Economic Viability of Yam Minisett Production and the Problems Affecting Minisett Enterprise in Northern Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the economic viability of Yam Minisett Production and the problems affecting minisett
enterprise in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. A sample size of one hundred (100) respondents,
was purposively and randomly selected, and was used for this study. Data collected were analyzed using costs/returns analysis
to determine the viability of yam Minisett production and statistical mean derived from Likert rating scale with four options, to
determine the problems associated with yam Minisett production/enterprise in the area. The result, revealed a Net Farm Income
(NFI) of (N76, 810.00) and a Gross Margin (GM) or a Return to Management (RM) of N82, 620.00, an indication that yam
minisett production is profitable/viable. The result shows that the Gross Margin alone is capable of taking care of another cycle of
production of seed yam conveniently without sourcing for extra fund elsewhere. Also shown, was the Return per Naira (R/N)
from seed yam production which was put at 0.91, and which means that, from every N1.00 employed in the production of seed
yam in the study area, 91k was realized, which is another indication of the viability of seed yam production. Problems identified
in their order of degrees include: yam minisett production as a micro business for poor people (with weighted mean score =
3.38); cost of labour (3.00); lack of awareness of yam Minisett production as an enterprise (2.96); land acquisition problem/soil
problem (2.82); fertilizer unavailability (2.70), etc. Based on the findings, this study recommended among others that: Extension
Agencies in the area should beef up their awareness strategies in sensitizing the farmers, women and youths inclusive to go
beyond practicing Minisett techniques only to raise seed yams for household use, but should embrace it as a viable business to
earn a good living; Also, that Governments/non-governmental organizations should not slack in giving incentives in form of
grants, subsidies, soft loans and other farm inputs to productive farmers in the area. These incentives should be timely so as to
achieve the purpose for which they are given.