Analysis of yam marketable surplus in Imo state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted in Imo State in the southeastern agricultural zone of Nigeria, to determine socio-economic characteristics of farmers; cost and return of farmers and factors that determine the marketable surplus of farmers. Among the farm enterprises in the state, yam has high- income elasticity of demand by consumers when compared to other root and tuber crops cultivated in the state. Multistage sampling technique was employed while well-structured questionnaire and oral interview were used to collect field data from respondents. Both descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple regression model were used to analyze the data from the field. Results of the study showed that the farmer realized N318150 ha-1 from 3030 kgh-1of yam tubers in marketable surplus. It was implied from the results that increase in the farmer‟s age, transportation cost and household size will significantly lead to decrease in the yam marketable surplus in the study area. Increase in non-traded yam will lead to increase in yam marketable surplus if the quantity of yam produced per hectare increases. Increase in farming experience, marketing experience, and cost of seed yam will significantly lead to increase in the yam marketable surplus of the farmer. These results call for promulgation of policies to improve farm production efficiency in the study area.

Keywords: yam, marketable surplus, production, roots and tubers