ABSTRACT
The study examined the economic analysis of effects of pests and disease on small scale maize producers in Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo state. The objectives of this research work are to determine the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, the cost and return of maize production and also the factors that influence profitability due to pests and disease on maize production in the study area and necessary recommendation were made. A total of 100 farmers were randomly selected and questionnaires were administered to them.
The primary data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The profitability was determined using gross margin analysis. It was found that about 66% of the respondents were between the productive age group of 36-60 years and about 4% had no formal education; the major source of income was from personal savings. The gross margin was N89, 230.00 per hectare, profit of ₦83, 020.00, benefit cost ratio of 1.95 which shows that maize production is a profitable business to engage in this study area. The result of the regression analysis revealed that coefficients of source of income, farm years of experience, maize yield threaten, discouragement were positively and statistically significant.
Since farmers' constraints centered on lack of capital as well as pest and disease infestation, it was recommended that government should grant farmers loan with minimum collateral for them to be able to buy more capital inputs and increase farm size.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents Page
Title page 1
Certification 2
Dedication 3
Acknowledgements 4
Table of contents 5
List of Figures 6
List of Tables 7
Abstract 8
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION 10
1.1 Statement of problem 11
1.2 Research questions 12
1.3 Objectives of the study 12
1.4 Hypothesis of the study 12
1.5 Justification of the study 12
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 13
2.1 Maize farming production and cost of production 13
2.2 Density of planting 14
2.3 Maize production constraints 14
2.3.1 Low soil fertility 14
2.3.2 Drought 14
2.4 Factors influencing maize production at household level 15
2.4.1 Access to credit, extension agents and hired labor 15
2.5 Pests and diseases of maize 15
2.6 Demographical characteristics of small scale farmer production 17
2.7 Maize production with regards to other cereal crops like rice, wheat, sorghum e.t.c 18
2.8 Maize production profile in Akinyele local government 18
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 METHODOLOGY 20
3.1 The study area 20
3.2 The population of the study; 20
3.3 The Sample size and sampling procedure; 21
3.4 Sources of data and instrument for data collection; 21
3.5 Method of data analysis; 21
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 25
4.1 Socio economics characteristics 25
4.1.1 Gender distribution of respondents 26
4.1.2 Religion distribution of respondents 26
4.1.3 Age of respondents 26
4.1.4 Marital status of the respondents 27
4.1.5 Educational level of the respondents 27
4.1.6 Primary occupation of the respondents 28
4.1.7 Household size of the respondents 29
4.1.8 Farming years experience of the respondents 29
4.1.9 Employment type of the respondents 30
4.1.10 Source of income of the respondents 30
4.2 Regression Analysis 31
4.2.1 Model summary 31
4.2.2 Hypothesis testing 31
4.2.3 Regression results and interpretation 32
4.3 Cost and Return Analysis 35
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 36
5.1 Summary 36
5.2 Conclusion 36
5.3 Recommendation 36
REFERENCES 38
APPENDIX 40
LISTS OF TABLES
Table Page
Gender distribution of respondents 25
Religion distribution of respondents 26
Age distribution of respondents 26
Marital status distribution of respondents 27
Educational level distribution of respondents 28
Primary occupation distribution of respondents 28
House hold size distribution of respondents 29
Farming years of experience distribution of respondents 30
Type of employment distribution of respondents 30
Source of income distribution of respondents 31
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) table 32
Co-efficient of regression result 34
Cost and return analysis 36
