EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS OF AGRITOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF SONGHAI FARMS IN THE SOUTH-SOUTH GEOPOLITICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

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ABSTRACT

The study investigated the exploratory analysis of agritourism development in Nigeria. It was carried out in the South-South (Tai Local Government Area in Rivers state and Abi Local Government Area in Cross River state) Region of the country so as to examine the synergistic relationship between the agritourism centers, the agritourists, the host communities, and their attendant benefits and impacts. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a total of two hundred and fifty (250) respondents. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive tools such as tables, frequencies and means, as well as inferential tools like Principal Component Analysis, correlation, entrepreneurial behavior index and Multinomial Probit (MNP) model. The results of the findings show that majority (55%) of the respondents stayed in their agritourism destinations for a period of 1-5 days. The results show that poultry, feed mill, bakery, processing, irrigation, agro-forestry and fishery units were the identified attractions. According to ranking, the irrigated crop unit was adjured to be most attractive. Findings further showed that economic impact was the most perceived benefits of agritourism on the host communities while sustainable development was the least perceived benefit. Conducive environment, relaxation, safety and visiting new places were the most rated factors for destination choice. The Multinomial Probit (MNP) model result shows that travel time, gender, state employed workers, distance and age of the agritourists reduced the probability of choosing air over road and sea travel modes while perceived service quality and monthly income increased the probability of choosing air over road and sea travel modes. The correlation results confirm that both overall satisfaction and switching barriers have significant effects on destination loyalty. The Entrepreneurial Behavior of the supervisors of agritourism centers show that with respect to innovativeness, decision making ability, achievement motivation, knowledge of operating agritourism centers, risk-taking and leadership ability, 63%, 55%, 50%, 45%, 68% and 65% respectively which represent the majority of the supervisors of agritourism centers fell within the high Entrepreneurial Behavior Index category except for innovativeness where the majority was in the medium category. The result shows problems facing the agritourism centers are lack of political will on the part of the government, poor funding, poor infrastructural development, high accommodation cost and safety and security issues. The need for the development of agritourism in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized as it could help in diversifying the economy, promote the tourism sector, increase our foreign exchange earnings and as well generate offseason income for farmers. There is the need to develop an encompassing agritourism policy if it has to be sustainable, equitable and responsive so as to contribute to the region’s economic development and in effect raise the quality of life of all her people. Agritourism strategy should concentrate on activities that help in improving the skills of local people and ensure local people’s work opportunity and encourage investment in physical infrastructure such as highways, railways, harbors for yielding more income and employment to the locals.







TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Title Page                                                                                                                                        i

Declaration                                                                                                                                     ii

Certification                                                                                                                                    iii

Dedication                                                                                                                                       iv

Acknowledgements                                                                                                                        v

Table of Contents                                                                                                                           vi

List of Tables                                                                                                                                  ix

List of Figures                                                                                                                                 x

Abstract                                                                                                                                           xi

 

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study                                                                                                    1

1.2       Statement of Problem                                                                                                         2

1.3       Research Questions                                                                                                            3

1.4       Objectives of the Study                                                                                                      3

1.5       Research Hypotheses                                                                                                          4

1.6       Justification for the Study                                                                                                   4

1.7       Scope of the Study                                                                                                              5

1.8       Limitations of the Study                                                                                                                           5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1       Conceptual Framework                                                                                                      6

2.1.1    Concept of agritourism                                                                                                       6

2.1.2    Scope and types of agritourism                                                                                          7

2.1.4    Classification of agritourism                                                                                              8

2.2       Requirements for Agritourism Development                                                                   10

2.8       Agritourism Potentials for Rural Development                                                                12

2.9       Problems of Agritourism                                                                                                  16

2.10     Theoretical Framework                                                                                                    16

2.11     Empirical Review                                                                                                             17

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

3.1       Study Area                                                                                                                        20

3.2       Sampling Technique                                                                                                         21

3.3       Method of Data Collection                                                                                               21

3.4       Method of Data Analysis                                                                                                  21

3.4.1    Model specification                                                                                                          22

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1       Socioeconomic Characteristics of the Agritourists                                                          25

4.2       Agritourism Profile of the Agritourists                                                                            26

4.3       Attractions of Agritourism Centers                                                                                  27

4.4       Perception of Host Communities towards Agritourism                                                   27

4.5       Perceived Socio-Economic Impact of Agritourism on Host Communities                     28

4.5.1    Social impact                                                                                                                    29

4.5.1.1 Community empowerment                                                                                               29

4.5.1.2 Community development                                                                                                 30

4.5.2    Economic impact                                                                                                              30

4.5.2.1 Increased income of the local community                                                                       30

4.5.2.2 Intensifying and diversifying economic activities                                                           31

4.5.2.3 Employment opportunities                                                                                               32

4.5.2.4 Poverty alleviation                                                                                                           32

4.5.3    Sustainable development                                                                                                  32

4.5.3.1 Environment sustainability                                                                                               32

4.6       Determinants of Agritourists’ Decision-Making on Choosing an

Agritourism Destination                                                                                                   33

4.6.1    Ranking destination preferences                                                                                      33

4.7       Factors Affecting Agritourists’ Travel Mode                                                                   35

4.8       Relationship between Switching Barriers, Satisfaction and Destination Loyalty      37

4.9       Entrepreneurial Behaviour of the Supervisors of Agritourism Centers                              39

4.11     Challenges that Limit Agritourism Operations in the Study Area                                           42

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1       Summary                                                                                                                          45

5.2       Conclusion                                                                                                                        48

5.3       Recommendations                                                                                                            49

            References                                                                                                                        50

            Appendices

 

 




LIST OF TABLES


Socioeconomic characteristics of the agritourists                                                                  25

Agritourism profile of the agritourists                                                                                   26

Attractions of agritourism centers                                                                                          27

Analysis of the perception of host communities towards agritourism                                          28

Perceived socio-economic impact of agritourism on host communities                                    29

Mnp estimates of factors affecting agritourists’ travel mode                                                      35

Relationship between switching barriers, satisfaction and destination loyalty                         38

Entrepreneurial behavior of the supervisors of agritourism centers                                              40

Overall entrepreneurial behaviour of the supervisors of agritourism centers                           42

Challenges that limit agritourism operations in the study area                                                  43

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF FIGURES

Ranking factors influencing destination preferences                                                             34

 

 

 

 


 

 

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION


1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Agritourism is increasingly becoming a vital alternative farming activity that diversifies the economic base, provides educational opportunities to tourists, and provides greater community cohesion, that is, a synergistic relationship between the agritourists, the rural people, their life and culture (Ilbery, Bowler, Clark, Crockett and Shaw, 1998). Agritourism is a product of pluriactivity in agriculture which involves integrating the farm with some tourism activities (Brandth and Haugen, 2011). Although defining agritourism has proven difficult (Holdnak and Pennington-Gray, 2000), it is generally understood that agritourism should account for at least 25% of the farming operations revenue and serve as the secondary focus of operation, that is, the point at which persons (agritourists) are allowed to visit the farm at a price.

Agritourism may be any form of farm-based tourism operation that provides economic benefits to the farm owner(s) and provides on-farm entertainment, activity, or products for visitors. In agritourism, a native or local farmer offers tours to their agriculture farm to allow visitors to view them growing, harvesting, and processing locally grown crops such as maize, sorghum or any produce the person would not come across in their areas. Often, the farmers would provide farm-stay opportunities including educational programs and recreational activities (Nilsson, 2002; Weaver and Fennell, 1997). The main qualification for the rural farmer who expects to make a living through agritourism is the one that is willing and able to cater for visitors and meet their expectations of a farm visit (Nuntsu, Tassiopoulos and Haydam, 2004; Adam, 2004).

According to Griver (2009), agritourism is a global trend which provides city dwellers an opportunity to escape from urban concrete environment and rediscover their roots in rural areas with farming. Agritourism could bring about a uniting connection between countries and also between diverse cultures but despite these immense benefits, this sector is grossly underutilized and underinvested in Nigeria (Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, 2014). These and many more, this study seeks to address.


1.2       STATEMENT OF PROBLEM      

This study “Exploratory Analysis of Agritourism Development in Nigeria: A Study of Songhai Farms in the South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria” is motivated by the disturbing need to determine why the federal and state governments of Nigeria have not tapped into the bliss agritourism presents despite the beauty and richness of the nation’s tourism landscape such as the weather, climate, vegetation, quality airspace, sunshine, beautiful scenery, the rock, water-falls, captivating beaches, historical relics, rich cultural diversity and wildlife which is a global tourist attraction and necessary for the promotion of agritourism.

The thrust of this research is also to determine if agritourism is a worthwhile venture since it is highly capital intensive as huge funds are required to run the primary agribusiness operations mostly on a large expanse of land and most importantly, capital is highly needed to cater for the needs (health care, feeding, housing etc.) of the visitors (agritourists) since they are meant to be on the farm for a while.

Also, the essence of this research is to expose the beauty and benefit of agritourism since many Nigerians do not see the need for vacations, going for picnics or involving in recreational activities.

This study is motivated also by the certainty that the tourism sector with its immense benefits is one of Africa’s greatest under invested assets, with market worth of $50 billion, but has $203.7 billion of untapped potential which represents four times its current level (Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, 2014). Nigeria is not investing so much in the tourism sector let alone the agritourism sub-sector with domestic tourism market worth estimated at US$4billion (Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, 2014). This is as a result of the fact that the federal government of Nigeria sees agritourism as sector not giving immediate returns to the economy when compared to crude oil. Also, individuals and companies do run away from such investments because they believe they have longer gestation periods. It is on this basis, that the study explored the development of agritourism in Nigeria, from the view point of south-south based Songhai farms.


1.3       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This research was hinged on the following questions, that is, what:

  1. are the socioeconomic and agritourism profile of agritourists?
  2. are the attractions of agritourism centers to agritourists in the study area?
  3. is the perception of host communities towards agritourism in the study area?
  4. are the perceived socio-economic impacts of agritourism on host communities?
  5. are the determinants of agritourists’ decision-making on choosing an agritourism destination?
  6. are the factors affecting agritourists’ travel mode?
  7. is the relationship between switching barriers, satisfaction and destination loyalty?
  8. is the entrepreneurial behavior of supervisors of agritourism centers?
  9. are the challenges that limit agritourism operations in the study area?

1.4       OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The broad objective of this study was to explore agritourism development in Nigeria, from the view point of Songhai farms based in the south-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

The specific objectives are to:

  1. describe the socioeconomic and agritourism profile of the agritourists;
  2. identify the attractions of agritourism centers to agritourists;
  3. examine the perception of host communities towards agritourism in the study area;
  4. analyze the perceived socio-economic impact of agritourism on host communities;
  5. ascertain the determinants of agritourists’ decision-making on choosing an agritourism destination;
  6. analyze the factors affecting agritourists’ travel mode;
  7. examine the relationship between switching barriers, satisfaction and destination loyalty;
  8. determine the entrepreneurial behavior of supervisors of agritourism centers;
  9. identify the challenges that limit agritourism operations in the study area.

1.5       RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

In this study, the following hypotheses were tested:

Ho1: Agritourists’ decision to visit agritourism centers is not significantly affected by annual income, location of agritourism centers and good road networks.

Ho2: Entrepreneurial behavior of the supervisors of agritourism centers is not significantly affected by innovativeness, decision making ability, achievement motivation, knowledge of operating agritourism centers, risk taking ability and leadership ability.


1.6       JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STUDY

The growing economic difficulties and risks involved in the farming industries in many countries of the world, has made many farmers especially those who have small-scale, family-owned farms understand the necessity of supplementing their agricultural business model and finding new ways of generating income. Thus, agritourism could bridge this gap by contributing to the overall income, cash flow and financial gains of a farm by providing offseason income via farm products, farm tours and farming activities (Colton and Bissix, 2005; Huybers, 2007; Keith, Rilla, George, Lobo, Tourte and Ingram, 2003; Sharply, 2002).

Most Nigerians do not see agriculture as a business that involves some level of agricultural connections. Genuine agribusiness is void of subsistence and if this is achieved, the secondary focus of operation could be tied to it, which is the ability to cater for paying visitors (agritourists) at the farm. This would certainly drive any economy, ours inclusive. It is from this foregoing backdrop that this study is justified.

This research work will be of immense benefit to rural farmers including small-scale farmers, enabling them to be aware and take advantage of agritourism as an extra source of income.

This research work will be of immense benefit also to individuals and various state governments so as to enable them see the profitability of investing in agritourism.

The study will also contribute to knowledge since there is a gap with respect to studies and literature on agritourism development in Nigeria.


1.7       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

In view of the need for an effective research work, this study was narrowed down to agritourism development in Tai local government area of Rivers state and Abi local government area in Cross River state, where the Songhai farms are situated in the chosen states.


1.8       LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Though efforts were made to make this work successful, this research was faced with constraints such as:

      i.         Inadequate finance and paucity of relevant literature. Since the work wasn’t funded, the issue of finance was addressed by using personal fund and cutting costs. The issue of paucity of relevant literature was addressed by making good use of the literature accessed for the study.  

     ii.         The supervisors of the agritourism centers were skeptical about releasing certain information especially those bothering on their profit performance and staff strength. These constraints were addressed by redirecting the focus of the study on other bothering issues in the work and expunging the objectives centering on profit performance and staff strength.

 

 

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