-
Analysis Of Labor Use And Food Security Among Rural Maize Farmers
[A CASE STUDY OF ODEDE LGA, OGUN STATE.]
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 7]
Page 6 of 7
-
-
-
World Food Program (WFP) (2013) reported that about 842
million people (one in every eight) across the world suffer chronic
hunger. Almost all the hungry people live in the rural areas of
developing countries, and belong to mostly farming families and
represent about 15% of the population of such countries (Hunger Notes,
2013). Fakiyesi (2001) reported that 66% of Nigerians live below poverty
line when judged by level of food security. Also, over 40% of the
Nigerian population was found to be food insecure in 2005 (Sanusi et.
al., 2006).
Agricultural production in Nigeria though the mainstay
of the economy, still rests largely on the shoulders of small-scale,
resources-poor farmers who inhabit the rural areas of the country. It is
heavily labor intensive with farmers relying on households for labor
and supply. Gocowski and Oduwole (2003) confirmed labor as a major
constraint to peasant agricultural production in Nigeria especially
during planting, weeding and harvesting.
Human labor is about the
only form of farm labor available to small holder farmers in Southwest
of Nigeria. This form of labor accounts for up to 80% of total farm
power and constitute between 80 and 90% of the cost of production in
many farming systems (Awoyemi, 1981; Dvorak, 1996).
Generally, the
scarcity of farm labor has be found to have negative impact on planting
precision, better weed control, timely harvesting and crop processing
(Oluyole et. al., 2011). However, noted that labor is a major constraint
in peasant production especially during planting, weeding and
harvesting. Also, observed that rapid growth in population which
increases farm labor supply exerts so much pressure on land and reduces
farm size per hectare. Empirical evidence have shown that available farm
labor forces comprised mostly of old people (to the exclusion of young
men and women within the active working age) therefore having negative
effect on agricultural productivity (Oluyole & Lawal, 2010). The
increasing absence of young people in framing could attribute to farm
drudgery, poor farm income, rural-urban migration, food insecurity as
well as generally lowlife expectancy in rural areas (Gill, 1991).
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 7]
Page 6 of 7
-
-
ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The study examined the Analysis of labor use and food security among rural maize farmers in odede lga, ogun state.More specifically, the study sought to assess the labor use and food security among farmers.The study consist of all farmers in Odeda Local government area, Ogun state, a two -Stage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of the respondents’ maize crop farmers within the study area, twenty-five maize farmers was randomly selected from each of the villages which one hu ... Continue reading---
