Socioeconomic Evaluation of Non-Farm and Farm Income of Smallholder Farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Farmers’ income from non-farm and farm activities plays a significant role in rural livelihood. It can address income inequality and contribute to economic growth among rural households. However, some specific factors appear to be push factors driving the income-generating sources. This study identified the drivers of income generated from farmers’ activities aside farming and those derived from farm activities in Kaduna State of Nigeria. Survey data were derived from 249 farmers that were sampled using multi-stage sampling method. The information was derived using questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and an ordinary least square regression technique were employed to process the data. The estimated average age obtained for the farmers was 45 years. The respondents were small-scale farmers cultivating on 1.9 hectares of land on the average with 7 years of farming experience. An average household earns ₦1911038.15 and ₦197024.90 annually from farm and non-farm activities respectively Farmers specific factors driving farm income were age, assess to extension services, farming experience, marital status and education. Furthermore, the variation in non-farm income could be explained by changes in age, household size, contact with extension services, marital status and education. The study concludes that policies and programs targeting increasing rural household income must focus on both farm and nonfarm income sources with the inclusion of training and improved agricultural extension delivery.

Keywords: Farm income, non-farm income, smallholder farmers.