Risks Associated with Agricultural Product Carrying in Nigeria: Implication for Policy on Occupational Safety and Social Well-being

Abstract

Under development and poverty has resulted in various health risks in our labour force, especially with getting agricultural products to the final consumer. The research was undertaken to determine the occupational health problems of agricultural product carriers in the selected markets of Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State. Simple random sampling method was used to select 120 male and female respondents for the research project. The result revealed that a high proportion of the respondents (31%) had primary school education. Thirty eight percent of them have been on the job for over 16 years. The result revealed that their major source of income is agricultural products carrying. Also the result revealed that the daily income of the respondents is above N200.00 per day. Chi-square analysis indicated that there is significant association between sex (χ2=1.118, p<0.05), marital status (χ2=10.740, p<0.05) and their involvement in such activities. However, there is no significant association between faith based, educational status and their income generating activity. The study also revealed that there is significant correlation between constraints faced (r=0.736, p<.000); activity (r= 0.832<0.034) and health problems(data). The implications of the health problems, especially for women, are that it affects their reproductive and productive capacity, causing serious pains on their bodies, which invariably affect their food security status. Provision of trolley and other load lifting gadgets will help to enhance their income generation through load carrying.