Determinants of Savings and Investment Capacities of Farming Households in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The determinants of savings and investment capacities of farming households in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria was studied.  A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed in the selection of 120 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that farming households save and invest mainly for the purchase of improved varieties and breeds, agrochemicals and feeds.  Informal method of saving which involved saving through isusu and money lending were the most identified ways of saving among the farming households. Also, the knowledge of incentive for sufficient returns, advice received from friends and colleagues, risk of capital loss, and a place to retire were the influencing factors to savings and investment in the area. The results equally indicated that with the coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.767 and F-ratio of 40.302, the socioeconomic attributes of the farming households showed significant effect on the overall savings and investment capacities at 1% level. However, lack of sufficient returns, heavy consumption, risk of capital loss, lack of agents for savings collection, inadequate bank branches, high administrative cost, inadequate information, low literacy level, poor market structure, and high perishable nature of agricultural produce were identified as the major constraints to savings and investments.  Based on the findings, the study concluded that there was a high propensity to save and invest among farming households.

Key words: determinants, savings, investment, capacities, farming households, Enugu State