BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS OF DRY SEASON VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN URBAN AND PERI-URBAN TAMALE

Abstract

This study analysed the benefit-cost ratio of dry season vegetable production in urban and peri-urban Tamale. It provides some infomation on the profitability of vegetable production so as to encourage more people to go into it. It also identified production constraints. The study covered 30 vegetable farmers, 15 from urban and 15 from peri-urban Tamale. Cabbage, okra and corchorus farmers were randomly sampled. The analytical tools used are benefit-cost ratio and Kendall's. Coefficient of Concordance. Peri-urban vegetable production was found to be more cost-effective and economically viable though urban dry season vegetable production had a higher monetary value. This is because whilst peri-urban vegetable production gave a benefit-cost ratio of 3.03, urban vegetable production gave a ratio of 2.57. On individual crop basis, peri-urban cabbage production was found to be the most profitable with a benefit-cost ratio of 4.31. Major constraints to vegetable production were identified as high cost of fertilizer, variable prices of output, high labour cost, pests and diseases, high cost and poor quality of seed. It is strongly recommended, among others, that micro credit institutions should come to the aid of vegetable producers in urban and peri-urban Tamale, since they are highly capable of repayment.