ABSTRACT

The broad objective of the study was to analyze the economics of pig production in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia state, Nigeria and determine the influence of various input resources on the output level of pig production. Primary data were collected for the study using a well structured questionnaire from a random sample of 60 pig farmers selected from six (6) villages randomly selected from the local government area under study. Descriptive statistics faini budgetary and multiple regression a:aalysis techniques were utilized. The result of this study showed the males engaged in pig fanning than females. The farmers were mostly small scale pig farmers with several years of experience. The mean age of farmers was 44.4 years old. Thus the pig farmers are mostly literate farmers with a fairly large household size. Family labour was the main source of labour for the respondents. Majority (51.7%) of respondents sourced credit through personal saving. Membership to cooperative society is low among the farmers and they make use of exotic breeds of pigs. The main purpose of pg production is for marketing purposes,. Pig production is highly viable and profitable in the study area with the average total cost incurred per fajiji of pig being N80,200, and the average total revenue from pig farm output was Ni 82,530. The pig enterprise had an average net income of N 102,330 per farmer per pig farm. The benefit cost ratio of the pig farmers was estimated to be 2.276, the rate of returns on investment was 127.57%, profitability index was 0.56, rate of returns on variable cost was 250.5% while the operation ration (OR) was estimated at 0.37. Labour, stock size, breeding stock and capital significantly influence pig output in the Stsdy area. The farm resource input was not efficiently allocated and managed by the farmers. The production elasticity for stock size and breeding stock were elastic while for labour, feeding, medication and capital were inelastic. The coefficient, of returns to scale was more than unity, 3.899, implying increasing returns to scale. Lack of credit, high cost of feeding, low investment capital, poor market for pig, high cost of labour, unfavourable climate conditions, high cost of medication and high cost of breeding stock constra[ned pig production in the study area. It is recommended that enabling environment should be created for pig farmers to access adequate credit facilities, cheap labour and agricultural information that will enhance their level of production.