Effect of Human Capital Formation on Agricultural Productivity in Southeast, Nigeria

Health capital is critical in achieving increased agricultural productivity and the health status of farmers affect their use of and control of other factors of production. The study examined the effect of human capital formation on agricultural productivity in Southeast Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used in choosing the sample. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Data collected were analyzd using simple descriptive statistical tools such as means, frequency tables, percentages, and m multiple regression analysis. were used for data analysis. Results showed that majority (57.03%) of the respondents were males while the remaining 42.97% are females. The average age of the farmers was 52 years. Majority (67%) farmers were married. On educational qualification, secondary school education was the highest level of qualification of 57% of the farmers. The average year of farming experience of the farmers was 18 years. The average household size of the farmers was 6 persons per household. The average farm size cultivated was 1.7 hectares. The result in showed that 15.66% of the farmers belong to no single farmers’ association. Meanwhile, 52.21% of the farmers indicate being members of at least one farmers’ association, while 17.27%, 13.65% and 1.20% of the farmers indicate being members of 2, 3, and 4 farmers’ associations respectively. The result on access to extension visits showed that the majority (66.67%) of the farmers had no contact with extension agents in the last cropping season. Majority (51.41%) of the crop farmers had no access to credit. About 47.79% of the farmers sourced their funds for farm business from personal savings, 41.37% of them sourced their funds from farmers’ associations, 14.46% of the farmers indicated intervention programmes as their sources of funds for farming, while 6.43%, 5.62% and 1.65% of the arable crop farmers sourced their funds for farming from thrift/esusu, friends/relatives and Microfinance banks respectively. The significant determinants of productivity were farm size (P<0.01), labour (P<0.05), expenditure on health (P<0.01), expenditure on education (P<0.05), and variable inputs (P<0.01). Increase in human capital formation increases agricultural productivity. Therefore, it was recommended that policies that enhance the health status of the farmer as well as improve access to education should be implemented for increased agricultural productivity. This will include but not limited to provision of functional and affordable care facilities and training of the farmers. In the vain, the extension service delivery system should be strengthened since it serves for the education of the farmers on improved farming techniques and innovations for enhanced productivity.