ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SORGHUM-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN GARKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KANO STATE OF NIGERIA

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SORGHUM-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN GARKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KANO STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract:

The study examined the economic analysis of sorghum-based cropping systems in Garko Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select 160 respondents. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and stochastic frontier production analysis. The results showed that the six predominant sorghum-based enterprises in the study area in terms of percentage of farmers who were involved in these cropping systems were sole sorghum (S) (31.25%), sorghum/groundnut (S/G) (21.87%), sorghum/millet (S/M) (15.63%), sorghum/maize (S/Mz) (12.50%), sorghum/cowpea (S/C) (10%) and sorghum/millet/cowpea (S/M/C) (8.75%). The results of average levels of inputs used in the sorghum-based enterprises showed that for farmland, farmers cultivated more farmland for sole sorghum (29.06%) and the least land for S/M/C (8.75%). For seed, S/C had the highest seed rate (40 kg grain equivalent and sole sorghum had the least (12 kg grain equivalent/ha). For labour, S/M had the highest labour use per hectare (128 man-hours) and S/G had the least (70 man-hours). For fertilizer, sole sorghum had the highest quantity of fertilizer use per hectare (152 kg) and S/M/C the least (72.72 kg). For pesticide, S/G had the highest pesticide use per hectare (2 litres ) and S/M/C the least (0.53 litres). In terms of output, sorghum/maize had the highest output per hectare of 749.55 kg grain equivalent and the least was sorghum/groundnut (469.70 kg grain equivalent).The results of stochastic frontier production function analysis showed that for sole sorghum, farm size, labour and fertilizer were positively and significantly related to output. For S/G enterprise, seed, fertilizer, and pesticides were positively and significantly related to output. For S/M enterprise, farm size, labour and seed were significantly related to output. For S/Mz enterprise, farm size, seed and fertilizer were significantly related to output. For S/C enterprise, farm size, labour and fertilizer were significantly related to output, and for S/M/C enterprise, farm size, labour, fertilizer, and pesticide were positively and significantly related to output. The results of the determinants of technical inefficiency in sorghum enterprises showed that for sole sorghum, farming experience, membership of cooperatives and amount of credit were significantly related with technical inefficiency. For S/G, age, household size and education were significantly related with technical inefficiency. For S/M, household size, membership of cooperatives and amount of credit were significantly related with technical inefficiency. For S/Mz, age, household size, and farming experience were significantly related with technical inefficiency. For S/C, farming experience, education and amount of credit were significantly related with technical inefficiency and for S/M/C, education, membership of cooperatives and amount of credit were significantly related with technical inefficiency. The results of the frequency distributions of technical efficiencies in sorghum enterprises showed that the mean technical efficiency for sole sorghum was 87%, for S/G 77%, for S/M 89%, for S/Mz 93%, for S/C 87% and for S/M/C 72%. The results of the gross margin analysis showed that S/G enterprise was the most profitable with a gross margin of N21,965 per hectare and an average rate of return of 2.00, and the least profitable was S/M enterprise with a gross margin of N13,950 per hectare and an average rate of return of 1.51. The most important constraints associated with sorghum-based cropping systems in the study area were; inadequate credit (28.90%), high cost of fertilizer (23.12%), high cost of hired labour (20.23%) and poor storage facilities (11.56%).

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SORGHUM-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN GARKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KANO STATE OF NIGERIA