Effects of Oil Spillage on the Welfare of Cassava Farmers in Oil Producing Communities of Abia State, Nigeria
Abstract
The study examined the effects of oil spillage on the welfare of cassava farmers in oil producing communities of Abia State, Nigeria. Multistage, purposive and random sampling techniques were used to sample 120 cassava farmers for the study while well structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the farmers. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, means, z-test statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple regression analysis. The results identified the effects of oil-spillage in the area to include: pollution of water bodies (100.0%), poor yield of crops (100.0%), low farm income of farmers in affected areas (100.0%) and threat to aquatic lives (95.0%). Environmental factors that significantly influenced the welfare status of the farmers included: soil remediation cost at 1%, farm size at 1%, oil producing status at 5% and soil condition at 1%. The result of the profitability analysis showed profitability index of cassava farmers in oil producing and non oil producing communities as 0.47 and 0.65 respectively, while their benefit cost ratios were 1.89 and 2.87 respectively. Socioeconomic factors that significantly influenced profitability of cassava farmers include: farm size, education, household size, gender, extension contacts, cooperative and oil-bearing status at 1 and 5%. Based on the findings, the study recommends increaed provision of intervention funds to farmers, and the remediation of degraded soils, to boost farm productivity and improve farmers’ income and welfare.
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