Optimum Production Plan for Cassava-Based-Crop Farmers in Nigeria: Evidence from Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study developed an optimal arable crop combination plans that would maximize the net returns of the cassava based smallholder farmers in Ebonyi. State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 80 smallholder cassava-based farmers. Well-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from eighty (80) stratified randomly selected cassava based crop farmers in rural communities of Ebonyi State. Descriptive statistics, farm budgeting technique and linear programming model were used to analyze the data obtained. The LP result showed that 0.51ha of maize/cowpea, 0.52ha of Cassava and Maize (Ca/Ym,) 0.54ha of Cassava, Maize and Melon (Ca/Mz/Me), 0.66ha of Cassava, Maize and Yam (Ca/Mz/Ym), 0.58ha of Cassava, Maize and Groundnut (Ca/Mz/Gn) and 00.43ha of Cassava, Maize, Yam and Okro (Ca/Mz/Ym/Ok) were prescribed as solutions to maximize net returns in the optimal plan. The optimal net return was N351,185.92 which is 18.18% higher than the existing plan. Cassava, Maize, Yam and Pumpkin (Ca/Mz/Ym/Pu), enterprise had the highest marginal opportunity cost while Cassava and Maize (Ca/Mz) had the least. However, Capital and labour constituted the limiting resources in the optimal plan. It was concluded that the smallholder cassava-based farmers have the potential to maximize net returns as resources were not optimally allocated in the existing plan for cassava based crop activities. Farmers should therefore adopt the optimum farm plans as prescribed in the LP solution.