Factors Affecting Land Fragmentation and Willingness to Exchange Land Among Rice Farmers in Gombe and Borno States: The Dadin-Kowa Irrigation Scheme Experience, Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting land fragmentation and willingness to exchange farmland in Gombe and Bornu states, Nigeria. The statistical population of this study were participating farmers of the Dadin-Kowa Irrigation Scheme in Gombe and Borno state. Using a multi-stage sampling technique and Taro Yamane formula, 284 rice farmers were selected and data were collected through structured questionnaire. The result of the Tobit regression model shows that the value of the F-Statistics was significant at one% level of probability. Furthermore, the value of the Pseudo R square (R2) was 0.34, indicating a relationship of 34% influencing factors and land fragmentation. The analysis indicated that the coefficient of distance of farm to homestead (0.041) and number of farm holdings were positively influencing the level of land fragmentation while the coefficients of farm size (-0.047) and farm income (-0.054) were negatively influencing the level of land fragmentation. The results of logit regression model revealed that LR chi2 value was significant at 1% level of probability. This indicates the goodness of fit of the model and the joint significance of all the variables used in it and concludes that there are factors that greatly influence the willingness of the rice farmers participating in the DKIS irrigation scheme, to exchange their farmlands. Relatively, age (0.03), farm income (0.00), size of farmland (1.44), soil fertility (2.03), price of farmland (0.00), distance of farm to homestead (0.57), distance of farm to the market (0.50) were the variables that positively influence farmers’ willingness to exchange their farmland. On the other hand, gender (-1.84), duration of rent (-0.89) and distance of farm to main road were the variables found to negatively influence farmers’ willingness to exchange land. The study concluded that the farmers were operating on fragmented land and identified the factors influencing land fragmentation in the study area. The study also concluded that the farmers were willing to exchange their farmlands. Hence the study recommends that for effective farm management services, there is need for capacity building training and sensitization programs to educate the farmers of the importance of working in a less fragmented land using every available incentive tools. Governments should provide livelihood security and economic compensation to farmers who are willing to exchange their farmlands under the irrigation scheme.