An Economic Analysis of Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Production/Farming in Southern Nigeria

This study takes a curious looks into the production systems, cost structure and profitability of Talinum triangulare production and farming in South-Eastern Agro ecological zone of Southern Nigeria. In this study area, about 70% of the entire population are peasant farmers cultivating arable crops and vegetables, few deals on Cash crops like oil palm and cocoa. Among the vegetables cultivated by these peasant farmers is Talinum triangulare. Talinum farming practice is done in extensive mode, casually cultivated in scattered areas and only a few farmers (20%) cultivate semi intensively in fadama areas. The costs and returns of extensive and semi-intensive farming systems are compared. Based on the Cobb-Douglas production function model, return to scale indicates that there is scope to increase production and income from Talinum farming in extensive and semi-intensive systems. By applying more inputs like improve cuttings, water irrigation, good cultivation tools and fertilizers in the study area, all farmers would made profit. Considerable variations in production costs and profitability were observed depending on the farming seasons, cycle and practice.