Determinant Factors Affecting Vegetable Productivity in Adamawa State, Nigeria.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume VI, Issue IX, September 2021|ISSN 2454-6194

Determinant Factors Affecting Vegetable Productivity in Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Bullum, I.Y, Abu, O. and Musa, Y.M
Department of Agric Economic Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria.
and
Department of Agribusiness Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria.

Abstract: Productivity of agricultural enterprises has remained a major issue in the agricultural sector in Nigeria; this study analyzed the productivity of smallholder vegetable farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. A total of 204 respondents were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected through structured questionnaire administered to sampled respondents. The study reveals that mean total factor productivity was estimated to be 2.67kg/₦. The OLS regression analysis revealed that farming experience at p≤0.10, farm size at p≤0.01, labor at p≤0.01, seed at p≤0.05, fertilizer at p≤0.01, agrochemical at p≤0.10, vegetable output at p≤0.01 and market distance at p≤0.05 were the factors affecting the vegetable farmers’ productivity in the study area.. High costs of fertilizer, agrochemicals, transportation, labour, and lack of improved variety and the problem of middlemen among others were the identified constraints faced by the vegetable farmers. The research recommended that inputs should be made available in right quantities and at affordable prices to the farmers by the government through the relevant stakeholders in agriculture. Vegetable farmers are encouraged to form a cooperative society or join an existing one in order to access for funds from government, private sector or non-governmental organizations. Timely and adequate extension service delivery should be fostered in the study area. If possible, government should acquire large expanse of lands and lease them out to vegetable farmers at reduced rates and less stringent conditions.

I. INTRODUCTION

Agriculture has continued to be an embodiment for sustainable development, poverty reduction, attainment of household self-food sufficiency and food security (Olwande et al., 2009). Nigeria has reputation as predominantly an agrarian society, as a reasonable percentage of the population engages in agricultural production though at subsistence level. The sector contributed an estimated 38.6% to 40% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the nation’s economy in 2013 with about 70% of the population productively engaged in farming (NBS, 2014). It contribution to the Gross Domestic Product has remained stable at between 30 and 42 percent, and employs 65 percent of the labour force in Nigeria. In Nigeria, more than 60 percent of the population is engaged in agricultural production; most of which are engaged in small scale production (Olutawosin and Olaniyan, 2001). The smallholders who are the back bone of the agricultural sector produce about 80 percent of the total food requirement Bamidele et al. (2008).
The growing of vegetables is positive, empowering and rewarding; it cuts across different class, race and culture like no other. World production of vegetables grew by 30 percent between 1990 and 2003 reaching 1,274million tons

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