ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED DRY SEASON VEGETABLE FARMING ALONG THE RIVER BANKS OF MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the economic analysis of dry season vegetables farming along the riverbank of Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 100 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The results revealed that respondents were active and young farmers with a mean age of 37 years, married (74%), and moderately experienced (8.7 years) smallholder farmers with an average farm size of 1.2 hectares, predominantly female (58%), with limited formal education while tomatoes (51%) is the dominant vegetable cultivated in the area. The profitability analysis revealed that the mean quantity of vegetables produced was 2,837kg with a mean total cost of ₦41,780 incurred in production while average revenue realized sales was ₦324,910 per month. The mean gross margin stood at ₦283,130, therefore, dry season vegetable farming is profitable in the study area. The results of regression analysis,profitability (1269.837) and source of capital (206.8673) both positively influence the productivity of dry season farming at 1% and 10% probability level respectively. Dry season vegetable farming contributed between 1 to 2 income sources to household income recorded by 93% of the respondents. The study further revealed that high cost of inputs (50%), poor access to credit (13%), pest and disease attack (10%), poor access to market (10%), inadequate water supply (9%), land tenure problem (5%), and lack of extension services (3%) were the challenges affecting dry season vegetable farming.The study concludes that with improved institutional support, affordable inputs, and efficient credit delivery systems, dry season vegetable farming has the potential to significantly improve food security, reduce unemployment, and enhance rural income generation in Makurdi LGA and beyond. The study therefore recommended that vegetable farmers through the power of cooperative should invest in the construction and maintenance of small-scale irrigation systems, and water pumps along riverbank communities to stabilize water supply amongst others.