Economic Potentials and Threats to Vegetable Amaranth (Amaranthus Cruentus) and Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa) Production using Wastewater of Metropolitan Jakara River in Kano, Nigeria

The study determined the profitability and resource-use efficiency of Amaranth and Lettuce production in the wastewater drylands along Jakara River in Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed for the selection of the respondents. One hundred and eighty (180) producers of Amaranth and Lettuce were selected. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting techniques and regression analysis. The results of the study revealed that the producers of Amaranth and Lettuce had a mean age of 38 years; mean household size of 7 individuals, mean years of education of 5; mean years of experience of 19 and mean income level of N460,567 per annum. The profitability measures have indicated a NFI of N213,965/ha and N294,287/ha; Return to Naira (RNI) of 0.71 and 0.82; Gross Ratio (GR) of 0.58 and 0.55; and Operating Ratio (OR) of 0.50 and 0.48 for Amaranth and Lettuce respectively, indicating that the production of these crops was profitable. The results also indicated that all the resources used in the production of Amaranth and Lettuce were inefficiently utilized. Land was under-utilized for both crops, while labour, seeds, fertilizer, water and fuel were over-utilized for both crops; pesticide was over-utilized in Amaranth and under-utilized in Lettuce production. The problems of producing these crops include unstable prices of the products, inadequate farm size, soil erosion and pests and diseases attack. The study recommends that the producers should utilize all media and other avenues of obtaining market information about input prices to exploit cheaper farm inputs to enhance their profit levels; and access loans through their associations from the public and private lending institutions to boost their capital. Governments at Federal, State and Local, including International donor agencies should join hands to control erosion in the production areas.