-
Economic Analysis Of Fluted Pumpkin Production
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 2]
Page 2 of 2
-
-
-
Mitigate global warming by carbon sequestration.
Vegetables have deep
and extensive root system that can hold soil to capture dissolved
nitrogen before it can contaminate ground and surface water.
Apart
from fluted pumpkin, other vegetables produced in Ughelli North Local
Government Area of Delta State include water leaf, bitter leaf, green
leaf
(African spinach), Okro, pepper etc. Fluted pumpkin producers in the
study area are faced with challenges of seedbed preparation, seedlings,
pest management, fertilization, harvesting, transportation, processing
and marketing as other farmers.( Awerosuo, 2008).
The problem assumes
more importance as vegetables compete for the scarce farm resources
including land, labour and capital. It is therefore necessary to examine
and evaluate the economics of fluted pumpkin production in view of the
resources constraints by farmers.
1.2 Statement of the Problem.
It
is estimated that over 90% of the total land cultivated in Nigeria is
in the hands of small scale farmers who also account for up to 90% of
the total agricultural output (Onokerhoraye, 1995). In Nigeria, the
output of fluted pumpkin has not been able to meet the demand for human
food not to mention that for livestock feed, as a result of the growing
need of vegetables thus the task of producing enough fluted pumpkin pose
on increasing challenge (Ojo, 2002).
In most rural communities of
Ughelli North Local Government Area where this study is based,
traditional agriculture prevails and farming is seen as a way of life
rather than a business venture and often these farmers have no knowledge
of advanced management techniques, they do not keep proper farm records
and depend mainly on family labour. They are also faced with problems
like pest and disease attack, high cost of agro-chemical, poor market
structure, poor storage facilities, inadequate credit facilities, bad
roads, high cost of hired labour, poor infrastructure/transport and land
tenure systems problems.
Fluted pumpkin is highly seasonal and the
commodity itself is perishable and costly to store. This seasonality
in-balance between supply and demand account for at least the price
fluctuation and unstable farmers income.
In view of this, this study
focuses on analysing the economics of fluted pumpkin production in
Ughelli North Local Government Area and profer solutions that will
contribute to the policy formation and implementation that will better
the lot of fluted pumpkin farmers and most importantly meeting consumer
dietary requirements.
1.3 Objective of the study
The broad
objective of this study is to determine the economics of fluted pumpkin
(Telfaria occidentalis Hook. F. Cucurrbitaceae) production in Ughelli
North Local government Area of Delta State.
The specific objectives are to:
Assess the effect of socio-economic characteristics on output of fluted pumpkin.
Estimate the level of profitability of fluted pumpkin production.
Determine of output of fluted pumpkin in the study area.
ivDetermine the constraints and their effect on production of fluted pumpkin in the study area.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 2]
Page 2 of 2
-
