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Discriminant Analysis of the Influence of Farmer's Socio-Economic Characteristics on their Participation in Research and Extension Activities in Borno State, Nigeria

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Author Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Agricultural Extension Services, University of Maiduguri, NIGERIA
  • 2 Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Abuja, NIGERIA

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 1, Issue (4), Pages 1-6, December,14 (2012)

Abstract

This article describes and applies the discriminant analysis model in this study to evaluate the influence of farmers’ socio-economic characteristics on their level of participation in Participatory Research and Extension Approach (PREA) activities in Borno State, Nigeria. Data were obtained from 605 respondents selected through multistage and proportionate sampling procedures. Discriminant analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The dicriminant function coefficients (b) revealed positive contribution for the variables: age (b=0.292), education (b=0.257), marital status (b=0.232), land ownership status (b=0.232) and contact point with extension agent (b=0.729). However, negative coefficients were obtained for the variables: gender (b= -0.170), agricultural production motive (b= -0.241), land tenure system (b= -0.193), farming experience (b= -0.273) and farm size (b = -0.117). Based on low values of the Wilks’ Lambda (w), high coefficients for F-ratio (F) and relatively large absolute canonical correlation coefficients (s) the result revealed that ‘contact point with the extension agent’ (w=0.960; F=102.766; s=0.751) ‘land ownership status’ (w=0.972; F=71.566; s=0.631) and years of farming experience (w=0.897; F=31.366; s=0.396) are the highest discriminating variables and make significant contribution as discriminators between the different levels of participation in PREA. The study recommended the need to attune PREA to the socio-economic and cultural milieu of Borno State and improve on the level of farmers’ education, ensure steady access to extension services and more equitable land tenure arrangement.

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