SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS AND PROFITABILITY OF YAM PRODUCTION IN IPAO-EKITI, NIGERIA
Ugwumba, C.O.A. and Omojola, J.T.
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension
Anambra State University, Igbariam
E-mail: veecel326@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This study examined
the economics of yam production in Ipao-Ekiti, Nigeria. It made use of data
obtained through the administration of copies well structured interview
instruments to 70 respondents selected by purposive and random sampling
methods. Both parametric and non-parametric statistical tools were used to
analyse the data. Majority (61.42%) of the respondents were educated male youths
of 49 years and below. Net production income was statistically and
significantly determined by gender, farm size, educational level, farming
experience and cost of production, and weakly determined by
age, marital status and household size. Gross Margin was N3,418,560; net farm income N3,299,710; and net return on investment 0.92, implying a
profitable enterprise. Production was most seriously constrained by high cost
of labour, and poor market price of product. Policy to boost production and
maximize profit must be channelled towards measures that would combat the
identified problems such as the provision of soft loans to the farmers and
introduction of price control measures.
Keywords: Socio-economic determinant, profitability, yam production, Ipao-Ekiti, Nigeria.