ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to analyse the economics of irrigated onion production in Loko village of Song Local Government Area, Adamawa State. The objectives of the study were to describe the socio – economic characteristics of the farmers, determine the costs and returns on scale of production, determine the input- output relationship, determine their resource use efficiency and identify constraints associated with onion production. The data for the study were derived mainly from primary source. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross
margin, resource efficiency analysis and multiple regression. The results show that only males were involved in irrigated onion production. The result revealed that all the respondents were males with a sizeable proportion, 86.70% of them married and 68.8% of them have a family size of six and above with a mean of 9.93. Majority of the respondents were within the age range of 26
to 35 years with a mean of 33.8 years, 86.70% without formal education. About 62.30% had six years and above as farming experience. The computed costs and return per hectare for the farmers for gross margin and gross income were found to be ₦316,595.55 and ₦370,215.05 respectively which showed that production of onion is profitable. The benefit cost ration on each naira invested was 5.90. The estimated R2 was 0.885 which revealed that 88.5% variation in the onion output is
accounted for by the independent variables. Out of the four functional forms used, double log came out to be the lead equation. The F- value indicates that the estimated production function is highly significant at 1% level, meaning that the whole equation is useful. Resource use efficiency for the farmers revealed that there was under utilization of quantity of seed and also over utilization of
quantity of fertilizer, quantity of agrochemicals and hired labour. The major constraints to
irrigated onion production in the study area include pest and disease attack, high cost of
agrochemicals and inadequate irrigation water. Government agencies should make timely
distribution of agricultura1 inputs like fertilizer, agrochemicals, improved seeds. etc, at affordable price through effective distribution method.
TABLE OF CONTENT CONTENT
PAGE
Title page…………………………………………………………………………………i
Certification………………………………………………………………………………ii
Declaration……………………………………………………………………………….iii
Dedication………………………………………………………………………………..iv
Acknowledgment………………………………………………………………………...v
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….vi
Table of contents………………………………………………………………………...vii
List of Tables…………………………………………………………………………....xi
List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………...x
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION………………………………………………..1
1.1 Background of Study………………………………………………………....1
1.2 Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………….2
1.3 Objectives of the Study………………………………………………………4
1.4 Significance of the Study…………………………………………………….4
1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study…………………………………………..5
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………...6
2.1 Socio-economic Characteristics of farmers…………………………………6
2.2 Costs and Returns in Agricultural Production………………………………6
2.3 Resource Use Efficiency in Agricultural Production……………………….8
2.4 Input and Output Relationship……………………………………………...9
2.5 Importance of Onion Production in Nigerian Economy……………………10
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY….……………………………………....12
3.1 Study Area………………………………………………………………….12
3.2 Map of the Study Area……………………………………………………..13
3.3 Sources of Data and Sampling Procedures………………………………...14
3.4 Data Analytical Techniques………………………………………………..14
3.4.1 Descriptive Statistics……………………………………………………….14
3.4.2 Gross Margin Analysis……………………………………………………..14
3.4.3 Multiple Regression………………………………………………………..14
3.4.4 Resource Use Efficiency…………………………………………………..15
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION………………………….....16
4.1 Socio-economic Characteristics of Respondents………………………….16
4.1.1 Gender of Respondents…………………………………………………....16
4.1.2 Age of Respondents……………………………………………………….16
4.1.3 Marital Status of Respondents…………………………………………….17
4.1.4 Level of Education of Respondents……………………………………….18
4.1.5 Family Size of Respondents……………………………………………....18
4.1.6 Farm Size of Respondents………………………………………………...19
4.1.7 Land Acquisition of Respondents………………………………………...19
4.1.8 Farming Experience of Respondents …………………………………….20
4.1.9 Main Occupation of Respondents………………………………………..20
4.2 Gross Margin Analysis…………………………………………………...21
4.3 The Input – Output Relationship in Onion Production…………………..22
4.4 Resource Use Efficiency………………………………………………....24
4.5 Problem Affecting Irrigated Onion Farmers in the Study Area………….25
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS……..27
5.1 Summary………………………………………………………………...27
5.2 Conclusion………………………………………………………………28
5.3 Recommendation………………………………………………………..28
REFERENCES………………………………………………………...30
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1: Distribution of Respondents According to Gender…………………………16
Table 4.2: Distribution of Respondents According to Age…………………………….16
Table 4.3: Distribution of Respondents According to Marital Status………………….17
Table 4.4: Distribution of Respondents According to Level of Education…………….17
Table 4.5: Distribution of Respondents According to Family Size……………………18
Table 4.6: Distribution of Respondents According to Farm Size……………………...19
Table 4.7: Distribution of Respondents According to Land Acquisition……………...19
Table 4.8: Distribution of Respondents According to Farming Experience…………..20
Table 4.9: Distribution of Respondents According to Main Occupation……………...20
Table 4.10: Costs and Returns per Hectare of Irrigated Onions………………………21
Table 4.11: Regression Results for Onions Farmers………………………………….22
Table 4.12: Estimated Resources-use Efficiency of the Farmers……………………..24
Table 4.13: Problems Affecting Irrigated Onion Production…………………………25
LIST OF FIGURE
Figure 1: Map of Adamawa State showing the Study Area………………………………..13