Comparative Analysis Of Income Of Cassava-Based Farmers In Rural And Urban Areas Of Abia State

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted in Abia State. lkwuano and Umuahia North Local Government Areas were purposively selected to represent rural and urban LGAs respectively. A random sample of 40 Cassava Farmers was taken from two communities in each of Those LGAs. Questionnaires were used for data collection. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. Chow's test was used to test for the effect of location on income of cassava farmers. The result shows that majority of cassava farmers fall within the age range of 51-60 and 31-40 in rural and urban areas respectively. The percentage of respondents who attained formal education was 85% and 88% in rural and urban areas respectively. The greater percentage of the respondents was dominated by the female gender both in rural and urban areas at 65% and 85% respectively. The result also shows that farm size w a determinant of incomeof cassava farmers in rural areas. Labour, sex and value of input were determinants of income of cassava farmers in urban areas. Generally, the income of cassava farmers was determined by labour and value of input. The mean income of farmers in Rural areas was 62606.750 naira while in Urban areas it was 39886.250 naira. The mean difference in naira therefore was 22720.500. Hence, there was significant difference between the mean income of cassava farmers in rural and urban areas. There is the need to make adequate labour available to cassava farmers so as to increase their output. There is also the need to increase farmers' access to credit so as to enable them get more capital for investment on cassava production for increased income.