Profit Efficiency of Cocoyam Production in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: Aims of the study were to describe socio-economic characteristics of cocoyam farmers, profitability of cocoyam production and determine the profit efficiency of cocoyam producers in Kaduna state. Study Design: Primary data were collected from cocoyam producers through the use of structured questionnaires. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in three local government area in Kaduna state, Nigeria between August and November 2014 cropping season. Methodology: Multistage purposive and random sampling techniques were employed for data collection. Results: The study showed that 34% of the respondents fall within the age range of 30 and 39years. The majority of the farmers (50%) had no formal education. The household size ranged from 6-10 persons, whereas (73%) were not members of cooperative society. Results indicated that except for cost of fertilizer, all other factors were significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.1). The mean profit efficiency is 66% while the range is 3-99% Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed that none of the sampled cocoyam farms reached the frontier threshold. Also, amount of credit received and farming experience was the socio-economic variable responsible for the variation in profit efficiency of the cocoyam producers. It was therefore recommended that timely and adequate supply of seed should be made available to farmers at affordable price in order to increase profit from production of cocoyam.