Maize (Zea mays, L.)

1 Economic Analysis of Maize Production in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria Onuk E. G1., Ogara I. M1, Yahaya H1 and Nannim N2. 1. Faculty of Agriculture, Shabu Lafia Campus, Nasarawa State University, Keffi. 2. Agric. Departmen, Mangu Local Government, Plateau State. Received 11th January, 2010, Accepted 29th May, 2010 Abstract The study assessed the economics of Maize production among farmers in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The instrument used for the research was the questionnaire. A random sampling technique was adopted and a sample size of ninety (90) respondents was used. While descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and production function analysis were used as tools for analyzing data. The study revealed that Maize seed has established itself as a very significant component in Maize farming system, and determines the cropping pattern of the predominantly peasant farmers.

2 The result of the production function analysis shows that the double log functional form had the best fit to the data, that is R2 = , meaning that 65% of the variation in the output of Maize was accounted for by the variables in the model. All the variables in the model had positive regression coefficients indicating direct relationship between each of them and output of Maize . The result of the survey also indicated that men had more access to land than women, thus making them to be more involved in Maize production in the study area. However, both men and women have experience in Maize production and obtained planting materials mostly from previous harvest. Finally, the study concluded by advocating adequate market with good stable prices for Maize farmers products that would enhance Maize production in the study area and the country at large.

3 Keywords: Maize Production, Economic Analysis, peasant farmers. INTRODUCTION Maize (Zea mays, L.) is one of the main cereal crops of West Africa, and the most important cereal food crops in Nigeria. It comes after wheat and rice in terms of world importance. Maize is not only a major cereal crop in the present day world but it was also one of the basic foods in America before the arrival of Christopher Columbus at the end of the 15th Century, and among the Indians in Mexico and Guatemala, and also among the Incus in Peru, Bolivia and Equator (Rouannent, 1987). Maize is becoming the miracle seed for Nigerias agricultural and economic development. It has established itself as a very significant component of the farming system and determines the cropping pattern of the predominantly peasant farmers, PAT June, 2010; 6 (1): 1-11 ISSN: 0794-5213 Online copy available at Publication of Nasarawa State University, Keffi especially in the Northern States (Ahmed, 1996).

4 Maize has been of great importance in providing food for man, feed for livestock and raw materials for some agro-based industries. Maize constitutes a stable food in many regions of the world. It is a basic stable for large population groups particularly in developing countries (FAO and ILO, 1997). Wikipedia (2006), reported that Maize is hydrolyzed and enzymatically treated to produce syrups, particularly high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener and in some cases fermented and distilled to produce grain alcohol which is traditionally the source of bourbon whisky. Sweet corn is a genetic variation that is high in sugars and low in starch that is served like a vegetable. Another common food made from Maize is corn flakes.

5 Maize is used as meal pap in Africa, corn bread is made from Maize . Maize is still an important model organism for genetic and develops mental biology to date. Doebley (1994), reported that Maize can be boiled or roasted on the cob, the grains can be cooked fresh or dry and the dry grain can be made into pop corn (guguru) and eaten with roasted groundnuts. Maize is one of the most abundant food crops in Nigeria. About 80% is consumed by man and animals while 20% is utilized in variety of industries processes for production of starch, oil high fructose, corn sweetener, ethanol, cereal and alkaline. Maize consists of 71% starch, 9% protein and 4% oil on a dry weight basis. Despite the economic importance of Maize to the teeming populace in Nigeria, it has not been produced to meet food and industrial needs of the country.

6 This could be attributed to low productivity from Maize farms or that farmers have not adopted improved technologies for Maize production. These factors play a major role in the adoption process. Now the question is: what are the factors influencing Maize production? The general objective of the study is to examine the economics of Maize production in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. Specific objectives are to: (i) describe the socio-economic characteristics of Maize farmers in the study area (ii) determine the inputs and outputs level in Maize production in the study area. (iii) estimate the costs and returns associated with Maize production in the study area. (iv) determine resource-use effience in Maize production (v) identify the constraints to Maize production in the study area.

7 PAT 2010; 6 (1): 1-11: ISSN: 0794-5213; Onuk et al: Economic Analysis of Maize Production . 2 METHODOLOGY The study was conducted in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Mangu Local Government Area has nine (9) districts namely; Mangu, Panyam, Gindiri, Langai, Mangun, Kerang, Ampang, Kombum, and Pushit. Majority of the inhabitants are peasant farmers. The climate and soil conditions of the area are suitable for growing cereal crops such as Maize , guinea corn, millet, wheat, acha, rice and tuber crops such as Irish Potatoes, yams, cassava, sweet potatoes, etc. Mangu Local Government Area is located within the Northern Guinea Savannah and the climate is near temperate and could be compared to the weather found in Jos, Barakin Ladi, Bokkos and Pankshin (Nannim, 2009).

8 The population for the study was Maize farmers in Mangu Local Government Area. Data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire that was administered to the respondents. Double stage sampling technique was adopted. First stage involved the random selection of one village from each of the nine administrative districts. Thus, nine (9) villages were selected for the study. The second stage involved the purposive selection of 10 Maize farmers from each of the selected villages to give a total of ninety (90) respondents. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequency distribution were used to achieve objectives (i), (ii) and (v) of the study. Gross margin which was used to satisfy objective iii is expressed as follows: GM = GI TVC Where: GM = Gross Margin (N/ha). GI = Gross income (N/ha) The product of the total output and the unit cost of output.

9 TVC = Total Variable Cost (N/ha) Cost of inputs such as fertilizer, seed, hired labour, chemicals, etc. The production function analysis was used to satisfy objective (iv) of the study. The model is expressed in its general form as follows: Y = F (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, U) Where: Y = Quantity of Maize output (Kg) X1 = Fertilizer (Kg) X2 = Labour (man hours) X3 = Herbicides (litre) X4 = Quantity of Maize seed used (Kg) X5 = Farm size (ha) X6 = Capital (N) U = Error term PAT 2010; 6 (1): 1-11: ISSN: 0794-5213; Onuk et al: Economic Analysis of Maize Production . 3 The double log function was selected for result discussion and the selection of lead equation was based on the magnitude of the coefficient of multiple determinations (R2), the signs of the estimated regression coefficients and the level of significance of the t statistics. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The study revealed that majority ( ) of the respondents were males.

10 This can be attributed to the fact that men always have right to land as a productive resource than women. Quisumbing (1994), reported that there has been a great disparity between women and men in the size of landholdings. That the mode of women participation in agricultural production varies with the land-owning status of households. The study further revealed that most of the respondents were adults and had several years of experience in farming. The mode of land acquisition is mostly rented ( ), while source of labour is mostly from family members ( ). The result also indicated that majority ( ) of the respondents are not cooperative members of any society (Table 1). The implication here is that only a few farmers would have access to credit facilities, since lending agencies will prefer to give credit to cooperatives rather than individuals.