INFLUENCE OF DEVELOPMENTAL STRATEGIES ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ILORIN SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Considering the importance of agricultural developmental strategies to agricultural and rural development and sustainable national development, this study examined the influence of selected developmental strategies on rural farmers to enhance sustainable agricultural development in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 120 respondents were randomly selected for the study. An interview schedule was used to collect information from respondents. Statistical analysis uses include frequency counts, percentage, mean, Kruskal-Wallis one-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) by ranks and Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis. The results of the study showed that higher percentage (80%) were full time farmers. About 30% had above 20 years of farming experience. Majority 70.85%, 65% and 51.67% were involved in NFDP, ADP and RBDA programs respectively. Perceived effects after their involvement includes; increase farm size (46.67%), increase in production (53.33%), increase in income (41.67%), inputs received (46.66%), access to credit facilities (44.60%). Lack of adequate fund was ranked first as constraints. Chi square analysis shows that gender, level of education and farming experience had significant relationship with their level of awareness (P ≤ 0.05). Based on these findings, it was observed that NFDP, ADP and RBDA were the leading developmental strategies influencing agriculture in the study area. The study recommends among others that respondents should strengthen their farmers’ groups by contributing some amount of money during meetings in order to overcome the challenges of inadequate funds that restricted their participation developmental strategies.