ANALYSIS OF TYPES OF CROPS CULTIVATED WITH TOMATO AND CROPPING INTENSITY OF IRRIGATED UPLAND TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum) FARMERS IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was carried out on analysis of types of crops cultivated with tomato and cropping intensity of irrigated upland tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) farmers in Gombe State, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 461 farmers as sample size for this study. The results that most (36.4%) of the respondents cultivate lettuce with tomato. Many (32.9%) of the respondents for tomato production acquired their seeds from open markets representing.  The results also showed that 45.4% of the respondents used NPK as their fertilizer and that many (37.8%.) farmers acquired their fertilizer from open markets. In Dukku LGA of Gombe State, many of the farmers use seedlings representing 64.3% while those use seeds 35.7%.  More than half of the respondents in Nafada LGA use seedlings for dry season tomato farming and others use seeds representing 45.5%. Many of the respondents in Funakaye LGA used seeds representing 52.0% and some seedlings 48.2%. The planting materials in Yamaltu LGA are seedlings and seeds representing 52.5% and 47.5%, respectively. The result obtainable in Kaltungo LGA showed that most of the respondents use seeds for tomato farming representing 63.2% and others use seedlings representing 38.6%. So, by implication the respondents in Dukku, Nafada, and Yamaltu Deba preferred using seedlings while those from Funakaye and Kaltungo use more of seeds for dry season tomato production. in terms of cropping intensity, the results showed that the many (41.4%) farmers had one-off engagement in the dry season tomato. The varieties of tomato grown in Dukku LGA of Gombe State are Cherry (Omo-Oko), Capari (Gbeske), Grape (Alahusa), Plum (Kerewa) Better boy (UTC), Beef steak (Tyres) representing 15.7%, 15.7%, 17.1%, 22.9% 12.9%, and 15.7% respectively. The study concluded that in Gombe State, have different sources of capital for the production of dry season tomato in a sustainable manner for farm efficiency. In the study area many of the farmers used the irrigation tools because it is easier to use. It was recommended that farmers should formed strong cooperative associations, to be united in one voice to have a bargaining power over labour cost and can also make request to government on their needs.