Assessmentof Problems Associated to Fadama Crop Farming: An Experience of the Fadama II Beneficiary Crop Farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study assesses the problems associated with Fadama II crop farming in Adamawa state. Data were collected on a sample of 160 farmers and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings from the study showed that Inadequate and high cost of fertilizer was reported to be very severe and serious problem affecting the crop farmers of Fadama, and this accounted for about 56.25 percent of the respondents, while 13.75 percent of the respondents were severely affected. However, only 30 percent of the farmers considered the problem as not severe, it further revealed that, about 57 percent of the respondents reported that high cost of agrochemicals was not a severe problem, while 16.88 percent were severely affected by the problem. The respondents that were very severely affected by this problem constituted 26.25 percent. On the use of improved seeds, the study shows that, majority of the respondents about 50 percent did not consider non availability of improved seeds as a severe problem, while 21.25 percent considered the non-availability of improved seeds as a severe problem. However, 28.75 percent of the respondents regarded the non-availability of improved seeds as a very severe problem. Cost of labour for production as revealed from the study shows that, about 45 percent of the respondents looked at high cost of labour as not a severe problem, while 30.63 percent considered it to be a severe problem. Consequently, about 24.39 percent reported it as a very severe problem. The study concludes that, several problems associate Fadama crop farming in the study area. The study identified problems associated with the crop production by the Fadama II beneficiaries such as inadequate and high cost of fertilizer, high cost of agrochemicals (herbicides/pesticides), non-availability of improved seeds, clashes with pastoralist, high cost of paid labour, high cost of water pumps and inadequate supply of water during some months. It therefore recommends that, Government should take renewed interest in dry season production by strengthening support and public-private partnership so as to boost production and win niche markets with a challenge of making better markets for farmers, while at the same time ensuring that production technologies adopted is more environmentally sustainable. Government should establish where feasible micro irrigation scheme that will ensure all year round crop production and livestock rearing.This will not only increase crop production but reduce the rate of conflict in the use of communal natural resource.

Technical Efficiency of Maize-Based Cropping Systems Among Rain Fed Farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria

“…This implies that a 1% increase in hectare used in maize-based production ceteris paribus will bring about increase in the total output by 0.153% and vice versa. This result agrees with Girei (2014) who identified land as a critical factor in agricultural production. The coefficient of hired labour is positive and statistically significant at 1% level, implying that a 1% increase in man-days of hired labour used in production will bring about increase in maizebased output by 0.215%.…”

“…Extension visit help the farmers to learn new technology about agricultural production. A similar result was also reported by Girei (2014) who obtained a significant and positive relationship extension contact and technical efficiency. Crop diversification variable in the model is negative and statistically significant at 5% level.…”

Determinants of Learning Outcome in the Nigerian Primary Schools

“…For this study, the stochastic frontier was used to estimate technical efficiency. Technical Efficiency is defined as the maximum level of output obtainable from a given basket of inputs given the level of technology (Girei et al, 2013). It is important to measure efficiency for the following reasons:…”

“…(ii) One could determine the factors that account for the good performance or otherwise of productive units to improve performance. (iii) Policymakers can be guided on the policy varieties/ options or monitoring mechanisms that can enhance the performance of productive units (Girei et al, 2013).…”

Profitability and Efficiency of Tomato Production Among Female Farmers in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

“…Efficiency analysis in agriculture typically includes the ability for farms to generate a certain amount of output at least cost from a given resources or a certain amount of yield (Girei et al, 2013;Tambo and Theresa, 2010). Efficiency described the performance of the procedures used to transform inputs into output.…”