ABSTRACT

This study examined the effects of the activities of land speculators on the livelihood of women farmers in Kuje Area Council Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Twelve villages were randomly selected from Kuje while ten percent (10%) of the population of each villages were randomly selected given a total respondents of one hundred and thirty four (134) women farmers, also sixty land speculators were interviewed during the survey period from May to September 2014. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Result from the analysis revealed that large numbers of women farmers were affected by activities of land speculators resulting to low crop output and low income. The study further revealed that death of members of families, confiscation of land, invasion on land, destruction of crops and double allocation had negative influence on crop output and income at 1%, 5%, and 10% respectively. The result of the study showed that lack of finance to purchase or rent land is women farmers' major constraints to land acquisition in the study area. The study therefore recommended that the Land Use act of 1978 should be reviewed periodically to accommodate population increase and the demand for agricultural land, and there should be provision for support services and rural finance by establishing cottage industries in farming communities by Kuje Area Council and NGO's to enhance quality life of rural farmers.