EFFECTS OF AGE ON FARMER'S INVOLVEMENT IN CASSAVA FARMING ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA 1

• O. O. Fasina

  Pathology Section, Department of Forest Conservation and Protection, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria.

  Author

• B. A Adegbite

  Pathology Section, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

  Author

• A. O Olaniyi

  Pathology Section, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

  Author

This study examined effects of age on cassava farmers' involvement in cultural activities; in Ekiti, Ogun and Osun States, Nigeria. Both multi-stage random and purposive sampling procedures were used to select 270 respondents for the study. Fifteen males and females farmers, across three age groups of ≤ 30years, 31-55years and >55years were selected, adopting organizational structure of the three states Agricultural Development Project (ADP). The questionnaire was designed to collect information on the socio-economic status of the respondents and their levels of involvement in cassava production using a five Likert-type scale. The raw scores obtained from the age category of farmers' involvement in cultural activities were standardized for further grouping into low ≤1.33, moderate 1.34-2.64 and high >2.64 level. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The finding shows that the majority of the farmers (73.3% for ≤ 30, 85.6% for 31-55 and 87.8% for >55yearsage groups) in the study area were married. The proportion of those with formal education is 88.9%, 90.0% and 84.4% farmers and majority (77.8%, 81.1% and 66.7%) cultivate less than 2ha of land with mean values of 1.04±0.07, 1.50±1.95 and 2.11±2.08 for ≤30, 31-55 and >55years respectively. Farmers in the ≤30years group were moderately involved in land clearing, heap making and weeding with mean values of 1.34±1.81,1.17±1.59 and 1.73±1.90 respectively, followed by 31-55years group while >55years group were rated low in the operations. However in most post-planting operations, farmers in the 31-55years group were moderately involved, followed by ≤ 30years group. Generally, farmers in the 31-55year age group were moderately and effectively involved. This is followed by those in the 30years and below, but farmers older than 55year age group were the least rated farmers in the level of involvement. Multiple regression analysis result showed a positive and significant relationship between level of involvement and, age (t=2.227), household size (t=2.263), farm size (t=3.723) and educational attainment (t=4.014), while marital status was also significant but inverse relationship. ANOVA result revealed the existence of significant difference in the levels of involvement in carrying out cultural operations (land clearing, heap making, planting and weed) among farmers of different age categories. The study concluded that, as farmer advances in age so the level of involvement increases until farmer becomes older than 55years when they are no more physically strong enough for farming activities. However, policies that attract youths and young adults in agriculture could sustain the present extensive margin of cassava production in Nigeria. scientifically recognized as a cause of death since there is always a specific proximal course. The level of food crop production in Nigeria, particularly that of arable crop sector, with an exception to cassava crop has been very low, and a situation characterized as peasantry and small holding, the use of crude implement and non-availability of inputs (Ojo and Ogundari, 2007). Nigeria is the current largest world producer of cassava (54,831,600 million metric ton), followed by Thailand (30,022,052 million metric ton) and Indonesia (23,436,384 million metric ton) as reported by Fagbemi (2019). However, in rural communities, there could be remarkable different level of involvement of farmers by age categories and the insinuations that specific age categories of farmers were known to be agile and better positioned in food crop production. Introduction Agriculture in Nigeria remains the source of employment for majority of adult population. Its productivity is the most important single factor influencing the standard of living of both rural and urban centres (Adegbite, 2018). Rural communities are endowed with youth between the age 13 and 35 years. The youths, which later abandon rural communities leaving behind the very old and elderly farmers, constitute over 32% of rural population (Fasina, 2005 and Torimiro and Okorie, 2008). Age and ageing have been observed as a serious challenge to sustainable arable crop production which may threaten food security. Ageing is an irreversible biological change that occurs in all living things with the passage of time, which eventually results to death (Gondo, 2012). Though, old age is not 37

1. O. O. Fasina, Pathology Section, Department of Forest Conservation and Protection, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria.

   Pathology Section, Department of Forest Conservation and Protection, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria.

2. B. A Adegbite, Pathology Section, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

   Pathology Section, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

3. A. O Olaniyi, Pathology Section, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

   Pathology Section, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

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