Profitability of wetland farming: A case study of Eriti wetland in Ogun state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the profitability of farming around Eriti wetland in Ogun State. The study was based on primary data collected by personal administration of questionnaires /interviews schedule to 80 wetland farmers selected using systematic sampling. The study respondents were asked questions that had to do with their socio-economic status such as age, educational background, gender farm size as well as production costs and returns.Data collected was analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics, budgetary techniques as well as linear programming. The results revealed that an average farmer in Eriti wetland area was a married male (60.3%) aged between 31 and 40 years (34.2%) with primary education (55.9%).The budgetary results showed that the net wetland income was N239, 694with returns on investment of N3.63. Furthermore, the shadow price of land, labour and intermediate materials was N109, 411/ha, N164 andN6.42 respectively implying that each additional unit of this factors put into cultivation will increase farm profit by the associated amount. The study thus concludes that farming around Eriti wetland is profitable and thus recommends that farmers should be encouraged to cultivate fruity vegetable, rice and cassava in order to maximize their profit.