ABSTRACT

This project was carried out to determine cassava production among men and women in Umuahia North L.G.A of Abia state The main objectives are; examine the socio economics characteristics among men and women who engage in urban farming of cassava production, determine the cost and return from crop farming among genders, estimate the factors that significantly affect their income from the cassava farm and to determine the constraints toward urban farming of cassava. A multi stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of samples for the population. Eighty (80) contact farmers were used for the study, forty male and forty female respectively. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency, percentage and tables etc. Results showed that majority (55%) of the male and female farmers were married while (10%) of the female farmers and (30%) of the male farmers were single while (15%) and (30%) of male and females are widowed respectively. (5%) of female farmers were separated. Result showed that 40% and 35% of the male and female respondents had farming experience of less than 6 years respectively. About (15%) of the male farmers had farm income less than (N16,000) while (35%) of the female farmers had farm income more than (N16,000) while (35%), (20%) and (25%) had farm income ranges of N(26,000 is N35,000), (N36,000-N45,000( and N46,000 - N55,000) respectively. For the female farmers only (5%) had farm income greater than (N55,000), while majority (35%) had farm income less than (N16,000). The semi-log functional form was chosen as the lead equation based on high R2 (0.51 84 value, number of significant variables and agreement with a prior expectation. The study recommend that the government should call for policies aimed at encouraging urban farmers who are experienced to remain in farming by provision and access to inputs, especially re- distribution of farm land to make more land available to them for farming. Provision of low cost effective machine to reduce the drudgery and increase efficiency.