AKSU Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development

ECONOMICS OF YAM (Dioscorea rotundata) PRODUCTION AMONG SMALL HOLDER FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Author:  Amusa, T. A., Isiwu, E. C and Oketoobo, E. A.

Abstract
The study investigated economics of yam production among small holder farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 180 randomly sampled yam farmers using close-ended structured questionnaire. The data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, gross margin analysis and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that about 40% of yam farmers in the area owned their farmlands for yam production, had mean age of 51 years and mean years of yam production experience of 24 years. The Total Revenues (TR) in production was ₦230,590.00 and Gross Margin (GM) of ₦88,390.00. The Net Return (NR) of the yam producers in the area was ₦86,585.00 with Profitable Index (PI) of 0.38. The result of the multiple regression analysis showed that double-log functional form had the best fit with R2 value of 0.71. Variables such as age, years of education, farming experience, farm size and labour were significant at 1% while gender and household size were significant at 5% and cost of yam seeds was significant at 10%. Major constraints facing yam farmers in the area are: high cost of planting materials, scarcity of labour, theft or insecurity, poor road network, and lack of storage facilities. The study recommends formulation of policies to guarantee increased access to land, provision of credit facilitiesin form of soft loans to enablethem procure necessary inputs for increased yam production.