ABSTRACT

This study formulated optimum farm plans with child farm labour reduction for arable crop farmers in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. A structured questionnaire was employed to obtain information from one hundred and fifty (150) stratified randomly selected arable crop farmers in rural communities of Akwa Ibom State. Descriptive statistics, Linear Programming and Target -Minimization of Total Absolute Deviation (Target-MOTAD) models were used to analyze the data. Result showed that the study area was dominated by male farmers (68%), majority were educated (Average of 6 years of education) and quite experienced in farming (16 years). The mean age of the respondents and household size were 46.86 years and 6 persons respectively, with average of 2 persons below 18 years of age. Eleven major crop enterprises were identified as the existing crop plans in the study area with average net return ofN275247.03 for the State. The normative plan (Plan IV) for an average farmer in the State was N514110.4 indicating an increase of 86.78%, over the existing plan (Plani). This plan recommended the cultivation of four crop enterprises; Cassava/Melon CaJMe) (0.1 Oha), Cassava/Melon/Cocoyam (Ca/Me/Cc) (1.11 ha), Yam/Maize/Pumpkin (Y/Mz/) (0.6 iha), and Yam/Maize/Cocoyam (Y/MzJCc) (0.34ha). The result of the alternative, risk efficient farm plans II and III for the State prescribed the cultivation of more crop enterprises thus; Cassava/Melon/Cocoyam (Ca/Me/Cc) (0.52ha, 0.52ha), Cassava/Melon (Ca/Me) (0.lOha, 0.11ha), CassavalMaize/Pumpkin (Ca/Mz/P) (0.83ha, 0.79ha), Yam/Maize/pumpkin (Y/Mz/P) (0.23ha, 0.2lha), and Yam/Maize/Cocoyam (Y/Mz/Cc) (0.33ha, 0.32ha). The risk efficient farm plans II and III suggested a net return of4 15884.1 for Plan II and 396392.5 for plan III indicating an increase of 30.89% and 24.75% of net returns over the farmer's existing plan and a decrease of 25.60% and 29.09% in net return when compared with the net return of plan IV. Capital was the only limiting resource in the study area. The study showed that farmers existing level of returns were not optimal. It is recommended that the farmers adopt the prescribed farm plans in the study to improve their farm income and minimize risk. Farmers should be encouraged to form cooperative societies and other functional groups to raise capital and provide farm labour during critical farm operations. Government should introduce policies that will enhance credit access to farmers, and introduce labour saving technology to discourage child farm labour. The existing laws on free and compulsory education and the child right act should be strengthened and enforced to ensure that children are not withdrawn from schools for farm work.