ECONOMICS OF SNAIL PRODUCTION IN OVIA SOUTHWEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

This study focused on the economics of snail production in Ovia South West local government area of Edo state, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to; describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the snail producers ,estimate the cost and return of snail production in the study area, estimate the technical and allocative efficiencies of snail production and identity the constraints in snail production A two stage selection technique was used in this study. Data were obtained from both secondary and primary sources. Primary data were obtained through the use of structured questionnaire administered to 120 respondents by purposive sampling based on (abundance of snail producers in the communities) and 90 were retrieved. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Gross Margin Analysis, Stochastic Frontier Production Function and 5 point likert scale. The results obtained from the descriptive statistics showed that majority of the respondents were females (51.11%), and most of the farmers were married (53.33%) .The results also showed that (33.7%) were aged 3140 years and had farming experience between 1−5 years (80.0%),house size of 610 persons (51.11%).Majority of them had other occupation 11 of (73.33%), suggesting that most of them had supplemented snail farming with other enterprises. The results also indicated that most ﴾65.56%) of the farmers had stock size ranging 10100. In a cycle or season of snail production in the study area, the Total Variable Cost was ₦16,908.013. The Total Fixed Cost was ₦25,724.921 resulting to a Total Cost of ₦42,632.934 and a Total Revenue of ₦64,168.11.Furthermore, the results implied from the stochastic frontier production function that the allocative efficiency showed that most(70.79%) of the farmers were 6089% efficient in allocating their resources. It was found that farmers were technically efficient in labour and feed which was significant at (p˃0.01) while stock size and wheelbarrow were significant at a level of (P˃0.05).most of the constraints were found to be serious excluding shortage of labour with a mean of (2.99) and from the standard deviation of three. Therefore, the government should encourage more youths and middle age adults to venture into snail production .There is also need to promote snail production at the local level by providing adequate credit facilities to support farmers.