International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 3(8), pp. 136-140, August 2014 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of HIV/AIDS on crop production among farmers in Oturkpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Abubakar, B.Z.¹, Yakubu, D.H.¹*, Onoja, J.¹ and Oladosu, I.O.²

¹Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.

²Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: danlami_y@yahoo.com. Tel: +234(0)8069064617; +234(0)8057234043.

Accepted 21 July, 2014

Abstract

The effect of HIV/AIDS on crop production in Oturkpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria was determined. Structured questionnaire was administered to fifty HIV/AIDS infected farmers at Oturkpo General Hospital and Family Support Programme Centre. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Most of the victims were within the age range of 36-50 years, having a family size of less than ten persons. Majority of the respondents (64%) were married, implying that married couples were more infected than single (with only 24% infected). More than half of the respondents (56%) spent an average of N18,000.00, while 24% the respondents spent an average of N23,000.00 per annum on HIV/AIDS treatment/medication. It was also found that the victims were unable to adequately purchase farm inputs, use machinery and cater for their children’s needs due to their poor state of health. These are negative consequences of HIV/AIDS attributed to decline in crop production in the study area. The study therefore identified the need for governments at all levels in the country to intensify mass mobilization campaign against HIV/AIDS, alongside the community leaders to reduce, if not eliminate the spread of the virus.

Key words: Effect, HIV/AIDS, crop production, land, labour, yield.