ANALYSIS OF PROFITABILITY AMONG RAIN-FED UPLAND RICE PRODUCERS, NORTH WEST, NIGERIA.

This study analyzed profitability among rain-fed upland rice producers in North West, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 200 respondents. Primary data were used for this research. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting technique, and multiple regression analysis. The result shows that approximate 89% of rain-fed upland rice producers were male. The mean age of the respondents was 46 years. The household sizes were large with an average of 10 people per household. The respondents are small-scale farmers with an average rice farms of 1.47 hectares. Approximate 85% of rain-fed upland rice farmers belongs to membership of cooperative organization. The farmers had 14 years’ experience in upland rice farming. The gross margin and net farm income in rice production were estimated at 780879.28, and 701627.13 Naira per hectare, respectively. This shows that upland rice production was profitable. The seed, farm size, fertilizer, agrochemicals, and hired labour were significantly different from zero in influencing the net farm income of rain-fed upland rice farmers. The coefficient multiple determinations of 0.91, implies that 91% of variations in the net farm income of rain-fed upland rice farmers were explained by the independent variables included in the multiple regression model. The study recommends that the government through credit policy should provide credit facilities to rain-fed upland rice farmers at a single digit interest rate, this will enable them to purchase necessary farm input.

This study analyzed profitability among rain-fed upland rice producers in North West, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 200 respondents. Primary data were used for this research. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting technique, and multiple regression analysis. The result shows that approximate 89% of rain-fed upland rice producers were male. The mean age of the respondents was 46 years. The household sizes were large with an average of 10 people per household. The respondents are small-scale farmers with an average rice farms of 1.47 hectares. Approximate 85% of rain-fed upland rice farmers belongs to membership of cooperative organization. The farmers had 14 years’ experience in upland rice farming. The gross margin and net farm income in rice production were estimated at 780879.28, and 701627.13 Naira per hectare, respectively. This shows that upland rice production was profitable. The seed, farm size, fertilizer, agrochemicals, and hired labour were significantly different from zero in influencing the net farm income of rain-fed upland rice farmers. The coefficient multiple determinations of 0.91, implies that 91% of variations in the net farm income of rain-fed upland rice farmers were explained by the independent variables included in the multiple regression model. The study recommends that the government through credit policy should provide credit facilities to rain-fed upland rice farmers at a single digit interest rate, this will enable them to purchase necessary farm input.