Farm size - productivity relationships among arable crops farmers\' in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to analyze the relationship between farm size and resource productivity among arable crop farmers in Imo state, and isolate the major determinants of agricultural productivity. Data used for the study were collected from a sample of 120 farmers randomly selected from Okigwe and Orlu agricultural zones of the state. Analysis of the data revealed no inverse relationship between farm size and productivity. The result further showed that land and capital inputs were intensively used, while fertilizer and labour were underutilized. The study also revealed that there are only small and medium scale farmers in the state. The mean farm size was found to 1.30 in Okigwe zone and 1.37 in Orlu zone. Expenditures on fertilizer and seeds, capital inputs, educational attainment and years of farming experience were shown to be the major determinants of agricultural productivity in the state. It was recommended that the system of land ownership and inheritance laws should be reviewed to enable farmers have access to greater areas of farm land.

Keywords: Farm size, Agricultural productivity, Arable crops

International Journal of Agriculture and Development Vol. 9 2007: pp. 91-99