ABSTRACT

This study investigated the economics of investment on soil management - practices in Abia State, by arable crop farmers in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State as the case study. Primary data collected from 200 farmers by simple random sampling procedure was used in choosing the sample. Well- structured questionnaire was administered to this sample using trained enumerators. Under the strict supervision of the researcher. Data analysis was by simple statistical tools like means, percentages and regression analysis. Out of the nine socio-economic factors regressed against the investment on soil management practices, four factors had significant effects. These four factors were; labour, farm income, farms size and level of education. The major finding of this tudy were as follows: Tillage practice was the most preferred, 1vhile anti-desertification measures and Terracing were the least preferred; the average investment on soil management practice was 4410, 015; the extent of farmers' investment on soil management in Bende Local Government Area was not adequate. There were poor labour inputs, poor farm income, few hectares of land and low level of education. There is need to strengthen educational institutions in Nigeria. Such that graduates of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions would be properly equipped with appropriate techniques for soil management practices. Land reform measures in Nigeria, such as the land use decree should be strengthened to ensure that more land is made available to the farmers and other land users in the rural economy.