ABSTRACT

The study was aimed at examining the profitability analysis of cashew production in anpka local government area of kogi state, Nigeria.  It involves the collection of primary data from a sample of 110 cashew farmers in the study area.  The analysis of data was done through a combination of descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and profitability analysis, the result  showed majority of the farmers were male(68.18%), and most of them were married (70%) with most (50%) having an household size of 7-9. Most of the cashew farmers in the study area have formal education that can enable them to read and write with most (52.73%) having a farming experience of 11-15 which implies that most of the farmers are experience, the result also showed that fix cost accounted for 18.16% of the seasonal cashew production while variable cost  account for 81.84%.  The profitability analysis shows that cashew production in the area could generate a rate of return to capital and family labour  of 74% and a return on naira invested of 74kobo.  The study concluded that, even though cashew production is economically vaiable in the study area, the following problems have imposed a severe  limitation on the expansion of the enterprise.  These include poor road network, inadequate capital/found,  low prising due to seasonal glut  in the market, lack of improved planting materials among others.  To ameliorate these problems, the study therefore ,  recommended that efforts should be directed towards providing credit to current and potential cashew producers so as to boost production.  Furthermore,  establishment of fruit (cashew) processing industries in the state will cushion the problem of wastage and reduces forced sale of the product particularly during harvesting season.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Decleration i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Abstract v

1.0  INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background To The Study 1

1.2    Statement Of The Problem 3

1.3 Research Questions 4

1.4 Objective Of The Study 4

1.5 Hypotheses Of The Study 5

1.6  Significance Of The Study 5

1.7 Scope And Limitation Of The Study 5

1.8 Definition Of Terms 6

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 7

2.1 Cashew Production In Nigeria 7

2.2 Constraints Of  Cashew Production 9

2.3 Socio Economic Characteristic Of Cashew Farmers 11

2.4constraints Of Cashew Fruit Production 13

3.0 METHODOLOGY 15

3.1   The Study Area 15

3.2  Population And Sampling Procedure 16

3.3 Methods Of  Data Collection 16

3.4  Validation Of Reliability Of Instrument 17

3.5  Measurement Of Variables 17

3.6 Method Of  Data Analysis 18

4.0  RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 20

4.1 Socio-Economic Characteristics Of Respondents 20

4.2 Analysis Of Cost And Returns 25

4.3   Profitability Analysis Of Cashew Production 27

4.4  Problems Of Cashew Production 29

5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 31

5.1    Conclusion 31

5.2    Recommendations 31

5.3    Contribution To Knowledge 32

5.4   Suggestion For Further Study. 32

References 33