Determinants of Flutted Pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis) Production and Profitability in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study examined the determinants of fluted pumpkin production and profitability in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data collected through a multi-stage sampling technique from a sample of 60 respondents in the 2013 planting season were analyzed using the profit function, gross margin analysis as well as Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression technique. Results of the descriptive statistics revealed aged farmers with average of five years experience with high literacy level (83.3%) dominated the study area. Majority were women (61.7%) whose sources of finance were personal savings. Pumpkin farmers had a Gross Margin and Net Income of N251, 953 and N228, 413 respectively. The price parameter for labor, land value, pesticide and output price impacted significantly on the profitability of farmers. Result further revealed that farming experience; household size, age of farmers, land size, capital and organic manure were the major determinants of pumpkin output in the study area. Hence, effort should be directed towards encouraging people to venture into pumpkin production, ensuring credit availability through the provision of soft and low interest free loans as well as intensifying campaign on organic agriculture as a way out.