Journal of Applied Science Studies - Ozean Publications

Ozean Journal of Applied Sciences 1(1), 2008
Ozean Journal of Applied Sciences 1(1), 2008
ISSN 1943-2429
© 2008 Ozean Publication
Economic Analysis of Garlic Production in Bebeji Local Government
Area of Kano State, Nigeria
Kudi, T.M 1 ., Banta, A.L 2 .,Akpoko, J.G 1 . and Waynet, D 1
1 Department of Agricultural Economics an d Rural Sociology
Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
2 Department of General Agriculture
Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria
E.mail:thomaskudi@yahoo.com
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Abstract: The study focus on economic analysis of garlic production in the study area. The analytical tools
employed include descriptive statistics, net farm income and production function analysis. The net farm income
analysis shows that garlic production was profitable (N51,814.74/ha) . The production function analysis reveals
that a unit increase in seed, labour, land, chemicals and fertilizer provides an extra yield of 0.1217, 0.1189, 9.38,
0.168 and 1.328 respectively. The analysis also indicated that land has the highest MVP (N87,901.68) while, the
remaining input had MVP of N1,140.84, N114.7, N1,291.906 and N1,581.89 respectively. The study also found that
labour, chemicals and land were over utilized for garlic production with efficiency ratios greater than one (5.3, 1.9
and 2.69) while, seed and fertilizer were underutilized in garlic production with efficiency ratios of less than one
(0.167 and 0.60). The sum of the elasticities indicates a decreasing return to scale (0.90). The study identified
major constraints in garlic production to include inadequate fertilizers, chemicals, and storage and transportation
facilities. It was recommended that the farmers be guided through extension visits in order to teach them adoption
of new technologies related to garlic production.
Keyword: Garlic; Production; Economic; Analysis
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INTRODUCTION
Garlic (Allium sativum) belong to the family Alliaceae. It is second most widely used amongst cultivated Alliums
after onion (Allium cepa). The crop consists of an underground bulb and above the ground vegetative part which
consist of the leaves and flowers. The rooting system is fibrous while the bulbs comprise of small bulbils called
cloves, which are the vegetative propagating materials of the crop (Pulseglove, 1972).
There is no definite area of origin but it probably originated in Central Asia and spread to the Mediterranean region
where its virtue is till cherished perhaps more than any part of the world. It is therefore mostly cultivated in the
Mediterranean countries where it is highly valued. Garlic was probably carried to the western world by the Spanish,
Portuguese and French (Jourdain, 1987).
In Nigeria, the crop has been in cultivation for many decades in Northern States such as Kano, Sokoto, Borno,
Bauchi, Jigawa, Katisna and Zamfara (Inuwa, 2001). It production is mainly around the savannah ecological zone
where all factors of production are favourable. However there is no tangible statistical data to clarify its production
and potential capacity in Nigeria. Most of the farmers that produce garlic lack management techniques and waste
resources, by not having adequate knowledge on how to combine resources efficiently in garlic production. Farmers
also produce small quantities not because they do not have the opportunity of fairly large scale production but due to
the fact that the profitability of the enterprise goes to the middle men by not having the full market knowledge
(Saidu, 1998).
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