Effect of HIV/AIDS infection on labour supply and agricultural productivity in Benue State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study examined the effect of HIV/AIDS infection on labour supply and agricultural productivity in Benue State, Nigeria. Data used for the study were obtained with structured questionnaires administered to 89 randomly selected infected farmers in the study area. Data were analyzed using ordinary least square (OLS) regression and stochastic frontier production function. The results of showed that the poor health status of the farmers had significant and negative effect on farm supply of labour and agricultural productivity in the study area. The study revealed that an increase in the poor health status of the farmers in the study area led to 5% and 14.03% decrease in farm labour supply and agricultural productivity, respectively. The study further showed a mean technical efficiency of 0.51 meaning that the HIV/AIDS infected farmers in the study area were not fully technically efficient and therefore there is allowance of efficiency improvement by addressing some important policy variables that could positively influence their levels of technical efficiency in the area. It is therefore recommended that programmes aimed at preventing HIV/AIDS infection should be targeted more at the youths both the single and married by government at all levels and stakeholders in Health Ministry. The infected farmers should be encouraged to visit the available HIV/AIDS counseling and treatment centers so that the infection can be managed appropriately and therefore reduces its effect on agricultural labour supply and productivity.