Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Agricultural Productivity Among Rural Crop Farmers in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the socioeconomic determinants of agricultural productivity among rural crop farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 147 respondents using structured interviews and analysed with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and correlation analysis. The results showed that the majority of the farmers were male (84.4%), married (93.2%), and in their active age with a mean of 44.7 years. Education levels varied, with 21.8% having no formal education, while 25.8% attained tertiary education. Findings revealed that educational attainment had a significant positive relationship with crop productivity (p=0.032), indicating that higher levels of education enhance farmers’ decision-making capacity and efficient resource use. In contrast, household size (r=-0.230, p=0.005) and monthly income (r=-0.179, p=0.031) showed significant negative relationships with productivity. This suggests that larger households and high-income diversification may limit farm output, as not all household members contribute to labour, and off-farm activities may divert resources away from crop production. The study fills the empirical gap in understanding how specific socioeconomic factors interact to influence agricultural productivity among rural crop farmers in Osun State, a context that has received limited attention in prior regional and national analyses. The study concludes that education remains a key driver of productivity, while household and livelihood factors exert constraining influences. It recommends strengthening farmer education through extension and training, encouraging youth participation in agriculture, optimizing household labour, and providing supportive rural infrastructure and inputs to enhance sustainable productivity.