IMPACT OF ROAD TRANSPORT ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: A NIGERIAN EXAMPLE

Project Abstract

<p>&nbsp;                  <b>ABSTRACT&nbsp;</b></p><p>Road transport plays an important role in agricultural development. This is because it is the major means of transporting agricultural produce from the farms to the markets as well as to various urban communities. This study examines the impact of road transport on agricultural development in Ilorin East L.G.A of Kwara State. It employs the use of both primary and secondary data. One hundred and fifty copies of questionnaire were distributed systematically to the farmers in the study area. Focus group discussion was also used to obtain information on the impact of road transport on rural development as a whole. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were both employed to analyze the data gathered. The findings showed that road transport has both positive and negative impact on agricultural development in the study area. However, the bad conditions of the road affect cost of transportation of agricultural produce which in turn affect the rural farmers’ income. This study concludes by suggesting that an improvement in road transport system will lead to increased production by farmers. Community participation in road transport development should also be encouraged in the study area. Keywords Rural Development, Marketing, Transportation, Agricultural Production &amp; Road Network </p>

Project Overview

<p> <b>1.0 INTRODUCTION</b></p><p><b>1.1 BACKGROUND STUDY</b></p><p>Transport is regarded as an important factor involved in agricultural development all over the world. It is the only means by which food produced at farm site is moved to different homes as well as markets. Transport creates market for agricultural produce, enhances interaction among geographical and economic regions and opens up new areas to economic focus. There are complex relationships that vary both spatially and over time between transport and development. However, for any development to take place, transport plays a crucial role. Ogunsanya (1981) observed that there are three types of routes in the rural areas viz; bush paths, unsurfaced rural roads and surfaced rural roads. However, the bush path is very common but the least developed of all the routes. Bush paths link villages with farmsteads and they are usually narrow, winding and sometimes overgrown by weeds especially during the rainy season. In a study carried by Filani (1993) in rural areas of Nigeria, it was discovered that where motorable roads exist they are mostly of unpaved surface, narrow width, circuitous alignment and with low quality bridges. In most cases, they are either clad with potholes or characterised by depressions and sagging. Such unsurfaced roads are hardly passable during the rainy season when vehicles get stuck in mud or when the improvised bridges of cut-free trunks get swept away by flood. In another study carried out by Ogunsanya (1988) on relationship between transportation, underdevelopment and rurality, he observed that the greater the degree of rurality, the lower the level of transport development. Aderamo and Magaji (2010) noted that transportation constitutes the main avenue through which different parts of the society are linked together. Jegede (1992) cited by Ajiboye and Afolayan (2009) noted that road transport is the most common and complex network. It covers a wide range, physically convenient, highly flexible and usually the most operationally suitable and readily available means of movement of goods and passenger traffic over short, medium and long distances. <br></p><p> According to Ajiboye (1994), availability of transport facilities is a critical investment factor that stimulates economic growth through increased accessibility. Paul et al. (2009) pointed out that the impacts of road infrastructure on agricultural output and productivity are particularly important in Sub-Saharan Africa for three reasons. First, the agricultural sector accounts for a large share of gross domestic product (GDP) in most Sub-Saharan countries (Paul et.al 2009). Second, poverty is concentrated in rural areas. Finally, the relatively low levels of road infrastructure and long average travel time’s result in high transaction costs for sales of agricultural inputs and outputs, and this limits agricultural productivity and growth. According to Mabogunje (1971), some of the variables that determine the level of development in a given environment are easy accessibility and mobility. Transport affects agricultural marketing because it is the only means by which farmers can transport their produce to the market. Poor transportation in the rural areas has resulted in low productivity, low income and a fall in the standard of living of rural residents and high rate of poverty (Aloba, 1986). A strong relationship between transportation, underdevelopment and rurality was identified by Ogunsanya (1988). He stressed further that the greater the degree of rurality, the lower the level of transport development. When the distance of farm to the market is far and the road is rough perishable crops may be destroyed and farmers may run at a loss. It is against this background that this study examines the impact of road transport on agricultural production in Ilorin East Local Government of Kwara State, Nigeria. <br></p><p><b>1.2 OBJECTIVE</b><br></p><p>&nbsp;i. Examine the effects of transportation of produce by roads on farmers’ farm income.&nbsp;</p><p>ii. Determine farmers’ agricultural productivity level in relation to transportation of produce.&nbsp;</p><p>iii. Identify different modes of transportation of agricultural produce in the study area.&nbsp;</p><p><b>1.3 MATERIAL AND METHOD OF STUDY&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;</p><p>The study area is Ilorin East L.G.A and it is one of the sixteen local government areas of Kwara State. It is located on latitude 8°30′ and 9°00′ and longitude 4°30′ and 5°00′ East (fig. 1). It shares boundaries with Ilorin South L.G.A to the south, Ilorin West L.G.A to the west, Moro L.G.A to the north and Ifelodun L.G.A to the east. Oke-Oyi is the local government headquarters. The Local Government has 11 wards and three districts, Magaji-Are, Balogun Gambari/Ibagun and Sango. The climate of the area is characterized by wet and dry seasons each lasting six months. Average rainfall is about 50.8mm during the driest month (November to April). The average minimum temperature is about 21.10C. A large proportion of the land is covered by ferruginuous tropical soil which is prone to erosion. It has a land area of 486 km² and a population of 204,310 at the 2006 census. The people of the area are predominantly farmers cultivating crops such as yam, maize, cassava, guinea corn and vegetables among others. The major means of transportation is the road transport system. This shows the crucial role that transport plays in the socio-economic development of a nation. Road distance from Ilorin the state capital to Oke-Oyi L.G.A Headquarters is 16km. The major feeder roads are: Ojagboro to Ita-Adu, Ojagbooro to Duma, Balogun Fulani to Sakama, Marafa to Tepele, Iponrin to Apado roads among others of which majority are in bad condition. Other roads that link rural settlements together and to urban settlements are also in bad condition. The main rail line that links south to the north although not functioning also passes through the local government. Some of the settlements in the L.G.A are Iponrin, Apado, Oke-Oyi, PanadaAgbeyangi, Ile-Apa, Lajiki, Elesin-Meta, Budo Are and the important markets include, Ipata, Sango, Oke-Oyi, Panoda. <br></p>