PERFORMANCE OF WATER MELON FARMERS IN YOBE STATE, NORTH EAST NIGERIA: A FARM BUDGET ANALYSIS

Abstract

The study investigated the performance of water melon farmers in Yobe state, Nigeria. Using multistage sampling procedure, a total of 274 respondents were sampled from three major water melon producing LGAs during 2021/2022 cropping season. Data elicited from questionnaires and interviews were analyzed using farm budgeting techniques and regression analysis. The findings of the study revealed that, a total variable costs of N 163,700/ha and a profit of
N 598,510/ha of water melon whose output was determined as 15,280 Kg/ha. Operating and gross ratios which measures financial success and financial position of the business were less than 1. The study further discovered that, age of the respondents, experience in water melon production, farm size, yield per ha, irrigation fee and price per kg of water melon were the significant variables influencing farmer’s profit. Major constraints hindering water melon in the state were inadequate formal and informal funding, reduction in yield due to insects/pest and lack of storage/preservation technology. The study therefore suggests adequate funding through cooperative farming and formal credit arrangements as this would create more opportunity for land expansion and technologically advanced water melon production in the study area.