Socio-Economic and Institutional Characteristics of Wheat Farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to analyzed the socio-economic and institutional characteristics of wheat farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 503 wheat farmers (352 men and 151 women) from the study area. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and analyzed; using descriptive and inferential statistics (Tobit regression). The result revealed that Majority (70%) of the respondents were male and 30% were female. About 56.0% male and 49.0% women respondents were within the age bracket of 30-39 years and 20-29 years respectively. It was revealed that 91.5% male and 95.4% female respondents were married. Furthermore, 58.3% of the female respondents had primary level of education. Meanwhile, 55.4% male and 56.3% female respondents had a household size between 6-10 persons and 1-5 persons respectively. Majority (64.2%) of the female respondents had a farm size between 0.5-1.0 hectares. About 54.8% male and 67.5% female respondents had 6-10 years and 1-5 years of farming experience. Furthermore, 68.5% of the male respondents had access to extension from Jigawa Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (JARDA) while, 51.7% women had no contact. On the other hand, 32.4% of male had extension contact twice a year while 32.5% female had contact once a year. The result further revealed that 64.9% female respondents practice mixed cropping. 52,0% male practice bed drill method of sowing. The result further shows that majority (63.3% males and 67.5% female) respondents use the LCRIWHIT-4 (Atilla-Gan-Atilla) variety of wheat, 53.0% of female respondents applied organic manure to their farmland and 72.2% of the female respondents used machine in processing the wheat grains. Majority (68%) female respondents used wheat to prepare traditional dishes. The result further shows that 61.6% of the female respondents believed that high quality wheat variety is rewarded by substantial price premium. Tobit regression estimate of the extent of participation in wheat farming had a chi-square of 54.43 and significant at P≤0.01 level and Log likelihood of 364. Men and women participated in wheat farming, except that, on average male respondents had better access to land, inputs and extension services than the female wheat farmers. Policy makers should ensure that farmers receive the latest information on wheat agronomy through regular trainings.