Profitability and Determinants of Output of Rice Production in Anambra State, Nigeria (Published)
The study examined the profitability and determinants of output of rice production in Anambra State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: estimate the profitability of rice production; establish the determinants of production output; and identify constraints to rice production in the area.Multistage, purposive and random sampling methods were used to select respondents. Though 378 copies of the questionnaire were administered to the farmers by personal interview, 315 adequately filled copies were sorted and used in data collation. Primary data used for the study were collated and analyzed by means of descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as the enterprise budgeting technique (gross margin, net farm income, mean net farm income and net return on income) Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, One- way ANOVA and Scheffe’s Multiple Comparison test. Findings on the profitability of rice production in the area showed that per hectare gross margin figures were N315,300, N285,600, N302,800 and N301,233 for Anambra, Aguata and Awka Agricultural zones, and the State (study area) respectively. Net return on investment figures were 1.49, 1.23, 1.30 and 1.35 respectively. The NROI values indicate that for every N1.00 investments in rice productions in the three zones and the State the farmers are likely to realize on one hectare N1.49 in Anambra Agricultural zone, N1.23 in Aguata zone, N1.30 in Awka zone and on the average N1.35 in the State, hence rice production is a profitable enterprise in the area. Meanwhile, Schefee’s Multiple Comparison test indicated no significant difference between per hectare mean net farm incomes realized by farmers from paired agricultural zones. Findings on the influence of socio-economic characteristics of the farmers on production output indicated that five regressors (educational level, farming experience, farm size, amount of credit obtained and cost of inputs) exerted independent and statistically significant influences on output while the rest six did not have significant influence on output. Constraints to rice production posited insufficient fund as the most serious problem of rice production in the area, followed by scarcity and high cost of labour, scarcity and high cost of quality seeds, among others. Government should encourage financial institutions to make loans available to farmers and form cooperative societies to obtain bulk purchase of high quality seeds and other input resources.
Keywords: Constraints, Output, Production, Profitability
Analysis of cassava production in Akpabuyo Local Government Area: An econometric investigation using farm-level data (Published)
The study analyzed the economics of cassava production in Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River State. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 75 respondents for the study using a validated structured questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics, budgetary method and regression analysis. Findings revealed that farm size, labour, the quantity of fertilizer, and gender were the significant factors affecting cassava production in the study area. The coefficients of elasticity showed that a 10% increase in capital, labour, number of bundles and quantity of fertilizer would lead to 0.06, 0.84, 0.03 and 0.85% increase respectively in cassava production while that of farm size will lead to -0.64% decline in cassava production. Total Cost (TC) per hectare of N35,990.4 was incurred in cassava production and a net farm income (NFI) of N39,957.6 was earned and return on naira invested was N2.11. Unfavourable government policies, sparse marketing outlets, inadequate capital, high cost of inputs, insufficient farmland, high cost of transportation and lack of extension services were the severe constraint faced by cassava farmers in the study area. Extension agents should be mobilized and sent to the study area to educate the farmers on the innovation practices available for cassava farming to encourage its production.
Keywords: Production, Profitability, cassava, constraint
Effect of Management Factor on Stochastic Frontier Production of Organic Rice Farming in Indonesia (Published)
The main problem in this study is the effect of management factor on stochastic frontier production of organic rice farming that emphasized production efficiency. The aim of this research was to analyze the role of managerial ability of farmers in organic rice farming production. This study was conducted on 216 organic rice farmers as a sample during two planting seasons with purposive sampling method. The sample was consisted of two farmer groups, i.e. Pangudi Bogo and Pangudi Raharjo in Dlingo Village, Mojosongo District, Boyolali Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. This research used stochastic frontier production function approach with cross section data and estimated with maximum likelihood estimation. The result showed that average value of production efficiency is 0.5928 and the most dominant variable in determining the technical inefficiency of organic rice farming was variable of farming system management.
Keywords: Indonesia, Management, Organic rice farming, Production, Stochastic Frontier
Socio-Economic Factors Affecting ICT Utilization by Youths in Fish Farming In Kaduna State, Nigeria (Published)
Background ICT brings forth new development surfacing in agriculture. Youths need to improve their ICT abilities for the promotion of agriculture. This study was carried out in Kaduna state Nigeria. Objective the broad objective of the study was to determine the socio – economic factors that affect the utilization of ICT in fish production by youth in Kaduna State. Methods 100 youths were randomly selected and administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression and correlation analysis. Results The results showed that age, education, pond size, quantity of fish produce and training contributed significantly to ability to use ICT in fish production. Some factors were found to be positively related to ICT utilization. Age, education and training made positive contributions at 5% level of probability. Conclusion It was therefore concluded that youth need resources (education and training) in order to utilize ICT in food production. It is recommended youth need empowerment and training to utilize ICT for food production
Keywords: Age, Education, Empowerment, Pond Size, Production, Training
Effects of Special Rice Project on Rice Production in Kwara State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was carried out to evaluate the impact of the Special Rice Project (SRP) on rice production in Kwara state, Nigeria. Specifically, Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas of Kwara State were purposively selected because of the predominance of rice farming activities in the two local governments in the study area. A stratified random sampling technique of 204 rice farmers was used, where 140 farmers were selected from 6 circles in Patigi LGA comprising 70 participating SRP farmers and another 70 non-participating SRP. Also in Edu LGA, another 64 rice farmers were similarly selected from three extension circle comprising 32 SRP participating farmers and 32 non-participating SRP farmers. The data analyses reveals that SRP participating farmers accessed major rice production inputs at a relatively subsidized price while; non-participating SRP farmers accessed these inputs at higher prices. The result also shows that participating farmers in SRP cultivated on the average, more farm size, recorded higher yields/hectare and had higher average income/annnum than non-participating SRP farmers. The result of t-test analysis indicates a significant difference in the cost of farm inputs used by participating and non-participating farmers in SRP (t=4.537, p<0.05). Also Pearson Correlation result shows significant relationship between farm inputs used and socio-economic status of rice farmers (r=0.223, P<0.05). This study concludes that SRP significantly reduced the cost of farm operation, increased the yield and income of participating farmers. It subsequently recommends the expansion of SRP to cover all categories of rice farmers in the study area.
Keywords: Farm Inputs, Production, Rice Farmers