Socioeconomic determinants of fluted pumpkin leaf (telferia occidentalis) production in Ezinihitte Mbaise local government area of Imo state, Nigeria

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1 Agricultural Science Research Journal Vol. 2(6) pp , June 2012 Available online ISSN-L: International Research Journals Full Length Research Paper Socioeconomic determinants of fluted pumpkin leaf (telferia occidentalis) production in Ezinihitte Mbaise local government area of Imo state, Nigeria C. S. Nwosu 1, *Onyeneke R. U 2 and Okoli V. B.N 3 1, 2, 3 Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, Imo State University, Owerri *Corresponding Author's robertonyeneke@yahoo.com Abstract The study focused on the socioeconomic determinants of fluted pumpkin leaf production in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. A total of respondents selected through a random sampling and purposive sampling efforts were interviewed using questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Majority (96.70%) of the farmers were females, mean age of the farmers was 39 years and about 80.00% of the farmers are literates. Majority (86.70%) of the farmers were married, the mean household size of the farmers was approximately 6 persons, majority (95.00%) of the farmers were part time fluted pumpkin farmers, mean farming experience of the farmers was 16.1 years, average farm size of the farmers was 0.67 Ha. From the regression result, seven regression coefficients were positively signed (production status, source of land, source of labour, household size, educational level, farming experience, and farm size) while four were negatively signed (age of farmers, gender, marital status and objective of production). Majority 55.00%, 50.00%, 45.00%, 30.00% and 25.00% of the farmers reported that lack of credit facilities, lack of availability of inputs, pests and disease infestation, inadequate information about input and output prices, and poor road network respectively were their major constraints to increased fluted pumpkin leaf production. Provision of credit to farmers, provision of appropriate planting materials and technologies were the methods recommended for amelioration of fluted pumpkin farmers problem. Keywords: socioeconomic determinants, fluted pumpkin leaf, production, regression analysis, constraints INTRODUCTION Agricultural production in Nigeria is dominated by smallscale farmers who produce the bulk of the food consumed in the country. One of the major crops produced are fluted pumpkin which represent an essential part of agricultural products. Their production remains entrenched in Nigerian agriculture and forms an important condiment in the national diet (Ibekwe and Adesope, 2010). Amongst the different foods, production and consumption of fluted pumpkin is very important because of their contribution to good health by providing inexpensive sources of minerals and vitamins needed to supplement people s diet which are mainly carbohydrates (Adedoyin et al., 1996) cited in Abu and Asember (2011). Fluted pumpkin is the most important and extensively cultivated food and income generating crops in many parts of Africa (Adebisi-Adelani et al., 2011). According to Mohammed (2002) cited in Abu and Asember (2011), they can give high yield per unit area of land and hence

2 356 Agric. Sci. res. J. generate high income for the farmers. Fluted pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis) is one of the leading green leafy vegetables in Nigeria. Fluted pumpkin takes a very important place in the population diet because of its affordability and the nutrients it provides. Fluted pumpkin is often grown and consumed in rural, urban and periurban areas in Nigeria. Fluted pumpkin is produced mainly by small-scale farmers who earn their living from it, using limited farm inputs. Fluted pumpkin is one of the commonest, popular cut herbs grown in south-eastern Nigeria and belongs to the cucurbitaceace family. The crop originated from West Africa. It is a perennial climber grown for its leaves and seeds, which are very nutritious (Schippers, 2000) cited in Nwauwa and Omona (2010). Fluted pumpkin can be cultivated on the flat land or on mounds. In home gardens, they are frequently grown along a fence or next to a tree, thus allowing the fruit to hang from a branch. They are also raised along stakes of various types including bamboo (Akoroda, 1990) cited in Nwauwa and Omona (2010). Fluted pumpkin does best at the lower altitudes and medium to high rainfall and will do well on sandier soil provided fertilizer is applied but has a more robust growth in rich well drained soil. When planting for leaves, the usual spacing is 50 x 50cm for a monocrop or occasionally even closer and some farmer s plant in the middle of a 1.20m- wide bed at 40cm intervals and others plant on a mound next to a stake (Nwauwa and Omona, 2010). There is a clear need for location- specific plant density trials and when seed supply is not a limiting factor, farmers like to plant two (or three) seeds/hole just in case seeds fail to germinate (Odiaka, 1997). Nitrogen is very essential for adequate vegetation and should ideally be given in the form of manure, applied before planting. The use of well- decomposed manure is essential for fruit production and usually it is recommended that about 1 kg manure/ plant be applied. For maximum leaf yields, it is advisable to top dress with a nitrogen fertilizer immediately after each harvest. The maturity period for vegetative growth is between one to six months while for fruits, it is 6-8 months and harvesting of shoots up to 50cm long can begin 1 month after germination followed by 3-4 week intervals when new shoots are formed (Nwachukwu and Onyenweaku, 2009). Fresh shoot yields is usually about kg/harvesting/ha, but could be more if the crop receives adequate manure or when fertilizers are applied after each picking (Schippers, 2000) cited in Nwauwa and Omona (2010). Fluted pumpkin farmers could make an important contribution to the national food supply where a healthy and expanding market gardening industry is a safeguard against the lowering of health standards necessary for productive output in an expanding economy (Tyndal, 1998). Shortage of animal protein causes illness, but this may be prevented by adequate mixture of different Fluted pumpkin protein that is equal in quality and quantity with animal protein. This calls for urgent need to intensifying the production of fluted pumpkin in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area and Imo State in general, especially during the dry season which is usually the period of scarcity of this important farm product (fluted pumpkin). Growing fluted pumpkin is particularly suited for small scale farmers and their families, and because of their limited resources they can meet the cultivation requirement of irrigation by the use of watering can (Robert, 2003). A number of studies (Adebisi-Adelani et al., 2011; Abu and Asember, 2011; Ibekwe and Adesope, 2010; Emenyonu et al., 2010; Nwauwa and Omona, 2010; Nwachukwu and Onyenweaku, 2009) have been carried out on fluted pumpkin production in Imo State and Nigeria. In fact, academic interest that shows the impact of fluted pumpkin production on agricultural development is evidenced by the fact that some academic journals have devoted special issues to research establishing this linkage. Some scholars focused on the efficiency of fluted pumpkin production. Nwachukwu and Onyenweaku (2009) focused on allocative efficiency among Fadama fluted pumkin farmers in Imo State, Nigeria using the maximum likelihood estimation of the translog model. Abu and Asember, (2011) focused on the profit efficiency of the opportunities for smallholder spinach farmers in Nigeria using the profit frontier approach. Emenyonu et al., (2010) focused on the effects of waste water use on fluted pumpkin crop production in Imo State, Nigeria using ordinary least square regression technique and profit analysis. Nwauwa and Omona (2010) focused their article on the efficiency of fluted pumpkin production under irrigation system in Ilorin Metropolis using costs and returns and stochastic frontiers production function analyses. Ibekwe and Adesope (2010) analysed dry season fluted pumpkin production in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria using regression analysis and costs-benefits analysis. These studies yielded useful research results to Fluted Pumpkin production in Nigeria. However, no study exists in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State that has focused on fluted pumpkin production. Also, the bulk of the studies in Nigeria on fluted pumpkin production focused mainly on profitability and efficiency of fluted pumpkin production. This has left a void in research. Empirical evidence remains largely scanty, isolated and devoid of in depth analysis of the determinants of fluted pumpkin leaf production in the context of their sign and size. This has caused a wide gap in knowledge. The broad objective of the study is analysing the socio-economic determinants of fluted pumpkin leaf production among farmers in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria.

3 Nwosu et al. 357 The specific objectives include describing the socioeconomic characteristics of fluted pumpkin farmers in the area; determining the factors affecting fluted pumpkin leaf production in the area; and ascertaining the constraints to fluted pumpkin leaf production in the area. Methodology The study was conducted in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State, Nigeria. Ezinihitte Mbaise just like other areas of Imo State enjoys a tropical rainforest climate which favours fluted pumpkin production. It has a population of persons (NBS, 2007) with farming as source of livelihood. Ezinihitte Mbaise is bounded on the north by Obowo LGA, on the northwest by Ahiazu Mbaise (LGA) on the west and south by Aboh Mbaise LGA and on the east by Abia State. Random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were adopted for the selection of respondents for this study. Twelve communities were randomly selected without replacement. In each community, five farmers involved in fluted pumpkin production were purposively selected. In all twelve communities and sixty fluted pumpkin farmers formed the sample for this study. The main tool for data collection was the questionnaire. The questionnaire sought for information on the farmers socio-economic characteristics, output and market price of fluted pumpkin leaf production and constraints to fluted pumpkin leaf production. Data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The implicit model of the regression is Y = f(x 1, X 2, X 4, X 5, X 6, X 7, X 8, X 9, X 10,X 11,e i ). Where: Y = Value of Fluted Pumpkin Leaf Production (N); X 1 = Farmer s age (years) X 2 = Farmer s objective of production (Dummy variable; for sale = 1, for consumption = 0) X 3 = Farmer s marital status (Dummy variable; married=1, unmarried =0); X 4 = Farmer s gender (Dummy variable; male=1, female =0); X 5 = Farmer s Household size (number of person); X 6 = Farmer s Level of formal education (years); X 7 = Fluted Pumpkin farming experience (years); X 8 = Farmer s Fluted Pumpkin farming status (Dummy variable; Full time= 1, Part time = 0) X 9 = Source of land (Dummy variable; inherited land =1, otherwise =0); X 10 = Farmer s farm size (Ha); X 11 = Farmer s source of labour (Dummy variable; family labour =1, otherwise = 0); and e i = Error term. Socio-economic characteristics of Fluted Pumpkin farmers Table 1 reveals that majority (96.70%) of the farmers were females. This is because women are mainly involved in fluted pumpkin production. This implies that fluted pumpkin growing is generally viewed as a job for females because of its simple nature. This finding is consistent with Emenyonu et al. (2010) who found that majority of women are involved in fluted pumpkin crop production. Entries in Table 1 also reveal that about 46.70% (majority) of the farmers were between years while 30.00% were between years. This implies that more than 76.00% of the farmers were between years, while the mean age of the farmers was 39 years. This result indicates that majority of the farmers are young. The implication is that young farmers have the strength and capacities involved in fluted pumpkin production and their productivity will be high. This has a positive effect for improved efficiency, given that younger farmers are more likely to take risk by adopting better fluted pumpkin leaf production methods, than older farmers who are more often than not conservative (Nwaru 2004). Table 1 also reveals that 31.70% (majority) of the farmers were educated to the secondary level, 28.30% were educated to the tertiary level while 20.00% were educated to the primary level. This indicates that about 80.00% of the farmers are literates. This finding is consistent with Emenyonu et al. (2010) and Nwachukwu and Onyenweaku (2009) found that those involved in fluted pumpkin leaf production were mainly literates. The level of education of farmers increases their farm production and also enhances the ability to understand and evaluate new production technologies. Entries in Table 1 further indicate that majority (86.70%) of the farmers were married while the remaining 13.30% were single. This could be a strategy to assist in the family upkeep. It could mean that, unmarried people rarely engage in farming as they may not have domestic responsibilities to shoulder. Table 1 also reveals the mean household size of the farmers was approximately 6 persons with 63.30% and 28.30% of the farmers having household sizes of 1-4 persons and 5-8 persons respectively. This result reveals that the farmers household is relatively large. This is an indication that a large family is still a common practice among farmers as they often depend on family labour. The importance of family labour cannot be overemphasized, because household size is the principal determinant of labour availability in small-scale farming given the relatively soaring cost of hired labour. This distribution of household size in the area could either enhance or retard production efficiency depending on whether the households provide the farm labour or not and how such labour is utilized. Entries in Table 1 further indicate that

4 358 Agric. Sci. res. J. Table 1. Socio-economic characteristics of farmers Variable Frequency Percentage Age (Years) Gender Female Male Marital Status Married Single Educational Level (Years) No Formal Education (0) Primary Education (1-6) Secondary Education (7-12) Tertiary Education (12-18) Household Size (Number of Persons) Farm Size (Ha) Greater than 2 Farming Experience (Years) Fluted Pumpkin Production Status Part time Full time majority (95.00%) of the farmers were part time fluted pumpkin farmers while the remaining 5.00% were full time fluted pumpkin crop farmers. This implies that the fluted pumpkin farmers also engage in other livelihood activities. Entries in Table 1 also reveal that about 56.70% (majority) of the farmers had fluted pumpkin crop farming experience of years. This is line with the findings of Nwachukwu and Onyenweaku (2009). The mean farming experience of the farmers was 16.1 years implying that the farmers are highly experienced and knowledgeable in fluted pumpkin crop farming. Experience of farmers increases their farm production

5 Nwosu et al. 359 Table 2. Multiple regression estimates of the factors affecting fluted pumpkin leaf production Variable Coefficient T-ratio Constant Age (X 1) ** Production status (X 2) ** Marital Status (X 3) Gender (X 4) Household size (X 5) ** Level of formal education (X 6) * Farming experience (X 7) ** Objective of production (X 8) Source of land (X 9) * Farm size (X 10) ** Source of labour (X 11) ** R ** F-ratio ** Standard error of the estimate **Significant at the 1% level, *Significant at the 5% level; Source: Field Survey, 2011 and SPSS result and also enhances the ability to understand and evaluate new production technologies. Table 1 also reveal that about 68.30% (majority) of the farmers had farm size of Ha, 20.00% had farm size of Ha. This is line with the findings of Nwachukwu and Onyenweaku (2009). The average farm size of the farmers was 0.67 Ha implying that the farmers are mainly small-scale farmers. Average age of farmers= 39 years; Mean duration of education= 8.25years; Mean household size= 6 persons; farm size= 0.67Ha; Mean years of Fluted Pumpkin farming= years. Source: Field Survey, 2011 Factors affecting Fluted Pumpkin Leaf Production In order to determine the factors affecting fluted pumpkin leaf production, a multiple regression analysis was done in four functional forms (linear, semi log, double log, and exponential forms). The exponential function was chosen as the lead equation. The reason for the choice of the exponential form as the lead equation is because it has the highest R 2 value (0.7853) and f-ratio ( ) and the least standard error of the estimate (0.0977). The result is presented in Table 2. The coefficient of multiple determinations (R 2 ) was found to be 78.53% and was statistically significant at 1% level. This implies that the explanatory variables had a significant influence on the fluted pumpkin leaf production in the study area and that the regression has a very high explanatory power. This is an indication that 78.53% percent of the variation in fluted pumpkin leaf production is explained by the explanatory variables-source of labour, marital status, gender, age of farmers, household size of farmers, farming experience, educational level, production objective, production status, farm size, and source of land. From the regression result, seven regression coefficients were positively signed (production status, source of land, source of labour, household size, educational level, farming experience, and farm size) while four were negatively signed (age of farmers, gender, marital status and objective of production). The coefficient of age (X 1 ) is negative and also significant at 1% level. It has an inverse relationship with fluted pumpkin leaf production and is an important determinant of fluted pumpkin leaf farmers production. This implies that the more aged farmers are less productive, hence having lower production compared to the younger farmers. Farmers production status (X 2 ) was positively related to their output from fluted pumpkin leaf business. This shows that the full time farmers recorded higher output than their part time counterparts. This effect is significant at the 1% level. The coefficient of household size (X 5 ) is very significant at the 1% level and is positively signed. This implies that it has a direct relationship on the output of farmers. This means that farmers with larger households recorded higher output than farmers with smaller households. The coefficient of

6 3 Agric. Sci. res. J. Figure 1. Percentage distribution of the constraints to increased fluted pumpkin leaf production experience (X 7 ) is very significant at the 1% level and positively signed. This implies that it has a direct relationship on the output of fluted pumpkin leaf farmers. The more experienced farmers recorded higher output than the less experienced farmers. Education (X 6 ) is positively related to Fluted Pumpkin leaf farmers production and is significant at 5% level, which showed a relevant variable in fluted pumpkin leaf production. The more educated farmers had higher output than the less educated farmers. Both source of labour (X 9 ) and farm size (X 10 ) variables are also positive and significant at the 1% level of probability showing that both have direct relationship with fluted pumpkin leaf production. This implied that an increase in farm size will lead to an increase on fluted pumpkin leaf production. Farmers who used family labour recorded higher output than those who hired theirs. Source of land (X 9 ) had a positive coefficient with fluted pumpkin leaf farmers production indicating that fluted pumpkin leaf farmers who inherited their land recorded higher output than those who rented or purchased or leased theirs. Source of land significantly affected fluted pumpkin leaf farmers production. The f- ratio which determines the overall significance of the regression is highly significant at the 1% level implying that the regression has high explanatory power. Perceived Constraints to Fluted Pumpkin Leaf Production by Farmers Figure 1 shows that the farmers experienced a number of constraints to fluted pumpkin leaf production. This includes poor education background of farmers, inadequate information about input and output prices, lack of availability of inputs, pests and disease infestation, lack of credit facilities and poor road network. Figure 1 revealed that 20.00% of the fluted pumpkin farmers complained of their poor education background as their constraint to fluted pumpkin leaf production. Figure 1 reveals also that 55.00% (majority), 50.00%, 45.00%, 30.00% and 25.00% of the farmers reported that lack of credit facilities, lack of availability of inputs, pests and disease infestation, inadequate information about input and output prices, and poor road network respectively were their major constraints to increased fluted pumpkin leaf production. These constraints tend to limit their contribution to improved fluted pumpkin production techniques. Conclusion and Recommendations Majority of fluted pumpkin farmers are married, young, educated, experienced and small scale female farmers producing mainly for household consumption on part time basis. Important factors related to fluted pumpkin leaf production were age, household size, farm size, farming experience, education, production status, source of land and source of labour of the farmer. All these variables must be considered when designing a technological package for these resource poor farmers. There is a need for increase in the area of land available for the fluted pumpkin leaf producers to enable them enjoys the economics of scale since land in form of farm size is an

7 Nwosu et al. 361 important determinant of output of fluted pumpkin leaf production. Therefore, policies that tend to reallocate land and inputs especially fertilizer and credit to fluted pumpkin leaf production and particularly to the female farmers are necessary. Such policies should be targeted more at experienced farmers with large household sizes, and small farm size. They should seek to improve the functioning of credit disbursement mechanisms especially through functional cooperative societies. To increase fluted pumpkin leaf production, farmers require financial assistance (depending on the proposed scale of operation) from efficient micro-credit delivery from government and other nongovernmental agencies poised towards agricultural sector and rural development. This will be required to provide the necessary capital for farm operations and post-harvest handling of the produce. Any strategy on asset acquisition and infrastructural development and capacity building will enhance increased fluted pumpkin leaf production. There is, therefore, a strong need to increase fluted pumpkin leaf production and encourage financial empowerment and access to capital sourcing from formal credit institutions, such as the Nigerian Agricultural Credit and Rural Development Bank (NACRBD). The various problems and constraints limiting production could be reduced or avoided if the government harness resources towards rural infrastructural development of the communities, empowerment of the farmers through capacity building on integrated pest management, improved cultural practices to reduce their cost of production, and enhance their capacities to manage their farm holdings without much dependence on agrochemicals, thus increasing the total revenue accruable from any production. Based on the findings the study, financial institutions need to be encouraged by the government to provide financial assistance to farmers in the area. This is expected to increase in their capital base, enhance economic empowerment, and expand their production capacities in the rural areas. Efficient transportation and road network, as well as proximal markets, should be established to facilitate transportation and marketing of produce with reduce losses due to spoilage. of Waste Water Use on Vegetable Crop Production in Imo State, Nigeria. Researcher. 2(10): Ibekwe UC, OM Adesope (2010). Analysis of dry season vegetable production in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. J. Dev. Agric. Econ., 2(6): , National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2007). Provisional of State and Local Government s of the 2006 Population Census of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nwachukwu IN, CE Onyenweaku (2009). Allocative Efficiency among Fadama Telfairia Production in Imo State Nigeria. Online at MPRA Paper No , posted 07. December 2010 / 11:46 Nwaru JC (2004). Rural Credit Markets and Arable Crop Production in Imo State of Nigeria, Ph. D. Dissertation, Department of Agricultural Economics, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. Nwauwa LOE, BT Omonona (2010). Efficiency of Vegetable Production under Irrigation System in Ilorin Metropolis: A Case Study of Fluted Pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis). Cont. J. Agric. Econ., 4, pp. 9-18, 2010 Odiaka NI (1997) Aspect of Seeds Quality in Fluted Pumpkin. M.Phil thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan. Nigeria Robert JH (2003). Sustainable Vegetable Production for Small Farmers on Problem Soils in the Highland. Oxford University Press. Oxford Tyndall HD (1998). Commercial Vegetable Growing. Oxford University Press. Oxford References Abu O, DJ Asember (2011). Opportunities for Smallholder Spinach Farmers in Nigeria: A Profit Efficiency Analysis. Journal of Economics, 2(2): (2011) Adebisi-Adelani O, FB Olajide-Taiwo, IB Adeoye, LO Olajide- Taiwo (2011). Analysis of Production Constraints facing Fadama Vegetable Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. World J. Agric. Sci., 7(2) Emenyonu CA, MA Odii, DO Ohajianya, A Henri-Ukoha, SC Onyemauwa, GN Ben-Chendo,: OU Munonye (2010). Effects