Thesis Abstract

This study was undertaken to analyze resource productivity inornamental plants production within Jos metropolis of Nigeria. Thestudy covered Jos North and Jos South local government areas. Thespecific objectives include identifying the effect of socio-economicfactors on resource productivity, determining costs and returns, andresource productivity in ornamental plants production.An extensive literature review was carried out to provide an indepthknowledge of the study. The cluster sampling procedure wasused because the nurseries are located in clusters. Data was collectedfrom the nursery owners. Six respondents from each cluster and fiveclusters from each local government area were selected using thesimple random sampling method at each sampling stage. Each of thetwo local government areas was administered the 30 questionnairesmaking a total of 60 respondents.Results revealed that 60% of respondents were aged between 41– 50, while 80% had some years of tertiary education. Also 60% of therespondents’ nurseries were less than a quarter of an acre. About 40%had horticulture as their primary occupation, while 40% and 20% hadbusiness and civil service respectively as their primary occupation.The ornamental plants producers made a net farm income ofN351,196 per annum and a naira invested gave returns of N1.10.The regression analysis gave positive coefficients for labour,cuttings, pesticides, water, top soil and polythenes which weresignificant (P<0.05). However, manure, fuel transportation and annualrent had negative coefficient. Also the regression coefficient of socioeconomic variables such as education, age, nursery size were positiveand significant. Household size had a positive coefficient but wasinsignificant (P<0.05). Ornamental production experience had anegative coefficient and was insignificantThis study was undertaken to analyze resource productivity inornamental plants production within Jos metropolis of Nigeria. Thestudy covered Jos North and Jos South local government areas. Thespecific objectives include identifying the effect of socio-economicfactors on resource productivity, determining costs and returns, andresource productivity in ornamental plants production.An extensive literature review was carried out to provide an indepthknowledge of the study. The cluster sampling procedure wasused because the nurseries are located in clusters. Data was collectedfrom the nursery owners. Six respondents from each cluster and fiveclusters from each local government area were selected using thesimple random sampling method at each sampling stage. Each of thetwo local government areas was administered the 30 questionnairesmaking a total of 60 respondents.Results revealed that 60% of respondents were aged between 41– 50, while 80% had some years of tertiary education. Also 60% of therespondents’ nurseries were less than a quarter of an acre. About 40%had horticulture as their primary occupation, while 40% and 20% hadbusiness and civil service respectively as their primary occupation.The ornamental plants producers made a net farm income ofN351,196 per annum and a naira invested gave returns of N1.10.The regression analysis gave positive coefficients for labour,cuttings, pesticides, water, top soil and polythenes which weresignificant (P<0.05). However, manure, fuel transportation and annualrent had negative coefficient. Also the regression coefficient of socioeconomic variables such as education, age, nursery size were positiveand significant. Household size had a positive coefficient but wasinsignificant (P<0.05). Ornamental production experience had anegative coefficient and was insignificant

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