ASSESSMENT OF RAIN-FED AND IRRIGATED FARMING SYSTEMS OF SUGARCANE PRODUCTION IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The  study  assessed  rain-fed  and  irrigated  farming  systems  of  sugarcane  production  in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics; determine the productivity, determine the costs and returns, determine the level of improved technologies utilized and to examine constrains of sugarcane. A three – stage purposive sampling procedure was used to select 123 and 108 sugarcane farmers under rain-fed and irrigated farming systems respectively. This gave a total of 231 respondents. Structured questionnaire was employed to collect primary data which were analysed using descriptive statistics (means, percentages counts and frequency distribution), productivity index,  farm  budgetary techniques  and  Kendall‘s  coefficient  of  concordance  as  well  as attitudinal measuring scale such as Likert type scale. The result of analysis revealed that the farmers were within the age group of 26 – 55 years with mean age of 44 and 42 years, respectively, while 96.7% and 97.2% under rain-fed and irrigated farming system respectively were married. The mean years spent in formal education by the respondents under rain-fed and irrigated farming system was 6 and 8 years, respectively, while mean farming experience was 10 and 12 years, respectively. Few respondents under rain-fed (17.1%) and irrigated (12.0%) farming system had access to credit facilities, while 48.8% and 21.3% of the farmers had contact with extension agents, respectively. The result of sugarcane  productivity  revealed  that  60.2%  of  the  respondents  under  rain-fed  farming system had sugarcane productivity ranges of 261 – 1000 kg/ha with an average productivity of 382 kg/ha, while 58.3% of the respondents under irrigated farming system had sugarcane productivity greater than 1000 kg/ha with an average productivity of 1824 kg/ha. The costs and  returns  analysis  result  revealed  that  the  gross  margin  realized  from  sugarcane production   under   rain-fed   and   irrigated   farming   systems   was   ₦430,038.82   and ₦947,697.23, respectively, while the net farm income was ₦414,342.25 and ₦926,638.339, respectively. Thus, profitability ratio of 1.14 and 1.85 implies that for every ₦1 invested in sugarcane production under rain-fed and irrigated farming system, ₦1.14 kobo and ₦1.85 kobo were realized, respectively. The results on improved technologies utilized by the respondents under rain-fed farming system revealed that 56.1% of the respondents utilized light texture soil with good drainage, 69.9% raised sugarcane nursery during land preparation, 71.5% utilized Autum planting of sugarcane (i.e. September to October), 76.4% utilized weeding by hoe; 31.7% applied NPK fertilizer at112kg(N), 25kg(P), 48kg(K) rate/acre; and 64.2% utilized manual harvesting; while improved technologies utilized by the respondents under irrigated farming system revealed 62.0% of the respondents utilized ploughing depth of 30cm during land preparation, 65.7% utilized sowing depth of 30cm, 59.3%  utilized  combination  of  cultural  and  chemical  methods  during  weeding,  74.8% utilized application of water once at every 7 days during growing phase of sugarcane, 31.7% applies  inorganic  fertilizer  and  54.6%  utilized  early  harvesting  (10  –  11  months)  of sugarcane plantation. The major constraints associated with sugarcane production under rain-fed farming system was inadequate capital and access to credit facilities ( ̅= 2.74) ranked 1st for rain—fed, irrigated and pooled. Kendall W value of 0.201 for rain-fed, 0.166 for irrigated  and  0.155  for  pooled  revealed  consensus  agreement  on  the  constraints  to sugarcane  production.  Meanwhile,  the  t-test  value  of  9.579  at  1%  level  of  probability implied significant difference in sugarcane productivity. The study concluded that sugarcane production is profitable, however, irrigated farming system gave higher profitability ratio when compare to rain-fed farming system. It was, therefore, recommended that agricultural extension agencies should intensify efforts in educating and sensitizing sugarcane farmers on how to appropriately and optimally utilise available resources to maximise sugarcane productivity in the study area.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the most important crops in the world because of its immense usage in the daily life of man and or any nation for industrial uses aimed at nutritional and economic sustenance. Sugarcane contributes about 60% of the total world sugar requirement while the remaining 40%, is from beet (Girei and Giroh, 2012). It is a tropical crop that usually takes between 8 to 12 months to reach its maturity. Mature cane may be green, yellow, and purplish or reddish and considered ripen when sugar content is at maximum.

The main driver behind the expansion of land under sugarcane farming and increasing sugarcane monoculture is the rise in the world‘s demand for sugar. Furthermore, industrialization has led to more investments in sugarcane farming for production of clean  fuels,  such  as  ethanol  and  biogas.  According  to  Murthy  (2010),  Sugarcane provides the cheapest form of energy giving food with the lowest unit of land area per unit produced to man. Although sucrose alone is not a diet on which man live, it represents almost 1/7 of total energy intake of human food for a normal person under non restricted condition of supply.

It has been stated that an average man‘s annual food composition is approximately one million calories. The consideration of other numerous direct and indirect products derived from sugarcane gives an even more impressive conception, because apart from its varied uses as food and sweetening agent, it is equally used prominently as a raw material for the production of important chemicals such as refrigerants and drugs (Murthy,2010). It was revealed that sugarcane is cultivated either under irrigation or rain-fed farming systems in the tropical areas with ample rainfall. Land productivity in area suitable for its rain-fed production is typically much higher than cultivated land in cooler regions or arid sub-tropical and tropical agriculture, and the crop is found throughout the tropics and sub-tropics (Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), 2008).

However, large part of the world cannot grow it for climatic reasons and its impact in this suitable area is, therefore, more significant. Hence, climatic changes threaten the sustainability of the most rain-fed sugar farming systems (Aina et al., 2015). According to Oni (2016), certain climate change scenarios may harm sugarcane growth and yield without   the   introduction   of   appropriate   irrigation   facilities.   Therefore,   rain-fed sugarcane  farming  system  is  gradually being  replaced  by irrigated  farming  system whenever such transition is possible. In addition, low efficiency irrigation systems are being replaced by high efficiency systems to make sugarcane farming more economically sustainable. However, irrigation is one of the most expensive of sugarcane farming systems and can account for more than 25% of the production cost (Aina et al., 2015). Therefore, the dimensions of sugarcane irrigation systems need to be adjusted for water conservation while simultaneously reducing operational costs. Like most major tropical crops, sugarcane growth, yield and quality respond markedly to variation in moisture present in the soil; Therefore,   availability of water is an important factor causing variation in sugarcane yield and juicy quality.

Although sugarcane can tolerate some moisture stress, it still has a high water requirement in range of 1500 to 2500mm per season to have high yields. Although sugarcane requires high water supply, it is affected by water logging, which reduces plant growth, encourages fungi growth and eventually reduces yield. Therefore maintenance of optimum soil moisture throughout the growing period and achievement of close to maximum or expected yields in sugarcane fields, both appropriate effective irrigation and drainage facilities are vital. Water is a key to sugarcane growth and development, as well as subsequent conversion of recoverable sugar to sucrose. Amount of water utilized by cane plant had a linear relationship with total dry matter produced; they equally said that favorable soil moisture condition during cane growth also had significant effects on overall sugarcane productivity (Aina et al., 2015).

There are other identified problems associated with the growing of sugarcane in Nigeria with respect to both rain-fed and irrigated farming systems, although the overall environmental impact can be said to be much larger than any other problems. Some of these specific and general production problems of sugarcane in Nigeria include inconsistent policy measures, poor market access, inefficient extension delivery system with high transportation costs, others are abiotic factors (the environmental issues), infrastructural inadequacy, pests and diseases, shortage of planting material or improved varieties, and low skill acquisition as well as lack or inadequate access to improved technologies development transfer among others Therefore, there is reduction in the supply of sugar in both local and global markets (Makinde et al., 2009).

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem

Sugar is  a very essential  commodity consumed  by majority of the Nigerians.  The production of sugarcane through the conventional methods cannot meet up with the demand of the people. The demand for sugar in Nigeria is put at between 2.5 and 3.0 million tonnes (Lyocks, 2016). Therefore, this contribute to shortage of sugarcane production to feed our industries locally and commercially export to other countries, to boost our economy, as  a result of inadequate use  of improved varieties, extension services and technologies for sugarcane production. Various attempts have been made in the past to increase sugar production in Nigeria which led to establishment of large- scale sugar processing factories in four strategic locations; Bacita, Numan, Sunti and Lafiagi (Tiamiyu et al., 2013). However, Bacita and Numan which went through transformation from public to private ownership are out of production presently. For sugarcane production to make a positive impact in the lives of the Nigerians, several of these mini plants will be required to produce sugar raw materials that will feed the larger factories for rapid growth and sustainable development in the sector.

With growing population, the human demand for sugar consumption is on increase in Nigeria. The trends in sugarcane industrial activities suggest that the demand for sugar will continue to rise to the point that demand for sugar in Nigeria will outstrip supply thereby causing a deficit in supply (Lyocks, 2016). It is in this light that this study, seeks to assess sugarcane production under rain-fed and irrigated farming systems in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Hence, the study provided answers to the following research questions:

i.      What are the socio-economic characteristics of sugarcane farmers under rain-fed and irrigated farming systems in the study area?

ii.      What is the productivity of sugarcane production under rain-fed and farming systems in the study area?

iii.      What  are  the  costs  and  returns  of sugarcane  production  under  rain-fed  and irrigated farming systems in the study area?

iv.      What is the level of improved technologies utilized under rain-fed and irrigated farming systems in the study area?

v.      What are the constraints of sugarcane production under rain-fed and irrigated farming systems in the study area?

1.3       Aim and Objectives of the Study

The  main  objective  of  this  study was  to  assess  the  rain-fed  and  irrigated  farming systems of sugarcane production in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to:

i.      describe the socio-economic characteristics of sugarcane farmers under rain-fed and irrigated farming systems in the study area;

ii.      determine the productivity of sugarcane production under rain-fed and irrigated farming systems in the study area;

iii.      determine the costs  and  returns  of sugarcane production under  rain-fed and irrigated farming systems in the study area;

iv.      determine  the  level  of  improved  technologies  utilized  under  rain-fed  and irrigated farming systems in the study area, and

v.      examine  the  constraints  hindering  sugarcane  production  under  rain-fed  and irrigated farming systems in the study area.

1.4       Hypotheses of the Study

Two null hypotheses were tested in this research; they are as follows:

HO1: There is no significant difference between the productivity of sugarcane under rain-fed and irrigated farming systems in the study area.

HO2: There is no significant difference between the income of sugarcane farmers under rain-fed and farming systems in the study area.

1.5       Justification of the Study

Nigeria‘s farming practice is largely rain-fed. However, considerable investment has also been made in irrigation infrastructure which is yet to make the desired impact on food security in the country. Both irrigated and rain-fed farming systems are dominated by small scale farmers who majorly cultivate less than five hectares. Rainfall in most northern parts of Nigeria is neither sufficient in amount nor dependable in distribution. Consequently, sugarcane frequently suffers from water inadequacy for the growth and development to have expected sugarcane yield, and they are endowed with abundant water resources that could be utilized for irrigation. Utilization of the extensive low land areas through irrigation is among the viable options to increase sugarcane production in this country.

Accordingly, expansion of irrigated agriculture is considered for playing a pivotal role in reaching the broader development vision of achieving sustainable economic growth, ensuring food security and reducing poverty level of numerous farmers. In addition, there is a growing understanding that climate change poses serious challenges to agricultural development in Nigeria, reason for this is, not far-fetched from the agricultural practice in Nigeria which is majorly rain-fed system, which is highly sensitive to climate change and variability (Lyocks, 2016).

In view of this, an effective use of agricultural technologies; the use of viable irrigation techniques and also given adequate information about good cultural practices and about factors hindering production of sugarcane and then provide adequate ways or methods to resolve these problems in the study area.  The findings of this study will be of immense benefits to both small and medium scale sugarcane farmers in the study area because it will increase their productivity and income level as against total dependence on rain-fed farming system. It will also assist the government and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector in formulating relevant policies that will help achieve national food security. The findings of this study will also serve as a frame of reference to other researchers by providing a basis upon which further studies can be conducted and as such contributing to the existing knowledge of the subject matter, sugarcane production in Nigeria.

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