OPTIMUM PRODUCTION PLAN FOR YAM BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN GANYE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Population pressure is linked in one way or the other to the shrinking size of most-small holder farms over time. The study addressed optimum production plan for yam-based farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Primary data used were collected from 298 farmers, using structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear programming model. The results revealed that yam- based crop production in the study area was predominantly a male activity (72.15%), with a mean age of 48 years. The mean household size was 10 persons with minimum of 2 persons and maximum of 23 persons. Majority (83.22%) of the farmers had formal education. Also 71.48% of the farmers engaged in farming on full time basis. On average, the farmers had 15 years of farming experience and cultivated 2.02ha of land. The optimal farm plan generated by the linear programming output for maximizing Total Gross Margin (TGM) recommended Yam/Maize/Groundnut on 1.58ha and Yam/Sorghum/ Cowpea on 3.42ha. The result also revealed that gross margin could be increased from N402, 496.93 in the existing plan to N635, 057.72 in the optimized plan. It was concluded that production inputs were not optimally utilized. The optimal farm plan recommends that yam-based farmers should produce crop mixtures Yam/Maize/Groundnut and Yam/Sorghum/Cowpea based on their hectarage allocations to maximize Total Gross Margin of N1, 723,046.49.