ECONOMICS OF IRISH POTATO PRODUCTION: A CASE OF SARDAUNA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

The study analysed the economics of Irish potato production in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. Specifically, described socio-economics characteristics of the farmers, estimated input-output relationship, estimated costs and return, determined the resource - use efficiency and identified the constraints associated with Irish potato production in the study area. Primary data were collected from 60 Irish potato farmers using random sampling technique. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, gross margin and multiple regression analysis. The result revealed that majority (63%) of the respondents were in their active age of 31-40 years, 83%  were male and 60% were married. Most (77%) of them were literate while 86.7% of the respondents were small holder farmers. The result on the costs and return revealed that Irish potato farming in the study area is profitable with a profit of ₦ 914,000.00 per hectare. The result of the input-output relationship revealed that seeds, fertilizer, chemicals, hired labour, family labour and farm size of the respondents were the main variables that influenced output. The resource use efficiency result indicated that seed, land size, and fertilizer were under- utilized while family labour, hired labour and chemicals were over utilized. The major constraints affecting Irish potato production in the study area were inadequate finance, high costs of input, transportation and labour among others. Irish potato farmers in the study area are encouraged to form cooperative societies to enable them access credit facilities with ease.