Constraints to Agricultural Productivity in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this research article was to evaluate the constraints to agricultural productivity in Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP). This research was carried out between the months of January to December, 2011. There were five districts in Kainji Lake National Park in which three communities were selected from each district using simple randomised sampling technique. A total of 600 structured questionnaires were used for this study of which 40 copies were administered in each of the 15 villages sampled in the study area. The retrieved data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, stepwise multiple regression was also adopted to identify the contribution of agricultural constraints to the total food production in the study area. The results showed that the year class of 11-15 years had the highest duration of farmland cultivation of 35.8%, while the least farmland cultivation duration was class 20 years and above with 4.6% (Table 2). The size of randomly selected farmlands in the villages in all the districts revealed that the farm sizes less than 1 acre had the highest usage of 30.5%, while the farm sizes with the least usage was above 5 acres with 16.44% (Table 3). Maize and Guinea corn were the most commonly cultivated crop, while Millet and Vegetables were the least cultivated crops in the study area (Table 4). The regression analysis of the constraints indicated that high cost of human labour had the highest regression coefficient (R2 ) of 0.82, followed by the high cost of transportation with (R2) 0.80, inadequate extension services had (R2) of 0.78, lack of funds and credit facilities had 0.72 R2 value, lack of modern farming equipment had R2 value of 0.60. While poor marketing had the least R2 value of 0.58. There were high levels of agricultural constraint in Kainji Lake National Park with commensurate negative effect on the survival of the surrounding communities. Hence, it was recommended that, modern farming equipment should be provided at subsidised rates by the government to encourage agricultural productivity among the farmers in the study area. Government should also construct better roads to ease transportation and movement of farm produces to the market centres. An urgent intervention is required to improve the livelihood of these communities to avoid over-exploitation and adverse impacts on conservation and sustainable management of Kainji Lake National Park.