Volume 60, Issue 335, May - August 2024

Impact of rural accessibility on yields and income of cassava farmers in a part of North Central, Nigeria

Olurotimi Joseph Aboyeji^♦, Akinola Samuel Aguda

Department of Geography Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Geography Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Poor rural transport impedes accessibility, livelihood and development in agrarian populations. This study examined the conditions of roads, farmers’ modes of transport and transport services; determined annual yields and income from cassava and, assessed the impact of transport on both in Kwara South Senatorial District, Kwara State, Nigeria. Questionnaire was administered to1373 farmers systematically selected from thirty-six rural settlements in the study area. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis. Results showed that 44.4% of the settlements were connected by tarred roads, 51.8% of respondents regularly trekked to farm, 51.6% patronized commercial motorcycle transport’ services. 15.8% realized 201-300 bags and16.4% of the respondents realized N 100,000 – N 150, 000 annually. Cassava output inversely varied significantly with transport services (b= -210, p = 0.00). While, cassava income indirectly and significantly correlated with transport services (r = - 0.226, p <0.05). The study concluded that transport services impacted significantly on spatial distributions of crop’s yield and income. Therefore, improved transport services influenced farmers’ livelihoods. The study recommended provision and rehabilitation of rural roads, creation of market centers and use of few passengers’ vehicles to improve transport services and step-up yields and income and, promote the livelihood of farmers in the area.

Keywords: Distance to farm, Transport facilities Transport modes, Transport services

Discovery, 2024, 60, e16d1429

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v60i335.e16d1429

Published: 12 May 2024