Assessment of Cassava Production in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria
1Jane Munonye; 1Joy N Obi & 2Okere Happiness Chikadibia
1Department of Agricultural Economics, Alex Ekwueme Federal University of Ndufu, Alike, Ebonyi State
2Department of Agriculture Economics, Ext. and Rural Development, Imo State University, Owerri
Email: munojane@gmail.com: Jnamaka1@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The study assessed the production of cassava in a Government area of Imo State. The specific objectives were to: identify socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; identify their cropping system; determine cost and returns of cassava production; and identify problems of production. To achieve these, a sixty cassava farmers was selected. A set of structured questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that on socio-economic, the mean age of the farmers was 36.32 years, and they were mostly males (55%) and had mean house hold of 7 persons. They had mean farm size of 2.7 plots and were well educated. The cost and returns analysis showed that for every N1.00 invested they made 63kobo, which shows that cassava production was profitable and
economically viable. Their major cropping system was sole cropping. Sex variable, farm size and experience were statistically significant at 10%, 1% and 5% levels respectively. Major problems of production were high
cost of inputs and inadequate funds. It is recommended that farmers should form production cooperative society to forestall the problems of inadequate fund.
