Abstract

This paper investigated the effects of social capital dimensions on output and gross margin of cassava farmers in Osun State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used for selecting 100 respondents for the study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, budgetary technique, social capital indices, and Ordinary Least Square model. The results showed average values of 48 years for age, 14 years for years of experience, 8 persons for household size, and 5ha for farm size. The estimated costs and return of cassava farmers per hectare of land on the average were ?153,577.60 and ?329,693.40 per annum whereas the total revenue on the average was ?450,000 while the gross margin and net income were ?328,151.30 and ?329,032.80, respectively. The benefit cost ratio and labour efficiency analysis were 2.930 and 6.230, respectively. Age (5.747), farm size (0.463), decision making index (0.590) and labour contribution index (0.021) were significant factors affecting the output of cassava farmers while, years of education (0.372), farm size (0.572), membership index (0.448), meeting index (0.530) and decision-making index (0.450) were significant factors affecting the gross margin of cassava enterprise. The study concluded that social capital dimensions are among key variables affecting output and gross margin of cassava farmers. Following from the findings of the study, farmers should participate more actively in group activities as effective participation in association?s decision making process enhances access to productive resources such as credit, labour among others.

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