Policy Advocacy for Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategies: A Panacea for Green Economy Initiative in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Green economy upholds the efficient use of natural resources and energy while enabling economic growth that supports efficient social equity, sustainable agricultural production and improvement of rural and urban livelihoods thus alleviating poverty. It is only under these conditions that farmer’s sustainable agricultural development strategies can prevail in Imo State, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty households farmers were selected using multi-stage random sampling techniques. Well structured questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and multiple linear regression. The mean age was 48.12years. Majority (63.33%) were males. Greater proportions (70.00%) were married with an average household size of 6.21 persons. Farmers cultivated on an average farm size of 1.26Ha. Average farm income was N82,782.00 ($551.88).The study identified environmental, economic and social dimensions of farmers sustainable agricultural development strategies for promoting green economy initiative in the area. Estimated multiple linear regression shows that age, household size, education, farm income, educational level and farm size influence the adoption of various sustainable agricultural development strategies for green economy initiatives at 1% level of probability respectively. The F-ratio was (68.926), revealing the overall significant of the regressor at 1% level of probability. Farmers complained of inadequate information and inadequate fund as the major barrier to sustainable agricultural development strategies for sustainable green economy initiatives in the study area. It was therefore recommended that effective agricultural policies and programmes should focus on how to intensify awareness on the use of sustainable agricultural development strategies to boast green economy initiative in the area. Government at all levels and private’s support fund is necessary to enhance sustainable green economy initiative. Adoption of sustainable agricultural development strategies for green economy initiative is necessary, given the negative trends in climatic variables in recent times. Ultimately, in greening the economy, agricultural sector remains the major pre-requisite in view of safeguarding the sector’s natural asset base over time in the area and beyond.

Keywords: Sustainable agricultural development strategies, Green economy initiative, Climate change, Socio-economic variables, Multiple linear regression, Constraints, Imo State