COST AND RETURN ANALYSIS OF IRISH POTATO PRODUCTION IN TWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF PLATEAU STATE

Abstract

Root and tuber production has occupied an important position in the farming system of the Guinea savannah in the north - central States of Nigeria. The increasing demand for Irish Potato as food, the medicinal importance, its income and employment generation possibilities during the wet season have stimulated the need for increasing its production. This paper examines the cost and returns of Irish Potato production and identified the constraints associated with its production. A sample of 120 small-scale farmers was purposively selected from Bokkos and Riyom local government areas (LGAs) of Plateau State (that is, 60 farmers were selected from each local government). Data was obtained from these farmers through the administration of structured questionnaire and oral interviews. The analysis of the collected data was done using descriptive statistics and budgeting technique. The cost and return analysis indicated that the cost of fertilizer (3.875.15/ha), seed (N2.395.50) and weeding (N1,948.50/ha) accounted for 30% of the total variable cost incurred in Irish potato production. It was also found that Irish potato production was highly profitable as indicated by a net income of N3,676.07/ha. Despite the high profit margin, farmers were confronted with problems of high cost of labour, inadequate funds to sustain production, security challenges in the area, poor marketing channel outlets, high cost of inputs, and poor information network.