Analysis of the Factors affecting Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) Production under the Out growers Scheme in Numan Local Government Area Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to analyze productivity and resource use efficiency in sugarcane production by random selection of 120 out grower farmers. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the production function analysis. Results of the analysis revealed that majority of the respondents (60%) were males and 40% were females engaged in sugarcane production, a mean age of 42 years with majority (69%) falling into the productive age group of 31 – 40 years and majority 62.5% acquiring one form of formal education or the other. Majority of the sugarcane farmers (90%) were married, majority (52.6%) having family size in the range of 6 - 10 persons with a mean family size of 8 people. Also, 40 percent of the respondents had fanning experience of between16-20 years with an average farming experience of 10 years and cultivated a mean farm size of 1.5ha. The study identified inadequate and late allocation of farms and inadequate credit as the major constraints of sugarcane production and possible suggestions to overcome the identified constraints were made in the study. Keywords: Sugar cane, outgrower, Numan, Nigeri