PAT 2007; 3 (1): 1-9 ISSN:

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1 PAT 2007; 3 (1): 1-9 ISSN: RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY IN EGUSI MELON (CITRULLUS LANATUS THUNB. MANSF) PRODUCTION UNDER SOLE AND MIXED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN OKEHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA. Yusuf, O; Olukosi, J. O. and Ugbabe, O. O. Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria Received 19 th July, 2006; Accepted 3 rd May, Abstract The study assessed the efficiency of resources used in egusi melon production under sole and mixed cropping systems in Okehi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State. Data were obtained from 120 farmers involved in melon production as both sole and mixed cropping systems. Two hundred and forty melon farmers were purposively selected from the seven districts of the LGA of which one hundred and twenty were randomly selected using questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and production function analysis were used in the analysis of the data. The results from the production function analysis showed that the R 2 value for sole melon and melon under mixed cropping system were 77 and 73%, respectively, while that of the pooled data was 76%. The inputs of land, seed and labour were significant at 1% level of probability for both sole, mixed and the pooled data for egusi melon, while fertilizer was not significant. The resources of land, seed and labour were under-utilized in sole, mixed and that of the pooled data for egusi melon. Based on the findings, it was recommended that as resources used were under-utilized, which could be attributed to limited capital and high cost of inputs, the Local and the State Governments should provide financial support through small credit schemes to help farmers acquire enough inputs for egusi melon production in the Area. Keywords: Resource use, efficiency, egusi melon, production, Kogi state. Introduction Sole cropping is the growing of a particular type of crop on a piece of land. Mixed cropping on the other hand is a system of growing two or more crops together on the same piece of land at the same time in a random or systematic manner that the growth of the component crops interact in space and time (Elemo et al., 1988; Anonymous, 1996). According to Usman (1997), mixed cropping system ensures food security against total crop failure or with intent to maximize yield and profit making by the use of the same labour operations. Growing crops in a mixture is a farming practice that is common among farmers of the tropics (Anon, 1996). In Nigerian Savanna, mixed cropping is a common practice among the traditional farmers. The northern part of Nigeria is known to be characterized by mixture of cereals, leguminous grains and fibre. In the Southern part of Nigeria, the cropping system is reported to consist of root crops, tree crops and occasional stands of maize and vegetables (Olukosi and Ogungbile 1991; Alamu, 2002). Among substantial advantages attributed to mix cropping according to Elemo and Oyejola (1991) is that diseases and pests may not spread very rapidly in mixed cropping because of differential susceptibility to pests and pathogens. So, farmers used mixed cropping system to provide a steady supply of a range of farm products for the family and help to spread labour costs more evenly throughout the cropping

2 Yusuf,O. et al 2 season. Ibedu et al (1989), in their research on intercropping system by integrated use of egusi melon discovered that the higher the number of crops in the mixture, the less the yield per hectare because of the competitive effects of other crops in the mixture. Yusuf (2005) also obtained similar result in his research on economic analysis of egusi melon production, who discovered that the yield of egusi melon decreases with increase in the number of crops in the mixture. Egusi melon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb Mansf) is a native of Africa, which has probably been introduced to Asia, Iran and Ukraine (Schippers, 2000). Cultivation of egusi melon is across the country but with higher intensity in Kogi State (211,600ha). There was large increase in land area put to melon production in 2004 and 2005 (NAERLS-PCU, 2005). A valuable vegetable oil is extracted from the seed while the ground seed is used to prepare various delicacies including cake and soup (Lagoke et al., 1983). Egusi melon is important for their seeds in Sudan and Ethiopia and the Extracted yellow oil is in high demand (Schippers, 2000). It is usually grown in mixture with other crops such as cassava, maize and yam which may account for the increase in land area put to its production (NAERLS -PCU, 2005). The objectives of this study were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of egusi melon farmers, estimate input-output relationship and determine the resource use efficiency in egusi melon production in Okehi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State. Methodology Study Area This study was conducted in Okehi LGA of Kogi State. Okehi LGA is located between Latitude and N and between Longitude E and E of the equator (Kogi ADP, 2003). It is located in Kogi Central Senatorial District, between the boundaries of Oyi, Adavi and Okene LGAs of Kogi State. Kogi State is in the southern Guinea Savanna of the vegetation zones and most centrally located of all Nigerian States (Fejokwu, 1992). The State has distinct wet and dry seasons. The rainy season falls between April and October while the dry season is between November and March. It has an average annual rainfall of between 1105 mm and 1500 mm. (Udo and Mamman, 1993; Kogi ADP, 2003). It has minimum annual temperature of between C to C around December/January, and maximum annual temperature of between C C around April (Kogi ADP, 2003). Majority of people in the state are small scale farmers and the rich and diversified soil conditions enable agriculture to thrive in the State (Fejokwu, 1992). Sampling Techniques Primary data were used for the study. The data for the study were collected from melon farmers using structured questionnaire in order to get detail information as regards the inputs used and the outputs of egusi melon. A total of 240 egusi

3 Resource use efficiency in egusi melon 3 melon farmers were selected from the seven districts of the LGA including Ihima, Obangede, Eika, Itakpe, Okaito, Usungwe and Uhuodo Districts. Out of this number, 120 farmers were randomly selected from the seven districts comprising of 48 farmers from Ihima (4 sole cropping and 44 mixed cropping farmers), 17 farmers from Obangede (2 sole cropping and 15 mixed cropping farmers), 14 farmers from Eika (2 sole cropping and 12 mixed cropping farmers), 13 farmers from Itakpe (1 sole cropping and 12 mixed cropping farmers), 12 farmers from Okaito (1 sole cropping and 11 mixed cropping farmers), 11 farmers from Usungwe (1 sole cropping and 10 mixed cropping farmers) and 5 mixed cropping farmers from Uhuodo district. The sample size chosen from each district was based on the relative population of each district in the Local Government Area. Only 11 farmers (9.17%) planted sole melon while the remaining 109 (90.83%) planted egusi melon in mixture. For melon under mixed cropping system, inputs were divided in the ratio of the number of crops in the mixture on per stand basis in order to get the inputs for melon only. The various crop combination involved in the mixture were yam-melon, cassava-melon and melon-maize (2 crops mixture); yam-okra-melon, yam-melonmaize, yam-melon-cassava (3 crops mixture) and yam-maize-cassava-melon, yamsorghum-cassava-melon, yam-okra-pepper-melon, yam-pepper-maize-melon (4 crops mixture), respectively. Data Collection Techniques. The data collected include the following 1. Demographic information such as age, farming experience, level of education, mode of land acquisition, farm size and household size. 2. Production information such as types of crops grown with melon, types and amount of labour, quantity of fertilizer used, seeds and output of the crop. Analytical Tools Descriptive statistics was used to compute the mean, frequency distribution and percentage. Production Function Analysis shows the technical or physical relationship between inputs and outputs in a production process. In the regression analysis, the linear, semi-log, Cobb-Douglas and Quadratic functions were employed to estimate the input-output relationship. The best regression fit was determined for both sole and mixed cropping systems by a combination of criteria such as coefficient of multiple determination (R 2 ), the level of significance of the t-statistics and signs of the coefficients. Model Specification The model in its implicit form is as follows: Y = f (X 1, X 2, X 3, X 4, U).. (1) Where Y = yield of egusi melon (Kg)

4 PAT 2007; 3 (1): X 1 = Farm size (ha) X 2 = Quantity of melon seed used (Kg) X 3 = Total labour (Man-hours) X 4 = Fertilizer used (Kg) U = Error term, which represents the effects of other variables that are not included in the model. The functional form of Cobb-Douglas Production Function is as below: Log Y = a + b 1 log X 1 + b 2 log X 2 + b 3 log X 3 + b 4 log X 4 + e...(2) Y = total output of egusi melon X 1 -X 4 = Quantity of input factors as defined in the model b 1 -b 4 = regression coefficient of X 1- X 4 respectively a = constant e = error term Based on the results of the regression analysis, Cobb-Douglas was selected as the lead equation for the analysis in both sole and mixed cropping systems. Resource Use Efficiency: From the regression analysis, the efficiency of factor of production was determined from the regression coefficient (b). Knowing the price of each input and output, the marginal value product was calculated for both sole egusi melon and egusi melon under mixed cropping system as shown in Table 3. The Efficiency of resources used in the production of egusi melon was determined using the following Cobb-Douglas function as shown below: dy b MPPx 1Y 1 =... (3) dx1 X1 Where: MPPx 1 = Marginal physical product of factor X 1 dy = changes in output as a result of a unit change in input X1 respectively dx 1 b 1 = regression coefficient of factor X 1 estimated Y and X1 are the arithmetic mean values of the yield and input X 1 being considered respectively. MVPx 1 = MPPx 1 P y. (4) Where: MVPx 1 = Marginal value product of factor x 1 P y = Unit price of output The resource use efficiency was computed using the efficiency ratio (r) M arginal Value Product (MVP) r... (5) Unit Factor Cost (UFC) r = the efficiency ration MVP = the value of a unit of input UFC = Unit factor cost of a particular input If r > 1 it implies that resources are under-utilized and

5 Yusuf,O. et al 5 r <1 implies that resources are over-utilized, while r = 1 implies that resources are efficiently utilized. Results and Discussion Socio-economic characteristics of the farmers. The socio-economic characteristics of the farmers in the seven districts of the LGA are presented in Table 1. The age of the farmers ranged between 21 and 60. Majority of the respondents (61.67%) were between the age of 41 and 50. This implies that majority of the farmers were of middle age, they were still in their economic active age that can make positive contribution to agricultural production. Furthermore, farmers experience in melon production ranged between 1 and 25 years. Majority of the farmers (64.17%) had between 1 and 8 years of experience in melon production while 2 farmers (1.67%) were planting melon for the first time. It showed that more people are getting involved in egusi melon production in the area. The literacy level among the farmers in the study area was high. Njoku (1991), in his study on factors influencing adoption of innovation discovered that formal education has a positive influence on adoption of innovation. In the sampled area 83.33% of the farmers had one form of education or the other while 16.67% had no education. Further analysis showed that 182.5o% of the farmers acquired the land through inheritance while 13.33% got it by rent. Others (4.17%) acquired the land for melon production through purchase. The size of the farm cultivated is related to the total farm size available to the farmer % of the farmers had farm size of between 0.2 and 2.0 hectares. This implies that majority of the farmers had small farm holdings. Also, the size of the household ranges between 1 and % of the farmers had household size of between 1 and 10 while the remaining % had between 11 and 20. The large household size may enable the farmers to use family labour in most of the farm operations. From Table 2, the R 2 value which measures the proportion of the variation in dependent variable Y that is explained by the independent variables were 77% and 73% for sole melon and melon in the mixed cropping system, respectively. Inputs such as land, seed, and labour were all significant at 1% level of probability for melon in both sole and mixed cropping systems. Fertilizer was not significant under mixed cropping and none of the farmers applied fertilizer in sole egusi melon production. The regression coefficients which represent the elasticity of production with respect to the resources used was elastic in sole egusi melon and unity for egusi melon under mixed cropping since estimates are 2.63 and 1.00 respectively. This implies a case of increasing returns to scale for sole egusi melon and a constant return for egusi melon under mixed cropping system. Resource use efficiency was used to find the efficiency of factors of production using the efficiency ratio (r) as shown in Table 3.

6 Resource use efficiency in egusi melon 6 Table 1: Socio-economic characteristics of the farmers in the seven districts in the study area Respondents per district Variables D1 (%Σ) D2 (%Σ) D3 (%Σ) D4 (%Σ) D5 (%Σ) D6 (%Σ) D7 (%Σ) Age (years) (37.84) 5 (13.51) 5 (13.51) 4 (10.81) 4 (10.81) 3 (8.11) 2 (5.41) (41.89) 11 (14.86) 8 (10.81) 8 (10.81) 7 (9.46) 7 (9.46) 2 (2.71) (33.34) 1 ( 11.11) 1 (11.11) 1 (11.11) 1 (11.11) 1 (11.11) 1 (11.11) Farming experience (yrs) (4.56) 12 (15.58) 9 (11.69) 8 (10.39) 7 (9.09) 6 (7.79) 3 (3.90) (40.00) 4 (11.43) 4 (11.43) 4 (11.43) 4 (11.43) 3 (8.57) 2 (5.71) (33.33) 1 (16.67) 0 (0.00) 1 (16.67) 1 (16.67) 1 (16.67) 0 (0.00) No experience 0 (0.00) 0 (0.00) 1 (50.00) 0 (0.00) 0 (0.00) 1 (50.00) 0 (0.00) Level of Education Primary 12(42.86) 4(14.29) 3(10.71) 3(10.71) 3(10.71) 2(7.14) 1(3.58) Secondary 12(13.50) 3(9.38) 4(12.50) 4(12.50) 4(12.50) 3(9.38) 2(6.25) Tertiary 6(37.50) 2(12.50) 2(15.50) 2(12.50) 2(12.50) 1(6.25) 1(6.25) Quranic 11(4.83) 2(12.50) 2(8.33) 3(12.50) 2(8.33) 2(8.33) 1(4.18) No education 7(35.00) 3(25.00) 3(15.00) 1(15.00) 1(5.00) 3(15.00) 0(0.00) Mode of land acquisition Inheritance 39(39.39) 13(13.13) 12(12.12) 11(11.11) 10(10.10) 10(10.10) 4(4.04) Rent 7(43.75) 3(18.75) 2(12.50) 2(12.50) 2(12.50) 0(0.00) 0(0.00) Purchase 2(40.00) 1(20.00) 0(0.00) 0(0.00) 0(0.00) 1(20.00) 1(20.00) Farm size (42.06) 12(13.64) 10(11.36) 9(10.23) 9(10.23) 8(9.09) 3(3.40) (30.00) 5(16.67) 4(13.33) 4(13.33) 3(10.00) 3(10.00) 2(6.67) (0.00) 0(0.00) 0.(0.00) 0(0.00) 0(0.00) 0.(0.00) Household size 2(100.00) (15.38) 9(11.54) 9(11.54) 7(8.97) 6(7.69) 3(3.85) (41.03) 5(11.90) 5( (9.52) 5(11.90) 5(11.90) 2(4.76) 16(38.10) Total (%Σ) 37 (100) 74 (100) 9 (100) 77 (100) 35 (100) 6 (100) 2 (100) 28 (100) 32 (100) 16 (100) 24 (100) 20 (100) 99 (100) 16 (100) 5 (100) 88 (100) 30 (100) 2 (100) 78(100) 42(100) Percentage Note: D1 = Ihima district D2 = Obangede district D3 = Eika district D4 = Itakpe district D5 = Okaito district D6 = Usungwe district D7 = Uhuodo district D7 = Uhuodo district

7 PAT 2007; 3 (1): Production function analysis was used to determine the resource use efficiency as shown in Tables 2 and 3. Table 3 shows that the resources of land, seed and labour were underutilized in both sole melon and melon under mixed cropping system as their efficiency ratios (MVP/ UFC) were greater than 1 in each case as shown in Table 3. The pooled data for production function analysis (both sole melon and melon under mixed cropping system) is shown in Table 4. Table 2: Estimated Cobb-Douglas function for sole and mixed egusi melon production in Okehi LGA. Sole egusi melon Egusi melon in mixture Variable Reg Coeff Std error T value R 2 value F value Reg. coeff Std. Error T. value R 2 F value Farm size * * (X1) Melon seed * * (X2) Total labour * * (X3) Fertilizer used NS (X4) Constant Note: * = Significant at 1% level of probability NS = Not Significant. Table 3: Efficiency ratio of resource use for egusi melon in sole and in mixed cropping systems in Okehi L.G.A Sole egusi melon Egusi melon in mixture Variable inputs Unit X MPP MVP UFC MVP/ UFC X MPP MVP UFC MVP/ UFC Farm size (X 1) Ha Melon Seed (X 2) Kg Total labour (X 1) Man-hrs Table 4: Estimated pooled result of Cobb-Douglas production function for egusi melon in Okehi LGA Variables Regression coefficient Standard error T. value R 2 value F value Farm size (X 1 ) * Egusi melon seed (X 2 ) * Total labour (X 3 ) * Fertilizer used (X 4 ) N s b i = Note: * = Significant at 1% level of probability Ns = Not significant. From Table 4, the R 2 value was 76%. This implies that 76% of the variation in the output of egusi melon is explained by the independent variables included in the

8 Yusuf,O. et al 8 regression model. All the variable inputs were significant at 1% level of probability except the fertilizer input that was not significant. The regression coefficients represent the elasticity of production. The summation of estimated regression coefficients in this case measures the magnitude of returns to scale. Decreasing returns to scale was observed as reflected in theestimate of less than one (i.e. 0.89). Table 5: Pooled result of efficiency ratio of resource use for egusi melon (both sole and mixed) production in Okehi LGA. Variable input Unit X MPP MVP UFC MVP/UFC Farm size (X 1 ) Ha Seed used (X 2 ) Kg Labour used (X 3 ) Man-hours The resources of land, seed and labour were under-utilized. Fertilizer input was not included because it was not significant from the regression result. Thus, the resources were not efficiently utilized because the efficiency ratio for each input was greater than 1. Conclusion and Recommendation The study has shown from the production function analysis that farm size, seed and labour were significant at 1% level of probability while fertilizer was not significant. It was revealed from the production function result that inputs such as land, seed and labour contributed significantly to the output of egusi melon. However, the inputs were not efficiently utilized in the area because farm-size, seed and labour were all under-utilized. There is therefore to provide financial support through small credit schemes to help farmers expand their production in the area. References Alamu, J. F. (2002) Comparative Analysis of Maize-Legumes intercropping System in Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Tropical Agricultural Research, Vol. 4 pp Anonymous (1996) International Label Text on Rifit of Ciba Geigy, (Swiss Nigeria Chemical Company) pp Elemo, K. A; Kumar, V; Olukosi, J. O. and Ogungbile, A. O. (1988) Review of Research Work on Mixed Crop. Miscellaneous Paper. 127, IAR, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Elemo, K. A, Kumar, V., Olukosi, J.O. and Ogungbile, A.O. (1988). Elemo, K. A. and Oyejola, B. A. (1991) Performance of Cowpea cultivars in Maize / Cowpea Mixture, pp In: Olukosi, J. O., Ogungbile, A. O and Kalu, B. A. (eds.). Appropriate Agricultural Technologies for Resource Poor Farmers. Proceedings of the National Farming Systems Research Network Workshop in Calabar, August 14-16, 1990.

9 Resource use efficiency in egusi melon 9 Fejokwu, C. L. (1992) Nigeria Political Handbook and Who s Who. A Comprehensive Compedium on Political Dynamics and the Socio-economic Development in Nigeria, pp Ibedu, M.A.; Unamma, P. A.; Oko, B. F. U. and Nyiam, F.M.A. (1989) On Farm Evaluation of the Economics and Acceptability of Managing Weeds in Platain/ Maize/ Telfairia Intercropping System by Integrated Use of Egusi and Herbicides. Pp , In: Income, B.F.U, Oko; T.O. Ezulike; P.S.O. Okoli and C. Wariboko (eds.). Integrated Cropping, Livestock and Fisheries Research and Extension for Increased Food Production Farmers Proceedings of the Third Annual Farming Systems Research and extension Workshop in the South Eastern Nigeria, Umudike. January 15-19, Kogi Agriculture Development Project (2003) Kogi Project Monitoring and Evaluation Databook, Lokoja, pp Lagoke, S. T. O; Chandra-Singh, D. T. and Ologunde, O. O. (1983) Pre-Emergence Chemical Weed Control in Egusi Melon in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Journal of Crop Protection, 2(2): National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS) and Project Coordinating Unit (2005) Field Situation Assessment of 2005 Wet Season Agricultural Production in Nigeria. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja. pp. 12. Njoku, J. E. (1991) Factors Influencing the Adoption of Improved Oil Palm Production Technologies by Small Holders in Imo State, Nigeria. In: Olukosi, J. O., Ogungbile, A. O. and Kalu, B. A.(eds.). Appropriate Agricultural Technologies for Resources Poor Farmers. pp Olukosi, J. O. and Ogungbile, A. O. (1991) An Overview of the problems of the Resource Poor Farmers in Nigerian Agriculture. In: Olukosi, J.O; Ogungbile, A. O. and Kalu, B.A. (eds) Appropriate Agricultural Technologies for Resource Poor Farmers. A publication of the Nigerian Farming Systems Research Network. Pp. 25. Shippers, R. R. (2000) African Indigenous Vegetables: An Overview of Cultivated Species, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, pp Udo, R. K. and Mamman, A.B. (1993), (Eds) Nigeria, Giant in the Tropics:State Surveys, Gabumo Publishing Company Limited, Lagos, pp Usman, A. (1997) Effects of Nitrogen Rates and Period of Weed Interference on Maize/Rice Mixture. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Agronomy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. pp. 1-2 Yusuf, O. (2005) Economic Analysis of Egusi Melon Production in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, M. Sc. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, pp