(Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, 2012) A Muhammad-Lawal, SA Salau, SA Ajayi
This study was based on the economics of improved and local cassava varieties and its welfare effect on
producing farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to collect
information from 144 cassava farmers in the study area. However, only 120 pieces of questionnaires
were retrieved and analyzed. Descriptive statistics, Gross Margin and Multiple Regression Analysis were
the analytical tools employed for the study. The results of the study showed that a typical household
comprised of 8 persons and the farmers were on the average 45.3 years of age. The profitability analysis
revealed a Gross Farm Income (GFI) per hectare of N167,733 and N114,569 for improved and local
varieties of cassava respectively. Multiple regression model was used to determine the factors
influencing the output of cassava in the area. The result showed that farm size, age of the farmer and
household size are the variables explaining the variation in output of cassava in the study area. Implicitly,
this result showed that in other to increase cassava production, policies that ensure that these farmers
have access to land should be emphasized. Also, a policy targeted at encouraging reduction in household
size should be put in place for cassava farmers in the study area.