Does cucumber production affect land productivity and profitability? New evidence from Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The overall objective of this study is to examine the productivity and profitability of cucumber production in Imo State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 216 cucumber farmers who were administered a questionnaire. Data were collected from primary sources and analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgeting principles, total and partial factor productivity model, and ordinary least square multiple regression approach. The mean productivity ratio of 0.0049 was used to isolate the land productivity levels of cucumber farmers into high and low degrees. Owerri zone had total factor productivity (TFP) and partial factor productivity (PFP) of 2.11 and 22.9, Okigwe had TFP and PFP of 2.69 and 31.0, and Orlu zone had 3.43 and 36.5 respectively. Age, gender, family size, farm size, education, farming experience, cooperative membership, and extension contacts were important and significant factors affecting net returns and land productivity of farmers in the state. Previous studies reported non-significance of age, education, and farming experience, which is completely different from the results of this study. Cucumber production and marketing were mainly constrained by low capital (100%), high labor costs (92.1%), and high input costs (94.4%). Cucumber production in the state was lucrative, profitable, and economically viable as evidenced by a net return of ₦53547.06.