ANALYSIS OF THE COSTS AND RETURNS BETWEEN MAIZE AND CASSAVA BASED FARM ENTERPRISES IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH

The performance of the agricultural sector in Ekiti state despite all the measures taken to improve it has become unsatisfactory. It has become a matter of concern to all and sundry in the agricultural sector in Ekiti state. Available statistics show that the annual growth rate of agricultural component of the gross domestic product (GDP) declined from 9.2% to 2.1% between 1998-2010. Moreso, the average growth rate in maize production of -9.75% is far below the expected 4.14% average growth rate of 3.8% below the average population growth rate of 3.8% per annual. Similarly, the average annum growth rate of maize production is also far below the average growth rate in food demand. Against these backdrops, it become necessary to examine the profitability in maize and maize/cassava farm enterprises in Ekiti state, Nigeria and subsequently make recommendations based on the results of the study. A multistage random sampling was used to select 360 respondents from five local government areas of Ekiti state. Both primary and secondary data were collected for the Study Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and costs and returns analysis. The results of the study show that both enterprises (i.e. maize and maize/cassava farm enterprises) are not viable. Also, the results reflect that about 75% of the farmers were illiterate with an average family of persons. The recommendations from the results of the study are: (a) the farmers are advised to select farm, then do the farming with the mixture of cassava with the view to enable them significantly increase their level of farm income. (b) All the participatory members in the agricultural sector should adopt measures to reproduce the cost of farm product.