CONTRIBUTION OF COCOYAM TO RURAL FARMERS INCOME GENERATION IN IHITTE UBOMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF

This research focused on the socio-economic characteristics of cocoyam farmers, the various uses of cocoyam, the profit-generating ability of cocoyam for farmers, the contribution of cocoyam to farmers' income, the socio-economic determinants of cocoyam income generation, and the issues that rural farmers face in the production and sale of cocoyam in the study area. 120 respondents were chosen using multi-stage random sampling, and data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using frequencies, means, percentages, net return analysis, and the multiple regression technique. According to the findings, 85.0 percent of farmers cultivated between 0.1 and 2.0 hectares of cocoyam, which was mostly consumed as boiled porridge. Cocoyam production was profitable, according to the net return analysis, with an average BCR ratio of 1.36 and profit of N 40919.3 per hectare (1 US Dollar = N 198). Cocoyam also contributed 12.7 percent of the farmers' total income, indicating that it was a significant source of income for them. Level of education, farming experience, land area cultivated, hired labor, quantity of cocoyam sett planted, age, and gender all had a significant impact on the amount of income generated from cocoyam production. Lack of investible funds (91.7%), poor storage facilities (90.0%), limited land (90.0%), lack of market information (86.7%), poor infrastructural facilities (85.0%), lack of extension contact (80.0%), and pest and disease attack were the main constraints for the majority of cocoyam farmers (70.0 percent ). It was suggested that policies be implemented to improve farmers' access to credit facilities. Farmers should form cooperative societies to increase their access to available credit.

Please see the link :- https://www.ikprress.org/index.php/JOGAE/article/view/587