The study analyzed the population dynamics, labour use and food productivity of small holder farmers in
Southeastern Nigeria. A total of 120 farmer respondents involved in Cassava-based mixed cropping randomly
selected (40 each), from three out of the six States that made up the Southeast geo-political zones, was used for
the study. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used. Simple statistical tools, gross and net margins
as well as regression analysis were used to analyze the data collected. The result of the analysis revealed that
farming though profitable is still at subsistence level with a net margin of N28,360 ($US180.64) per hectare,
about 46% of the farmers could not afford or access the use of fertilizers and modern inputs required for
agricultural intensification prevalent in the area.. The tenure arrangement was by inheritance (64%), which
caused much land fragmentations and pressure on limited arable land. Labour had the highest average factor
cost (40.86%), due to high cost of hired labour. The regression result showed that farm size (X2) and fertilizer
application (X4), are significant (P=0.01), and positively correlated with crop production. Conversely,
population density (X1) and cropping density (X3) and labour X7) were significant (P=0.01), but negatively
correlated with crop output. To ensure higher productivity and net profit, the study recommends that farmers
should be provided with required farm inputs at affordable prices by government and land use act decree of 1978
should be reviewed to make land available to genuine farmers for commercial and mechanized farming. Birth
control should be encouraged.