Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2015 in Berlin, Germany "Management of land use systems for enhanced food security – conflicts, controversies and resolutions"

Economic Analysis of Land Tenure Systems on Arable Crop Production for Households' Food Security in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Ekiti State University, Agricultural Economics, Nigeria

Abstract

Globally, famine and starvation are becoming severe most especially in the developing world, leading to food insecurity. The study examines the economic effect of land tenure systems on arable crops production in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Attempts were made to examine the type of land ownership rights, problems of land acquisition, the pattern of land use and the resource use efficiency of land as a factor of production in arable crop farming. Data were collected using a multistage sampling technique from 120 arable crop farmers. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and production function analysis. The study reveals that majority (80.8%) of the farmers are small holders having less than 4ha of land. It was indicated that 76.7 percent of the farmers operate on subsistence basis. Result shows that the prevailing tenure type was inheritance ownership right with 60 percent of the respondent acquiring their land through inheritance. This type of land tenure system has resulted to farm land fragmentation which would not encourage mechanisation and commercial agriculture. The production function analysis shows that all the variables used in arable crop production have positive and direct effect on productivity except fertiliser application and chemical use which have inverse relationship. The result also shows that land acquisition through category 1 (inheritance, communal, purchase or gift) would increase arable crop production because this set of land ownership allows the farmer to make their own production decision. The study therefore reveals that the attainment of a sustainable and secured food production hinges on acquisition and accessibility to arable land in accordance with the principle of land use.

Keywords: Analysis, arable crops, food security, land tenure, production

Contact Address: Adelomo Sekumade, Ekiti State University, Agricultural Economics, P.M.B. 5363, 340001 Ado Ekiti, Nigeria, e-mail: bosedesekuyahoo.com