This study examines the comparative analysis of labor costs
and returns in small-scale maize-cowpea farming, focusing on Mubi North Local
Government, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The research investigates the costs
incurred by farmers using family labor versus hired labor for various farm
operations, as well as the returns generated from these operations. Data were
collected from farmers, and the results show that the mean cost of labor per
man-day for family labor ranged from N1716.43 to N328.44, with the highest cost
being for the first weeding and the lowest for planting maize. In comparison,
farmers utilizing hired labor had higher costs, ranging from N2750.11 to
N350.85 per man-day, with the highest cost for the second weeding and the
lowest for the second fertilizer application. Overall, hired labor was more
expensive, leading to a total expenditure of N23,120.24 on labor, with hired
labor constituting N14,513.99 and family labor N8,606.25. The cost and returns
analysis revealed that farmers spent a mean total of N46,246.82 and N48,561.16
per hectare for family and hired labor respectively, and realized revenues of
N69,084.39 and N73,201.22 for family and hired labor respectively. The study
also found that hired labor resulted in higher returns over variable costs of
production, total revenue, and gross margin per man-day, indicating that
farmers who used hired labor tended to make greater profits. However, the
return on capital investment for both family and hired labor was relatively
low, suggesting the need for more efficient use of production inputs to enhance
profitability in small-scale maize-cowpea farming.
Author(s) Details
Gwandi O.
Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal Polytechnic
Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria and Department of Agricultural Economics,
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005,
India.
V. Kamalvanshi
Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of
Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/crpas/v2/1204
