Benue State University, Makurdi

THE STATE OF RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND ITS EFFECTS ON CROP PRODUCTION IN VANDEIKYA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Agnes Agbanugo Ikwuba, Andrew Ahwen Iorbee, Tavershima Abraham Agwaza & Ruth Iveren Angera
¹Department of Sociology,
AdekunleAjasin University Akungba-Akoko.


²Institute of Food Security,
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi


³Centre for Food Technology and Research,
Benue State University, Makurdi.

Abstract

This study was an assessment of the state of rural infrastructure and its effects on crop production in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State. Specifically, the study examined the available rural infrastructure that enhance crop production, evaluated the condition of these rural infrastructures and assessed the effects of deplorable rural infrastructure on crop production. The study adopted Walt Whitman Rostow's Modernisation Theory of Economic Growth to explain the subject under investigation. Cross-sectional design was employed for the study. A sample of 400 crop farmers was drawn for the study using multistage sampling procedure. Data was collected using questionnaire and key informal interview and analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings revealed available infrastructure in the study area as access roads and bridges (40.8%), transport facilities (22.2%), farm inputs/machines (19.2%), and credit facilities (17.8%). The findings further indicated that the state of available rural infrastructure in the area was deplorable (p < 0.05), which has affected crop production (p < 0.05) by reducing the rate of production, increasing post-harvest losses, inducing rural-urban migration and criminality in the area. The study recommended that Federal and State governments should consider rural infrastructure especially access roads/bridges construction and repairs paramount to enhance crop production. Private and cooperate organisations should assist farmers with soft loans which should be disbursed directly and timely to enable them meet their farm needs at the appropriate season. Farm inputs/machines should be subsidized either by government or private sectors to enable farmers afford them to advance crop production, among other recommendations.

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