DETERMINANTS OF WELLBEING OF SPICES PRODUCERS AND GATHERERS AMONG RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Spices are aromatic plants used to enhance taste and flavour of foods and beverages. Commercial exploitation of the benefits of spices could influence the wellbeing of its producers and gatherers. However, there is limited information on the determinants of wellbeing of spices producers and gatherers. Therefore, determinants of wellbeing of spices producers and gatherers among rural households in Nigeria were investigated. A five-stage sampling procedure was used in this study. Two Agro-Ecological Zones: Rainforest Zone (RZ) and Sudan Savannah Zone (SSZ) prominent in the production of spices (onion, locust bean, ginger, garlic) were purposively selected. Ten percent of states were randomly selected resulting in selection of Oyo and Imo in RZ and Kano in SSZ. Thereafter, 10% of Local Government Areas (LGAs) and two communities from each LGA were randomly selected to give 10 LGAs and 20 communities. Producers, gatherers and producer-gatherers were randomly selected proportionate to size to give 337 respondents. Structured interview schedules were used to collect data on respondents’ personal and enterprise characteristics, information access, knowledge of spices enterprise, utilisation of spices and benefits derived from the enterprise. Indices of information access (low= 0.0-6.2; high = 6.3-32.0), knowledge (low = 0.00-72.28; high = 72.29-90.00), utilisation (low = 0.0–28.5; high = 28.6-84.0), benefits (low = 0.00-41.90; high = 41.91-92.00) and Better Life Index household wellbeing (worse off = 0.00-6.24; moderate = 6.25-10.96; better off = 10.97-12.80) were generated. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and linear regression at α 0 .05 Age of respondents was 47.9±10.8 years, 86.4% were married, 44.8% had formal education and household size was 9.2±5.4 persons. Net income and years of experience were ₦426,331.50±378,708.50 and 22.34±12.3, ₦66,666.67±47,258.10 and 20.33±5.5, ₦167,333.34±119,437.10 and 16.50±11.1 for producers, gatherers and producer-gatherers, respectively. Information access was low among 48.7%, 100.0% and 77.0% of producers, gatherers and producer-gatherers, respectively. More producers (60.9%) had high knowledge of spices than producer-gatherers (53.1%) and gatherers (37.0%). Level of utilisation of spices was high among 58.9%, 77.8% and 61.1% of producers, gatherers and producer-gatherers, respectively. Majority of producers (59.9%), gatherers (100.0%) and producer-gatherers (55.8%) derived high benefits from spices enterprise. More producer households (27.9%) were better-off than producer-gatherer households (14.2%) and gatherer households (3.7%). More gatherer households (81.5%) and producer-gatherer households (70.8%) were of moderate wellbeing. Respondents’ education (χ2=31.785; 27.205; 56.785) and ethnicity (χ2=56.758; 27.000; 19.843) were significantly related to household wellbeing among producers, gatherers and producer-gatherers. Benefits derived determined household wellbeing among producers (β=0.29) and gatherers (β=0.81). Information access determined household wellbeing among producers (β=0.23) and producer-gatherers (β=0.21). Access to information and benefits derived determined the wellbeing of producers and gatherers of spices among rural households in Nigeria. Spices enterprise should be encouraged as an avenue to enhance rural household wellbeing.