Comparative Analysis of Mono-Cropping and Intercropping Systems in Abia State

Intercropping, the simultaneous cultivation of two or more crop species on the same field, is a traditional practice among farming households in South East Nigeria that offers advantages of risk spreading, improved land use efficiency, and complementary crop interactions. In Abia State, smallholder farmers combine cassava, maize, and vegetables in diverse configurations, but rigorous comparisons with mono-cropping systems from a farm management perspective are limited. This study compares the economic and yield performance of mono-cropping and intercropping systems among farmers in Abia State. A total of 140 farmers representing mono-croppers, two-component intercrops, and three-component mixed stands were selected purposively from four local government areas. Land equivalent ratios were computed alongside gross margin calculations to evaluate comparative productivity. Results show that the cassava-maize intercrop yielded a land equivalent ratio of 1.43, indicating that 43 percent more land under mono-cropping would be needed to achieve the same combined output. Intercropping systems generated higher gross returns per hectare but required more labour at weeding and harvest stages. Mono-cropping systems showed greater ease of mechanisation and crop-specific management. Farmers with limited land resources overwhelmingly preferred intercropping as an income maximisation strategy. The study recommends tailoring extension advice to farm size, with intercropping guidance prioritised for land-constrained households and mono-cropping for larger commercial producers in Abia State. Keywords: intercropping, mono-cropping, land equivalent ratio, Abia State, crop systems