Economic Analysis Of Cassava Production In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study was designed to estimate costs and returns of cassava production as well as the productivity of use of farm resources. Data for this study were collected from 150 cassava farmers from Uyo Agricultural Zone, using a semi-structured questionnaires. Random sampling procedure was used in selecting the respondents for the study. Theanalytical tools used include budgeting technique, descriptive statistics and production function analysis The results obtained showed that the cost per hectare of cassava production when family labour is accounted for was N24,414.80. Labour was the most prominent cost item, accounting for about 62.52% of the total production cost. Weeding, harvesting, planting and land preparations in that order were labour intensive. Family labour was used for most operations, while hired labour was used for weeding and land preparations. Fixed cost accounted for about 8.19% of total cost, operating cost items occupies just about 29.29% of the total cost of production. Added to these, some farmers did not use the improved varieties of cassava stems. Profit margin obtained was N5,585.20 per hectare. Result of productivity analysis showed that the use of labour and fertilizer was inefficient. It is therefore recommended that government should subsides price of agricultural inputs and extension agents should encourage farmers to use recommended rate of fertilizer application, improved varieties of cassava stem for increased efficiency and increasedcassava production in the country since there is availability of markets for Nigeria cassava products( chips/pellets) in China, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg