Determinants Affecting Input-Output Relationship in Yam Production in Ikom Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was carried out in the Ikom Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria, to examine the relationship between the inputs and outputs of yam. A multistage sampling technique was used for the study. A total of 240 respondents were randomly selected from thirteen villages. Questionnaires were administered to the respondents by the interview method. The data collected were analyzed using regression analysis from STATA v17. The double-log result showed that inputs that significantly influenced yam output in the study area were quantity of fertilizer, seedlings, labour, access to credit, and farm size, at 1% and 5%, respectively. It is recommended that yam farmers increase their farm sizes in cultivation, fertilizer usage, and yam seedlings to increase yam output.
Keywords: Cross River State, Determinants, Ikom agricultural zone, Input- Output Relationship, Yam farmers, yam production
Agricultural Productivity and Postharvest Loss Among Cassava Farmers, In Anambra State, Nigeria (Published)
Postharvest loss is one of the greatest challenges of agricultural productivity and its reduction is a key pathway to food security. Using Cassava production, this study tends to examine the socioeconomic characteristics of the cassava farmers; determine the effect of postharvest loss on cassava production; analyse the financial implication and mitigation strategies employ by the cassava farmers in the study area. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to a random sample of 120 cassava farmers in the state. Descriptive statistics, mean threshold from five points Likert scale, Logit model, and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Results showed that female farmers (51.7%) dominated the sector, with an average age of 41.91, 10.73 level of education, and 13.18 farming experience with 5.58 household sizes. The farmers have a 68.0% postharvest losses management index, and 32.0% postharvest loss among cassava farmers. The study found that the determinants of postharvest loss in the area are age, marital status, education, farming experience, household size, cooperative membership, access to credit, and extension contact. Postharvest losses come with a load of financial implications, and in that regard, the farmers designed a number of mitigation strategies like good agronomic practice adoption, processing immediately to chips, gari, and fufu among others. The study concluded that cassava farmers in Anambra State have high postharvest losses (32.0%). The study recommends the introduction of improved storage facilities and the provision of incentives to the farmers to increase their agricultural productivity and reduce postharvest losses.
Keywords: Determinants, Productivity, cassava, postharvest loss
Socio-Economic Determinants of Adoption of Bio-Fortified Cassava Varieties among Farmers in Anambra Agricultural Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria (Published)
The study analyzed the socio-economic determinants of adoption of bio-fortified Cassava among cassava farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, types and varieties of yellow cassava obtainable in the study area and the influence of socio-economic factors on the adoption of the bio-fortified cassava among the farmers. Multi-stage, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select one hundred and twenty (120) Cassava farmers used for the Study. Data for the study was collected by administration of pre-tested questionnaire to the respondent farmers and analyzed using both descriptive (frequencies and means) and inferential statistics (maximum likelihood probit regression model). Among other results, the probit regression analysis of factors that influence the adoption of bio-fortified cassava among farmers reveals that education (3.1160) and access to planting material (5.0162) were positively significant at 1%, farm size( 1.1114) at 10% and membership of cooperative society (1.3424) and extension contact (3.134) were significant at 5% level. This implies that increases in these factors will lead to more adoption of bio-fortified cassava among the farmers in the study area. Based on the findings, the researchers recommend among others that government should endeavour to increase the multiplication of the planting material, make it available to farmers for production and create a sustainable market out let if optimum production is desired.
Keywords: Determinants, Socio-Economics, bio-fortified cassava, probit regression
Determinants of Saving Capacity Of Rural Women Farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria (Published)
Rural women farmers play significant role in both agricultural production and home management. Despite these roles, their saving capacity seems to have been empirically documented in Ebonyi State Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique involving three stages was employed in the section of 180 respondents. Results showed that at 1% level of significant; household size, farm cash income, farm output and distance to nearest market were the major determinants of saving capacity. The women mainly save in non-cash way which involved saving through investment in livestock production and storage of farm produce. However, minority of the women that practice cash saving, safe keep their money in the house and lending of money to fellow needy farmers. Fear of bank failure, inadequate income due to lack of access to productive resources and low returns, high consumption rate out of available income, and bureaucracy involved in opening bank account were identified as the major constraints to rural women farmers saving capacity. The study based on the finding recommended the creation of enabling socio-economic environment that will increase the rural women farm income through market creation for farm output and subsidy in the price of farm input. Again, the rural financial intermediaries should encourage farmers to save by raising the interest paid on saving; this will discourage farmers from saving in kind or hoarding cash in the house which usually lead to loss of wealth in case of thefts, burglaries. Finally, Government and banks should create channels through which farmers especially rural women farmers can be educated on saving modalities; this will not only encourage investment and consequently their saving capacity.
Keywords: Determinants, Farmers, Income, Rural Women, Saving Capacity
Determinants of Agricultural Sustainability in Southeast Nigeria -The Climate Change Debacle (Published)
The renewed quest for sustainable economic development which is synonymous with sustainable agricultural development and hence agricultural sustainability impelled this study titled “Determinants of Agricultural Sustainability in Southeast Nigeria”. Southeast Nigeria is located within latitudes 5oN to 6o N of the equator and longitudes 6oE and 8oE of the Greenwich (prime) meridian (M.S corporation, 2009). Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 312 cassava based food crop farmers from whom data were collected using structured and validated questionnaire. Data bothering on the respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, the type, quantity, and sources of inputs used and output produced were collected. These were analysed with the use of descriptive statistical tools and ordinary least square multiple regression analytical tools. Result showed that factors such as farm size, annual income, household size, level of education, and climate change are significantly and inversely proportional to sustainability level of farmers, while labour cost was significantly but directly proportional to agricultural sustainability. It was concluded that, efforts should be made at both micro and macro levels of government to improve on the mitigation and adaptive strategies of climate change available to farmers by making such more affordable, available and user friendly through extension education on the appropriate uses of such technologies in a more sustainable manner.
Keywords: Adaptive and Mitigation, Appropriate, Climate Change, Determinants, Regression, Sustainability