Relative profitability of sole and mixed cropping enterprises in the Central Niger Delta of Nigeria

The Study is based on field data collected from a sample of 100 farmers and farm households drawn from 3 of the 8 local government areas (LGAs) in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The data was collected for a period of 15 months during the 2000/2001 cropping season using the cost-route methodology. A customised budgetary model was used in analysing the data so collected. The results indicate that crop farming enterprises in the area are generally profitable though average returns per hectare of land employed in mixed cropping (88,500.16) was relatively higher than that of sole cropping (50,532.81). It has been argued that in terms of returns to the factor endowment of resource poor farmers in the area, mixed cropping is more advantageous than sole cropping. Granting that cultivable land is a limiting factor in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria relative to other parts of the country, mixed and double cropping stand out asviable strategies for agricultural growth and development in the area. It has been recommended that agricultural extension packages in the area should henceforth be packaged in a manner as to promote mixed and double cropping among farmers in the area with appropriate production, processing, and marketing incentives.