Adoption of agricultural entrepreneurship skills among arable crop farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study analysed the adoption of Agricultural entrepreneurial skills among arable crop Farmers in Kwara State. Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; examined the level of adoption of the skills disseminated; assessed the perceived effect of the adopted Agricultural entrepreneurial skills, and identified constraints to the adoption of the skills. A four-stage sampling procedure produced 165 arable crop Farmers on whom an interview schedule was administered. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation. The results show that the respondents’ mean age, household size, farm size and years of farming experience were 45 years, seven persons, 2.72ha, and 20 years respectively. The level of adoption was low (45%), and significantly influenced by age (r=-0.323), household size (r= 0.306), level of education (r=0.255), frequency of extension visits (0.599) and membership of farmer-groups (0.485) at P<0.05. Inadequate access to inputs, markets, and start-up capital were the most severe challenges faced by the farmers. The study concluded that the level of adoption of the skills was low and influenced by some socio-economic characteristics of the farmers. It is recommended that stakeholders in the rural development processes should explore a multidimensional approach to resolve the identified challenges. The frequency of extension visit should be increased, and farmer-groups strengthened to play more visible roles in extension.

Keywords: Agricultural entrepreneurship, Skills, Adoption, Arable crops, Agricultural Development Project