Determinants of Farm Income Among Yam Farmers in Taraba State

Yam is a culturally significant and economically important crop in Taraba State, located in Nigeria's North East geopolitical zone, where it serves as both a subsistence staple and a cash crop traded in regional and interregional markets. Understanding what determines farm income from yam production is essential for designing targeted interventions that can improve farmer welfare. This study identifies key determinants of farm income among yam farmers in Taraba State using data collected from 145 farmers selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. A structured questionnaire captured information on farm size, input use, market access, credit availability, and household characteristics. Ordinary least squares regression was applied to isolate the independent effect of each determinant variable on net farm income. Results indicate that farm size, use of improved planting setts, access to rural credit, and proximity to markets are statistically significant positive determinants of income. In contrast, high transportation costs and absence of extension contacts were negatively associated with income levels. Farmers participating in state-supported agricultural programmes earned an average of 28 percent more than non-participants. The study concludes that income enhancement strategies should simultaneously target input access, credit provision, and market infrastructure development. It recommends that Taraba State Government scale up its yam development initiative to include all major producing local government areas, with particular attention to road rehabilitation and market shed construction. Keywords: yam, farm income, determinants, Taraba State, market access