Journal of Agricultural Economics, Environment and Social Sciences

ASSESSMENT OF POULTRY WOMEN AGRIPRENEURS PERCEPTIONS ON THE CAUSES OF INSURGENCY IN YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:15+00:00

The study assessed the perceptions of poultry women agripreneurs on the causes of insurgency in Yobe State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure involving snowball sampling techniques were employed in selecting 300 poultry women agripreneurs. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that 38.4% of the poultry agripreneurs fell within the age range of 35-44 years in the insurgency area while 29.9% fall within the age range of 45-54 years in the non-insurgency area. Most of the women agripreneurs (70.7%) in poultry production were formally educated, about 86.7% were married amongst the poultry agripreneurs with majority (65.5% and 81.2%) had years of experience of 1-10 years both in the insurgency and the non- insurgency area. The results revealed that 41.3% of the poultry agripreneurs in insurgency areas and 68.8% in non-insurgency areas engage in crop farming as their other source of income. Results on level of perception of poultry women agripreneurs revealed that prevalent of poverty has the highest mean score (4.57), this is followed by level of unemployment (4.56). The least perceived cause was lack of parental care with a mean value of 4.34. The overall mean value of perceived cause of insurgency was 4.49. Meanwhile the severe constraints are unavailability of inputs (3.41) and unavailability of credits (72.8%) during the insurgency. The study concluded that poverty, unemployment and wrong religious education are the causes of the insurgency. The study recommended that all community leaders should be cautioned against wrong teachings and the Government should empower women economically. This can be achieved through training of women in entrepreneurial skills acquisition, giving out soft loans to enable women with good business ideas to start up.

ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR ADOPTION OF IMPROVED COWPEA TECHNOLOGIES IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:15+00:00

The research analysed the efficacy of information sources used by cowpea farmers in adopting
improved cowpea technologies in Gombe State, Nigeria. The study applied a multistage
sampling procedure in selecting 606 respondents. Data were elicited via structured
questionnaires analysed using descriptive statistics, and means score. The result shows that,
educated married males dominated the cowpea production enterprise, with a mean farming
experience of 13 years, without belonging to cooperative society, nevertheless, they had access
to informal sources on credit, with extension contact. Cowpea farmers agreed that positive
attitudes such as perceiving the technologies as beneficial, reliable, and compatible with their
farming systems, increases their adoption rate. Fellow farmers and friends, and radio 3.49 and
3.25weighted mean respectively were the effective sources of information, while print media
weighted mean of 2.04 was the least source of information to the cowpea farmers. Therefore,
information on cowpea production should be made readily available to the farmers via
dependable and reliable sources such as (extension agents, radio, friends and other farmers,
inputs suppliers, community leaders, and NGOs) to facilitate adoption of the technologies. It
is recommended that; farmers should be encouraged to belong to cooperative organizations to
pool their productive resources, increase their access to agricultural loans and inputs;
Farmers should be encourage to utilize multiple sources of information to find out more about
improved cowpea technologies. They will be able to access varieties of information as a result
of this, which will help them boost their cowpea production and profits.

ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF GURARA DAM IRRIGATION SCHEME TO POVERTY REDUCTION AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:15+00:00

The study assessed the contribution of Gurara dam irrigation scheme to poverty reduction among farming households in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data on respondents’ poverty status, and the constraints faced by farming households in utilizing the Gurara irrigation facilities was collected using structured questionnaire during the 2019 cropping season. A four-sampling stage technique was employed in this study to select randomly 340 farming households made up of 170 each of beneficiary and non-beneficiary. The analytical tools used to achieve the objectives were descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) index, and Tobit regression models. The poverty headcount, poverty gaps and severity indices of the Gurara dam beneficiary farming households were 0.24, 0.03 and 0.005, respectively. Decomposition of poverty status of the Gurara dam beneficiary and non-beneficiary farming households based on socio-economic characteristics, institutional and living conditions characteristics was estimated using mean per adult equivalent household expenditure. The Tobit regression model showed that the marginal effects of household size (0.176), cooperative membership (-0.168), farm income (-0.157), farm size (0.404) and credit utilized (-0.193) for farm production were statistically significant determinants of the poverty status of household farmers. The result of analysis of constraints encountered by Gurara dam farming households were ranked from most critical to the least critical; these include inadequate irrigable land and water; excessive cost of irrigation equipment, inadequate inputs, inadequate and untimely supply of inputs, inadequate extension visits and research. Farming households should be encouraged by government and Non-Government Organization (NGO) as well as their cooperative empowerment to engage in small scale irrigation farming to enable increase production of food and alleviate their poverty status.

ASSESSMENT OF INSURGENCY ON CROP FARMERS’ EFFICIENCY AT PRE-PEAK AND POST-PEAK PERIODS IN NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:15+00:00

The confluence of drought conflict and displacement have given rise to in profound reduction in agricultural production for communities in the north east region. The study assessed the effects of insurgency on crop farmers’ efficiency at pre-peak and post-peak periods in north eastern Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure with a proportional factor led to 376 farmers from three (3) selected states of north eastern Nigeria: Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. Primary data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier production function, and Tobit regression model. Results showed that the mean technical efficiency of millet- and sorghum- based crop were 0.65 and 0.63, during the pre-peak of insurgency compared to 0.52 and 0.49, respectively during the post-peak period of insurgency. Similarly, millet- and sorghum- based farmers were able to obtain about 0.74 and 0.71 allocative efficiency during the pre-peak period of insurgency and 0.56 and 0.52 during the post-peak period of insurgency of potential outputs, respectively. Furthermore, for the average farmer in the study area to achieve economic efficiency of the farmer’s most efficient counterpart, the farmer could realize about 0.51 and 0.71 for millet-based and 0.54 and 0.74 for sorghum-based farmers, respectively during the pre-peak and post-peak insurgency. The Tobit regression analysis revealed that socioeconomic and institutional variables such as marital status, level of education, dependency ratio, farming experience, and non-farm income for millet- and sorghum based production systems were the major determinants of inefficiency. There is the need for farmers to collaborate with extension agents to enhance better agronomic practice and proper use of inputs in order to achieve optimal production and use inputs efficiently.

EFFECTS OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) VARIETIES AND SOWING DATES ON PERFORMANCE OF COWPEA IN SESAME AND COWPEA INTERCROPPED IN SUDAN SAVANNA, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:15+00:00

Farmers in different parts of the world intercropped different crops according to their preferences on social and biological needs. The introduction of legumes intercropped with non-legumes has drawn considerable attention because of its ability to improve cash returns by increasing land use efficiency, among others. However, yields are very low due to lack of improved varieties and poor management practices such as time of introducing the companion crop into the system. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of cowpea variety and cowpea sowing date for growth and yield of cowpea intercropped with Sesame in Sudan Savanna Nigeria. Field studies were conducted during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons using split plot design with three replications and two treatments. Treatments consisted of three cowpea varieties (UAM-09-1046-6-1, IT99K-573-1-1 and Borno Brown) and three sowing dates; simultaneous sowing of cowpea with sesame, two weeks after sowing sesame and three weeks after sowing sesame). Data were collected on number of leaves per plant, plant height (cm), number of pods per plant, 100 grain weight and grain yield/ha. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences among treatment means. The means were compared using Least Significant Differences (LSD) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. Cowpea variety has significant influence on grain yield, pod yield and number of leaves per plant, where UAM-09-1046-6-1recorded superior grain yield, and number of pods per plant, respectively, although Borno Brown had better number of leaves per plant and plant height. Cowpea variety interacted positively with sowing date. Cowpea grain yield/ha across years increases when IT99K-573-1-1 was sown simultaneously with sesame while Borno Brown sown three weeks after sesame produced the least grain yield. For the sowing date, simultaneous sowing of cowpea with sesame(0 WASS) had better plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant height, whereas the 2 and 3 WASS plants had the lowest growth. Grain yields of cowpea intercrop are best realized by simultaneous sowing of sesame in association with IT99K-573-1-1variety in the Sudan savannah.

AUDIENCE PERCEPTION OF MEDIA REPORTAGE ON FARMERS-HERDERS CRISIS IN USSA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:16+00:00

The study examined audience perception of media reportage on farmers-herders crisis in Ussa Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. A virtual snowball sampling technique was adopted to select 100 respondents for this research. Data was collected using an online survey questionnaire administered through Google form and was analysed using descriptive statistics (likert scale, means and standard deviation). Results showed that that the audience received most of the information about farmers and herders crisis on radio (M = 3.86) and television (M = 3.70). Even though the way mass media reported on farmers and herders’ crisis (M = 3.64) and the role they played (M = 3.45) were perceived by the respondents to have reduced farmers and herders crisis to a fair extent; they however, have not contributed much in de-escalating the crisis and as such are blamed for the continuous rise of crisis in the study area. The crisis between farmers and herders was also perceived by the respondents to sometimes have a serious negative implication on national security (M = 4.42). It was therefore, recommended that the media should double their efforts through constant reporting of correct events in relation to farmers-herders crises in order to curtail its escalation and prevent reoccurrences. The media should also play a role in de-escalating disputes by covering conflict-related news topics with more impartiality and fairness.

DETERMINANTS OF CONSUMER PREFERENCE FOR RICE IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:16+00:00

The study analysed the determinants of consumer preference for rice in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to examine the socio-economic characteristics of rice consumers in the study area; identify and rank attributes that determine consumer preference for rice and examine the relationship between price and quality attributes of rice. A sample size of 125 was obtained using Khotari (2004) formula for estimating sample size. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The primary data were collected by use of structured questionnaires administered to respondents selected using a random sampling technique. The study used both descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis. The findings of the descriptive statistics revealed that the respondents were mostly females within the age group of 31-40 years. Majority (68%) are married, educated and earning above the N18, 000 minimum wage as their monthly income. The result further indicates that price, cleanliness, taste, availability and source of origin were the most preferred rice quality attributes. The results of the hedonic price analysis revealed that taste, cohesion, cleanliness, grain size and swelling capacity showed a positive significant relationship with price. The study concludes that consumer preference for rice quality attributes was found to affect price both positively and negatively. Hence, the study recommends that all efforts to improve rice production in Nigeria must therefore aim to introduce these desirable attributes into breeding programmes so as to raise the demand for local rice, thereby helping the country achieve its rice self-sufficiency goal.

EVALUATION OF CONSUMERS’ PURCHASING BEHAVIOR FOR PROCESSED RICE IN MINNA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:16+00:00

The study evaluate consumers purchasing behaviour for processed rice in Minna, Niger State Nigeria. Data were collected from 114 respondent’s rice consumers across markets in Minna and this was done to understand the consumer preferences for rice variety for desired attributes. The study used multinomial logistic, garret ranking techniques and budget share index as analytical tools. The study revealed from the result that for the category of local rice only the coefficient of education is statistically significant at P< 0.01 and has a negative effect on the consumer preference for local rice. Result indicates that among the factors that consumers consider when they are purchasing rice in the study area, rice purity was the most important factor and ranked first with Garrett Mean Score of 61.04 followed by price ranked second with a garret mean score of 58.48 and the third factor was food safety with mean score of 56.53 while the least factor to be consider by the consumer was rice aroma with the mean score of 36.61. It was also revealed that the household’s monthly budget share on rice (local and foreign) in Minna was 0.35 which implies that 35% of the household’s monthly food expenditure were spent on rice consumption. The budget share on rice, beans, semovita/maize, yam and garri were estimated as 34%, 5%, 15%, 10% and 8% respectively and this clearly shows that rice constitutes a larger proportion of the household’s monthly food expenditure relative to beans, maize, yam and garri. It was concluded that as the marketing process becomes more complex and competitive, understanding consumers’ preference for rice attributes is becoming very important in order to improve the rice quality for marketability. Hence, paying attention to attributes of locally produced rice is therefore important right from production and through the entire market chain for improving competitiveness as well as securing future rice markets.

ACTIVITY BUDGET OF COMMON DUIKER (Sylvicapra grimmia) IN AUDU BAKO AND ALDUSAR ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS

2024-01-27T23:05:16+00:00

This study titled Activity budget of Common Duiker in Audu Bako and Aldusar Zoological Gardens
was aimed at determining the activity budget of common duiker as well as variation in their activity
pattern in the two zoological gardens. Purposive sampling techniques was used to select the species
while focal sampling method was employed to observe them during the study. Simple descriptive
statistics was the analytical tool used to analyze the data obtained in this study. Flight was observed
to be the dominant behavior in duiker with 84.38% while drinking was the least behavior with 0.21%
in Audu Bako Zoo. In Aldusar Zoo the six-year-old male duiker was observed to spend 50% of its time
resting and regurgitating while 50% of the rest of the time was flight. This study recommended that a
wide enclosure with enough concealment opportunity as well as dense vegetation should be provide
to ensure a sound welfare condition to the animals in the two zoological gardens

PROFITABILITY OF FUEL WOOD MARKETING IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLITAN, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:16+00:00

This study analyzed the profitability of fuel wood marketing in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council Area of Borno State, Nigeria. The study employed purposive sampling technique to select 60 respondents from the three (3) main fuel wood markets in the study area. Primary data was used for the study. The tools used to analyze the data obtained were descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and Gross margin. The study revealed that marketing of fuel wood is a profitable business. It is a major source of cooking energy for Nigerian households throughout the year with the average gross margin for wholesalers of N 69,000 and N 7, 000 for retailers per month. Fuel wood is providing reliable incomes for urban as well as rural households in Nigeria. Despite the profitability of fuel wood marketing, transportation and lack of capital are the major constraints faced by the marketers followed by inadequate storage facilities. To avoid indiscriminate bush burning and illegal tree felling to harvest fuel wood, government agencies should provide the marketers and gatherers with guidelines and support in their activities to prevent the deleterious effects it would have on the environment.

EFFECTS OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES ON POVERTY STATUS OF VEGETABLE FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:16+00:00

The study focused on effects of post-harvest losses on poverty status of vegetable farmers in Kano State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used for sample selection and six (6) Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected from the list of the major vegetable producing LGAs in the State. Vegetable farmers that practice the production of both tomatoes and onions were identified and purposively selected and included in the study making a total of 192 respondents. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, minimum, maximum, cross-tabulation, Post-harvest loss estimation (PHLE) model, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) model, and T-test. The results of the socioeconomic characteristics analysis revealed that, 83.9%, 82.3%, and 96.9% of the vegetable farmers were males, married and were within an active working age (15-60yrs) respectively. The farmers indicated vegetable farming as their major source of income (81.2% of the respondents) and only 3.6% of the respondents had formal education up to the tertiary level. Among the two enterprises examined, the mean value of loss per hectare for Tomato was ₦120,905.2, and that of Onion was ₦36,860.16. For the two enterprises combined, the mean value of loss was ₦157,765.3 with a Post-harvest loss index (PHLI) value of 0.25. The study also revealed poverty incidence among vegetable farmers in the study area was 59.9% of the total respondents. From the households that were determined to be poor, 35.7% were only poor because of the post-harvest losses they incurred. It can be concluded based on the findings of this research that, post-harvest losses significantly affect the poverty status of the vegetable farming households in the study area. To reduce problems associated with post-harvest losses and its effects on poverty status, the study recommends improvement in the traditional harvesting and storage methods coupled with improved management practices, training farmers on integrated pest management as well as on post-harvest handling and storage of the crops they handle as this could go a long way to reduce poverty prevalence among the vegetable farmers.

BARRIERS TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVE RESOURCES AMONG FEMALE FARMERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN ZONE OF NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:16+00:00

Women are the most disempowered, experiencing inadequate right to land and decision-making in agricultural production resources. The study analysed barriers in access to productive agricultural resources by women farmers in south-eastern zone of Nigeria. Purposive and random sampling methods were used in selecting 500 respondents. Percentages and Likert-scale were used in analysing the data. The results show that women had little access to most vital productive assets in the following proportion 19.8% (land), 35.4% (credit), 33.3 (extension services, 1.9% (tractor) and 1.9% (insurance). Illiteracy (mean score (MS) of 4.62), poor access to credit (MS of 4.20) and lack of government support/incentives (MS of 3.91) were the major militating factors against women farmers’ access to these productive resources. The study concluded that women were constrained with many problems in accessing productive resources. It is recommended that land tenure policies to be reviewed to favour women's access, acquisition and use of land while moderating the men’s over-hoarding of agricultural productive resources.

ECONOMICS OF RICE VALUE ADDITION AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:16+00:00

This study evaluated the Economics of Rice Value Addition among Farming Households in Taraba State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 240 respondents for this study and well-structured questionnaires was administered to farming households involved in rice value addition activities. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, budgeting technique and multiple regression analysis. Results revealed that 70.4% of the activities were carried out by women, 53.8% of the respondents were married and 79.6% had some level of formal education. Mean household size and years of experience in activities were 12 persons and 18 years respectively. Only 26.7% and 31.7% of the respondents were members of cooperative society and had access to credit respectively. Respondents were engaged primarily in parboiling and drying. Net income obtained from value addition was ₦370,680.74 per annum and average rate of returns on investment was ₦1.41 indicating that for every ₦1.00 invested in value addition a profit of 41 kobo was made with operating ratio of 0.7 kobo. Cost of milling (-0.626), price of milled rice (0.311) and cost of paddy rice (0.0519) determined rice value addition enterprises’ profit. The major constraints encountered by respondents in rice value addition activities were inadequate funds, lack of appropriate value addition skill due to inadequate capacity building activities, lack of improved technology/method of processing and poor marketing information. The study concluded that rice value addition was a profitable venture. This study thus recommended that indigenous industries should be encouraged to fabricate small/medium capacity milling machines with parboiler, destoner and polisher features that would improve the quality of locally milled rice.

ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING NEEDS AMONG AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENTS ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN KADUNA STATE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:16+00:00

The study analyzed the training needs of extension agents on information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Kaduna State Agricultural Development Programme (KADP), Nigeria. Seventy-five extension agents were randomly selected for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using frequencies, percentages, mean and multinomial regression. The results revealed that the majority of the extension agents had a great need for training in the use of ICT facilities such as multimedia (85%), remote sensing equipment (83.3), internet (83.3%), video camera (81.7%), audio recorder/player (76.7%), computer (73.3%) and audio-visual aids (66.7%). majority (83%) of the respondents had participated in one extension programme or the other while 20 % of the extension agents have never participated into any agricultural extension programme. Factors that influence the training needs of extension agents included training (-0.349 and 0.312), education level (-0.322 and 0.205), job experience (0.142) and age (-0.528) of the extension agents. The major constraints associated with the use of ICT tools by extension agents include lack of skills and knowledge, poor finance, the problem of internet coverage and connectivity, high cost of ICT tools, poor power supply and unavailability of ICT tools. The establishment of ICT units equipped with modern ICT facilities for extension services in all the KADA zones should be carried out. Training courses on the application ICT facilities in extension services should be planned and conducted for all extension agents in KADP for effective extension service delivery.

ANALYSIS OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY AMONG RURAL FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:17+00:00

Rural farming households are facing high incidence of poverty which have adversely affected their standard of living. This study analysed multidimensional poverty of rural farming households in Taraba State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to sample 240 respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multidimensional poverty index (MPI) and Tobit regression models. Results revealed that 70.4% of the respondents were female, 53.8% of the respondents were married and 79.6% had some level of formal education. Mean household size and mean years of experience were 12 persons and 18 years respectively. Only 26.7% and 31.7% of the respondents were members of cooperative society and had access to credit respectively. Result further shows that, 57.1% of the respondents were multidimensional poor with poverty headcount of 0.571. The intensity of multidimensional poverty was 0.682 while the MPI was 0.389. The deprivation in standard of living contributed 43.5% to the overall multidimensional poverty in the study area in the period studied. The determinants of multidimensional poverty status were; sex (0.851), education (0.011), income (-1.840), access to credit (0.252) and membership of cooperatives (-0.227). This study thus recommends that rural farming households are encouraged to form or join the existing cooperative societies to enable them reaps the economies of scale within agricultural sector while reducing resource access constraints.

ANALYSIS OF EQUITABILITY IN HUMANITARIAN AID DISTRIBUTION: A CASE STUDY OF NORTH-EAST NIGERIA

2024-01-27T23:05:17+00:00

This study examines equitability in humanitarian aid distribution in the context of the North-Eastern region of Nigeria, focusing on food security among host communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The North-East has been plagued by a decade-long insurgency, resulting in significant displacement of people and dependence on humanitarian assistance. While numerous aid organizations operate in the region, food insecurity and poverty persist at alarming rates, with over 71.5% of the population living below the international poverty line. Using a cross-sectional dataset from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), this study employs ordinal probability regression and ordinary least squares regression models to analyse the impact of various factors on food security. The result reveals that a higher proportion of IDPs experience high food insecurity compared to host communities, and asset ownership significantly influences food security, with host community households possessing higher asset values. Interestingly, employed households are more likely to be food insecure, suggesting the need for labour market improvements for both groups. These findings underscore the importance of equitable aid distribution, especially in conflict-affected regions, and calls for targeted interventions to address the varying needs of host communities and IDPs. Further research and policy measures are essential to alleviate food insecurity and poverty in the North-Eastern region.