Determinants of Yam Farmers’ Choice of Coping Strategies to Economic Recession in Oye Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study assessed the determinants of yam farmers’ choice of coping strategies to economic recession in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State. Specifically, this study identified measures adopted by the yam farmers to cope with economic recession in the study area. Data for the study were collected through structured questionnaire which was administered to 122 yam farmers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data for the study. The result of the study indicated that over 70% of the farmers were engaged in petty business and Intensify on on-farm activities to cope with economic recession. Estimates of Tobit regression model showed that sex of the farmer, level of education, occupation, extension visit, and association membership were significant at 1% level of probability, while farming experience and household size were significant at 5% level of probability. The result implies that yam farmers’ choice of coping strategies to economic recession is determined by these variables. Based on these findings, it is recommended that adult education programmes should be organized by the local government in order to increase the literacy levels of the respondents, likewise extension visit should be strengthened through provision of necessary logistics so that farmers will be sensitized on the different strategies to cope with economic recession. Farmer’s associations should be encouraged by the extension agent, as it is an avenue for sharing information and knowledge among themselves which could help in making better choice of coping strategies. The involvement of farmers in other occupation could serve as an avenue to earn additional income which could help in the choice of coping strategies to economic recession.