Title : Impact of community-driven development on productivity and profitability of Agriculture; A case study of cassava farmers in Edo state Nigeria
Abstract:
The dearth of infrastructural facilities in rural communities continues to impede on agricultural productivity, thereby complicating the poverty status of the rural farmers. This study examined the impact of the Community and Social Development Projects (CSDP) interventions in rural communities on the economic performance of cassava farmers in Edo State, Nigeria. Community Driven Development (CDD) is an approach to implementing local development projects that advocates for community participation in decision-making and management with a goal of using knowledge and resources to run more effective projects. This study, therefore, assesses the social infrastructure facilities of the CDD on the technical efficiency of cassava farming communities in Edo State.
The data used in the study were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of cassava farmers in the state. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 479 farmers for this study. The sampled farmers consist of 245 cassava farmers from CSDP beneficiary communities and 234 cassava farmers from non-beneficiary communities. Net farm income, land and labour productivity and technical efficiency were the key economic performance evaluated. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and t-test statistics, profitability ratios, productivity ratios, Foster –Greer- Thorbecke (FGT) Model and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA).
The study showed that electrification project (44.08%), borehole project (34.69%), education project (21.63%) and healthcare Centre (21.22%) were the dominant infrastructure in the study area. The incidence of poverty was more among farmers in the non – beneficiary communities (2.99%) as against beneficiary communities (1.6%) considered very poor earning less than the two third of the poverty line. Land productivity ( = 8969.97 and 9007.61), labour productivity ( =251.22 and 284.52) were significant (p<0.05). The difference in beneficiary communities farmers and non-beneficiary farmers net farm income per hectare (N561,284 and N533,448) was significant at p>0.05 level. Regression analysis showed that farm size (b = 1.436), labour (b = 0.143) and cassava cuttings (b = 0.301) were significant (p<0.05) and positively affected the output of cassava among farmers in the beneficiary communities. However, the use of agrochemicals was significant but had an inverse relationship with output of cassava. Farmers from non-beneficiary had labour (b = 0.234) and cassava cuttings (b = 1.162) as significant and positive, while farm size (b = -0.951) was significant but inverse relationship with cassava output. The difference in beneficiary communities’ farmers and non-beneficiary communities’ farmers’ technical efficiency (0.965 and 0.891), cost efficiency (0.016 and 0.007), economic efficiency (0.993 and 0.984) and allocative efficiency (0.123 and 0.021) were all significant (p<0.01). The inefficiency model showed that health Centre (d = -0.181) and water project (d = -0.009) contributed positively to the efficiency of the farmers. Electrification project (d = 0.003) and education projects (d = 0.001) did not contribute positively to the efficiency of the farmers. Thus, the study recommended that CSDP should build more healthcare centres and borehole projects in farming communities. The Community Driven Development (CDD) approach should be adopted by both State and Local Governments for implementation and execution of micro projects. Lastly cassava farming should be encouraged in the State because of its potentials for wealth creation
What will audience learn from your presentation?
- This article presents an insight into the contribution of rural social infrastructure to the well-being of rural farmers.
- It canvasses the importance of community driven development approach to rural development and empowerment of the rural dwellers.
- The audience we learn the workability and desirability of CDD approach to economic development and poverty reduction.
