Analysis of Socioeconomic Characteristics Influencing the Use of Family and Hired Labour in Small-Scale Maize/Cowpea Farms in Mubi North Local Government, Adamawa State, Nigeria

This study provides a comparative analysis of the socioeconomic factors influencing the use of family and hired labor on small-scale maize-cowpea farms in Mubi North Local Government, Adamawa State, Nigeria with a focus on enhancing sustainable agriculture. The data used for the study were collected from 160 respondents in Mubi North Government Area with the aid of a structured questionnaire using stratified random sampling techniques. Utilizing four functional forms of regression models—linear, semi-logarithm, double logarithm, and log inverse—the research identifies key determinants impacting labor use. For family labor, significant positive influences include household size (p<0.05), total farm output (p<0.05), and farmers' experience (p<0.01), collectively explaining 73.93% of the variation. In contrast, hired labor is significantly influenced by the distance of the farm from the residence (p<0.001) and total farm output (p<0.01), while the household size and farm size exhibit significant negative influences (p<0.001), accounting for 93.48% of the variation. The correlation analysis reveals that larger households and greater farm sizes positively correlate with increased productivity through both labor types, though mechanisms differ. The findings suggest that family labor is maximized in larger households with experienced farmers and higher farm outputs, whereas hired labor is necessitated by farm distance and increased outputs, with larger households and farm sizes reducing reliance on it. The study concludes that both family and hired labor are crucially shaped by socioeconomic variables, and the policy implications are significant. Policies should support large households in farming, improve farmer training, develop rural infrastructure to reduce the need for hired labor, regulate labor markets, and provide subsidies and technological support to enhance farm productivity. These measures can collectively boost the efficiency and sustainability of small-scale maize-cowpea farming in Mubi North, fostering economic well-being in the region's farming communities.