Constraints to sustainable development of rubber industry in Nigeria: A case study of Delta State

Abstract

This paper discusses the constraints to sustainable development of the rubber industry in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to 150 farmers in four Local Government Areas in Delta state. Frequency counts and percentages were used to analyse the data collected. The findings revealed that lack of inputs, lack of credit facilities, high production cost are some of the constraints to sustainable development. The study also revealed among others the causes of the constraints, which include high lending interest rate, diversion of loan by farmers, low exchange rate of the Naira and old age of the rubber trees. On the socio­–economic characteristics of the farmers, it was discovered that the older farmers (over 49 years old) were more involved in rubber production with 79 percent accounting for a low level of education. The study concluded that provision of credit facility and availability of farm inputs are pathways to sustainable development in the rubber industry. Keywords : Constraints; sustainable; rubber; industry Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 7 (1&2) 2006 pp. 42-48