Optimal Resource Allocation In Swine Production For Rural Development: A Case Study Of Umuahia, Abia State

Abstract

The study investigated optimal resource allocation in swine production and its implication for rural development in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. Data was collected with the aid of interview form 50 randomly selected respondents. The study revealed that pig production in Umuahia, Abia State is mainly carried out by young adult farmers whose physical energy is needed for the labour demand in the enterprise. They are poorly educated and farm inputs where not efficiently allocated for maximum profit. Framers require more education through extension services to enhance their performance, increase profit and income, reduce poverty and ensure adequate economic development in the state. It is therefore recommended that there should be an increased technical education on swine production through extension teaching approach to improve farmers\' technical performance in pig production. Farmers\' access to credits should be made available at a reduced cost to increase his fixed cost as to achieve maximum efficiency in the use of capital.

Keywords: Optimal Resource Allocation, Swine Production, Rural Development

Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 108-114