Potentials of and the Socio-Economic Benefits of Blacksmithing Production in Promoting Agricultural Development and Poverty Alleviation in Kwara State, Nigeria

Type Journal Article - International Journal of Modern Engineering Research
Title Potentials of and the Socio-Economic Benefits of Blacksmithing Production in Promoting Agricultural Development and Poverty Alleviation in Kwara State, Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 3
Issue 6
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Page numbers 3809-3817
URL http://files.figshare.com/1605822/CU3638093817.pdf
Abstract
Agriculture and technological development including blacksmithing promotes agricultural tools production and
offers an unexploited succor capable of salvaging the people from abject poverty. Blacksmithing and its products are
frequently valuable in diverse ways and contribute to technological and agricultural development through agricultural tools
production, income to artisans and technological recycling. The study examined the potentials and contribution of
blacksmithing practices to household income and poverty alleviation in kwara State, Nigeria. Eighty blacksmith artisans
were randomly selected in the sixteen LGAs of Kwara State for the study. Primary data were obtained with the aid of
structured questionnaire and personal interview schedule to elicit information relevant to the study. Descriptive statistics,
net income and OLS models were employed in data analysis. The results revealed prospects of increased revenue generation
to blacksmiths. The blacksmiths were at the edge of productive age with modal class of 48-57 years, low literacy rate and the
bulk had subsidiary occupations to supplement their income. The average household size per smith was approximately 7 and
mean daily income earned from production ranges from ?500 to ?950.The postulated explanatory variables explained
48.8% in the variations in income earned by blacksmiths. Given the opportunity and amazing potentials for widening
agricultural tools production in Kwara State, it was recommended that the industry’s private operators and government at
all levels should provide social services particularly electricity, increased budgetary commitment to artisan sector and
create enabling policies for the industry to thrive and shift from crude methods to mechanize system.

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