Optimum production plan for Maize-based crop farmers in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study tried to address optimum production plan for maize-based crop farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Primary data were collection with the aid of structured questionnaire, simple random sampling technique was used in selecting a total of 133 farm household engaged in maize-based crop production. The results showed that maize-based arable crop production in the study area us predominantly make activity, with a mean age of 37 years. The average household size of the respondents was 5 persons. Majority (86.46%) of the farmers had one form of formal education ranging from tertiary, secondary, primary and adult education. Also, 81.95% of the farmers earned less than N100,000 per annum from off-farms activities. An average farmer had 20 years of farming experience and cultivated 1.88 ha of land. Linear programming solution plans for the farmers. it also indicated gross margin could be increased from N120,122.73 ha-1 in the existing crop production plan to N211,555.70-1 in the prescribed optimum crop production plan. It was concluded that production inputs were not optimally utilized and that crop mixtures were in a better competitive position that sole crop to increase the farmers’ income in maize-based crop production systems in Niger State. it was recommended that farmers should produce crop mixture maize/soybeans and maize/cowpea based on their hectarage allocation as prescribed in the optimum farm plans and that farm advisory services should give attention to optimum cropping patterns towards promoting increased agricultural productivity among farmers.