ABSTRACT
Agriculture is the major component of the rural economy in Edo
State. Maize is a major crop cultivated in Ovia north thus, serves as a source
of income and a form of security for farmers. Increasing attacks by Cattle
rustlers and Bandits have disrupted the stability and good harvest that has
been enjoyed by farmers in the Local Government over the years. This study,
primarily seeks to critically investigate the Economic implications of the Herds
on Agricultural Productivity, with a
particular reference to Arable crops production activities and its Value Chain
in the Local Government. The major source of data for the research is Primary
data. The approach is basically a combination of qualitative and quantitative
approaches. The qualitative approach dwells on the use of questionnaires to
obtain data from the respondents. The major findings of the research show that Arable
crops production activities is profitable and that it has been drastically
affected by the insurgency due to abandonment of farmlands, and forceful
migration. As such, the study recommends that adequate security should be
provided in villages, as well as Agricultural policies should be reviewed so as
to enhance farmers’ accessibility to fertilizer, loans and grants. These would
help a long way in improving Maize value chain and Agricultural Productivity in
the Local Government.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
Agriculture is the major source of livelihood and revenue to
Edo state being one of the Northern States of Nigeria. Farmers in the state
have been enjoying good harvest of both food and cash crops production thereby
contributing their quota to the Nation building.
Ovia north is one of
the 34 Local Government Areas of Edo State; located in the Southern part of the
State. It is landlocked and is bounded by Dan Musa Local Government in the
North, Malumfashi and Musawa Local Governments in the East, Ekiti State in the
West, and Bakori Local Government in the South. The Local Government is
situated in the Sudan savannah agro-ecological zone. It has an area of 1,462 km2
and a population of 245,739 at the 2006 census (NPC). The Local Government has
11 political wards namely; Burdugau, Danmurabu, Wawarkaza, Pauwa, Ovia north ,
Ketare, Kukasheka, Mabai, Yargoje, ‗Yar Tsamiya, and Zango. Cultivated crops in
the area include; millet, maize, beans, cotton, groundnut, soya beans, etc. Ovia
northis strategically located and blessed with fertile land for agricultural
production as majority of her population depend on farming as a means of
survival and economic independence.
However, the recent ugly development of Herds in Ekitistate which manifested in kidnapping,
collection of ransom and other forms of terror such as cattle rustling,
killings, burning of villages, forceful scattering of farmers from their
villages which resulted in formation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)
camps, which affects Ovia north as one
of the Local Governments poses great threat to Agricultural productivity and
economic status of the Local