PROFITABILITY OF YAM PRODUCTION IN PAIKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the profitability of yam production among small-holder yam farmers in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State. Primary data were collected from 90 yam farmer’s selected using simple random sampling technique. The data were collected with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire and oral interview Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and budgetary techniques. The results of the socio-economic characteristics shows that majority (50%) of yam farmers were male, within the age range of 46- 55 years. Majority of the farmer had farm size less-than 1 hectare with at least 10 years farming experience. The total revenue was ₦582,588.72 per hectare while the total cost was estimated to be ₦218,197.98 per hectare.  The net farm income was ₦364,390.74 per hectare. The return on investment was 1.67 meaning that on ₦1 invested on the yam production will yield ₦1.67 per hectare meaning that yam production was profitable in the study area. The major constraints faced by the yam farmers were inadequate access to credit facilities, poor transportation network, pests and diseases, poor storage facility and high cost of labour. It could be concluded that yam production in the study areas was economically viable, and among the constraints identified in the study areas, majority of the respondents attested to the fact that inadequate access to credit and poor transportation network were major constraints faced. It was therefore, recommended that, infrastructure facilities like good road network should be provided for the yam farmers in the study area. The concept of cooperative movement should be encouraged in the study area so as to solve the problem of credit facilities to the farmers. It is also recommended that effort should be made to intensify the number of extension visits as this signifies a strong factor in yam production in the study area.