Evaluation of Links between Maize Farmlands and Infrastructures in the North Central Nigeria Using Geospatial Techniques

Abstract

This study, aimed at evaluating the link between maize farmer lands and infrastructures. The main objective of the study was to find out the existing links between farmlands and infrastructures within the maize supply chain in the North Central States of Nigeria. The investigation was carried out using questioners to assess the constraints of farmers in supply chains, multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to sample the respondents in Kuje Area Council and Mararaba. A total of 130 respondents were interviewed using a structured interview guide. Results indicated that the majority of the farmers have no access to adequate infrastructural facilities such as roads, processing facilities, storage facilities and markets. Proximity analysis was also carried out analyzing GRID3 data for farmlands, roads and market points using ArcGIS 10.8. The result also shows that the majority of the maize farmlands are not close to the markets and there are no major roads connecting the farms to the transportation of farm produce. Farmers are infrastructural constraints at the production, transportation and marketing stage. The study, therefore, suggests a more viable infrastructural facility for farmers to interconnect farmland, to enable farmers to have access to good roads, storage and processing facilities which will enhance the maize value chain.