Determining optimal maize-based enterprise in soba local government area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study was designed to determine the optimal maize-based enterprise in soba local government area of Kaduna state, Nigeria. Data were collected from a survey conducted with 200 farmers in eight districts in the local government area. Results of the dominance analysis showed that maize/cowpea enterprise dominated the other enterprises because it had the highest gross margin and lowest total variable cost. The linear programming analysis indicated that a gross margin of N56,920.30 was obtained in the planned farm as against N26,282.00, per hectare of maize/cowpea in the unplanned farm. The study also indicates that Maize/cowpea enterprise was the most competitive enterprise in the study area. Labour and land were the most limiting resources. Agro-Science Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 28-3