CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
Agriculture,
a major resource based activity in terms of capital and labour utilization has
the potential of increasing Nigeria‟s food self sufficiency (Bamire and
Amujoyegbe, 2010). Statistical evidences however show that food sufficiency
ratio of Nigeria has for sometime especially from (1997-2010) been less than
one. Actual yield of major food crops are lower than their potential yields
(Rahji, 2012). The productive yield efficiency of yam in particular was 54.1%
in 1991(FOS, 1997). Yam is, however, one of the principal root crops in Nigeria
both in terms of land under cultivation and in volume and value of production.
It‟s one of the carbohydrate foods that is nutritionally superior to most roots
and tubers in terms of digestible proteins and minerals (Calcium, Magnesium and
Potassium) Ebewore et al., 2013. Tuber crops, such as yam has high relative
value per unit of land used in its cultivation when compared with other crops
particularly, the cereals (Mbah, 2010). As a food crop, yam has inherent
characteristics. Firstly, it is rich in carbohydrates especially starch and has
a multiplicity of end use. Secondly, it is more resistant to drought, pest and
disease and tolerates different climatic and edaphic conditions (Ugwumba and
Omojola, 2012). Yam is an important source of income for all value chain
participants. Yam comprised 32% of farmers‟ gross income from crops for farmers
in eastern Nigeria. The share of the value of yam farm gate sales (31%) was
second only to cassava (37%) out of the nine major food crops compared in
Nigeria in 2004 (Sanusi and Salmonu, 2010). The higher nutritional quality and
market value commanded by yam when compared with other crops like cassava, have
encouraged greater investment by the Nigerian government and foreign donors to
increase production and improve yam marketing efficiencies to enhance income
and food security levels for smallholders. Main initiatives include: Yam
Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa project and the
National Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (Agbaje et al., 2010).
1.2
Problem Statement
Over
the years, the farm hectarage of yam production has been increasing with
corresponding increases in the usage of inputs. Unfortunately, the increase in
output seems not to have been commensurable with those in input usage (Jonathan
and Anthony, 2012). However, the Nigerian Government made concerted efforts to
encourage larger investment in the agricultural sector including product such
as yam for export. In 1998, the Nigerian Government initiated an Export
Promotion Incentive Scheme. Under this scheme, some staple foods including yam
were delisted from the export prohibition list. In 2001, the Nigerian
Government initiated the Root and Tuber Expansion Program (RTEP) to improve
farmers‟ productivity and profits from root and tuber crops. In 2003, an export
subsidy of 10% on agricultural commodities was introduced and remains in place
till date (Akande and Ogundele, 2009).
Despite
the government initiatives, Bamire and Amijoyegbe (2010) noted, in South
Western Nigeria, that there is an increasing gap between the levels of supply
and demand for yam. Also, Oladeebo and Okanlawon (2010) noted that the absolute
level of yam production has remained static over a decade. This static trend
may not be unconnected with production resources which are not being
efficiently utilized. In order to meet the level of demand, there is need to
assess the level of technical efficiency and its determinants in yam
production. Previous studies carried out on food crop production in Nigeria
have shown that food crop farmers have low productivity because of inefficiency
in resource use (Idiong et al., 2010).
High
cost of seed yam was the major problem of yam production in the study area. According
to Spore (2011) about 35-50% of the total cost was constituted by planting
material. Consequently, there has been a decline in production over the years
with area under cultivation and yam output declining (Ayanwuyi et al., 2011).
Meanwhile, the report of Niger State Yam Production Trend established by the
Niger State Agricultural and Mechanization Development Authority from 2001 to
2012 showed that the average yam yield per hectare declined from 18.53 tonnes
in 2009 to 14.12 tonnes in 2012.
It
was against these problems that this study was undertaken to empirically
ascertain the efficiency and profitability of yam production among small-holder
farmers in the study area. In view of this, the following research questions
were addressed:
i.
What are the socioeconomic characteristics of yam farmers in the study area?
ii.
What are the technical, allocative and economic efficiency of yam production?
iii.
What are the determinants of technical efficiency in yam production?
iv.
What are the costs and return in yam production? And
v.
What are the constraints to yam production?
Department: Agricultural Economics
Format: Microsoft Word
Format: Microsoft Word
Chapters: 1 - 5, Preliminary Pages, Abstract, References, Questionnaire
Delivery: Email
Delivery: Email
No. of Pages: 81
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