LABOUR CHOICE DECISIONS AMONG CASSAVA CROP FARMERS IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

The study used primary data collected from 90 cassava farmers through a multi stage sampling technique to examine the determinants of labour choice decision among cassava crop farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multinomial logit regression and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression. Findings revealed that cassava production in the study area was dominated by young, and educated (75.6%), female (68.9%) farmers, with an average household size and farming experience of 6 persons and 10 years respectively. The multinomial logit result showed that while household size and labour cost significantly influenced the choice of borrowed labour, farming experience, educational level, income of farmers and farmer’s age significantly influenced the choice of hired labour for cassava production. Also, the coefficient for farm size was positive and significantly related to the choice of both borrowed and hired labour. The study further revealed that cassava production in the study area was profitable with a gross margin of N 154,840 and net income of N125, 590. The Ordinary Least Square result revealed that family labour, hired labour, age of farmers, farming experience, household size and farm size impacted severely on cassava output in the study area. This suggest the need to pursue policies that would enhance access to land and encourage economical land holdings, advocate and intensify campaigns on the profitability of cassava production and increased participation of farmers, especially younger people in cassava production in the study area as the way out.