ACCESSIBILITY AND UTILIZATION OF AGRO-SERVICES BY CROP PRODUCTION FARMERS 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 technique was used to select 346 respondents for the study from three Area Councils in FCT. Validated interview schedule with reliability coefficient of 0.74 was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed 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 agencies (75.1%), fertilizer companies (65.0%) and agricultural finance institutions (51.4%) were accessible 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 associations and income had exclusively positive significant influence on the utilization of agro-services by the respondents. High cost of services (60.1%), far distances 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 encourage the farmers to access agro-services in group through their associations, for enhanced capacity to use agro-services at reduced prices. It was also suggested that agricultural extension workers should educate the farmers more on the economic benefits of using agroservices to maximize the usage of the services and output by the farmers.