AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SMALL SCALE MIXED FARMING SYSTEM: THE CASE OF FARM CROP/LIVESTOCK ENTERPRISES IN GIWA DISTRICT OF KADUNA STATE
AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SMALL SCALE MIXED FARMING SYSTEM: THE CASE OF FARM CROP/LIVESTOCK ENTERPRISES IN GIWA DISTRICT OF KADUNA STATE
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Date
1989-09
Authors
OKON, SUNDAY
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Abstract
The main objectives of the study are to derive
optimum farm plans for the small scale mixed crop/
livestock farmer and to examine the effect of resource
adjustments on total gross margin under the existing
technology and resource endowment. The study area
is Giwa District of Zaria Local Government area of
Kaduna state. The study was carried out during 1986/87
farming season. Data collection was by means of
questionnaire to interview the respondents twice a
month throughout the year by two well trained
enumerators.
Three basic farm models were constructed and
labelled A, B, and C and their variants are AI, AII,
AIII, BI, BII, BIII, CI and CII. Model A represents
production activities at existing resources level
while its variants represented adjustments in land and
cattle resources. Model B represents production,
consumption and selling activities, while its variants
indicate adjustments in land and labour resources.
Model C differs only from model B by incorporating
crop residue and animal manure variables into the
model. Models CI and CII indicate adjustments in
both land and labour resources.
The analysis of the optimum farm plans for all
the models showed substantial increase in total gross
margins over the farm income of N3000 estimated during the survey. An increase in farm size by 40 percent
results in 18 percent increase in total gross margin,
while an increase in labour by 15 percent reduced
the total gross margin by 3.5 percent in models BII
and BI respectively, showing the importance of land
in the study area. This trend was typical for all
the models. Maize/cowpea, guinea corn/millet and
cattle production activities were in better competitive
positions over other activities. This shows how
important these activities are in the study area.
The results show that higher productivity and
more revenue could be achieved by the small scale
mixed farmer if there is a reorganisation of resources
and better planning of farming activities. Cattle was
a major revenue earner because any model without cattle
activity showed a reduced revenue in the optimum plan.
Labour was limiting at the peak farming period as
labour has to be rationed between crops and livestock
activities. Selective mechanisation with the use of
work animals is suggested as a solution to the labour
bottleneck.
An examination of the shadow prices of the
excluded activities which show the income penalities
attached to forcing one unit of the excluded activities
into the programme, further reveals the stability of
the different production strategies under existing technology and changing resource levels. The
higher the shadow prices of the excluded activities
the lower is their competitive position within the
optimal programme.
Studies such as this are recommended in other
states where agro-pastoral Fulani are settled so that
a national policy could be evolved for the mixed
farming production strategy in Nigeria.
Description
A Dissertation submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu
Bello University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Agricultural
Economics).
DEPARTMENT OF AGRIC. ECONOMICS AND RURAL SOCIOLOGY
Faculty of Agriculture
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
SEPTEMBER, 1989
Keywords
ECONOMIC,, SCALE MIXED FARMING, CROP/LIVESTOCK