Analysis of energy uses in cassava production in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Energy inputs and yield relationship in cassava production was investigated to establish correlation between inputs and output in cassava production in Nigeria. Production data of energy inputs and crop yields were collected from 54 cassava farms in twelve cassava producing villages through site visits, interaction with the farmers and physical measurements for three production seasons (2013-2016). The data were analyzed statistically. Amount of inputs per hectare were calculated and multiplied by coefficients of energy equivalents. Total energy inputs in cassava production in this study was 36,482.8 MJha^-1 while average output of cassava tubers was 32, 022.6 kgha^-1. Energy use ratio, energy productivity and specific energy of the surveyed farms were 4.9, 0.9 MJ kg^-1 and 1.1 MJ kg^-1 respectively. Shares of direct and indirect energy inputs were 5.7% and 94.2% respectively. Human labor, fertilizer, cassava stem, machinery and fuel had positive effects on output. Fertilizer, cassava stem and machinery variables were significant at 0.1%, 1% and 5% significant level respectively. R-squared was 0.93 and Durbin Watson statistic indicates no autocorrelation at 5% significant level indicating that variables in the model were not dependent of each other and changes in the value of one variable had no significant effect on other variables. All the variables contributed independently to output.