Despite the global emphasis on organic farming and its importance, there is limited information on the financial benefits of organic production of fluted pumpkin in Nigeria. The study examines the financial benefits of organic farming of fluted pumpkin. Primary data collected in 2018 from randomly selected 60 organic pumpkin farmers were analysed with the aid of descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The result of the study shows that the net return to farmer was N188,450 for organic fluted pumpkin production per farmer per production cycle. The test of hypothesis shows that there is significant positive difference in the gap between costs incurred and farm income earned in organic fluted pumpkin production. Factor analysis indicated that cost of labor and transportation of materials were the major determinants of profitability of organic fluted pumpkin production. Further result shows that the most serious constraints in organic production of fluted pumpkin were inadequate finance and under developed transportation system. It was recommended that financial institutions including cooperative societies should make credit available to organic fluted pumpkin farmers at relatively low interest rate to boost organic fluted pumpkin production.
___
Achoja, F. O. 2012. Financial risk programming, volatility forecasting and management strategies in broiler enterprise in Delta state, Nigeria, Ph.D. Thesis (Unpublished) Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Delta state University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Achoja, F. O. 2013. Financial risk threshold determination in broiler enterprise in Delta State in Nigeria, Agricultural Tropica ET Subtropica 46 (14): 111-117.
Achoja, F. O. 2019. Analysis of profitability of shrimp value chain in Delta State, Nigeria. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 36 (2): 125-133.
Achoja, F. O., and P. O. Akporhuarho. 2016. Profitability and constraints in the marketing of poultry birds in Delta Central Agricultural Zone of Delta State, Nigeria, Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences 14 (1): 16-23.
Alabi, R., and R. A. Osito. 2004. Constraint to self-sufficiency in backyard poultry production in Edo State, Nigeria, Proceeding of the 9th Annual conference of the Animal science association of Nigerians, pp. 177-180.
Anonymous. 2004. IFOAM. Network building for lobbying in Africa compiled by souleymane Bassoum, Rene Tokannou and Ngujimutura. Bonn: IFOAM.
Anonymous. 2008. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Organic Agriculture and Food Security-Africa. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) UNCTAD Capacity Building TaskForce on Trade, Environment and Development, UN, New York and Geneva, p. 47.
Anonymous. 2014. Report. USDA Foreign Agricultural Services. Organic Agriculture in Nigeria, Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN). Halberg, N. 2006. Global Development of Organic Agriculture: Challenges and Prospect. CABI p. 297.
Nwajiuba, C. 2012. Nigeria’s Food Security Challenges. www.nestinterative.org, accessed: 11/25/2013.
Oji, K. O. 1997. Trends in Agricultural intensification under population pressure among small holder farmers in Imo and Abia State of South East Nigeria, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Nsukka.
Paolo, P., J. E. N. Asimiku, and W. Emeka-Okolie. 2008. Assessment of the Nigeria poultry market chain to improve bio security, food and agriculture organization of united nation Rome.
Rao, K. A., and K. Kiran. 2013. Expansion of micro insurance into low income groups J.of Research in Commerce & Management 2 (9): 19-26.
Twarog, S. 2006. Organic Agriculture: A trade and sustainable development opportunity for developing countries, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Worthington, V. 2001 Nutritional Quality of Organic Versus Conventional Fruits, Vegetable and Grains. The J. of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 7 (2): 161- 173.DOI: 10.1089/107555301750164244.