ABSTRACT
This study was
undertaken to analyze resource productivity in ornamental plants production
within Jos metropolis of Nigeria. The study covered Jos North and Jos South
local government areas. The specific objectives include: identifying the effect
of socio-economic factors on resource productivity, determining costs and
returns, and resource productivity in ornamental plants production.
An extensive
literature review was carried out to provide an in-depth knowledge of the
study. The cluster sampling procedure was used because the nurseries are
located in clusters. Data was collected from the nursery owners. Six respondents
from each cluster and five clusters from each local government area were
selected using the simple random sampling method at each sampling stage. Each
of the two local government areas was administered the 30 questionnaires making
a total of 60 respondents.
Results revealed
that 60% of respondents were aged between 41– 50, while 80% had some years of
tertiary education. Also 60% of the respondents’ nurseries were less than a
quarter of an acre. About 40% had horticulture as their primary occupation,
while 40% and 20% had business and civil service respectively as their primary
occupation. The ornamental plants producers made a net farm income of N351,196
per annum and a naira invested gave returns of N1.10.
The regression
analysis gave positive coefficients for labour, cuttings, pesticides, water,
top soil and polythenes which were significant (P<0.05). However, manure,
fuel transportation and annual rent had negative coefficient. Also the
regression coefficient of socio economic variables such as education, age,
nursery size were positive and significant. Household size had a positive
coefficient but was insignificant (P<0.05). Ornamental production experience
had a negative coefficient and was insignificant.
The
ratio of marginal value product to marginal factor cost showed that cuttings,
pesticides, water, top soil, and polythene was greater than one, while that of
manure, labour, fuel, transportation and annual rent less than one. The
implication is that the former inputs were used below the economic optimum
while the latter were used above the economic optimum. Also, ornamental plants
producers’ profit could be increased by increasing the use of labour, cuttings,
pesticide, water, top soil, and polythenes while decreasing the use of fuel,
manure transportation and annual rent.
The study showed
that ornamental plants business is profitable. It could serve as supplemental
source of income. The study showed that only 30% of ornamental plants producers
belong to registered cooperatives. It is recommended that they organized
themselves into cooperatives in order to access funds, inputs and information
on current trends in ornamental plants production. Government on it its side
should consider ornamental plants producers in the allocation of farm inputs.
Also, special sites should be a assigned for ornamental plants production in
new government layout. Ornamental plants production needs to be encourage and
sustained as it is a profitable venture. Producers need to pay more attention
towards efficient utilization of resources. Agricultural policies that favour
this venture will be of great importance to ornamental plants producers.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Background
Information
Horticulture
is the branch of plants agriculture concerned with intensively cultured plants
used directly by man as fresh foods, esthetics and medicine (Uzo, 1997).
Ornamental plants are plants grown either for colourful flowers or decorative
leaves. They include a wide range of herbaceous annuals and perennials
extensively employed in landscaping for esthetic purposes of colour, fragrance
and enhancing serenity in and around the home, public places such as recreation
areas, tourist sites and cities. Ornamental plants also modify the micro
climate by providing shade, reducing wind speed, helping to increase humidity
and absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen (Evans, 1999). Ornamental
plants provide sanctuary for birds, insects and numerous other animals.
Miscellaneous uses include the offer of cut flowers as gifts to people, friends
sportsmen and women and national leaders. In Nigeria, flowers are used to
beautify homes. In countries like India, flowers are used to adorn women's hair
and decorate pictures of gods, saints and deceased loved ones (National
Horticulture Board, 1995).
The major facets
of ornamental plants include production of flowers and potted plants, growing
of flower bulbs and corms including subsequent arrangement and delivery. Each
facet is highly specialized with definite requirements, facilities and
technical knowledge (Edmond, 1997). This highly specialized industry involves
the growers who produce flowers for wholesale marketers and retail florists who
market to the public and contribute occasional services such as packaging and
delivery. Current
The practice of horticultural
plants cultivation in Jos can be traced to as early as 1930s (David, 1999).
This was as a result of the activities of tin miners that came to the area
under the auspices of Amalgamated Tin Miners of Jos. These Europeans came
mainly from British Isles with their wives and siblings. Their wives were quite
keen on gardening as their favourite pastime in the absence of regular jobs.
These women started gardens at home where they had varieties of imported
flowers from their country side. Much later, these Europeans developed interest
in some of the locally available fruits, shrubs and hedges. The Europeans
started the horticultural society.
Later in the
early 1970’s, Nigerians also became interested in the art of flower gardening,
encouraged by the Horticultural society during their flowers shows. The
government gardens soon took off with Bukuru and Naraguta gardens which were
established to encourage gardening, tree planting, and afforestation culture
(David, 1999). The Plateau Urban Development Board now known as the Jos
Metropolitan Board encouraged the establishment of privately owned commercial
gardens in the 1990’s. The idea was for these gardens to occupy vacant plots
along the major roads within the city thereby holding the land in trust and also
beautifying the environment (David, 1999).
Horticulture in
Nigeria gained an impetus by a commitment of $43,433,260 to the National
Horticultural Research Institute Ibadan in form
Commercially,
there is very active and visible trade in horticultural products which engage
and provide employment for some people. Although the actual volume and value of
horticultural crops produced and traded are unknown, they are enormous, and
contribute substantially to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 1995, the value of
agricultural output, made up of crops, livestock, forestry, and fishing
amounted to N39.88 billion and constituted 38.6 percent of GDP (Central
Bank of Nigeria, 1995). The contributions of horticultural crops were estimated
at N2 billion, which was much more than forestry (N1.34 billion)
and fishing (N1.23 billion).
Nigerians are gradually becoming aware of the need for
a beautiful, manageable and sustainable environment. The high intensity of a
flourishing horticultural business in metropolitan centres attests to this
fact. However, according to Fawusi (1996), the genetic base of our ornamental
production is dangerously narrow, whereas, a lot of plants are awaiting
collection and domestication in our forest. Kenya and Cote d’ Ivoire are major
exporters of cut flowers into the French market, yet Nigeria has more potential
than these countries. Horticultural crops require intensive care. It is
therefore necessary to have information on cost of production and returns per
naira invested to serve as a basis for motivating farmers to invest in
horticultural crops production (Adekunle and Oladoja, 1996).....
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