Effect of Socio-economic Factors on Cassava Production in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the effect of socio-economic factors on cassava production in Benue State. Multi stage random sampling techniques was employed to elicit data for the study. Two zones of the State namely, Zones B and C were randomly selected, two blocks and three circles were randomly selected. Finally, five farmers were also randomly selected and a total of 120 farmers were used as the sample size. Primary data were used and data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics. It was revealed that 72.50% of the respondents were males, 80.00 % were married, 44.17% of the respondents had farm sizes between 1.0-2.9 ha and majority (75.00%) of the farmers belonged to community association. Two-third (75.00%) of the farmers planted both improved and local cassava varieties. The regression result showed that age, education, marital status, membership of association, fertilizer use, weed control method and farm size were significant to cassava production. Some of the major constraints to cassava production were also revealed to be high cost of inputs (agro chemicals), financial constraints, high cost of labour and low access to planting materials. It is therefore, recommended that agricultural inputs (agro-chemicals) be made available at affordable price for the farmers use, since it showed as major constraints to cassava production output which rank first in the area.