ABSTRACT
The study compared cash savings and indebtedness
among rural farm and non farm households in Akwa Ibom State. It was designed to
ascertain the factors that determine cash savings and indebtedness among rural
farm and non farm households respectively and also examine the relationship between
savings and indebtedness among the farm and non farm families. A multi stage
sampling procedure aided by pre-sampling survey was adopted in selecting
respondents for the study. A total of252 respondents (comprising 108 from rural
farms and 144 non farm families) were randomly selected for the study. Data
used in this study were generated using a well structured questionnaire. In
analyzing the data, descriptive statistics, Ordinary Least Square regression
analysis, probit regression model and simple correlation were employed. The
result obtained on the socio economic characteristics of respondents revealed
that farmers were more elderly; less educated and have larger household size
than their non farm counterpart. Income and cash savings of non farmers were
relatively higher, and their debts were less than those of farmers. The factors
that were statistically significant in influencing rural household saving
behaviour (with respect to allocative choice) were household size, age, level
of education, income, professional experience and distance. The significant
variable that influence borrowing behaviour of rural household includes;
household size, age, level of education, loan size, professional experience,
size of business, distance, interest, loan duration, source of borrowing and
income. Among the farm households, factors that significantly influence cash
savings were income, age, households’ size, educational level, business size
and interest rate. With respect to non farm households, four statistically significant
variables including income, distance, business size, and interest rate
determined cash savings. The coefficients of multi determination (R2) were
0.931 and 0.341 for rural farmers and non farmers respectively. Results on
indebtedness indicated that five variables were significant in influencing
indebtedness offarm families and non farm families respectively. These are loan
duration, income, age, educational level, household size and loan size. The
coefficients of multiple determinations (R2) were 0.876 and 0.841 for farm and
non farm respondents respectively. Chow’s test revealed that there is
significant difference between cash saving and indebtedness of rural farmers
and non farmers respectively, and the correlation result show that farmers’ saving
to debt ratio is 1: 0.95 while non farmers ratio is 1: 0.307. The study
recommends that to increase income, boost saving and reduce indebtedness,
indigenous financial agencies and cooperative union in rural areas should be
massively encouraged with soft loans through the government poverty alleviation
program to increase their loan able funds for on-lending to rural entrepreneur.
GODSWILL, J (2023). Comparative Study on Savings and Indebtedness among Rural Farm and Non Farm Households in Akwa Ibom State :- :Inyang, Godswill J.. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Nov 12, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/comparative-study-on-savings-and-indebtedness-among-rural-farm-and-non-farm-households-in-akwa-ibom-state-inyang-godswill-j-7-2
JIMMY, GODSWILL. "Comparative Study on Savings and Indebtedness among Rural Farm and Non Farm Households in Akwa Ibom State :- :Inyang, Godswill J." Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 18 Dec. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/comparative-study-on-savings-and-indebtedness-among-rural-farm-and-non-farm-households-in-akwa-ibom-state-inyang-godswill-j-7-2. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
JIMMY, GODSWILL. "Comparative Study on Savings and Indebtedness among Rural Farm and Non Farm Households in Akwa Ibom State :- :Inyang, Godswill J.". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 18 Dec. 2023. Web. 12 Nov. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/comparative-study-on-savings-and-indebtedness-among-rural-farm-and-non-farm-households-in-akwa-ibom-state-inyang-godswill-j-7-2 >.
JIMMY, GODSWILL. "Comparative Study on Savings and Indebtedness among Rural Farm and Non Farm Households in Akwa Ibom State :- :Inyang, Godswill J." Mouau.afribary.org (2023). Accessed 12 Nov. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/comparative-study-on-savings-and-indebtedness-among-rural-farm-and-non-farm-households-in-akwa-ibom-state-inyang-godswill-j-7-2