Comparative Economic Analysis of Soil Fertility Management on Cassava Based Intercropping Systems in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The broad objective was to determine the comparative economic analysis of soil fertility management options on cassava based cropping/intercropping systems. Data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources, primarily data was obtained through questionnaire distributed to eighty (80) randomly sampled farmers from the study area. Economic analysis was carried out using statistical tools such as descriptive statistics which included frequency tables, percentages, means, pie charts, bar column chart etc. which was used to determine the cost and returns of both soil fertility management options. It was also necessary to test the hypothesis of the study which was tested using the Z-Test analysis due to the sample size. The result showed that higher profit was obtained from inorganic fertilizer by those farmers that made use of them in which they had a gross margin (profit) of N118, 400 when compared to those farmers that made use of organic fertilizer, having a gross margin of N60, 900. However, the result from the gross margin analysis as well as the hypothesis of the study shows that the farmers stand to gain more if they use either of the soil fertility management options on their farms. Also, considering the problem of scarcity and effect often associated with inorganic fertilizer, the choice of organic fertilizer is more likely to be accepted by the farmers. Possible recommendations were also made in the course of the study which includes, transformation of farming practices through technology that would stabilize yield and reduce unpredictable variations, farmers should be encouraged to use either of the soil fertility management options to increase their yield. Organic fertilizer should be made affordable to farmer and inorganic fertilizer should be made accessible.