ASSESSMENT OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF FARMERS IN AGRO-TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN ONDO STATE

Abstract

Agro-tourism is increasingly recognized as a viable strategy for rural livelihood diversification and sustainable agricultural development. This study assessed the involvement of farmers in Agro-tourism activities in Ondo State, Nigeria, with specific focus on their socio-economic characteristics, level of awareness, extent of involvement, and constraints to participation. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers from selected local government areas in the state. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and interview schedule, and farmers exhibited a moderate to high level of awareness of Agro-tourism activities (grand mean = 1.64), particularly in activities closely related to conventional farming practices such as direct sales of fresh agricultural products and value-added food products. Involvement was highest in direct sales of fresh agricultural products (x̄ = 3.48) and value-added products (x̄ = 3.28), while hospitality-related activities, such as overnight accommodation and camping site provision, recorded the lowest involvement. Major constraints to involvement included inadequate accommodation facilities (mean = 2.19), unfavourable government policies (mean = 2.18), and infrastructure challenges (mean = 2.17). Chi-square results showed no significant relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics and awareness of Agro-tourism, while income had a positive and significant relationship with awareness (r = 0.304, p ≤ 0.01). The study concludes that farmers’ participation in Agro-tourism in Ondo State is largely production-oriented and constrained by structural and policy-related factors. It recommends improved rural infrastructure, supportive policies, access to funding, and targeted enlightenment programmes to enhance farmer involvement in Agro-tourism.