Comparative Analysis of Tomato Farmers' Socio-Economic Characteristics in Three Nigerian States

The agricultural economy of Nigeria depends on tomato farming because it provides employment and ensures food security and supplies raw materials to agro-industrial operations. The socio-economic characteristics including gender together with age, marital status and educational level strongly affect both farming practices and productivity levels. The research examines the demographic features of tomato farmers in Kano and Oyo and Plateau states through survey responses from 310 participants. The survey results indicate that men control tomato farming since they comprise 91.61% of all farmers. The majority of farmers (69.67%) belong to the age group between 26 and 45 years old which shows that young and middle-aged people actively participate in farming. The majority of respondents (80.65%) are married which indicates that family support plays a crucial role in their farming activities. The educational background of farmers shows marked differences between states because Kano has the most uneducated farmers at 41.5% yet Oyo has the most farmers with tertiary education at 26.53%. These observed disparities reveal different levels of access to agricultural resources and training and extension services. The research shows that specific policy measures need to focus on enhancing farmer education while addressing gender inequalities and supporting young farmers to adopt contemporary agricultural methods.