ABSTRACT

The productivity analysis of cocoyam-based production in Ikole local government area of Ekiti state was investigated using 80 respondents from 4 villages ( Otunja. Isaba, Ilotin and Ijesha isu), farmers were interviewed from each area. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, cost and returns analysis and regression analysis were employed as analytical tools. The result shows that most of the farmers were from 40-49 years of age, constituting 35% of the respondents, while 90% of the respondents were male, just 10% of the respondents were females. The result also shows that 68.8% of the respondents are married, while 26.3% are single. Most of the respondents had secondary education, accounting for 43.8%, while 31.3% had primary education. More so, 18.8%had tertiary education leaving 6.3% of the respondents with no education.

The result of the cost and return analysis revealed that the cocoyam/cassava enterprise had the highest net margin (N27,550), followed by cocoyam/cowpea enterprise (N26, 100), cocoyam/maize (N25,290), andcocoyam/yam (N 18,210).

Regression results revealed labor in man-days, land and other variable inputs as the significant factors influencing yam production in the area. These are targets for policy formulation. The major factors affecting the effective cultivation of the cocoyam in the study area includes; lack of information, irregular extension services, lack of government subsidies, lack of access to improved varieties, absence of government support, low awareness level on the importance of the crop and poor research on the crop.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Table of content..........................................................

List of tables .............................................................

Abstract ...................................................................

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION...................................................

1.1 Backgroundof thestudy.... ................................... 1

1.2 Statement of the problem........................................ 3

1.2 0bjectives ofthestudy............................. .............. 4

1.3 Justification of the study........................................ 5

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW.. ............................................ 7

2.1 Cocoyam as an agricultural product .... ...... ........ ... .. .. .. 7

2.2 Different farming systems........................................ 7

2.2.1 Advantages and disadvantages................................ 10

2.3 Cocoyam production (world view)............................... 13

2.4 Problems associated with cocoyam production in Nigeria ... 5

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY .....................................................

3.1 Study area ...........................................................

3.2 Method of data collection...........................................

3.3 Sampling technique................................................ 3.4 Data collection.....................................................

3.5 Analytical framework .......................................

3.5.1 Descriptive statistics ......................................

3.6 Gross margin analysis and net farm income .............

3.7 regression analysis ...........................................

3.8 Limitations of the sturdy ....................................

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...............................

4.1 Socio- economic characteristics of farmer .................. 23

4.1.2 Sex of respondents........................................ ..24

4.1.3 Marital status............................................. .25

4.1.4 Level of education of respondents.................... .25

4.2 Crop production ............................................. 26

4.2.1 Land ownership ............................................ 26

4.2.2 Farm size .................................................. 27

4.2.3 Mode of cultivation ..................................... 28

4.2.4 Crop combination ........................................ 29

4.2.5 Percentage area devoted to cocoyam production ................................................... 29

4.2.6 Reasons for cultivating cocoyam with other crops .................................................. 30

4.3 Sales.......................................................... 31

4.3.1 Specific buyer ............................................. 31

4.3.2 Mode of transportation .................................. 31

4.3.3 Price determination ....................................... 32

4.4 Results of gross margin analysis and net

farm income ............................................. 33

4.5 Regression result. ........................................... 34

4.6 Constraints ................................................... 36

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY,CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................... 38

5.1 Summary .................................................... 38

5.2 Conclusion .................................................. 39

5.3 Recommendations ......................................... .40

REFERENCES ............................................. ....42

APPENDIX ................................................... ..48