Analysis of Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Participation of Farm Families on Watermelon Production in Sabon-Birni, Sokoto State, Nigeria

This study was carried out based on the analysis of socio-economic factors influencing participation of farm families on watermelon production in Sabon-Birni, Sokoto State, Nigeria. The sampling procedure used for the selection of the study area was achieved using multistage sampling, while proportionate sampling was used for the selection of 188 farm families participated on watermelon production as sample size of the study. Structured questionnaire administered through the interview schedule was used for the collection of primary data, while empirical and contextual information obtained from published and unpublished materials were used as secondary data for the study. The instrument for data collection was subjected to face and construct validation to modify the items with the ambiguity, while descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the study for data analysis. The study revealed that the majority of farm families participated on watermelon production in Sabon-Birni were males (95%);age (53.2%) between 15-30 years; married (87%); acquired informal education (88%); family size (50.2%) between 11-20 members; farm size (55.9%) between 1-2 hectares; farming experience (57.4%) between 6-10 years; land acquisition through inheritance (57.9); used watermelon local seeds (86%) as planting materials and obtained N500,000-1,000,000 as annual income for watermelon production. The study further revealed that the majority of farm families participated on watermelon production in Sabon- Birni were at the medium level of participation (52.1%); security challenges (96.3%) affect the optimum participation of farm families on watermelon production; armed bandit (97.3%) was the most security challenge that affect the optimum participation of farm families on watermelon production. The formulated null hypothesis of the study was rejected, because (calculated F value of 75.45 > tabulated F value of 1.24) at 5% level of significance. The study recommended the need for farm families participated on watermelon production to have adequate security for stability and continuity of watermelon production.