This study compared resource allocation, yield, net farm income and resource use
efficiency under private and government controlled vegetable irrigation schemes.
Production data covering three vegetable enterprises were collected from 280
respondents. This consisted of 141 from private and 139 from government irrigation
schemes, in the Kwanar-Are irrigation areas of Katsina State, Nigeria. Descriptive and
econometric analyses were used to analyze the sample data. Our results indicated that
though more purchased inputs are allocated in government scheme, the private scheme
was more efficient in terms of resource use. Average net farm incomes per hectare were
N373,040, N427,070 and N285,975 for pepper, tomato and onion enterprises
respectively under the private irrigation schemes. They were N210,045, N325,891 and
N244,748 for pepper, tomato and onion enterprises respectively in the government
irrigation schemes. Similarly, average returns on naira investment were higher under
the private irrigation scheme. They were 2.0, 2.3 and 1.7 for pepper, tomato and onion
enterprises respectively under the private irrigation schemes and 1.2, 2.3 and 2.0 for
pepper, tomato and onion enterprises respectively in the government irrigation schemes.
To correct the general inefficiency in the use of resources, farmers should be trained on
appropriate resource allocation techniques that would guarantee optimal performances
of irrigation schemes. It is suggested that irrigation policy efforts should focus on
encouraging private as opposed to government irrigation scheme if the country is to be
self sufficient in terms of food and vegetable production.