ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC VARIABLES ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY OF SOME SELECTED ARABLE CROPS IN IMO STATE. NIGERIA.

The paper investigated the influence of socioeconomic variables on agricultural productivity of some selected arable crops in Imo State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire were used to collect data from 92 respondents using purposive sampling procedures. Furthermore, descriptive and econometric tools such as the means, frequency, percentage, ANOVA and ordinary least square multiple regressions analysis were used to analyze the data. Majority (77.2%) of the respondents were females, with a mean age of 53 years. Most of the respondents were married, educated with a household size of 7 persons which accounted for (65.2%), (75.0%) and (80.4%) respectively. Again about 80% of the socio-economic variables investigated were positively related and statistically significant at 1% and 5% level. This implies that the socio-economic variables had a strong influence on agricultural productivity in the study area. The ANOVA result showed that there are significant differences in agricultural productivity across the three agricultural zones investigated. Productivity in the area was seriously constrained by lack of capital, high cost of labour as well as high cost of farm inputs. However, a call for private sector investment in agriculture, implementation of profitable policies and mechanization of agriculture were recommended for increased production.