Economic Analysis of Sickness and Labour Productivity among Cocoa Farmers in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State
[1]
Egbetokun Olugbenga Aderemi, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, PMB 5029, Apata, Ibadan, Nigeria.
[2]
Bola Titus Omonona, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
[3]
Oluyole Kayode Akanni, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5244, Ibadan, Nigeria.
A high proportion of rural people suffer from malnutrition and other diseases related to poor nutrition and the rural are worst hit by sicknesses resulting from poor nutrition and other sources. Therefore, this research work examined effects of sickness on labour productivity among crop farmers in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. To obtain required data, a total number of one hundred and forty two farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive analytical procedure and regression analysis. The result obtained from the descriptive analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers indicated that farmers in the study area literarily have no other source of income (59.86%). They are mostly aged males (65.49%) who have little or no education but a long year of experience in farming (more than 90% have more than ten years experience). Malaria is discovered to be the prevailing sickness in the area with a statistics of about 52% victims. The regression analysis of the determinants of proportion of days lost by farmers due to sickness revealed that the type of toilet used by the farmers, distance of toilet from homestead, working hours per day, diversification extent of food consumed and number of days farmers fell sick during cropping season are major influencing factors. Also, the effects of sickness on labour productivity revealed that land area cultivated by farmers and weight of seeds planted directly affect labour productivity while proportion of days lost by farmers due to sickness and educational qualification have negative effects. Based on this result, it is recommended that youths should be encouraged to venture into agriculture in order to compensate for the ageing farmers. Also, community health service should be intensified to cater for the health of the rural farmers.
Sickness, Labour Productivity, Cocoa, Farmers
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