Analysis of Net Off-Farm Income Determinants Among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study examined the analysis of net off-farm income determinants among smallholder rice farmers in Anambra State. Specifically it described socio-economic characteristics, determinants of off-farm income among smallholder rice farmers, socioeconomic characteristics that influences off farm income and constraints associated with off-farm income in the study area. Multistage sampling procedure involving purposive and random sampling methods were used to select two agricultural zones, four LGAs, eight communities, thirty (30) smallholder rice farmers and two hundred and forty (240) respondents for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, probit model, multiple regression analysis and 3-scale Likert. Findings showed that majority of the farmers had no access to credit due to bottleneck activities and collateral requirements in obtaining the loan from most financial institution. From the analysis of probit regression model, ten variables were inputted into the analysis only three, the coefficients of age, marital status and household size were significant at 1% level of profitability, gender, access to credit, farm size, farming experience, farm income and hours spent in the farm were not significant. Significant determinants of net off-farm income earned by the farmers were age, gender, farm size, access to credit, farm income and household size. Most perceived constraints were high cost of transportation, unavailability of off farm work, poor extension services and lack of capital to expand farm business. Government should of necessity address the issue of fuel subsidy removal which has a gross effect on the movement of farmers and extension officers should be made available in the State to address relevant issues among the stakeholders were recommended.