Economic prospects of a rubber-cassava agroforestry in Nigeria

T.U Esekhade,C Okwu-Abolo,S.O Igberaese,L.A Oghomieje,C.S Mesike,S.O Idoko,S.O Ighedosa,Y Asih Purwestri,G Wirakusuma,A Dewi,K Restu Susilo,I Yoga Prasada,W Dyah Sawitri,P Montoro,S Subandiyah

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202130502009

Abstract

A study to determine the financial benefits of intercropping immature rubber plantation with cassava in South Eastern Nigeria was carried out at the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, Iyanomo near Benin City. The study was set up in a randomized complete block design with each treatment replicated three times. Yield data generated were used to determine the profitability of the systems. The results showed economic yield from rubber as the rubber trees did not attain tappable girth throughout the duration of the study. a mean yield of about 25.72 tonnes of cassava tuber were generated from the sole cassava treatments for the four years period while a mean yield of about 22.92 tonnes of cassava tuber per hectare were generated from the cassava + rubber intercrop treatments in the same period. A total amount of 160,000 Naira was spent in four years as cost of intercropping. Total revenue generated from the sales of cassava in the rubber + cassava system was 900, 000.00 Naira per hectare with a Gross Margin and profit margin of 740,000 Naira and 673, 090.98 Naira respectively. A profitability index of the rubber + cassava system was 0.75, indicating that, 75% of the total amount invested in the rubber + cassava system was recovered in the first four years compared to the additional costs incurred in the sole rubber plantation treatment. This study showed that intercropping cassava with rubber during the immature phase of rubber plantation guarantee early return on investment and more profitable compared with sole rubber plantation systems.

Highlights

Rubber plantation enterprise requires a large expanse of land and almost 70% of the vast inter-row spaces are underutilized
Rubber intercropping serves as additional sources of organic materials to the soil and help create a micro climate that leads to soil moisture conservation and subsequent encouragement of a more robust girth of young rubber saplings in the field [7]. [Esekhade et al, (1996), 9] demonstrated that intercropping of rubber with arable crops before the closure of the rubber canopy helps to reduce the cost of rubber plantation establishment by generating income to farmers during the immature phase of rubber trees
The result showed that a mean yield of about 25.72 tonnes of cassava tuber were generated from the sole cassava treatments for the four years period while a mean yield of about 22.92 tonnes of cassava tuber were generated from the cassava + rubber intercrop treatments in the same period

Summary

Introduction

Rubber plantation enterprise requires a large expanse of land and almost 70% of the vast inter-row spaces are underutilized. Rubber has a long gestation period of rubber (5 – 7 years), a period when no income accrue from the huge investment and the maintenance of the crop at this stage is so critical, the farmer need additional funds to weed the farm [9] This situation has remained a disincentive to rubber farmers and has made rubber enterprise unattractive, especially to small-scaled farmers in Nigeria [6]. Cassava is a very important crop in Africa, with very high comparative production advantage over other crops (Facayode, et al, 2008) It requires less labour per unit output compared with other crops, making it a major crop attractive to resource poor farmers. The intercropping of rubber with cassava has already been widely adopted by the smallscale farmers, but the practice is still not popular among the large-scale estate in Nigeria despite the potential benefits of the practice

Methods

Results

Conclusion