EFFECT OF LAND USE PATTERNS ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN IMO STATE , NIGERIA

The broad objective of this study was to analyze the effects of land use
patterns on agricultural productivity in Imo State . Primary data were
colleted using a set of structured questionnaire from one hundred and
fourteen farmers who were selected using purposive sampling techniques
from the three agricultural zones of the state. Data were analysed using
descriptive statistics and other appropriate statistical and econometric
tools. Results showed that over (45.6%) of the sampled farmers
practiced continuous cropping relative to shifting cultivation and crop
rotation due to the limited supply of land prevalent in the study area.
Results also showed the total factor productivity of the different land
use patterns across the three agricultural zones of the state (Okigwe,
Orlu, and Owerri) respectively, with crop rotation having the highest
total factor productivity ratio relative to shifting cultivation and
continuous cropping respectively. The results of the Cobb-Douglas
function showed that land use patterns such as shifting cultivation and
crop rotation were highly significant at 1%, while continuous cropping
was inversely related to agricultural productivity probably due to the
predominant use of continuous cropping pattern in the study area.
Similarly, the estimated Cobb-Douglas function showed that all the
included explanatory variables have about 76.1% explanation to the
variation in agricultural productivity and were significant at 1% and 5%
critical levels respectively. Farmers in the study area perceived lack of
capital as a major constraint facing them, followed by high cost of farm
inputs, high cost of labour and inadequate productive farm land.
Consequently, there is need for the government to provide farmers
with the requisite credit facilities at a reduced interest rate as well as
subsidize agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, planting materials etc, to
ensure maximum output and high productivity at large