Differentials in Returns of Water Melon (Citrullus lanatus) and Sweet Melon (Cucumis melon) Production among Farmers in Gombe and Bauchi States, Nigeria

The study analysed the differentials in returns of water melon and sweet melon production among farmers in Gombe and Bauchi States, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect information from one hundred and twenty eight (128) and one hundred and twenty two (122) water melon and sweet melon farmers respectively. Primary data was collected through the use of questionnaire. Data were analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics, gross margin model and Z test statistics. The results of the descriptive statistics show that the study area is male dominated, majority of the respondents are still in their productive age within a mean of between 39 to 44 years; married with large family size and not well experienced in water melon and sweet melon farming respectively. The results from the gross margin model show that both water melon and sweet melon production is profitable as indicated by a positive gross margin (GM) of ₦103,635 and ₦100,113 respectively. Moreover, the results from Z-test revealed that water melon farmers performed better than the sweet melon farmers in terms of yield and income indicating a highly significant difference at 1% level of probability. The results therefore call for relevant policies aimed at encouraging the farmers to increased their production and income through adoption of improved technologies. There is also the need for provision of free and affordable education to enable the farmer’s access and process information on improved production technologies available to them. Finally, the provision of loans and basic farm inputs could jointly contribute to an improvement of production output so that farmers can get more returns.