Analysis of Household Participation in Urban Agriculture: Empirical Evidence from Urban Households in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analysed household participation in urban agriculture in Kogi State, Nigeria. It specifically; described the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents; determined the factors that influence household participation in urban agriculture; and determined the effect of urban agriculture on household income. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 60 respondents each from four purposively selected peri-urban/urban centres in Kogi State: Lokoja (Zone A), Anyigba (Zone B), Okene (Zone C), and Idah (Zone D). Primary data obtained through questionnaire administration were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings from the study revealed that 61.7% of the respondents were males and a mean age of 43 years was recorded. Married (90%) household heads dominated the respondents with a mean household size of 7 members. Education (β = -0.862), dependent (β = 1.904), marital status (β = 2.544), access to sufficient food (β = -2.495), employment status (β = 1.307) and access to land (β = 0.505) statistically influenced household participation in urban agriculture, while the OLS output indicated that urban farm income (β = 17.539) and non-farm income (β = 848.798) had significant effect on total household income. The study concluded that urban agriculture has the potential of improving the livelihood of urban dwellers. The study therefore recommends the integration of urban agriculture into urban development plan; easy access to land and other production inputs.