Sweet potato in Nigeria: Trends and socio-economic characteristics of farmers in selected local government area of Kano state

The study examines the trend of sweet potato area, production and productivity and socio-economic characteristics of the farmers in Gay a zone, Kano State, Nigeria. A sample of 120 farmers was randomly selected from three LGAs of the state. Primary data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Secondary data on area, production and productivity were obtained from FAOSTAT. Results of the analysis revealed that, area harvested increased from 28, 000 Ha in 1990 to 933, 500 ha in 2010, and production increased tenfold over the last 20 years while yields showed a notable decline over the same period (from 5.1 metric tonne per ha in 1990 to 2.9 metric tonne per ha in 2011). Results further revealed that majority (43.3 percent) of the respondents were within the age of 30?42 years with mean age of 34 years, 70.83 per cent were males and majority (51.67 percent) attended non formal education, 45 per cent had farm size of between 0.2?1.0 ha, and majority (85.83 percent) inherited their farm land. Majority of the respondents (85.8 percent) have experience of between 1?15 years. Findings also revealed that, poor price, poor access to markets and credits, were the major constraints faced by farmers in the study area. The study therefore suggested that, extension services should be enhanced and farmers are advice to form co-operative groups to enable them pool their resources and ease their credit needs. Government on the other side should ensure timely supply of agricultural credits at low rate as well as provision roads that will link farming communities to the markets.