Factors Affecting Farmers’ Awareness of the Consequences of Solid Mineral Extraction on Yam and Cassava Production in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out in Southeast states of Nigeria to examine the factors affecting farmers’ awareness of the consequences of solid mineral extraction on yam and cassava production in Southeast Nigeria. Two specific objectives were set for the study involving four hundred and fifty (450) respondents obtained through a multi-stage sampling technique. Structured question was used for data collection, while frequency distribution, percentage, average and binary logistic model were used for data analysis and interpretation. The result reveals that majority of respondents were males (74.7%) and married (84.4%). It shows that majority of the respondents (92.91%) grow both yam and cassava, while most respondents (90.78%) and (62.41%) were members of social organizations and cooperatives, respectively. The result further reveals that educational levels vary widely among the yam and cassava farmers in the study area. The independent variables included in the model were: education has a coefficient of 1.213886 and significant at 1%, household size has a coefficient of 1.007158 and significant at 1%, the gender coefficient was 1.692373 and also significant at 5%, off-farm income was positive and significant at 5% with a coefficient of 7.01E-06, social organization membership was significant at 10% with a coefficient of 1.42039, while farm size has a positive coefficient of 1.2337 and significant at 1% in the study area. There should be increased sensitization, mobilization and advocacy to create more awareness on the negative impacts of solid mineral mining on the socio-economic livelihoods of the host communities to enable them to become more proactive in tackling this menace.