Efficiency of labour and fertilizer use in Sugarcane production by smallholder farmers in Gbako Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study examined efficiency of labour and fertilizer usage in sugarcane production by smallholder farmers in Gbako LGA of Niger State, Nigeria. Primary data was collected from 110 randomly selected farmers using structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, the gross margin analysis, multiple regression analysis and resources-use efficiency ratio. The result shows that 10.9% of the sampled farmers fall below 30 years of age and 96.3% were married, 40.0% of the farmers had Quranic education. Majority (90.9%) of the sample farmers had over 30 years of farming experience, while 68.1% of the sample farmers had farming as their primary occupation. The pre-dominant system of land tenure in the area is by inheritance. The estimated gross income gives an average value of ₦87,550 per annum, while the net farm income was estimated at ₦50,500. The production function analysis shows that seedling (X2) and agrochemical (X5) were significant factors influencing the output of sugarcane production at 1% and 5% level of probability, respectively. The efficiency ratio (r) indicates that farm size was under-utilized, while fertilizer and labour were over-utilized. The major problems facing farmers include high cost of transportation, price fluctuation, farm inputs, input incentives and lack of adequate modern facilities.