Determinants and Profitability of Cowpea Production in Safana Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

As an important cash crop in Nigeria, cowpea is extensively cultivated in most parts of northern Nigeria. This study was carried out to examine the profitability and factors influencing cowpea production in Safana local government area, Katsina State, Nigeria. Fifty farmers were randomly selected for the study area and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budget technique, and multiple regression analysis. Results indicated that most of the respondents (58%) were middle-aged within 30 - 50 years with 64% of the respondents having more than 5 years of farming experience. The most important determinants of cowpea production in the study area, include labour (P< 0.01), land (P< 0.05), and seed (P< 0.1). The production enterprise was very profitable as ₦ 46, 209.84 per hectare was generated as the net farm income. Also, the return per naira invested was found to be N 2.10. It was recommended that measures should be taken to bring about an increased generation of income, such as the use of improved seed varieties and the adoption of labor-saving technologies in the area.