Determinants of market participation among maize farmers in Ogbomoso zone, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The key to increasing agricultural output in developing countries is improving the productivity of farmers, which cannot be achieved without markets that would effectively bind the increasingly specialized activities of thousands of widely dispersed producers into an integrated national economy. Although, there is a high potential for rural farmers to derive livelihood from market-oriented agriculture and improve their standard of living, but what are those factors determining farmers’ market participation. Thus, this study investigates the determinants of market participation among maize farmers in Ogbomoso zone of Oyo state, Nigeria. A simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of respondents and a well-structured questionnaire was used to gather information on socio-economic attributes and market participation among maize farmers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Eighty questionnaire were administered, but 79 retrieved were subjected to analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and probit regression. The results show that majority of the farmers were male (70.9%), married (67.1%) and had a minimum of secondary education (74.7%) and above. Also, 70% had direct access and planted improved maize seed and 58% sold maize produced in the urban market. Probit model result shows that gender, age, marital status, household size, farming experience, educational level and membership of association/group are the major determinants influencing market participation in the study area. The study recommends that government should encourage formation of associations/groups, where farmers can get information about market situations and formulate policies on adult literacy programme to encourage farmers to participate more in market.