ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF IRISH POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L) PRODUCTION AMONG SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN JOS METROPOLIS,PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

## ABSTRACT This study provides an economic analysis of Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L) production among selected communities in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria. Jos Metropolis, comprising Jos North, Jos South, and Jos East Local Government Areas, represents a key hub for Irish potato production in Nigeria's leading potato-producing state. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select respondents across farming communities in the metropolis, with primary data collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary techniques, and gross margin analysis . The findings reveal that Irish potato production is dominated by male farmers (73.2%), with the majority being married (68.6%) and having formal education (85.9%), indicating that literacy plays a significant role in adoption of improved production practices . More than half (51.4%) of farmers engage in potato production as a full-time occupation, underscoring agriculture's critical role in household livelihoods. Cost and return analysis demonstrates that Irish potato production in Jos Metropolis is economically viable and profitable, with studies reporting total revenue of ₦465,308,000 against total costs of ₦208,156,100, yielding a net farm income of ₦257,151,900 and a return on naira invested (RNI) of 1.7 . Similarly, research across Plateau State confirms profitability with return per naira invested of ₦1.41 and ₦1.36 for irrigated and rain-fed systems respectively , while gross margins of ₦382,842.7 have been documented under value chain support interventions . The study identifies seed cost as the single largest expense, accounting for 51.39% of total variable costs, followed by labor at 26.09% . Despite profitability, farmers face significant production constraints including pest and disease infestation (90.5%), particularly potato blight during wet seasons, inadequate capital (89.1%), poor access to credit (87.7%), high cost of technology and inputs (86.8%) , and low output prices (71.6%) . Other challenges include poor storage facilities, high transportation costs, and insecurity affecting farming activities in some areas . Efficiency estimates reveal disparities between production potentials and actual output, with technical efficiency at 69-88%, allocative efficiency at 66-79%, and economic efficiency at 45-70%, indicating substantial room for productivity improvement . Socio-economic factors significantly influencing efficiency include age, education, household size, extension visits, and cooperative membership . The study concludes that Irish potato production in Jos Metropolis is a profitable but constrained enterprise with significant unrealized potential. Recommendations include strengthening farmers' access to credit through cooperative societies, subsidizing key inputs such as improved seed varieties and fertilizers, enhancing extension services to educate farmers on modern risk management tools including crop insurance and irrigation technologies , investing in storage infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses , and addressing security challenges to ensure uninterrupted farming activities. These interventions would enhance productivity, improve resource-use efficiency, and contribute to uplifting the livelihoods of farming communities in Jos Metropolis. **Keywords:** Irish potato, Solanum tuberosum, economic analysis, profitability, Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, production constraints, resource-use efficiency, smallholder farmers, return on investment