-
Problems And Prospects Of Maize Production
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
Page 2 of 3
-
-
-
The total area under maize cropping in Nigeria was estimated
to be 3.0 million hectare (Lamarde, 1994). Traditionally, production
ranged from 0.4 – 1.7 tonnes per hectare, but with improved methods and
improved inputs, the yield could be up to 4 – 5 tonnes per hectare
(Lamarde, 1994). Maize is the most important cereal in Nigeria and is
grown either as a vegetable at the backyard or on the farm (Kehinde,
1997). Throughout Nigeria, the selling of roasted and boiled maize is a
thriving business that provides employment for hundreds of thousand of
young girls and women. Though 3 the nature of employment is part time
and seasonal, it nonetheless provides an important source of livelihood
for the hawkers. Maize is also widely processed into a variety of food
drinks such as pap and “Kunuâ€. In addition, maize is used in making
cakes such as ‘masa’. However, the predominant use of maize in Northern
Nigeria is for making ‘tuwo’. It is also the main source of energy in
livestock and poultry feeds. The growing plant can be cut and made into
silage or hay for the feeding of cattle and other ruminants. Thus, maize
production gives employment to people and provides food and drinks for
man and feeds for poultry and livestock.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The
year 2000 was set as a target date for the attainment of food self
sufficiency by all African countries in the action plan agreed upon in
Lagos, Nigeria (Salih, 1994). However, roughly 5 years after the
deadline, little or nothing had been achieved. This failure is evident
by the excess capacity in the agro industrial sector; rapid increase in
food prices and the gradual resort to food importation among others.
Rapid growth in agriculture is essential for broad based economic
growth, but acceleration in agricultural growth requires sound use of
science and technology embodied in improved seed, fertilizer,
agrochemical and other agronomic practices. However without an efficient
and cost effective supply of these inputs at the farm gate, science
based growth in agricultural productivity cannot be achieved.
Furthermore, with the phased withdrawal of subsidies and privatisation,
the input markets remained underdeveloped and fragmented and farmers do
not receive good quality inputs and pay unreasonable high prices despite
the fact that the private sector in Nigeria has a potential to supply
agricultural inputs in a cost effective manner (IFDC, 2001). One of the
problems cited as constraining the production of maize in Nigeria is
stagnant production technology among Nigerian farming community,
majority of who are small-scale producers. The reason for this could be
attributed to resource productivity as studies have confirmed
inefficiency in resource utilisation in both food and cash crops in
Nigeria (Olagoke, 1999 and Olayide, 1979). Furthermore, the extent to
which inputs supply and productivity relates to a shortfall in food
demand and supply in Nigeria is not clearly understood. At the same
time, the impact of factors such as the policy environment, and the
availability of markets for the disposal of farm outputs is not often
considered despite the fact that such factors make farmers to work
harder and thus, produce higher outputs. This study attempts to analyse
the productivity of agricultural inputs in food crop production by
taking the maize crop as a case study.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
Page 2 of 3
-
-
ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This study was specially designed to find the problems and prospects of maize production in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. In carrying out this study, the respondents were made up to farmers. A total sample size of fifty respondents were interviewed with the aid of questionnaire, the findings were analyzed and discussed the result of the study revealed that the problems are inadequate land, low level of soil fertility inadequate finance, non-adoption of modern farming techniques ... Continue reading---
