Social and Economic Challenges of Small Scale Arable Farming in Delta Central Agricultural Zone, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The broad objective of the study was to investigate the interactions between socio-economic challenges and types of small scale arable farming. Simple random sampling technique was used to compose the sample. The sample was made up of 91 arable farmers. Data were analysed by use of percentage, mean, Pearson Chi square test, t test and multiple regression. The types of small scale arable farming identified in the study area were subsistence, commercial/subsistence and commercial. The social factors which influenced types of arable farming were level of education (M = 3.36) and land tenure system (M = 3.36) while the economic factors were credit facilities (M = 3.63), lack of ready market/storage facilities (M = 2.68) and long investment period compared to quick returns on investment like trading (M = 2.63).. An R² value  (0.907) showed that there was a significant relationship between farm size and selected socio-economic characteristics. There was a significant and negative relationship between farm size and response to land tenure constraints ( t = -27.243, p = 0.000). There was significant relationship between types of small scale arable farming and social factors (X ² =29.92, p = 0.008), and economic factors (X ² =75.54, p = 0.000). Extension education, credit facilities, and ready markets should be provided to farmers to enable them purchase more land and other inputs for the purpose of expanding the scale of arable farming in the zone.

Keywords: Small scale arable farmers, challenges, types of arable farming, farm size