THE IMPACT OF MECHANIZED FARMING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1.1 Introduction

Agricultural farm mechanization is an essential factor influencing agricultural output and the profitability of farming activities. Mechanized farming plays a vital role especially in the development of the secondary and tertiary sectors. During the pre-civil war in Nigeria, the predominant occupation in Edo State was agriculture and it was the main stay of the Nigerian economy. Farming can be traced to the earliest traditional societies although yet primitive they often gather wild fruits and roots for food and throw off the seeds in their surroundings. Though this process of trial and error, cultivation of crops started in the dwelling food and shelter are basic necessities for human existences and both originated from farming activities, workers in the secondary and tertiary relies on farming for their final output.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Agriculture has developed to such an extent that the role cannot be over stressed from the rural way of farming, it move a step further to involve the use of agricultural mechanism. But it is natural that the people of Oredo Local government Area of Edo State still use primitive and crude implements for farming because of the protection of lack of capital, low level of education, lack of infrastructure and so on. Agricultural development in Oredo Local Government Area gives provides food for the over growing labour force, raw materials also provide income for people, it could noted that 75% of the population are engaged in agriculture and derives its income directly or indirectly from farm.

Agriculture later developed to growing of food crop and cash crops such as cocoa, rubber, oil palm and food crops such as yam, corn, cassava, etc. this different types of occupation exist in Oredo Local Government Area these include trading, teaching, sports builders, but agriculture suppress them all. Before the discovery of crude oil agriculture contributed the lions share to Nigeria foreign exchange in 1960 the highest foreign exchange earnings came from agriculture sector.

During oil boom in 1974 the sector contribution depreciated to 27% and 18% respectively. Despite the billion of naira spent on operation feed the nation and the area revolution programme. Yet we still import food in spite of the amount invested on agriculture for the two periods. These happened due to the poor attitude towards farming. Oredo is one of the local government areas of Edo State. It is situated in the western part of Nigeria, and it lies on the rain forest belt of the vegetation. Naturally, it is endowed with fertile land for the cultivation of crops. Agriculture is not only concerned with the cultivation of the soil for the production of crops. The main comprehensive definition is that agriculture is concerned basically with the husbandry of crops and animals for food and for commercial purposes.

Mechanized farming provides empowerment into agricultural opportunity to the labour force through direct employment into agricultural and its interrelated industries and manufacturing sectors. For this sector contribute efficiently, there is the implementation of good management, marketing, adequate returns to farmers and the better utilization of land available and provision of storage facilities. The failure of the country to adopt these innovative practices is accountable for the current food shortages, high prices, mass unemployment, under utilization of industrial result of this failure. Even though the nation progressed, the proportion of agricultural contribution to the gross domestic product becomes thinner because of the predominant peasant system of cultivation. The system is also characterized by the use of simple system is also characterized by the use of simple tools like fertilizers, chemicals and improved seeds are not widely used by most farmers.

The poor performances of the agricultural sector to provide adequate food for the growing population declining, productivity of most export crops which has contributed to substantial reduction in foreign exchange earnings and the declining condition of farming to gross domestic product in real terms. The report of the food strategy mission estimated that in 1982, the supply and demand for all food crops was about 2.5 million metric tones and the projected gap for 1985 was about 4.7 million metric tones. The study group on food production provided more detailed estimate of gaps between projected demand and supply for various commodities. These are presented in table 1.1 below projected food supply and demand compared 000 metric tones. As far as agriculture exports are concerned, the data available shows that performance of the sub-sector is on the decline. The country has become a large importer of palm oil for which she was well noted as one of the world’s exporter in previous years.

Therefore, in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Mechanized Farming in Economic Development.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that there is poor transportation, which affects the economic development and it is difficult to find a sector that is problem free. Hence, the agriculture sector cannot be expected from the economic role of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. Despite the efforts or contribution made by the cooperative societies towards agricultural development in Nigeria, this effort has not been evenly known and it was in an attempt to address such problem that this study was designed.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Impact of Mechanized Farming in Economic Development using Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To identify problems facing agriculture in the development of Oredo Local Government Area;
2. To examine the impact of mechanized farming in Oredo Local Government Area; and
3. To proffer solutions to minimize such problem involved in mechanized farming.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Do you carryout mechanization farming in Oredo Local Government Area?
• Is Government intervention needed in agricultural production in Oredo Local Government Area?
• Do farmers have the modern method of farming in Oredo Local Government Area?
• Does financial institution give loan without collateral in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: Increased agricultural production from mechanized farming does not influence economic development in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
• H1: Increased agricultural production from mechanized farming influences economic development in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

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1.7 Significance of Study

The relevance of this study will aid in finding possible ways in increasing output and infrastructure that will facilitate the economic development of Oredo Local Government Area through agricultural farming mechanization. The coming of oil has created structural distortions and disturbance in the economy and that on the run, the wheel of their progress can only smooth when the economy is based on mechanized farming. Apart from the shift of interest as a result of oil well, other problems that account for the decline are conservative attitude of farmer’s poor marketing facilities in rural area etc. to the best of my knowledge this areas has not been exhaustively researched upon hence this study seeks to bridge the gap.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Impact of Mechanized Farming in Economic Development using Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State as a case study.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Mechanized: Of or pertaining to operation using machinery

Agrarian: A person who advocated the political interests of working farmers.

Plantation: Large farm, estate area of land designated for agricultural growth of ten includes housing for the owner and workers.

Agriculture: This is the process of producing food, feed, and fiber by cultivation of certain plant and the raising of domesticated animal. It is a general term per productive activities like growing as crops raising of animal (including poultry) fishing and forestry

Community: This is the people who live in a particular country etc when talked about a group or a group of people who share the same religion.