Farmers’ Perception and Management of Natural Hazards in Production and Security of Farm Investment in Isuikwuato, Abia State, Nigeria

محورهای موضوعی : Agricultural Extension

Emerole C. O ¹ , Anyiro C. O ²

1 - Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Abia State University Uturu, Umuahia Campus P.M.B. 7010 Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
2 - Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Abia State University Uturu, Umuahia Campus P.M.B. 7010 Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.

تاریخ دریافت : 1394/10/03 تاریخ پذیرش : 1394/10/03 تاریخ انتشار : 1392/12/10

کلید واژه: Cultural Management, natural hazards, Farm Investment Security,

چکیده مقاله :

This study on farmers’ perception and management of natural hazards in production and security of farm investment was carried out in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The study was sought to identify farmers’ perceived natural hazards in food production; identify adopted measures used in mitigating impacts of the hazards and determined factors that influenced farmers from taking formal insurance policy against these hazards. Sixty farmers were chosen following a multi-stage random sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was via a set of semi-structured questionnaire which was administered by personal interview method. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, 5 point likert scale and probit regression model. The result revealed fire outbreak, outbreak of diseases and pests, flooding, erosion, drought, theft, and ill health as natural hazards experienced by the farmers. The most perceived hazard was fire outbreak and the least perceived was floods. Farmers’ level of education, farming experience, previous farm income and enterprise type were significant determinants of farmer’s decision to take formal insurance. Experienced farmers mitigated effects of these hazards using cultural techniques. We recommended that government should provide a cushion infrastructure in form of dams to conserve floods and flowing streams to provide water for irrigation and ameliorate effects of occasional droughts and erratic rainfall. Farmers on their part should be encouraged by farm extension agency to take up formal insurance policy from designate companies against losses to their investments.

منابع و مأخذ:

1. Amamiya, T. (1981). Qualitative Response Models: A Survey. Journal of Ecology. 19:1483-1536.

2. Botkin, D. B. and Keller, E.A. (1997). Environmental Science: Earth as a living Planet. Second Edition, John Wiley and Sons Publisher, New York., p. 626.

3. Carter, M.R and Barrett, C.B. (2006). The Economics of Poverty Trap and Persistent Poverty: An Asset Based Approach. Journal of Development Studies 42(2): 178-199.

4. Cherry, K. (2010). Perception and the Perceptual Process. The Everything about Psychology Book. An Introduction Guide to Science of Human Behaviour. 2nd Edition, Adam Media Publisher, 57 Littlefield Street, MA 02322, U.S.A. p.287.

5. Harwood, J. Heifer, R., Kaitth, C., Perry, J. and Somwaru, A. (1999). Managing Risk in Farming: Concept, Research and Analysis. Agricultural Economics. Report. No. 774. Resource Economics Division of Economic Research Services, US Department of Agriculture, U.S.A.

6. Heckman I.J. (1976).The common structure of statistical models of truncation, sample selection and limited dependent variables and a simple estimation for such models. Annals of Economics and Social Measurement 5: 475-492.

7. National Population Commission (NPC) (2006). Analysis of Population by States in Nigeria NPC, Abuja Nigeria.

8. Salimonu, K.K and Falusi,A.O. (2009). Sources of Risks and Management Strategies Among Food Crop Farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 9(7):1591-1605.

9. Sivakumer, M.V.K., Motha, R.P. and Das H.P. (2005). ‘Natural Disasters and Extreme Events in Agriculture. Springer Science and Business media, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany. P: 367.

10. Tobin, J. (1958). Estimation of Relationships for Limited Dependent Variables. Econometrica 26:24-36.

11.World Bank (2005). Managing Agricultural Production Risks. Innovation in Developing Countries. World bank Report No. 32727-GLB, Washington D.C