ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the effect of root and tuber programme on commercialization of root and tuber crops in Abia State of Nigeria. Root and tuber crops have grown in importance as a major component of Nigerian diets with its consumption increasing per year. Primary and secondary data were used in the study. This study was undertaken in the three agricultural zones in the State. One local government area was chosen from Aba zone and 2 local government areas each were chosen from Umuahia and Ohafia zone, making is a total of five local government areas from the three agricultural zones. Multistage random sampling was adopted in selecting 90 respondents from the study. Fifty were beneficiaries and 40 were non-beneficiaries of root and tuber expansion programme (RTEP). A well-structural questionnaire was used in eliciting information from respondents. Data collected were analyzed using statistical tools as frequencies, percentages, averages, correlation coefficient, chow test, household commercialization index and regression. The result of the data analysis showed the mean ages of the beneficiaries and non beneficiaries as 43 years and 30 years respectively. The beneficiaries had 27 males and 23 females while non beneficiaries had 21 males and 19 females. The bulk of the farmers are married and the mean household size was 7 and 7 respectively for the beneficiaries and non beneficiaries. Ninety four percent and 83 percent of the beneficiaries and non beneficiaries had one form of 0 formal education or the other ranging from primary to tertiary education. The mean hectarage cultivated by the beneficiaries and non beneficiaries were 2.74 and 1.34 hectares respectively. The result further showed the beneficiaries to be more experienced than the non beneficiaries shown by the mean farming experience of 16 years against 14 years.The beneficiaries had a mean annual farm income from $ farming and other sources of about N19,500 as against N74,975 of the nonbeneficiaries from agricultural development programme (ADP) and national Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRJ) Umudike in form of planting materials. The result also showed the beneficiaries had more commercialization indexes, output and marketable surpluses for the different crop enterprises than the non beneficiaries. The result of the regression analyses showed that farm size and years of farming experience were positive and significant determinants of agricultural commercialization. The result showed that root and tuber expansion programme (RTEP) had a positive effect on commercialization of these root and tuber crops. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that policies that will enable the farmers to remain in root and tuber crop production be encouraged and strengthened. This will encourage commercialization and employ more use of farm resources so as to achieve increased productivity and profitability should be put in place.