Tropicultura (Jan 2001)
Economic Evaluation and Prospects for Double Rice Crop Production in Humid Forest Inland Valley : Ecosystems of South Eastern Nigeria
Abstract
The inland valleys of the humid forest ecology show considerable potential for double rice crop production because of a longer rainfall regime ; but this is not commonly practised. The question as to wether the magnitude of farm income from a second rice crop would lead to its adoption was evaluated. Data was obtained between March and August 1999 from farmers fields and from an on-farm late trial with improved inputs between September and December 1999 in the Ozu Abam inland valley near Bende in South eastern Nigeria. Results indicate that a second rice crop within the year will improve farmer income by 74 percent. Labour costs will reduce by nine percent while capital operating costs will double with the use of improved inputs. However labour bottlenecks due to competition with upland crops, absence of mechanised dryers, power tillers and storage facilities may limit the adoption of double rice cropping. The availability of these farm level equipment and infrastructure may facilitate the adoption of double rice crop production technology in humid forest inland valley ecosystems.
