3.2 Study Area
The study was carried out in Abia State. Abia State with its capital at Umuahia is located in the south-eastern region of Nigeria. The State was carved out of Imo state on August 27, 1991. Abia state has 17 local government areas and 3 senatorial zones; Aba North, Aba South and Umuahia North are referred to as the urban areas while the rest are rural areas. The state shares common boundaries to the North with Ebonyi state, to the South and south west with Rivers State and to the east and southeast with Cross river and Akwa- Ibom states and to the North east in Anambra state. (New Dawn, inspiration 2008).
The population of Abia State is 2,833,999 (2006 estimate) (New Dawn Inspiration, 2008). The populations of the urban areas are Aba North 107,488, Aba south 423,852 and Umuahia North 220,660 in total 752,000 (INEC, 2008). The state covers an area of about 5243.7 square kilometers which is approximately 5.8 percent of the total land area of Nigeria. Abia state lies within approximately latitudes 4.400 and 6.140North, and longitudes 7.100East. (New Dawn Inspiration, 2008).
Agriculture is the major occupation of the people, subsistence farming is prevalent and about 70 percent of the population are engaged in it (New Dawn Inspiration, 2008). A few farmers also produce on a large scale. Farming in the state is determined by the seasonal distribution of rainfall.
The main food crops grown are yam, cassava, rice, cocoyam and maize, while the cash crops include oil palm, rubber cocoa, banana, and various types of fruits.
The people of Abia state are also traders and Aba is regarded as one of the commercial centers in the country. The state is blessed with mineral resources such as land, zinc, fine sand, limestone, and petroleum. As regards to tourism there are many tourist centers in Abia state but the most outstanding one the National War Museum at Umuahia, the Azimiri Blue River at Ukwa East, and the long Juju of Arochukwu, etc.
Education is given top priority in the state and this is evident by the numerous institutions in the state, there is the Abia State University at Uturu, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture at Umudike, Abia State Polytechnic at Aba and other higher institutions and colleges of educations.