EFFECT OF TRANSIT ROAD ROUTES ON PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PERI-URBAN CROP FARMERS IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
Authors: P.I Ater , J.A.C. Ezihe , T.E. Chancha 
Published: January 2024

The research was carried out to assess the effect of transit road route on productivity and quality of life of peri-urban crop farmers in north central Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to sample 152 peri-urban crop farmers. Data collection was done through well-structured questionnaire/interview schedule. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as; tables, frequencies, percentages, Likert scale fashion, means, multiple linear regression and multinomial logistics regression. The result for the socioeconomic characteristics for Peri-urban crop farmers revealed that, a good proportion of sampled respondents 43.4% fell within the age brackets of 36-45years., 59.9% were male, 55.9% had secondary education, 58.6% had household size of 5-8persons, 86.8% peri-urban crop farmers indulged only in farming activity., 45.4% had annual income of ₦251,000-₦351,000., 74.3% had farm size of 1-3ha. The result for effect of transit road routes on productivity of peri-urban crop farmers revealed that, farm size (β=.085, t=2.626) and quantity of herbicide used (β=.268, t=8.289) were positive and statistically significant predictors of productivity of peri-urban crop farmers. While, transit road routes, labour employed, quantity of fertilizer used and quantity of seed used were all statistically non-significant predictors of productivity of peri-urban crop farmers. The result of multinomial logistic regression for the effect of transit road routes on quality of life of Peri-urban crop farmers in north central Nigeria revealed that, nature of the transit road route (categorical variable) show a statistical significance value for peri-urban crop farmers in moderate quality of life category. But, not for nature of transit routes for peri-urban farmers in the good quality of life category. This suggests that, there is a statistical significant association between nature of transit routes and quality of life of peri-urban crop farmers in moderate quality of life category compared to those in the poor quality of life category (reference category). While, there was no statistical association for nature of transit road route on crop farmers in good quality of life compared to peri-urban crop farmers in poor quality of life. The coefficient for transit road routes for peri-urban crop farmers in moderate quality of life revealed that a statistical significant relation exists (p =.038) for crop farmers in moderate quality of life category. On the other hand, the coefficient of transit road routes for peri-urban crop farmers in good quality of life category revealed a statistical non-significant relation exists (p =.309) for crop farmers in good quality of life category. Based on this finding from the research, the study therefore recommends that, Government should maintain a balance distribution of transit road of the geographical zones in the country from state down to the local government areas. There is need for increase funding for road development and plan for continuous improvement of existing roads for enhanced development and transcendental uniform distribution of improved productivity and quality of life in the peri-urban communities in Nigeria.