Economics Of Tomatoes Production In Ogbadigbo Local Government Area Of Benue State

ABSTRACT

 The study was economics of tomato production in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State. The data for the study was obtained by interviewing 60 farmers who were purposely sampling selected in twelve council wards. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics as means, frequency distribution, tables, percentage, cost and returns analysis was used to determine return accruable to the farmers. The value of the co-efficient of determination R2was 0.480. This implies that 48% of the variations are explained by the socio--economic characteristics studies, ie the independent variable tested accounted for 48% of the variability in the dependent variable. R2was found to be significant as 191o, 5% and 10% respectively. It was found that most of the farmers inherited their farm land and used their personal savings for their farm business. It was also found that some of the major problems that faced the farmers were high cost of inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides, improved seeds, absence of processing industries and transportation problems, based on the above, it is recommended that the road network should be improved, the possibility of processing tomato close to the production site should be explored in the long run, as well as more extension agent should be sent to educate the farmers. Also, fertilizer and other farm inputs should be made available and government agencies should buy farmers tomato at better price to avoid exploitation by middlemen.