World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt
Abstract
Agroforestry has recently been experiencing a surge in interest as a
cost-effective means to enhance food security and well-being. Thus
there is a need to assess its contribution of to farmer\u2019s
wellbeing. Primary data needed for the study were collected through the
administration of questionnaires to agroforestry farmers. Purposive
random sampling technique was used to select three forest enclaves in
Edo state. A simple random sampling technic was used in the selection
of respondents and a total number of 120 copies of questionnaires were
administered. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as
frequency counts and percentages and inferential statistics such as
Chi-square, Pearson Product Moment correlations (PPMC). The study
revealed that the mean age of the farmers in the area was 45.6years.
Majorities (85.8 %) were male and 78.3% were married. with 54.2% having
household size of between 4 - 6 persons. Majority (84.2%) had formal
education. Also, 65.8% engage in agroforestry farming as their primary
occupation. The results showed that there was positive and significant
relationship between farmers\u2019 involvement in agroforestry and
their economic wellbeing (\u3c72 = 76.27, P 64 0.001), material
wellbeing (\u3c72 = 93.77, P 64 0.001), social wellbeing (\u3c72
= 73.00, P 64 0.001) and psychological wellbeing (\u3c72 =
132.63, P 64 0.001), respectively. It is therefore recommended
that farmers should be encouraged to increase their farm holding and
also organized themselves into association for them to have access to
mechanized equipment