FACTORS THREATENING THE LIVELIHOOD OF FARMERS

ABSTRACT

The study investigatedthe factors threatening the livelihood of farmers in Ovia North East Local Government of Edo State. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, four research questions were raised to guide the study. The descriptive survey method was used for the study. The population of the study constituted all farmers in the 12 major communities where farming are done in Ovia North East Local Government of Edo state, Nigeria. A total of 120 farmers constituted the sample of the study. A structured questionnaire titled "Factors Threatening the Livelihood of Farmers (FTLFQ) was used as the research instrument. The instrument was validated by the project supervisor and two other lecturers in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. The reliability was determined using Cronbach’s alpha procedure of which a co-efficient of 0.72 was obtained. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the descriptive analysis involved frequency count, and means score analysis. A criterion mean of 2.50 was set as benchmark for decision making. After the analysis, it was found in the study that there is a serious situation of insecurity faced by local farmers in Ovia North East, local government are of Edo State. It was also revealed that local farmers in Ovia North East local government area of Edo State do not have adequate access to Agricultural Extension services and that Agricultural Extension services is grossly underfunded in the area. The study therefore concluded that farmers in Ovia North east local government area of Edo State are still faced with serious threats to their livelihoods and that majority of these threats are man-made. On the basis of the findings and conclusion reached in the study, it was recommended among others that the government should urgently begin the implementation of its deforestation laws; and that it should form a formidable security force among the conventional police and the local vigilante groups.