COSTS AND RETURNS OF YAM PRODUCTION IN SOUTHERN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analyzed the costs and returns of yam production in southern Taraba State; specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of yam farmers, determined the cost and returns of yam production and described the constraints faced by yam farmers in the study area. A multi-stage purposive and simple random sampling were employed in the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and net farm income were used in analyzing the data. The result of the analysis showed that the respondents have a mean age of 49 years and 83% of them were male. Majority (73%) of the farmers were literate and have a mean household size of 12.  About 69.8 % of the farmers did not participate in any cooperative association. Majority (85%) of the farmers had no access to extension service, 61% of them had no access to credit. The average hectare of land cultivated was 3 ha. Majority (57.2%) had 10 years and above farming experience. Yam farming was profitable with a return per naira investment of 1.30 and a net farm income of ₦365,367.5k. Insecurity, inadequate fund or access to credit, high cost of labour, lack of extension service and lack of improved yam sett were the major constraints faced by the farmers in the study area. It was recommended that farmers should embrace cooperative association so they can take advantage of economies of scale purchase to reduce production cost. Also, extension services should be revived in the State.