EFFECTS OF LAND COMMERCIALIZATION ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN KACHIA AND KAJURU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

EFFECTS OF LAND COMMERCIALIZATION ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN KACHIA AND KAJURU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract:

v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my profound and unreserved gratitude to my supervisors: Professor Jacob P. Voh and Dr. D.F. Omokore for their guidance and assistance throughout the different stages of this work. My sincere gratitude also goes to late Dr. (Mrs.) D.N. Maigida (May her gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the Lord), for the motherly and intellectual guidance and support she rendered. I am extremely grateful to my wife (Mrs. Suzzy F. Dutse) and members of my household for their fervent prayers and moral support throughout this work. Also, I am heavily indebted to Professor T.I.O. Ogunfiditimi, Mr. M. Damisa and Dr. J.G. Akpoko for their immense contributions to this work. I am sincerely grateful to Mr. Joel Maidawa for his inestimable assistance in the typing and analysis of my data. I must not fail to acknowledge Mr. James Egoh, Mrs. Habiba J. Kadanga and Mr. Matthias Kasa for their assistance and support in typesetting the work. My special thanks go to my parents, brothers and sisters for their patience and prayers. Finally, I wish to thank all those who contributed in one way or the other to ensure the success of my work. vi ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of land commercialization on agricultural production in Kachia and Kajuru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. Six villages were randomly selected within which ten percent (10%) of the population of each village were randomly selected giving a total of seventy four (74) farmers who were interviewed during the survey period from May to July 2004. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression and spatial correlation coefficient analysis. Results obtained from the analysis revealed that a large number of respondents have sold their farmland (about 88 hectares) and most of the sold farmlands were not cultivated. Only a few farmers (18.9%) admitted to have purchased land and some respondents (4.1%) have lost their land rights through fraudulent claim by other people in the court of law. Multiple regression analysis showed that educational level have a significant influence to sale of land at five (5%) percent, while income was negatively significant at one (1%) percent. It further shows that income and speculative purchase have significant contribution to purchase of land at one (1%) percent level while urban influence made a significant contribution to purchase of land at five (5%) percent level. The result of spatial correlation coefficient analysis also showed that variables such as income, quantity of land sold, quantity of land purchased and speculative purchase were significantly related to agricultural production at one (1%) percent level, while urban influence and household size were significantly related to agricultural production at five (5%) percent level of probability. The vii study recommended that an appropriate policy framework should be formulated to regulate and control the sale of agricultural land to only genuine farmers. It was also suggested that the maximum ceiling for the purchase of agricultural land of the Land Use Act of 1978 should be reviewed periodically to reflect population increase and the demand for agricultural land.

EFFECTS OF LAND COMMERCIALIZATION ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN KACHIA AND KAJURU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA