DETERMINANTS OF RICE FARMERS’ REVENUE IN NORTH – CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Rice feeds a lot of people, supports so many agrarians and crucial to our global environment. This study contributes to providing insights into the determinants of rice farmers’ revenue in North – Central, Nigeria, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 995 rice farmers. Primary data were obtained on respondents' characteristics through the use of a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results showed that the majority of the respondents formal education (81.4%). The mean household labour size was 11 persons, household head age was 46.3 years, rice farming was 19.5 years, rice farmland size was 2.6 hectare while the average number of times of extension agents visits was once, credit amount accessed was 0.16 million Naira and the revenue gotten from rice production/hectare was 0.52 million Naira respectively in a planting season. Linear Regression showed that at p < 0.05, household labour size (β = 0.04), household head age (β = 0.05, rice farming years of experience (β = 0.04), number of times of extension agents visits (β = -0.43), number of times of credit access (β = -0.48), credit amount accessed (β = 0.26) and the rice farmland size (β = 0.11) significantly determines rice farmers’ revenue generated from rice production in the area. The study concluded that the characteristics of the rice farmers are an important contributors in determining the rice farmers’ revenue generated from rice production in the area. It was recommended that there should be more consistent visits of the extension agents to the rice farmers and regular credit access to funds for rice production as this will increase their revenue generated from rice production.