Assessing the Contribution of Musa Species to Sustainable Livelihoods of Agroforestry Farmers in Egbeda Municipality, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The livelihoods of agroforestry farmers are compromised by suboptimal management practices, inputs supply constraints, and post-harvest losses. The study assesses the role of Musa species in enhancing the livelihoods of agroforestry farmers in Egbeda municipality, Oyo State. A Multistage sampling design was adopted to select a sample size of 95 respondents from four wards. Questionnaire survey was conducted to gather data on socio-economic characteristics, Musa species acquisition, availability, management, and livelihood contributions. Data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that most respondents were males (69.5%), aged 40-50 (30.5%), and married (54.7%). Suckers were primarily sourced from fellow farmers (64.2%). Significant proportion of respondents (77.9%). Chi square analysis revealed significant associations between farmers’ age, livelihood activities, and Musa species’ contribution to livelihood improvement. The study concludes that Musa species production enhances agroforestry farmers’ livelihoods and recommends training in value-chain production techniques to optimize returns on investments.