ECONOMICS OF INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS ON FARM PRODUCTIVITY IN OVIA NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the economic impact of Integrated Agricultural Systems (IAS) on farm productivity in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The study aimed to describe the socio-economic characteristics of farmers, assess the profitability and cost of integrated and conventional farming systems, and identify the major constraints affecting IAS adoption. Primary data were collected from fifty farmers through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and profitability indicators such as Gross Margin, Net Farm Income, and Return on Investment (ROI). The results revealed that farming in the area is male-dominated (60%) with a mean age of 50 years and an average of 14 years of farming experience. The majority (80%) of respondents had tertiary education, reflecting a relatively literate farming population. The profitability analysis showed that IAS had a total production cost of ₦2,234,380.20, profit of ₦1,673,056.29, and ROI of 0.75, while conventional farming recorded a higher ROI of 2.55 due to lower setup costs. However, integrated systems demonstrated greater long-term sustainability through resource recycling, soil fertility improvement, and diversified income streams. Major constraints identified were climate variability, water scarcity, inadequate knowledge or training, and labor shortage. The study concludes that IAS are economically viable and environmentally sustainable but require significant initial capital and technical knowledge. It recommends enhanced farmer training, access to affordable credit, and supportive agricultural policies to encourage wider adoption and improve productivity.