INT’L JOURNAL OF AGRIC. AND RURAL DEV. SAAT FUTO 2012 Volume 15 (3):1212-1215, 2012 Page 1212 DETERMINANTS OF REVENUE AMONG SMALL HOLDER IRRIGATION VEGETABLE FARMERS IN IMO STATE OF NIGERIA. Osuji M.N, Ohajianya, D.O, Lemchi, J.I, Eze C.C, Henri – Ukoha, A, Onwuagba I .J Department of Agricultural Economics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Email: Maryann_osuji@yahoo.co.uk ABSTRACT: The study on determinants of revenue among small holder irrigation Vegetable farmers was carried out in Imo State, Nigeria in 2011. Data were collected with structured and validated questionnaire from 120 small holder vegetable farmers in Imo State. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, frequency distribution and percentages), and ordinary least squares multiple regression techniques. Results show that the mean age of the farmers was 45.2 years, mean household size was 9 persons, mean farm size was 0.40, mean farming experience was 7.3 and mean level of education was 6.9 years. The net revenue from small holder irrigation vegetable farming was N338,772.68 per hectare. The results of multiple regressions analysis show that the coefficient for farm size ,farming experience, level of education, farm income and extension contact were positive and significant at 1% implying that these are the key factors affecting determinants of revenue among small holder irrigation vegetable farmers in the area. Keywords: Small holder, vegetable farmers, determinants, revenue, Imo State. INTRODUCTION The future and security of any country depends on its ability to produce a greater proportion of food required by its rapidly growing population (FAO, 2007). According to FAO (2006), agriculture is by far the greatest user of water accounting for over 85% of total use. It is estimated that less than 50% of potential agricultural land in Nigeria is presently cultivated due to inadequate water supply (Baba and Wando, 2005). Since majority of the poor in Nigeria depend on agriculture, increasing food production is among the principal means of combating poverty and malnutrition in Nigeria. Balogun [1986] defined irrigation as a system of agricultural production where surface and underground waters are harnessed to make up for the deficiencies in total volume of seasonal natural precipitation and/ or deficiencies in distribution of the precipitation over time and space. Contributing to the definition ,Odii [1998] explains that irrigation systems are techniques and technologies that capture ,distribute and add water to the soil to increase plant production.Increased vegetable production not only improves family diet but also increase family incomes especially income of women who often grow, preserve and sell vegetables (IITA, 2001; Ajayi and Banmke, 2005). Prevailing climate condition greatly influence the performance of vegetables that is the performance of vegetable is adversely affected during the dry season when weather is dry and hot which makes it necessary for supplement irrigation (IITA, 2003). The performance of individual farmer managed irrigation schemes in vegetable production and other food crops in some regions have proved very effective (Adewumi et al, 2005). If it is practiced in Imo State where the farming system and resources endowment favours small holder irrigation schemes, the results would not be different if not better. The output of leaf vegetables in Imo State is not keeping pace with the increasing demand for their use in dishes soups, sausage and edible packaging material (Oman and Grubban, 2007), leading to a shortfall in the recommended consumption of 85-113 gram of leafy vegetables per person per day (Matthew and Karikari, 1990). In view of this therefore, it becomes imperative to investigate the determinants of revenue among small holder irrigation vegetable farmers in Imo State. The study set out to achieve the following objectives:  Examine the socio-economic characteristics of small holder vegetable farmers in Imo State.  Determine the net returns earned by the farmers and