Resource Use Efficiency in Urban Agriculture in Southwestern Nigeria

The rate of urbanization in West Africa including Nigeria is expected to lead to increased demand for food and possible associated increases in urban unemployment and food insecurity. The challenge therefore is for researchers and policy makers to put in place policies and goals to make urban agriculture a legitimate and viable economic activity capable of mitigating the problem of urban food insecurity. The paper sets out to evaluate the efficiency of resource use in urban food crop production. Structured questionnaires were applied to urban food producers in five districts of two cities. An effective sample of 120 respondents was available for evaluation. Results from the analysis of data have shown that almost all (92%) of the food producers are literate. Both men (53%) and women (47%) are participating in food production in urban areas. Majority (61%) of the food producers secured loans from the formal sector. The average revenue for urban food crops production was N51, 294 per hectare with a gross margin of N23, 688. This means that food crop production in urban areas is profitable. There was disequilibrium in resource use, as planting seeds and agrochemicals were used efficiently as against land and labour that were inefficiently used. In general, urban food crop production is yet to attain an optimum level of combination of resources.