Economics of Onion Production in Malumfashi Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis of Onion Bulb and Onion Seed Production.

ABDU BABANGIDA UMAR

Department of Agricultural Technology

Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic.

E-mail: abdubau@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted at Dayi irrigation site, Malumfashi Local Area, Katsina State, Nigeria. The objective was to evaluate the socio-economic characteristics of onion producers, profitability of onion production and compare the return from onion seed and onion bulb production. The study was carried out using well-structured questionnaire administered to 70 farmers, 35 for each category of producers (onion bulb and seed) randomly selected. The data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and t-test analysis. The result indicated that majority the respondents were male, aged between 40-50 years with an average family size was 6-10. Onion seed farmers have higher average gross margin of N112, 917 with higher average variable cost of N11, 697 while onion bulb producer have lower average gross margin of 56,963 with lower average variable cost N241. The result of the profitability index also reveals higher benefits for investment in onion seed production enterprise with a profitability index of 9.7 although both methods of production are found to be profitable.