FARMING PRACTICES AND FARMERS’ PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA
This study investigated the relationship between farming practices and farmers’ participation in community development in Anambra State, Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were tested in the study. Correlational research design was adopted for this study with a sample of 833 respondents selected from the population of 24,488 registered farmers in the study area using both stratified and purposive sampling techniques. A well developed and validated questionnaire titled Farming Practices and Farmers’ Participation in Community Development Project Questionnaire (FPFPCDPQ)” was used to collect data. The reliability of the instrument was done using Cronbach alpha reliability and result showed the reliability index range from .74 to .95. Simple regression regression statistical technique were used for data analysis and each hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance. The results revealed that snail farming and rabbit farming significantly contributes to economic empowerment of farmers in Anambra State. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that State government should provide incentives to snail farmers to boost their production considering the gross margin and net profit of snail farming; due to significant influence of price on profitability of snail farming, government should help maintain stable price for snails in the State.
Key words: Farming, practices, farmers’ participation and community development projects.
