Impact of Contract Farming on Smallholder Farmers' Livelihood and Food Security in Kubau LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study aimed at establishing influence of contract farming on smallholder farmers’ livelihood and food security in Kubau Local Government Area, using descriptive survey design. The instrument used was questionnaire, validated by three experts and yielded reliability coefficient of 0.87, using Cronbach alpha. The instrument was randomly distributed to 194 farmers in a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics and mathematical techniques while independent t-test (P ≤ 0.05) was used to test hypothesis. Results revealed that male farmers (>72 %) within the ages of 30-39 (45 %) years, married (74 %) with tertiary education certificates (48 %) dominated farming activities of the contract farmers. Such farmers cultivated mostly maize using household number of 1-4 (64 %), in a farm size of 1.5-2.4 (54 %) ha^-1. However, with relatively low farming experience of 3-4 (58 %) years. Similarly, married male (73.4 %) within the ages of 40-49 (39.36 %) with secondary education dominated farming household of 5-9 (54.26 %) and farm size of 0.5-1.4 among non-contract farmers. However, with high > 6 (58.5 %) years farming experience compared to contract farmers. T-test value of 9.86 significantly revealed high grain output using contract farmers (57.17) compared to non-contract farmers (37.3). Such implied better livelihood of the participating farmers, with significantly (t-test value of 2.03) less problem indexes of 314.53 compare to 365.73 of non-contract. However, scarcity and high cost of fertilizer, market price fluctuation and inconsistent and poor implementation of government policy were major problems of the farmers. The significant output established a positive impact of contract farming on farmers’ livelihoods. Hence the need for policies to encourage female participation, extension services, innovative production techniques and adequate supply of fertilizer with subsidy for sustainable crop production.

Suggested citation

, Martin Royal Okechukwu Onwunali , Gloria Oluchi Oparandudu , Shuaibu Bako Musa (2025). Impact of Contract Farming on Smallholder Farmers' Livelihood and Food Security in Kubau LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Enviromental Science & Sustainability, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.69798/66013551

Metric