EFFECT OF FARMING INSECURITIES ON FARMING MOTIVATION AMONG FARMERS IN UZO-UWANI, ENUGU STATE OF NIGERIA

Food production in Nigeria and other African countries has been hampered by persistent insecurities that cut across all aspects of society. The increasing rate of varying forms of attack in the farmlands has generated considerable concern about farmers motivation to partake in farming. The present paper examined the variation in farmers motivation based on Nigerias growing farming insecurities. The study was conducted in the farming communities of Uzo-uwani in Enugu State, Nigeria. Two hundred and ninety-eight farmers randomly pooled from some volatile communities in the study location participated in the study. The respondents completed self-report measures of farming motivation. The regression analysis conducted on the data revealed a positive interaction between farming insecurities and farming motivation. Thus, the study concluded that farming insecurity is a significant predictor of farming motivation and recommended integrating psychologists and counselors in the fight against farming violence.