Perception of Farm Succession Planning among Rubber Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

: The study investigated the perception of farm succession planning among rubber farmers in Delta State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to draw a sample size of 66 rubber farmers for the study. The data collection of the study was done using questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study showed that most of the rubber farmers in Delta State were males; 50% were married; 37.9% of the rubber farmers had 21-30 years of farming experience, but majority of rubber farmers had relatively low level of education. The results also revealed that rubber farmers have positive perceptions of farm succession planning. It was found that the factors that influence farm succession planning among rubber farmers in Delta State were the interest of a family member in the rubber farming business, the age of the rubber farmers, the availability of resources for succession planning, skills of rubber farming among family members, education level of rubber farmers, the need to prevent future generational conflicts in the family and rubber farming experience of the potential successor. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among others, that Delta State Government should use cooperative society, extension workers and contact farmers to educate rubber farmers on the need for succession planning.