Leafy Vegetable Farmers and their Profit Efficiency during COVID-19 Lockdown in Oyo State

Abstract

Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the associated lockdown is a global health emergency with far-reaching consequences on the economy, basic services, and livelihood of the poor and vulnerable including leafy vegetable farmers. This research focused on drivers of profits among leafy vegetable farmers during COVID-19 lockdown in Egbeda Local Government Area Oyo State. Multistage sampling techniques were employed to choose120 leafy vegetable farmers. Structured questionnaire was designed to gather data and was analyze using with the aid of descriptive statistics, Gross Margin analysis and Ordinary Least Square regression. Results showed that the mean age of leafy vegetable farmers was 51 years. Majority (83.3%) of the leafy vegetable farmers were married, most (87.6%) were educatedwith a mean farming experience of 19 years. The Gross Margin result indicated of the farmers involved in leafy vegetable production was N573,537.00 which implies that the enterprise is profitable. The determinants of profit among leafy vegetable farmers during COVID-19 lockdown in Egbeda L. G. were educational level (5%), farm size (1%), inputs costs (1%) and cooperative membership (1%). It is therefore, recommended that more effort should be put in place by policy makers and agricultural stakeholders inform of cash assistance, inputs and programs that will help boost farmers production, thereby enhancing profits at any given period of time.