oil polluted areas respectively. The results of the study showed that there were slight differences in the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers between the two environments, challenges faced by farmers also showed slight differences in mean scores between the two environments though with high grand mean scores of 3.8 and 3.7. Linear regression result showed positive significant relationship between production output and age, membership of cooperatives, income, marital status and household size at 1%, 5%and 10%. Levels. The study therefore concluded that there are socioeconomic factors affecting production of staple food crops in both oil-polluted area and non-oil polluted area.  It is recommended that farmers should be trained on best agronomic practices that will reduce invasion of pest and diseases. Also, companies should provide assistance to the farmers to enable them produce of staple food crops.