RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROFITABILITY OF FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

The role of infrastructure in promoting development in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized, given its importance in economic wellbeing of the populace and growth of the economy. This study examined the influence of infrastructure on the profitability of food crop production among rural farming households in Oyo State, Nigeria. Data were collected on six infrastructural facilities (tarred roads, potable water, market, health centre, storage facilities and school). Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers from two Agricultural zones of Oyo state. Data were analyzed using Descriptive statistic, Budgeting Analysis (BA) and Ordinary Least Square regression (OLS). OLS was employed to determine factors affecting profitability of food crop production in the study area and the model was well-fitted. Findings revealed that the majority (70.0%) of the respondents were male with 74.0% of them married and had a mean farm size of 12 ha. Based on the current state of rural infrastructure, 47.5% of the respondents reported that available tarred roads are functioning as against 23.0% of them whom reported that health facilities were not functioning. The study concluded that rural infrastructure is essential to the output of agriculture production in the study area. Rehabilitation of rural roads and the general upgrading of the rural infrastructures which will boost agricultural production across the state is recommended.