Spatial Pattern of Agricultural Development Programmes in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the spatial pattern of agricultural development programmes in Kano State. Questionnaire
and documented materials constituted major sources of data. Twelve Local Government Areas (LGAs) were
purposively selected across the three Senatorial districts in the state. Some 384 respondents were randomly
selected from these LGAs. The Standardized score (Z-score) analytical technique was employed using the three
dimensionsand the associated ten variables. The three dimensions namely Infrastructural dimension, Farm
output dimension, Farm asset and technology dimension while the ten selected variables are: access to land area,
cropping intensity per annum, chemical fertilizer consumption (bags), number of agricultural labourers hired,
financial institutions/commercial banks, access to road, modern equipment adopted on farms, number of
research extension workers, number of livestock (cow/goat) and number of poultry (chickens). The results of the
Infrastructural dimension revealed that Eight LGAs are advantaged while the remaining areas were found to be
disadvantaged. Based on the Farm output dimension, it was found that seven LGAs are advantaged while the
remaining five LGAs are disadvantaged. The results of the Farm asset and technology dimension revealed that
eight LGAs were found to be advantaged while the remaining four LGAs are underprivileged, the LGAs in this
category of advantage include Kura with Z-score of 1.00, Rano with Z-score of 0.99, Tofa with Z-score of 0.16,
Warawa with Z-score of 0.72, Minjbir with Z-score of 0.66, Danbatta with Z-score of 0.55, Rogo with Z-score
of 0.07 and Gwarzo with Z-score of 0.04 in that descending order of performance. However, Tsanyawa,
Doguwa, Madobi, Gaya with Z- score values of -0.06, -0.08, -0.18, -1.89 respectively are underprivileged. On
the basis of these findings, the study recommends that there is need for the agricultural development to spread
across the entire state through agricultural development programmes.