Abstract:
Agriculture may be said to has been constrained from providing improved and sustainable
livelihood to farmers due to factors like seasonality of agricultural activities, pests and diseases
infestations, poor adaptability of crops and livestock to climate change, low price of agricultural
commodities and consequently low profit/income from farming. Farmers have therefore resorted
to diversification of income sources in order to cope. This study therefore sought to ascertain
those factors that facilitate or impede this act. Data were collected with interview schedule from
432 farming households selected from three agro-development zones, twelve blocks and 36 cells
of the state. Findings revealed that although the farmers had diversified their occupations mainly
in the farm sector, there was no significant difference in the income they generated from farm
and non-farm sectors. Formal education (t = 2.056; P = 0.040) and ownership of farm land (t=
2.069; P = 0.039) promote occupational diversification among farmers. Natural, institutional, and
capacity building factors were extracted as reasons while training, security/logistic,
fund/infrastructural, health and stress related problems were extracted as factors that constrained
farmers from diversifying their occupations. The study emphasized on the need for Government
to situate appropriate measures that will checkmate or monitor the trend of diversification of
income sources among farmers especially in the non-farm sector. This is to avoid extinction of
agriculture as a livelihood option and it’s negative consequences on humanity, economy and the
entire universe
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