Impact of HIV/AIDS on Farmers’ Productivity in Nigeria: Evidence from Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study focused on HIV/AIDS' impact on farm productivity in Benue State, Nigeria. The study compared the labour force and productivity of infected and non-infected farming households in the study area. 120 HIV/AIDS-infected and 180 non-infected farmers  were selected using a multi-stage sample technique. Questionnaires collected data. Analyses employed descriptive statistics, multiple  regression, and mean score. Most infected farmers (55.0%) were between the ages of 21 and 40, whereas non-infected farmers (68.1%)  were between 41 and 60. Most HIV/AIDS infected farmers were female (61.7%), while non-infected farmers were male (66.7%). Both  infected (43.3%) and non-infected (80.6%) farmers were married and had 1-5 family members. Infected farmers (37.5%) spent 1-6 years in  education, while non-infected farmers (53.9%) spent 7-12 years. Both infected (71.7%) and non-infected (75.6%) had yearly farm  incomes of N1000 – N50,000 and spent N1000 – N50,000 on medicals. The OLS regression analysis on the productivity of HIV-infected and  non-HIV infected farmers in the study area showed that the coefficient of hired labour used (0.9171) was positive and statistically  significant at 1 percent level for HIV-infected farmers, while for non-HIV infected farmers, farm size showed a positive and significant  coefficient (2.96E-05) at 1 percent level of significance and family labour showed a positive and significant coefficient. Infected homes had  a mean labour productivity of 2302.042kg/manday (t = 8.612), while non-infected households had 3898.972kg/manday (t = 10.631).  The result demonstrates a significant difference between infected (average labour force = 5 per family) and non-infected (average labour  force = 10 per household) means at 5 percent significance. In light of this, the study recommends that Community Based Organizations  (CBOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), and other bodies intensify awareness and sensitization campaign programmes to reduce the  spread of the scourge and the level of stigmatisation and discrimination, leading to increased adoption of agricultural improved  technologies by the victims, increased farm output, and the growth and development of the nation.