Efficiency of resource use among cocoyam farmers in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Cocoyam has over the years been a permanent feature of the farming system in southwest Nigeria being the third most important tuber crop cultivated after yam and Cassava. Its consumption in homes especially in period preceding yam harvest has underscored its importance as possible substitute for the crop. However, yield figures for the crop over the years trails behind that of other tuber crops. The study examined resource allocation and the socio-economic attributes of cocoyam production in Owo Local Government area of Ondo State, Nigeria. The survey showed that cocoyam is widely grown by women (56%) and men (46%) farmers in the study area. An average of 0.54 hectares of cultivated area is grown to cocoyam, more as a sole crop (68%). There was also a marked dependence on hired labour both solely (28%) and as supplement to family labour (60%). Average total cost of production was N15, 708/ha with labour cost constituting 62%. With an average revenue of N38,982/ha, and gross margin of N23,274/ha, cocoyam production is a profitable farm enterprise. There was a dis-equilibrium in resource use characterized by general over-utilization of labour, as against farm size and quantity of planting material which were under-utilised. All the resources had significant contribution to revenue from coca except hired labour. Cocoyam production is experiencing an increasing return to scale in the study area.

Key words: Resource use; efficiency; cocoyam production; Nigeria

Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol.4(2) 2003: 281-287