ACCESSIBILTY AND UTILIZATION OF AGRO-SERVICES BY CROP PRODUCTION FAREMERS IN ABUJA-FCT, NIGERIA

Abstract

Accessibility and Utilization of agro-services by crop production farmers in Abuja-FCT, Nigeria was examined in this study. Multi-stage sampling techniques was used to select 346 respondents for the study from three Area council in FCT. Validation interview schedule with reliability coefficient of 0.74 was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logit regression model. The results indicated that the mean age of the respondents was 48years. Only 10.7% of them had tertiary education. Majority (84.1%) of the respondents were members of farmers’ associations, Findings of the study revealed that the services of agro-inputs retailers (94.8%), tractor hiring schemes (87.0%), agricultural extension services agencies (75.1%), fertilizer companies (65.0%) and agricultural finance institution (51.4%) were accessibility to the respondents. Thus, agro-services of agro-input dealers (X=3.15) extension agencies (X=3.07) fertilizer companies (X=2.62) and agricultural finance institutions (X=2.51) were well utilized. Perceived economic benefits of the services, educational level, membership of association and income had exclusively positive significant influence on the utilization of agro-services by the respondents. High cost of services (60.1%), far distance to the sources of services (54.9%) and unavailability of facilities (45.7%) were the major challenges for accessibility and utilization of agro-services in the study area. Thus, it was concluded that the agro-services operated by private service providers were more accessible and utilized by the respondents than the services provided by the government. It was recommended that agricultural extension agents should encouraged the farmers to access agro-services in group through their association, for enhanced capacity to the use agro-services at reduce prices. It was also suggested that agricultural extension workers should educated the farmers more on the economic benefits of using agro-services to maximize the usage of the services and output by the farmers