ABSTRACT

Farm plots are of variable sizes, small and widely scattered with irregular shapes and boundaries and plot sizes are frequently changing often resulting in incorrect classification of land use. The principal objective of the study was to determine the factors contributing to the small sizes of farms in Umuahia South Local Government Area with the view of identifying the major effect on increased agricultural productivity. Primary data was used in the study involving the use of structured questionnaire. The data was collected from a sample of 70 farmers from 7 autonomous communities in the Local Government Area. The semi-log multiple regression model was used to evaluate the determinants of farm size. The following where the major finding: Over 70% of he farmers acquired land through inheritance The major soil conservation method adopted by farmers in the area are mixed cropping  and shifting cultivation. The price of land is high and below, 20 percent of the farmers purchase land for agricultural production. The small sized nature of farms is affected by lease price, farm income land ownership, and level of education, age and capital. It is recommended that measures should be taken to regulate the lease price of farmland in the rural area. Agriculture extension services should be intensified and farm inputs should be made available to the rural farmers.

TABLES OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Title page

Dedication ii

Acknowledgement iii

Certification lv

Abstract v

Tables of Contents vi

List of Tables vii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction I

1.1 Background of study I

1.2 Statement of problem 2

1.3 Broad objective 2

1.4 Specific objectives 3

1.5 Justification of the study 3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review 4

2.10 Farming in Rural Areas 4

2.2 Existing System of land ownership pattern and farming systems 5

2.3 Factors affecting farm size 8

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Methodology 10

3.1 The study area 10

3.2 Sampling method 10

3.3 Data collecting method 10

3.4 Method of data analyses 11

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Results and discussions 12

4.1 Socio economic characteristics 12

4.2 Determinants of farm size 15

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Summary Recommendation and conclusion 17

5.1 Summary 17

5.2 Recommendation 17

5.3 Conclusion 17

REFRERNCES 19

APPENDIXES 21-23