CROP COMBINATION PATTERNS IN YAM-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS AMONG FARMERS IN SOUTHERN ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analyzed the crop combination patterns and profitability in yam-based cropping systems among farmers in southern Adamawa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; identify the crop combination types and to estimate the profitability of yam-based cropping systems, Primary data were obtained from two hundred and ninety-eight (298) respondents using a simple random sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using mean, frequency counts, gross margin, and net profit analysis. Cropping systems revealed that sole yam accounted for 22.82% of the cropping system and 22.72% of the total hectares allocation, while, mixed cropping accounted for 77.18% of the cropping systems and 77.28% of the total hectares allocation. The total hectares allocation for the yam-based cropping system was 603 ha, with sole yam and mixed cropping covering 137 ha and 466 ha respectively. A total of five mixed cropping systems; yam/cowpea (22.15%), yam/maize (13.76%), yam/maize/cowpea (17.11%), yam/maize/groundnut (13.09%) and yam/sorghum/cowpea (11.07%) were identified. The result of the gross margin analysis revealed that the yam/cowpea enterprise had the highest gross margin per hectare of ₦409,735.39, while the Yam/maize/cowpea enterprise had the least gross margin per hectare of ₦254,007.44. The gross margin per hectare (GM/ha) in all six enterprises was positive, and the operating ratio was less than one. More farmers should be encouraged by Government and non-governmental organizations to go into yam production enterprise because it is profitable.