Assessment Of Factors Affecting Rice (Oryza Spp.) Value Chain (Rvc) In Ogun and Niger States, Nigeria (Published)
The need to increasing rice productivity, value addition and acceptability through the rice value chain are some of the objectives of Federal Government of Nigeria in recent time. Rice is a major staple food in Nigeria. Rice production is however low which make the country to be a net importer of rice in Africa. This study was carried out to assess factors affecting rice (Oryza spp.) value chain in Ogun and Niger States, Nigeria. Multistage sampling techniques were used in the selection of 320 respondents for this study. Data collected were analyzed with chi square. Results of this research showed that more than forty percent of the respondents were between 30 – 40 years of age, predominantly male (80.3%), married (83.1%), had relatively large household size (6 people) and formal education (80.6%). Average income generated was estimated as ₦551,250/ha. They were member of Cooperative societies (66.6%), FADAMA (23.4%) and RIFAN (10%). More respondents (60%) carried out soil test and used tractor for land clearing in Niger State than in Ogun State (11.9%). Rice seeds were mostly planted on the field nursery (90%) rather than tray nursery (10%) using broadcasting method (84.4%). Hired and family labour (58.2%) was used for rice value chain in the two sampled states. Also, most operations in the rice processing were carried out manually (100%) due to non-availability of basic rice processing facilities. Marketing of rice was usually done at local markets (98.3%) at interval of 5-day marketing (72.2%) and mudu/congo (69.1%) was the item used for measurement in the market. Moreover, the returns of value addition were higher at marketing stage (₦750/kg in Ogun State and ₦550/kg in Niger State) than production stage (₦350/kg in Ogun State and ₦280/kg in Niger State). Birds’ disturbance (96.6%), high cost of processing equipment (92.5%), inadequate finance (83.1%) and lack of rural infrastructure (82.8%) were the major constraints to rice value chain in the sampled states. Chi- square analysis shows that there is significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and value addition at p < 0.05 level of significance. Similarly, significant relationship existed between threshing (χ2 = 8.35, df = 1, p = 0.00) and rice value addition at p < 0.05 level of significance. The study therefore recommends that rice farmers should embark on value addition to enhance their income from rice production.
Keywords: Assessment, Factors, Niger, Ogun, Rice, Value Chain
AN ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS THAT FACILITATE LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES IN ELDORET MUNICIPALITY, UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA (Published)
Each land use and land cover type is found on a portion of the earth due to several influential factors. And it stands in a spatial relationship to the other land use and land cover types. The change to which these land use and land cover types is subjected is a function of a number of influential factors, namely, population increase, human behaviour and ideologies, infrastructural developments, planning modes and development values and patterns which ignore any of these factors encourage environmental degradation. Human beings have spread themselves in nearly every part of this planet and their activities are causing more than the extinction of just a few species (Seymour, 1966). The human role in changing the face of the earth is as old as history and yet it has persistently grown. This study is an analytical examination of factors that have facilitated land use and land cover changes using a Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Applications. The results are achieved through observation and analysis based on some industries formed within the period that the author deemed relevant. The study concludes that some of the influential factors include Boundary Extension, Inception of the Government’s Growth Centre Policy and Development Plans. The paper finally recommends that in order to enhance land use development, there is a need to improve on both the land information system and Geographic information systems, so that investors can have ready information on land availability and suitability.
Keywords: Facilitate, Factors, Geographic Information Systems’ (GSI), Land Cover Changes, Remote Sensing (RS), land use