SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING THE OUTPUT OF CASSAVA FARMERS IN AKOKO SOUTH WEST OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The study identified the socio-economic factors influencing the output of cassava farmers in Akoko South West of Ondo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of cassava farmers in the study area; examine the profitability of cassava production in the study area; examine the socio-economic factors influencing the output of cassava farmers in the study area; and identify the challenges faced by cassava farmers in the process of cassava production. Data for the study was gathered through the use of questionnaire. The study employed a multistage sampling technique for data collection. The first stage involved the purposive selection of the study area, the stage 2 involved the random selection of five communities. The 3rd stage involved the selection of 20 cassava farmers in the selected communities making a total number of 100 respondents. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary techniqueandbinary logit regression model. The result of the study showed that 69.0% of the respondents were males, with an estimated mean age of 47years. 91.0% had formal education with an approximately household size of 4persons. The mean farming experience of the respondents is estimated to be 18years. 87.0% and 78.0% do not have access to extension agents and credit respectively. 69.0% do not belongs to any cooperative society with estimated farm size of 4acres.The result on the profitability of cassava production showed that cassava production is a very profitable enterprise in the study area with a profit margin of N245,776.60 and a return on investment (ROI) of 3.3. This result indicated that for every N1 invested in cassava production in the study area, an averaged farmer will get a return of N3:3k. The result also showed that sex (9323.609; p=.028) and marital status (3802.107; p=.079) were the socioeconomic factors influencing cassava production in the study area. Limited access to improved cassava varieties, pest and diseases, high cost of farm inputs, inadequate farmland due to urbanization, inadequate mechanization, poor weather conditions, and lack of credit facilities were the major challenges faced by cassava farmers in the process of cassava production in the study area. The study concluded that cassava production is a very profitable enterprise in the study area with a high profit margin. The result also showed concluded that that sex and marital status were the socioeconomic factors influencing cassava production in the study area. The study recommended that the government is encouraged to make gender-sensitive agricultural policies that would encourage more females into cassava production. The government is encouraged to provide training and extension services tailored to address the unique challenges faced by cassava farmers in the study area. Financial institutions are encouraged to promote access to low-interest and flexible agricultural loans targeted at cassava farmers. Cassava farmers are encouraged to form agricultural groups that would encourage collective marketing and storage systems as this would help stabilize prices and improve profit margins.