ANALYSIS OF SWEET POTATO PRODUCTION IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

This paper analyzed sweet potato production in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Multi-stage and proportionate sampling methods were used to collect two hundred and one sweet potato farmers for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive such as frequency and percentages and inferential statistics such as Ordinary Least Square regression model. Results showed that 74.13% of the sweet potato farmers were female with mean age of 38years, mean educational level of 12years with 96.52% of them were married having a mean household size of 8persons. Farm size, quantity of improved sweet potato varieties planted, labour and weeding were significant at 1% and 5% respectively and were positively related to vine yield while farm size, quantity of improved sweet potato varieties planted, fertilizer application and insecticide were significant at 1% and 5% respectively and were positively related to root yield. The production of sweet potato in Ebonyi state was affected by some production factors which causes low yield in the vine and root of sweet potato. Therefore, Organization of field days and farmers’ training on sweet potato production as well as procurement and distribution of improved varieties to farmers are effective strategies for stimulating adoption of the technologies.