Economics of direct seeding methods of upland rice production in the Northern Guinea Savanna

This study assessed the economic impacts of direct seeding of rice as an alternative crop establishment method for farmers in Samaru, Zaria in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the changes in farmers’ inputs (labour and inputs) and level of productivity and incomes among direct-seeded methods such as broadcasting, drilling and dibbling and measured the economic returns on investment in direct seeding. Analyses included cost and return, and economic surplus framework. The economic analysis of upland rice production at both locations indicated that production of NERICA 8 and JAMILA by either broadcasting or drilling method at the seed rate of 80 kg ha-1 gave the highest gross margin as well as return on investment. The result revealed that NERICA 8 and JAMILA sown by broadcasting method at 80 kg ha-1 was the most profitable with gross margin of N246, 166.50 with return on investment of N6.72. This was followed by broadcastingJAMILA at 120 kg ha-1 seed rate which gave a gross margin of N194, 583.50 and return on investment of N4.32. However, the least gross margin of N61, 249.85 was observed when NERICA 4 was dibbled at 120 kg ha-1 which brought a loss of N16, 716.50 and N0.62k was lost per every naira invested.