Abstract
This research is a comparative cost and return analysis of cassava production by adopters and non-adopters of improved cassava varieties among farmers in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 100 respondents in a ratio of 50 adopters and 50 non- adopters. Data were collected through questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Gross margin was carried out to estimate cost and return. Results revealed that females (68 % and 64 %) were dominant for both groups of cassava farmers. Majority (88 %) of the farmers were educated, implying that they would be more amenable to adopt technologies. The cost and return analysis shows that, total variable cost per hectare was N56,455.00 and N36,850.00 with a gross margin of N77,550.00 and N36,560.00 for adopters and non- adopters respectively, indicating that, cassava farming is profitable. Determinants of cassava production for both groups of farmers were farm size, cassava cuttings, fertilizer use and extension contact. Whereas increased farm size, cassava cuttings and extension contact significantly and positively influenced output of both groups of farmers, fertilizer use had a negative but significant influence on output of adopters, implying that fertilizer use resulted in decrease output of the adopters. The adopters are advice to discontinue the use of fertilizer. Furthermore, lack of awareness and high cost of inputs were among the major constraints to full adoption of improved cassava varieties in the study area. Therefore, it is recommended that policies aimed at improving farmer’s education and awareness should be redesign for proper implementation.Keywords: Comparative, cost and return, profitability, cassava, improved varieties, production, adopters, nonadopters
Highlights
Agriculture is the economic mainstay of the majority of households in Nigeria and is a significant sector in Nigeria’s economy, providing employment for more than 70 % of the population
The age distribution of the farmers shows that 42% of the adopters of improved cassava varieties were in the age range of 36-45years, while 36% of the non -adopters were within that same age range and 40% in the age range of 46-55years with mean age of 41.40 and 43.98 respectively
The results revealed that majority (68%) of the farmers who adopted improved cassava varieties were females and about 32% were males
Summary
Agriculture is the economic mainstay of the majority of households in Nigeria and is a significant sector in Nigeria’s economy, providing employment for more than 70 % of the population. Cassava is the most commonly cultivated food crop in almost every part of the country, and it may be the solution to Nigeria’s food security problem due to its ability to grow in a wide range of conditions, some of which are quite unsuitable for other crops. It is a perennial woody shrub commonly grown in the tropics and can be regarded as the most important root crop in terms of land area devoted to total production (Onubuogu, 2014)
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