ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF FERTILIZER USE IN MAIZE PRODUCTION IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF FERTILIZER USE IN MAIZE PRODUCTION IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA
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Date
1995-09
Authors
AHMED, BENJAMIN
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Abstract
The main objectives of this study are to determine the
main factors affecting crop choice and fertilizer use
decisions among the farmers in Northern Guinea Savanna (NGS)
and to estimate the on-station response of maize to N, P and
K fertilization. In doing so, the position of maize in the
cropping system and how such position would be affected by
fertilizer subsidy withdrawal was investigated. Input-output
data were collected from 50 farm households made up of 84
farmers selected at random in five villages selected
purposely from Kaduna and Katsina states in 1990 and 1991
cropping seasons. The primary information were gathered
through the use of questionnaires and interviews. The primary
data were supplemented with secondary data while the data
were analysed using descriptive statistics, regression,
correlation, linear and parametric linear programming
methods.
The result of the crop choice factors shows that
rainfall, soil fertility, availability and cost of inputs,
the need for self-sufficiency in food and cash requirements
were the main factors affecting crop choice and combinations.
Maize was produced more in a situation where the farmer's
goal was to obtain more cash income while sorghum was
produced more where the main aim was to feed the family.
Maize, however, serve the dual roles of being a food and a
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cash crop and therefore it is the dominant crop in terms of
hectarage cultivated and income earned.
Fertiliser use decisions were affected by the types
available and crops grown. Inorganic fertilizers were used
along with the organic fertilizers in most fields but
preferential application was given to inorganic fertilizers
especially on maize crop. The on-station maize response
analyses showed that at the three test sites, the technical
optimum levels of N- were lower than the recommended rate of
120kg N/ha. However, the economic optima shows that the
recommendation is still valid. In the case of phosphorus
response, except in Samaru, the technical and economic optima
were lower but closes to the recommended rate of 60kg
P205/ha. In the case of potassium response, the technical
optima were about the same level with the recommended rate
of 60kg K2O/ha. However, in all the test sites, the economic
optima exceeded the rate and were indeed close to 90 kg/ha
and thus, it was suggested that the recommendation should be
increased to 90kg K2O/ha. This was confirmed when all the
three elements were varied simultaneously as the maximur
profit was obtained at the 150-60-90 kg/ha of N, P and K.
The farm setup shows that 70 crop types were grown in
a 98 different combinations in the zone. Out of the crop
types, maize and sorghum were dominant and were grown in
and 16 different combinations respectively. The net Earn
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Abstract
income from the representative farm improved from an
unplanned farm setup of N17,780 to N25,502 when the farm was
planned. Under a larger farm size, production activities were
limited by family labour in the months of June, July and
August when farm labour demands were at peak.
In terms of nutrient-crop-price ratios, except for P,
the ratios for N and K were lower than 2:1 suggested tor
efficient uses of fertilizer on crops. The ratios, however
improved considerably when fertilizer prices were Increased
indicating that, reduction in fertilizer subsidy levels wil]
enhance efficiency of fertilizers use on maize in the zone.
Further analysis shows that the improved efficiency Leads
sole maize cropping system and production of mainly
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu
Bello University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the award of Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Agricultural
Economics)
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Nigeria
Keywords
ECONOMIC,, ANALYSIS,, FERTILIZER,, USE,, MAIZE,, PRODUCTION,, NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA,, NIGERIA