ASSESSMENT OF SAVINGS BEHAVIOUR AND FACTORS AFFECTING RUBBER FARMERS IN THE RUBBER BELT OF NIGERIA

This paper investigated major factors influencing the savings behaviour of rubber producing farmers in Edo and Delta states of Nigeria. A structured interview schedule was used to obtain data from a randomly selected sample of one hundred and sixty farmers. The data collected was analyzed through descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. The result shows that about 31% of the respondents had rubber farming as their only occupation. The average income and savings were N307093.18 and N 115659.69 respectively. Result of the regression analysis shows that farm and off farm income, loan, farm size (1% level), and family size (5% level) significantly influenced savings. The examination of the informal sector (Esusu) monthly contribution with a view to seeing how it can be integrated into the formal sector in order to utilize it for developmental goals is recommended. The maintenance of subsidies on agriculture coupled with granting of loans to rubber farmers to enhance their income hence savings is equally advocated.