ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF IMPROVED INPUTS ON PRODUCTION OF FOOD CROPS IN ONDO STATE,NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the economic analysis of improved inputs on production of food crops in ondo state, Nigeria . The study examined the socio-economic . characteristic of the production: resource-use efficiency with and without improved input: and influencing adopt of agricultural input technologies among respondents, A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select two categories PI' rood crops farmers: 100 improved input users and 100 Non-improved input users through the structured questionnaire In examining the socio-economic characteristics or the farmers, the analvsis revealed that more than 60% were more than 50 years and above, which implies that crop production is dominated hyoid farmers. Majority of the farm crop. The males and household size aged between ()-20 persons. The farmers had low \ educational status as over 60% attended primary school. Almost all farmers were small scale hectares of land. III the profitability analysis farmers. the findings revealed thut Improved input users earned an average gross margin per hectare. while the Non-improved input users earned an average gross m;lrgin or WI x, 126.I)X per hectare ill the farming season, The implication or this is that food crop production was a profitable business in the study area. and more profitable for Improved input users. Till' production function analysis revealed that the Returns to Scale showed increasing return-to-scale in Iood crop production lor Improved input users. there by implying that further expansion ()r the existing production could lead to better efficiency among Improved input users. The studv revealed that resources were being used in (111optimally efficient mariner. For improved input users. the MVP/l JI."(' ratio was higher than one. \\ hich inll)lil's that more should he used ' agrochcmicals. Whereas lor the Non-improved input . less or the resources should be used in the production process. Finally. the probit analysis-. conducted shows] that the probability that a farmer income and labour. adopt any of the improved farm inputs. The probability or adoption decreased with hired labour , household size. ; it is recommended that. government should encourage youth to go into food crop production. timely supply or inputs .at subsidized rate is highly necessary as this wil enhance adoption and more research should be carried out on crop production :''; ",