Economic Analysis of Waterleaf and Fluted Pumpkin Production in Benin Metropolis, Edo state, Nigeria

Abstract

Vegetable farming operations range from small patches of crops, producing a few vegetables for family use or marketing, to the great highly organized and mechanized farms common in industrialized countries. In parts of Nigeria, waterleaf and fluted pumpkin farming are very important. This study evaluates the economic analysis of waterleaf and fluted pumpkin farming in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, Nigeria using well-structured questionnaire. Data obtained revealed mean age of 52 years and 53 years both waterleaf and fluted pumpkin farmers with female having a simple majority of 74.36% and 84.31% for both groups. The result also revealed a fairly equal moderate level of education with majority 56.41% and 58.82% of waterleaf and fluted pumpkin farmers attaining primary school education respectively. The mean farming experience was 6 years for both groups. Furthermore, the study revealed that fluted pumpkin enterprises was more profitable than water leaf, with a net profit of $177.0473 and $324.4252 for waterleaf and fluted pumpkin enterprise respectively. The family labour cost was the only significant factors affecting water leaf production at 5% level probability whilst pesticide cost and size of plot were the two significant factors affecting fluted pumpkin production. It was recommended for farmer of fluted pumpkin enterprise to improvised organic pesticide which will help reduce cost and as well increase their land holding for maximum and profit.