IMPACT OF URBANIZATION ON RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to examine the Impact of Urbanization on Rural and Agricultural Development in Edo State. To achieve the study objectives, six research questions guided the study. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The target population for the study comprises of 300 arable farmers in three local government areas in Edo state. A sample size of sixty (60) arable farmers was selected randomly for the study. The research Instrument used for this study was structured questionnaire tittled Impact of Urbanization on Rural and Agricultural Development. Validation of the Instrument was face validity. The questionnaire was validated by the researcher's project supervisor and two other lecturers from the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, University of Benin. The reliability of the instrument was tested using Cronbach's alpha method, resulting in a coefficient of 0.87 which indicates that the instrument is reliable. Data was collected through a questionnaire administered to 60 respondents. The collected data was analyzed using mean scores and standard deviation for research question. A mean score of 2.50 was established as the benchmark for decision-making purposes. Research findings shows that arable farmers' awareness of urbanization varies significantly by education, information access, socio-economic status, and location, with urban expansion negatively impacting agricultural resources, ecosystems, and rural livelihoods, thereby widening the urban-rural development gap. To address the challenges of urbanization on agricultural land, the government should enforce balanced urban expansion policies, educate farmers on sustainable practices, invest in rural infrastructure, promote sustainable farming methods, encourage economic diversification, and enhance resource management..