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Author(s): Bolarinwa Oluwaseun K., Aiyedun J.O., Odulate L.O., Odugbemi Julius A..

Volume/Issue: Volume 1 , Issue 1 (2021)

Abstract:

This paper examines the effects of environmental degradation on the profitability of cassava production in Enugu State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 200 cassava farmers operating on eroded and non-eroded farms. Data collected were subjected to partial budgetary and regression models. The partial budgetary analysis showed that farmers operating on eroded farms recorded lower crop yield resulting in a significant difference (p<0.05) between the average gross margin earned per hectare on non-eroded (₦185,553) and eroded (₦152,312) farms. Regression model estimates showed that farm size, labor, input-usage, and access to extension services positively and significantly influenced profitability of cassava farming enterprise; whereas the incidence of soil erosion and large household size have negative effects on profitability of cassava farming enterprise in the study area. Cassava farmers in the study area could substantially increase their profit if farmers have access to more land, credit to purchase farm inputs, and extension services geared towards good agricultural practices and soil conservation methods. It is also pertinent for government to design and implement special schemes to control and mitigate the effect of soil erosion in order to forestall the continuous degradation of arable lands

Keywords:

Profitability, Budgetary Technique, Multiple Regression, Soil Erosion, Cassava Farmers

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