Comparative profitability analysis of selected rainfed and irrigated food crops in Adamawa state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed at conducting a comparative profitability analysis of selected rainfed and irrigated food crops in Adamawa state, Nigeria. Two hundred and ten (210) (with 105 each from rainfed and irrigated) farmers growing rice, maize, tomato and pepper were randomly sampled for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons respectively. The analytical tools used to achieve the objectives of study include descriptive statistics, profit function and farm budgeting techniques. Results revealed that 54.29 % of the farmers under rainfed and 69.02 % under irrigation were in their productive years of 31-50 years. Also 74.28 % and 53.33 % of the farmers attended one level of formal education or the other. Similarly 58 % of rain fed and 78.11 % of irrigated farmers cultivated less than 2 hectares of land while 92.38 % and 89.48 % had more than 10 years farming experience. The results of farm budgeting analysis revealed an average gross margin of N45,448,63, N41,396.84, N40,224.81 and N46,340.48 per hectare for rice, maize, tomato and pepper respectively under rainfed production. While under irrigated farms an average gross margin of N53, 904.68, N43,409.65, N66,520.78 and N66,681.99 per hectare were obtained for the four crops respectively. Furthermore the results of the profit function analysis under rainfed condition shows that labour was significant at 1% level and inversely related with profit. However, farm size, seed, and fertilizer were positively related to profit and significant at 1%. Similarly under irrigated condition labour was significant and inversely related to the profit. Land, fertilizer and agrochemicals were significant at varying levels and positively related to profit. The study therefore recommends that more financial assistance in the form of credit should be given to farmers so as to expand their production. Also, a minimum guaranty price of the farm produce should be enforced.

Economics of Groundnut Production among Smallholder Farmers in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria

“…As one of the factor inputs in groundnut production, seed was positive and significant with an elasticity coefficient of 0.430implying that a 5% increase in the quantity of seed would increase output by 43%. This result agrees with the findings of [20] who found that increase in seed input can increase agricultural productivity. The elasticity coefficient of farming experience was positive (0.049) and statistically significant at 1% probability level possibly depicting the impact of experience on groundnut production.…”

Analysis of cost efficiency of rainfed maize production in Yola North and Yola South Local Government Areas of Adamawa State, Nigeria

“…Also, the coefficient of household size is statistically significant at 1% level and it had a negative sign which implies that the inefficiency among maize farmers in the study area reduces with an increase in number of adult in the household who participated in farming activities. This is in consonance with the findings of Tashikalma et al (2014) who reported that greater family size of average working age increases efficiency because most farmers are financially constrained.…”

Profitability Assessment of Sprinkler Irrigated Maize Production in Semi-Arid area of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

“…Several studies revealed that, there is much need to increase food output in order to: feed the increasing population; earn the needed foreign exchange to import non-food needs; to generate savings for investment; and to preserve and conserve the natural resource base to enhance its productivity [7,8]. Consequently, the approach to increasing agricultural production in a country through irrigation farming is a major panacea, if the problem of food shortage in the country is to be addressed [9].…”