Costs and returns of moringa (Moringa oleifera) production in Zuru local government area of Kebbi State, Nigeria

Costs and returns of moringa (Moringa oleifera) production in Zuru local government area of Kebbi State, Nigeria

2015

E10484

This study was carried out to investigate profitability associated with Moringa production in Zuru local government area of Kebbi State. It examined the costs and returns of Moringa production as well as constraints faced by Moringa farmers in the study area. Data were collected from a total of 100 Moringa farmers using purposive sampling technique in 2013. Descriptive statistics and farm budgeting technique were used in the analysis of the data. The study revealed that 48% of Moringa farmers in the study area belong to the active population in the age bracket of 31 - 40 years, majority (78%) of Moringa farmers were females, majority (69%) of Moringa farmers had formal education at various levels, majority (89%) of Moringa farmers in the study area had a farm size of 0.5 1.0 hectares and 46% had experience in Moringa production within the range of 16 20 years. The costs and returns analysis indicated that, variable cost constituted 42.27% of the total cost of Moringa production in the study area,\n while the fixed cost constituted 57.73%. However, the average total cost of production per hectare was N75, 350, the average total revenue was N187, 500 and the net income was N112, 150 indicating that Moringa production was profitable. Despite the profitability of Moringa production, farmers identified pest and disease, lack of technical advice and lack of capital as their major constraints. It is therefore recommended that trained personnel to educate Moringa farmers with new method of Moringa production in the study area should be emphasized. Moringa farmers should form cooperative societies to enable them have easy access to improved inputs, credit and other forms of assistance.

8(1):36-40, NEW YORK SCIENCE JOURNAL

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