PROFITABILITY AND ENERGY GAPS OF SEMI-MECHANISED AND TRADITIONAL RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES IN NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Efficient use of energies on crop production helps to achieve increased production and productivity as well as profitability and competitiveness of agricultural sustainability of rural communities. The study examined profitability and energy used of rice production under two different technologies in two States of Nigeria. Primary data through structured questionnaire and interview were administered to 265 rice farmers comprising 57 semi-mechanized (Group 1) and 208 traditional (Group 2) rice farmers in both States. Results revealed that the semi-mechanized had higher income ₦370998.2 ($2348.1) per ha compared to ₦307031.1 ($1943.2) per ha from traditional technology. Group 1 farmers produce a total energy output 54842.8 MJ ha^-1 (3.7 tons) compared to Group 2 farmers with energy output of 46601.9 MJha^-1 (3.1 tons). Conversely, the energy use efficiency, energy productivity and net energy of traditional system indicate high energy use efficiency compared to that of semi-mechanized system. Findings also show that non-renewable energy in semi-mechanized (72.1%) was high compared to that of traditional group (32.8%). This could be as a result of high usage of chemical fertilizer, herbicide, diesel and machinery. The result also revealed that rice production was driven by indirect energy in Group 1 (58%) and largely by direct energy in Group 2 (64.2%).