Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Upland Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) Production in Izzi Local Government of Ebonyi, State

Abstract

The study analysed the socio-economic factors affecting upland rice production in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in the selection of one hundred and twenty (120) farmer respondents. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. From the analysis, it was observed that majority (80%) of the upland rice producers are males with mean age of 47 years. However, the farmers mostly secondary school leavers and national diploma holders and have a mean household of 11 members. The study further revealed that the farmers cultivates an average of eight hectares thus, realising a mean annual income of one hundred and five thousand, nine hundred naira (N105, 900.00) only. The benefit cost ratio indicated that for every one naira (N1) invested in the production, a profit of thirtytwo kobo (0.32k) was realised. The result of the analysis equally revealed that with the coefficient of  multiple determination – R2 of 77.4, the coefficients of socioeconomic  variables like educational status, marital status, and household size were positively signed and significant at 1% as farming experience was equally positively signed and significant at 5%, thus having strong influence on upland rice production in the study area. Meanwhile, the study identified inadequate capital, lack of new varieties of rice, poor market information, lack of government incentives, incidence of pest and diseases, and poor rural infrastructures as the major constraints to upland rice production in the study area. The study however, recommended improved government support to farmers through timely provision of production inputs and resources, timely delivery of market information to upland rice farmers as to enable the sale their products at incentive price.

Key words: Upland, rice, production, farm-input, farmers.