Aging, an inescapable biological reality, is setting in upon the teeming population of Nigerian farmers. The study examined farmer’s indigenous approaches to preparation for old age in Ondo State, Nigeria. Multi- stage and purposive sampling techniques were used to select 120 farmers. Descriptive statistics were used to present the findings of the study. Data revealed majority of the respondents were males (86.5%) with a mean age of 41.7 years. Most were married (83.3%) and 52.5% had completed primary school education. Two thirds of them were involved in savings in cooperative societies. About 50.8% saved 1-10% of their income. Savings were however, mostly directed at children welfare (53.3%) rather than their own needs. Majority (72.5%) indicated they were preparing for their old age in the form of investment in children’s education (70.8%). Those proposing to lease part of their farm were 35.8%, 96.7% planned to use more of herbicides and 83.3% will hire labour for farm activities as they grow older to cope with challenges of agricultural activities. Farmers still depend largely on the popular traditional safety net of children in old age. Agricultural extension should develop capacity building packages to help farmers prepare better for old age.
PAPER TITLE :FARMERS INDIGENOUS APPROACHES TO PREPARING FOR OLD AGE IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA
JOURNAL Of SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY | VOLUME 4 NUMBER 1 2013
Paper Details
- Author(s) : FASINA, O.O.
- Abstract:
