Labour utilization in Peasant Agriculture: A survey of four Local Government Areas Of Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Given the low level of involvement of rural labour in achieving a sufficient level of output in Nigerian agriculture, this study explores the factors affecting labour utilization in four Local Government Areas of Kwara State during the 1990 farming season. A total of 120 farming households were interviewed. Results indicate that about 73 percent of rural farmers were young (less or equal to 50 years) but the family were large (average of 13). With a low literacy level and small average farm holdings, the mean annual farm income was low (N4,217). Four major factors: family size, land area cultivated, household income of the farmer in the preceding year and health status of the farmers were significant variables explaining about 63.7% of the variability in labour utilization. Policy aimed at improving labour productivity in the study area and other areas having similar experiences should focus on these factors.