Perceived Impact Of Malaria On The Productivity Of Rice Farmers In Ini Local Government Area Of Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

Health and nutritional status affect the capacity to learn, which in turn determines productivity and economic growth. This paper employs a cross-sectional set of data from 120 rice farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. These data were collected with the aid of questionnaire using simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistical tools were used for data analysis. Findings reveal that local, religious, and cultural beliefs; poverty status, literacy level and ignorance of diagnosis were factors that influenced the treatment of malaria in the study area. The study shows that the farmers were not using the insecticide-treated bed nets (ITBNs) as a measure of malaria control. Results further reveal that as perceived by the farmers, malaria frequently disrupts land clearing and weeding operations on the farm.

Keywords: Perceived impact, Malaria, Productivity, Rice Farmers

Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp. 35-38