Determinants of Maize Production Participation and Intensity among Rural Farming Households in Nigeria

Abstract

Farmers’ participation and production intensity in maize production are
influenced by a combination of socioeconomic and production-related
characteristics that shape their ability and willingness to produce. This study
analyzed the determinants of farmers’ participation and production intensity in
maize production in Nigeria using data from the fifth wave of the General
Household Survey cross-section, 2023/2024. The study employed descriptive
statistics and the Cragg double-hurdle model for data analysis. The results showed
that both participants and non-participants were predominantly male-headed and
married households. Intercropping dominated maize production, accounting for
72.42% of participants, and production was predominantly market-oriented, with
89.06% of farmers producing mainly for sale. The double-hurdle results indicate
that bank account ownership and access to main roads (p < 0.05), as well as
residence in the North-West and South-South zones (p < 0.01) and the South-West
zone (p < 0.10), significantly increase the likelihood of maize production
participation. Production intensity among participants is negatively associated
with age and positively influenced by hired labour (p < 0.01), herbicide quantity
used (p < 0.05), household size (p < 0.05) and farm size (p < 0.01). The results
indicate that the decision to participate in maize production is influenced by
financial and infrastructural factors and regional location, whereas production
intensity depends largely on farm size and input utilization.