Economic Analysis of Horticultural Enterprises in Yenagoa Metropolis of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was on Economic analysis of horticultural enterprises in Yenagoa metropolis of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A total of 8 horticultural enterprises were chosen through a pilot survey to form the sample size. Results show that horticultural farming is an activity for both males and females. A greater number of the horticultural farmers, who were married with an average household size of 5, fall within the age range of 31 – 40 years, which inferred that horticultural farming is not an activity of the teenage and also not for the aged. Majority of the horticultural farmers acquired formal education in order to meet the technical demands of the business. Results also show that majority of the horticultural farmers engage in full time farming with 1-5 years experience. They do not have access to extension services and formal borrowing of capital in spite of the existing commercial banks in the study area. Most of them do not belong to farmers co-operative or association. They acquired land by lease and employ both hired and family labour. They engage in nursing and pinning propagation methods and involve mainly floriculture and ornamental plant practices. The result shows that horticultural enterprises incurred fixed cost of ₦34,012.50, variable cost of ₦74,297.56, with a total cost of ₦108,310.06, and realised a total revenue of ₦366,813.00 and an estimated Net Farm Income of ₦258,502.94, which implies that horticultural farming in Yenagoa metropolis of Bayelsa State is a profitable venture.