INPUT NEEDS OF WATERMELON FARMERS IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL, FCT

INPUT NEEDS OF WATERMELON FARMERS IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL, FCT

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BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

According to Adeoye (2012), Nigeria has been said to have the capacity to produce adequate food for the country, particularly in terms of land and people resources. To achieve food self-sufficiency, as stated by Balogun, et al., (2012), the issue of boosting the development of the most promising and stable food crops in the country must be addressed. Vegetable cultivation has proven essential in increasing human nutrition, poverty reduction, and farmer socioeconomic position. Vegetables are an essential part of the Nigerian family's everyday meal. They are a low-fat, low-calorie source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber that is inexpensive and readily available (Abba, 2004). When enough veggies are consumed, there is minimal danger of malnutrition. Farmers' and their families' working ability is harmed by malnutrition. Extreme physical and mental impairment, as well as death, may occur in severe cases. Incomes may fall as a result of diminished working ability, and poverty may rise (AVRDC, 1990).

Agriculture was the most significant sector of Nigeria's economy in numerous ways when the country gained independence in 1960. It employed over eighty percent of the country's workforce, was the primary source of foreign exchange, and was a key source of government revenue (CBN, 2000). Despite the strategic importance of the oil industry, agriculture continues to play a large part in the Nigerian economy. It accounts for almost a third of the country's total domestic product (GDP) and workforce (FAO, 2003; World Bank, 2003). In an annual report, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN, 2004) said that the real sector of the economy performed admirably in 2004, with GDP growing by 6.1 percent compared to 5.2 percent in 2003, with agriculture being one of the primary drivers of development. Agriculture saw a 6.2 percent rise in output in 2004, compared to 5.6 percent in 2003 and an average of 4.6 percent from 2001 to 2004, while staples output grew from 99,902 metric tonnes in 2001 to 121,936.2 metric tonnes in 2004. Despite the fact that (Eme, 2004) defined Nigeria as a food-insecure country, the food crisis that began in the mid-1960s has persisted for decades after independence (Ime, 2002).

Tiny-scale farmers with small holdings ranging from 0.05 to 3.0 hectares of land size, little capitalization, and poor output per hectare continue to dominate the country's agricultural production (Ogundari and Ojo, 2007).

The food growth rate has been set at 2.65 percent, while the population growth rate has been set at 3.2 percent, resulting in a 0.55 percent food shortfall (CBN, 2007). The seeming discrepancy between food production and demand in Nigeria has resulted in: i. a food demand and supply gap; ii. a growing reliance on food importation; and iii. rapid rises in food costs. As a result, the country is experiencing widespread starvation and malnutrition (Ojo, 2003).

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is one of the world's most commonly grown crops, with worldwide output reaching 89.9 million mega grains in 2002. (FAO, 2003 and Huh, 2008). It's a blooming vine that originated in Southern Africa. Commercially, the crop is produced in locations with lengthy frost-free warm seasons (Prohens and Nuez, 2008). The largest water melon producers are China, Turkey, Iran, Brazil, the United States, Egypt, and the Russian Federation (FAO, 2010).

Watermelon fruits contain 93% water by weight, with the remaining 6% containing trace quantities of protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins. Carbohydrates, vitamin A, and lycopene, an anticarcinogenic molecule present in red flesh melon, are the main nutritional components of the fruit. Lycopene may aid in the prevention of malignancies of the prostate, pancreatic, and stomach. It contains vitamin C, as do many other fruits. The beta carotene content of water melon is also high. It also contains potassium, which is thought to aid in blood pressure regulation and perhaps stroke prevention (De Lannoy, 2001). Juices, nectars, and fruit cocktails made from water melon are popular.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Watermelon's value cannot be overstated; it is one of the world's most significant vegetables, since it is produced for both its fruits and its vegetative portions, which are both very nutritious and enhance their revenue. (2000, Schippers). Watermelon cultivation has played an important role in human nutrition, poverty alleviation, and farmer socio-economic status (Kim, 2008) Vegetables are essential in people's daily diets because they are a low-cost, readily available source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, as well as being low in fat and calories (Abba, 2004). Watermelon, being a major vegetable crop in the state, has the potential to increase growers' income and living standards. Inefficient watermelon cultivation can significantly limit the crop's yield and availability (Ndubizu, 2008). Exotic vegetable productions generate higher profit, provide more employment, and income to farmers than indigenous vegetable productions, according to (Ajewole and Folayan, 2008). Knowledge of the availability of aggregated farm level resources and differences in their productivities is essential in order to improve small holder farmers' productive capacity. This also shows the direction in which resource consumption and allocation will be adjusted (Ogundare and Ojo, 2005). Farmers' productivity can be increased by adopting improved production technologies, and the selection of the most appropriate set of crops must be accompanied by the development and provision of sustainable methods for increasing crop output through more efficient use of the resources available to the farmer. Information on the input needs of watermelon farmers is a necessity to knowing the resources needed to carryout watermelon farming. Hence, this necessitate this study.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study's overall purpose is to investigate the input needs of watermelon farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT., Abuja.

The study, on the other hand, was focused on achieving these precise goals:

1. To describe the demographic data of the respondents,
2. To ascertain the level of credit facilities available to the respondents,
3. To determine the input data and requirements of the respondents,
4. To Ascertain the labor requirements of the Farmers.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were posed in accordance with the study's objectives:

1. What is the demographic data of the respondents?
2. What is the level of credit facilities available to the respondents?
3. What is the input data and requirements of the respondents?
4. What is the labor requirements of the Farmers?

 

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study on input needs of watermelon farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT will be of benefit to not only current water melon farmers but also to those farmers who would want to venture into water melon planting because it will expose to them the necessary resources needed to successfully carryout the farming.

The result of the study can be used by policy makers as a guide to the development of the most appropriate institutional support needed to increase output of the crop. Water melon being an important vegetable crop in Nigeria, though produced mostly on a small scale, has the potential for raising the income and standard of living of the producers. Its high nutritive value and potential for production several times in a year can satisfy the twin objectives of improvement in the availability of food to farmers and reduction in malnutrition and poverty levels. The overall production inefficiency in water melon production can seriously hamper the production and availability of this crop. Therefore, the realization of the need on the part of Nigerian government and citizenry, to diversify the economy by developing the agricultural sector in order to reduce the over reliance on oil as the main source of foreign exchange earnings. This study is to provide present and prospective water melon farmers information on inputs that affect water melon production positively and whether water melon production was profitable or not.This study will also add to existing literature on this study area as well serve as a reference material to scholars, researchers and students who may want to carryout further research on this topic or related domain in the future.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study focuses on describing the demographic data of water melon farmers. This study will also ascertain the level of credit facilities available to water melon farmers. This study will further look into the input data and requirements of water melon farmers. Finally, this study will investigate the labor requirements of the farmers. Water melon farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT, Abuja, shall serve as enrolled participants for this study.

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