Profitability Analysis of Sustainable Organic Cassava Production in Anambra State

Obiekwe Ngozi Josephie

Department of Agricultural Economics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

Abstract

Organic farming represents a sustainable agricultural system that emphasizes ecological balance, soil health, and biodiversity conservation. Organically produce cassava is presumed to gives higher incomes compare to the conventional production method, still fewer farmers engage in its production. The reason for this act is not clear to research consequently this study examined the analyse the profitability of sustainable organic cassava production in Anambra State. Nigeria, using a three-stage sampling technique. Awka South, Anaocha, Ogbaru, Anambra west, Idemili North and Ihiala Local Government Areas (LGAs) were purposively selected due to high number of maize farmers. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data: socioeconomic profile, organic farming practices, cost and return on organic cassava farming and constraints to organic cassava production. From each LGA, two villages were randomly selected. Ten farmers were randomly selected from each village. Twenty farmers were sampled per LGA, totaling 120 farmers. The result showed majority (55.8%) were female with (43.3%) married and majority (41.7%) had secondary education. The mean age of the farmers was (41years). Majority (77.5%) had household size of ≤3 and mean experience (9.6). Majority of the farmers used organic manures (60%), integrated pest control (65.8), natural pesticides (72.5%) compost manure (60) manual or mechanical weed (85), disease resistant varieties (65%). The Variable Cost was 761,700 and the Revenue was 4,450,000 gave a total of 3,279,500 profit per hectare. Constraints faced by farmers were low capital, poor pricing, inadequate and high cost of farm inputs. The study recommends improved farmer access to input and better pricing of products through strengthening institutional support.