ABSTRACT

Government thrust on irrigation development in Nigeria seems to have focused on the establishment of large-scale irrigation schemes, which for various reasons have been unable to yield the desired increase in agricultural production. Available evidences tend to suggest that small-scale irrigation systems have greater potential of increasing agricultural production in the country than the large-scale schemes. Despite their potentials, irrigation development planners, in Nigeria, have continuously neglected the small-scale irrigation systems. The neglect is probably due to lack of adequate research information on crop production under the system This study was therefore designed to provide empirical information on the economics of crop production under small-scale irrigation, with particular reference to pump systems in the Western Zone of the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP). To achieve the objectives of the study, input-output data were collected, through the "Cost route" method, from forty-five farmers purposively sampled from four villages in the Western Zone of the BSADP. She data collection was undertaken between December 1987 and June 1988. The collected data were analysed using the Farm Budget and Cobb-Douglas (Power) production function models. The farm budget analysis revealed that most of the farmers were making profits from crop production under pump irrigation systems. In fact, the analysis revealed that the farmers realised an average profit of N2,558.46 per hectare. On the other hand, the Cobb-Douglas production function analysis revealed that inputs were being inefficiently allocated under the systems. While labour and plant population were being used above their economic optimum levels, fertilizer and irrigation water vii were being used below their economic optima. This implies that there is still, opportunity for increasing profits through resource adjustments under the systems. Efforts should be made towards increased provision of irrigation water and fertilizer. Farmers would also need a downward adjustment of their plant population. On the basis of the findings of the study, it was concluded that tho promotion of pump irrigation systems should be seriously considered by policy makers in Nigeria.