PROFITABILITY DIFFERENTIALS AMONG NEW RICE FOR AFRICA (NERICA): CASE OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA (pp.119=125)
ABSTRACT
This study examines the comparative analysis of profitability differentials and problems confronting New Rice for Africa (NERICA) rice farmers with a view to improving NERICA production among rice farmers in the study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 200 NERICA rice farmers for the study. Primary data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and technology adoption index. Results showed that there were two main levels of NERICA technology adoption among the farmers based on the mean adoption index 0.9547. These were partial adopters with an index of <0.9547 and full adopters with an index of >0.9547. The costs and returns analysis show that labour and fertilizers inputs accounted for greater parts of the total variable costs incurred by both the partial and full adopters of NERICA rice varieties and were represented by 48.99% (partial adopters) and 44.53% for labour cost while fertilizer accounted for 10.37% for partial adopters and 17.73% for full adopters respectively. The gross margin analysis shows that from one hectare of land cultivated, the total cost of production for partial and full adopters of NERICA technology were N83,896.83 and 120,440.15 and net revenue of N45,892.41and N73,374.95 respectively. Most of NERICA farmers were faced with the problem of bird‟s invasion and many lost their rice crop to pest invasion. Pests and diseases are important natural factors limiting the production of rice and in severe cases, they account for 100% of crop loses. This paper recommends that full adoption of NERICA technology will generate more returns to farmers than partially adopting the technology