Effect of insurgency on food crop farmers’ productivity in Borno and Gombe States, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analysed the effect of Insurgency on food crop Farmers’ productivity in Borno and Gombe States, Nigeria. Data used for the study were obtained from primary source using questionnaire administered to randomly selected240 food crop farmers. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to describe farmers’ access to farm inputs and output of the farmers in the study area. The ordinary least square regression model was used to analyse the effect of insurgency on food crop farmers’ productivity in the study area. The results revealed that the in Borno State, the mean pesticides, fertilizer, seed and farm size required were 3.37 litres, 88.58kg, 3.30kg and 2.83ha, while the quantity used were 0.58 litres, 11.51kg, 0.06kg, and 1.35ha respectively and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05).Also in Gombe State, the mean pesticides, fertilizer, seed and farm size required were 3.5litres, 178.6kg, 6.6 and 5.3ha, while the quantity used were 1.3 litres, 39.3kg, 1.7kg, and 2.4ha respectively and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05).The study also revealed a significant difference between the output produced in Borno and Gombe States with a mean value of 706.85kg/ha and 2846.19kg/ha respectively. The result of the regression analysis showed that farm size (p<0.10), fertilizer (P<0.01), farming experience (P<0.05), level of education (p<0.10) and age of the farmer P<0.01)increased to productivity. While insurgency (P<0.01) was inversely related to productivity in the study area. The study therefore recommended that programmes aimed at enhancing easy and timely access to production inputs especially fertilizer should be strengthened in order to enable farmers improve their productivity. Also, government should provide peaceful atmosphere to boost food crop production and improve farmers’ productivity in the study area.