Economics of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor(L) Moench) Production in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria

The study was conducted in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State- Nigeria, to examine the economics of sorghum production. Sixty farmers were randomly chosen and data were collected using a well prepared questionnaire supplemented with oral interview between April and May,2011. The data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics, farm budgeting model and Cobb Douglas production model. The result showed that majority (51%) of the farmers fell between the ranges of 40-49 years, 53% had one form of education or another and 98% of them were married. The result also revealed that farmers in the study areas obtained a net farm income of N 14, 400 per hectare and N 1.79 as return per Naira invested with an operating ratio, gross ratio and fixed ration of 0.47, 0.55 and 0.08 respectively. The regression analysis revealed an R2 value of 64.0% and the coefficients of labour, fertilizer and herbicide were found to be significant (P<0.05) with positive signs, while seed was found to be significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, sorghum has been found to be profitable in the area and therefore may serve as a means of poverty reduction. However, the major constraints identified in sorghum production were high cost of inputs, low prices of produce, inadequate provision of credit and inadequate storage facilities amongst others. Therefore, intervention such as provision of inputs, soft loans, and good storage facilities will go a long way to increase production and profitability.