Economic contribution of cassava production (a case study of kuje area council federal capital territory, Abuja, Nigeria)

Abstract

The study determined the economics of cassava production in Kuje Area Council FCT. Simple random selection was used to select 100 farmers and to collect from them using a well structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting and regression analysis. The result revealed that the mean age of the farmers was 32 years. Also majority (87%) of the farmers were male and (13%) female. Furthermore, the result showed that majority (80%) have formal education. Similarly, the result revealed that a mean of 4 people was recorded for household size and 16.80 years as farming experience. Majority (71%) acquired their land through inheritance; mean farm size under cassava productionwas found to be 1.20 hectares, with majority (57%) having between 0.3 – 1.0 hectare. Cost of production was found to be N7, 310.11 per hectare. Furthermore the study revealed a net farm income of N14, 042.27 and a return on Naira invested as 0.92. Cobb – Douglas regression model revealed that R 2 value was 65.4% with exogenous variables farm size, and cassava cuttings significant (p<0.001) and (p<0.05) while labour was not significant. Also MVP/MFC for farm size, cassava cuttings and labour were 0.49, 0.53 and 0.78. Major constraints like inadequate capital, lack of machinery, high labour cost and transportation were found to be affecting cassava production in the area. It was recommended that, production could be improved and sustained through provision of soft loans and accessible roads to ease transportation cost.