Effect of settlement patterns on cassava production in Delta State, Nigeria
This study investigated the effect of settlement patterns on cassava production in Delta State, Nigeria. A sample size of 250 cassava farmers was used for this study. Data were collected with use of questionnaire and analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and mean derived from four Point Likert-type scale.The relationship between cassava production and the distances from the farmers’ home to their farms was tested with the use of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The study revealed that the majority of farmers (77.2%) live in nuclear settlements, and as such affect their output, due to trekking long distances to their farms and lesser energy was used in the farm work, inadequate access to markets, and high cost of transporting farm produce, were major challenges facing the farm settlers. It was found that the farmers no longer practice dual residence due to security reasons. It is recommended that farmers should practice dual residence in order to have enough time for their crops and to reduce stress and waste of time during farming season. Extension agents should take into cognizance the settlement patterns of the farmers and design ways on how farm innovations can be disseminated to them.
