Effects of Rural Land Tenure on Rice Productivity in Female-Headed Households in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted in Enugu State in eastern part of Nigeria. The objectives were to: determine the socio-economic characteristics of female-headed rice producing households; investigate land tenure systems under which households cultivate rice, and determine the effects of land tenure on rice productivity. A 3-stage random sampling procedure was used to select One Hundred and Twenty respondents in three Local Government Areas which were chosen purposively due to wide spread cultivation of rice in the areas. Data collected via validated structured questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics such as means and percentages to summarise the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, and land tenure systems. Ordinary Least Squares regression technique was used to determine the effects of land tenure system on rice productivity. Results show that majority (46.7%) of female heads of households were aged between 41 and 54 years with a mean of 50.Average years of  farm experience,  and formal education of the respondents were respectively 8, and 6. About 42%, 25%, 16%, and 41% of the households accessed farmland through communal, State, Purchase, and leasehold respectively. Socio-economic, and land tenure factors jointly had significant (F=42.227, P < 0.01) influence on rice productivity. The productivities were higher on public lands than privately, and communally accessed and cultivated lands. Communal land tenure practice had significantly (P< 0.05) negative effects on productivity.Productivity gains of about 1.31% were observed under public land tenure systems, whereas 3.54% and 3.44% losses in rice productivity were found respectively under communal, and private land tenure arrangements per hectare. There is need to review Nigeria’s land Tenure Act 1978 to offer unrestricted, adequate land access to small farmers.

Keywords: Rural Land Tenure, Enugu State, Productivity, Female-headed Households