RICE PRODUCTION GOAL PRIORITIZATION IN NORTH-EAST NIGERIA: THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP) APPROACH

Abstract

This study applies the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize key goals for rice
production in north-east Nigeria, aiming to provide insights into resource allocation for
enhanced productivity. The results indicate that the Labour and Seed goal is the highest priority,
with a score of 0.4460, reflecting its critical role in optimizing production. The Yield goal
follows with a score of 0.3150, signifying its substantial impact on overall output. Conversely,
the Budget goal (0.1176) and the Chemical goal (0.0673) are ranked as less critical. A
consistency ratio of 0.03973 confirms a reliable level of consistency in the pairwise
comparisons, adding robustness to the prioritization results. These findings suggest that
stakeholders should focus primarily on improving labour and seed inputs to maximize
efficiency in rice production. Emphasis on these resources aligns with previous research
underscoring the influence of labour and seed quality on crop productivity. In contrast, budget
and chemical inputs are deemed secondary priorities. By concentrating efforts on labour and
seed optimization, sustainable and profitable rice farming practices can be promoted, ultimately
benefiting regional agricultural outcomes.