Assessment of Factors Influencing Commercialization of Arable Crops among the selected Smallholder Farmers in Nigeria: A Case Study of Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State

Abstract

The study looked into what prompted certain small-scale arable farmers in Nigeria to market their produces. As commercialization becomes more and more lauded as a model for rural development, many smallholders' capacity to do so is called into doubt. The objective of the study was to analyse the factors influencing the decision of smallholder farmers to commercialize the selected arable crops. Eighty Five smallholder farmers were randomly sampled for this study, which estimated farmers’ level of crop commercialization and identified factors contributing to their estimated engagement with markets. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain primary data from farmers, while reports from published materials were also reviewed. The study utilized the household commercialization index (HCI) and multiple regression model as its main analytical tools. The result of the commercialization index revealed that, among all crops grown, Cassava had the highest percentage of 54.68% with the lowest value of 6.83% for yam production. Empirical results revealed that farm size, Use of Hired Labour, use of inorganic fertilizer, improved farm profit and Enhanced total crop output, are all important drivers of crop commercialization. Thus, the study recommended that farmers should be empowered through credits and loans schemes in order to cultivate more hectares of land. Finally, farmers should be oriented by the extension agents on new methods of production,  to avoid misuse of inorganic fertilizer, and to encourage them to sell rather than consume more of their crop output to increase their income level.