CONTRIBUTIONS OF WATERMELON PRODUCTION TO WELFARE STATUS OF RURAL FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed the contributions of watermelon production to welfare status of rural farming households in Oyo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 265 farming households across Ibarapa Areas of Oyo State. Data were collected on respondent’s socio-economic characteristics, production characteristics and contributions of watermelon production to welfare status. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage and mean while inferential tools such as chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) were used for hypothesis testing at p≤0.05. Results indicate that majority (66.04%) of the respondents were married with mean age, household size, farming experience, farm size and income from watermelon production estimated at 44 years, 6 persons, 7.6 years, 6.2 hectares and ₦98,790.85, respectively. Respondents were strongly involved in land clearing (71.32%), planting operation (64.53%), watering (51.70%) and sorting of watermelon (50.19%). Benefits derived by respondents from watermelon production include additional income generation (82.64%), vitamin supplements (66.04%) among others. Contributions of watermelon production to welfare status as perceived by the respondents include expenditure of household items ( = 3.33), purchase of more farming inputs ( = 2.99) and acquisition of more farming tools (  = 2.95). Nearly half (47.55%) of the respondents perceived contributions of watermelon production to welfare status as high. Major constraints faced in watermelon production were high cost of input (1.73), inadequate capital (1.66) and poor seasonal rainfall (1.58). Significant relationship existed between perceived contributions of watermelon production to welfare status and benefit derived (r = 0.338) and level of involvement in watermelon production (r = 0.692). It was concluded from the study that watermelon contributes significantly to welfare status of the respondents in the study area. The study therefore recommends that farm input such as pesticides, fertilizers and planting materials should be made readily available at subsidized rate for watermelon farmers. This will improve their production and in the long run improves the welfare status of the farming households.