Bases for farm resource allocation in the traditional farming system: A comparative study of productivity of farm resources in abakaliki area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the returns in utilisation of farm-resources in the production of three crop enterprises. These returns determined the productivity of resources in yam-based crop mixture (YBCM), cassava-based crop mixture (CBCM) and rice enterprises. The results show that of the three crop enterprises considered in the survey year, YBCM received special attention in the resources allocated. Prime land, prime labour and a large proportion of household cash were allocated to the production of YBCM relative to other crop enterprises. Cost-return analysis indicated that all scarce resources such as labour, land and capital were more productive in monetary terms in CBCM and rice enterprises than in YBCM. The cultural value of yam in YBCM transcends the monetary and food security values. It includes intangible value such as social status. The special place of yam in the crop production system militates against practical solutions such as the transfer of farm resources from the less productive (YBCM) to the more productive enterprises. Thus it is that improved management techniques such as the use of higher-yielding yam varieties, increase in cropping densities and the use of fertilizers need to be explored as a means of improving the returns of the resources used in the YBCM enterprises.