Adeolu B. Ayanwale

The impact of the National Fadama Facility in alleviating rural poverty and enhancing agricultural development in South-Western Nigeria.

Abstract This study assessed the potential of the National Fadama (lowland irrigation) facility to enhance smallholder farmers production and income thereby lifting them out of the vicious circle of poverty in South Western Nigeria. About 5% of the participants in Osun State were randomly selected and their performance compared with that of the baseline study conducted before the facility took off. Furthermore, the stochastic frontier production function model was utilized to estimate the technical efficiency level of the participants. Results obtained shows that the farm income obtained from Fadama cultivation increased about three times from #13368.00 at baseline to #38918.00 in the current season. The stochastic production function results obtained shows the coefficients of age of farmer result number of children and farming experience being significant at 1% while the coefficient of cost of seed was significant at 10% level. The range at technical efficiency obtained was 0.9959-0.9964 suggesting a relatively efficient level of production by the participants. The programme thus has a potential to alleviate the participants from poverty.

Risk and Risk Management Strategies in Onion Production in Kebbi State of Nigeria

Abstract In a study conducted in the onion producing area of Kebbi State of Nigeria in determining the risk and risk management strategies in onion farming, analyses (using frequency distribution, importance indices and portfolio model) of primary data collected from onion farmers revealed that output price followed by input price were ranked highest among the various risk sources. Onion farmers were poor in the use of risk reducing strategies to the extent that no risk reducing strategy exists for market risk. Reason for non-use of some risk reducing strategies is either that they are not available or difficult to implement. The most popular risk reducing strategy used was crop enterprise diversification. A risk-loving farmer should engage in onion enterprise only, and a risk averse farmer in non-onion crops enterprise if crop enterprise specialization is compulsory. In enterprise diversification, a low risk averse farmer should put high proportion of farm to onion, which reduces as risk aversion increases until onion farm is 20% of total farm size for high risk averse farmer. It is suggested that agricultural policy makers should encourage among onion farmers the use of formal insurance and cooperative marketing. Research effort should be directed at obtaining improved seed/seedling and efficient and effective storage and processing technologies that will elongate the shelf life of onion.

Direct Foreign Investment and Firm-level Productivity in the Nigerian Agro/agro-allied Sector

Abstract The acknowledged benefits of the DFI seems to be more than the demerits, and this seems to explain the current move of developing countries, seeking to attract private DFIs by removing the structural barriers and encouraging foreign investors. This study examines the impact of DFI on productivity at the firm-level in the agro/agro-allied sector of the Nigerian economy as an example of developing countries. Data were obtained from agro/agro-allied companies listed in the first tier market (comprising firms with some foreign compo-nents), and the second tier foreign exchange markets (involving domestically owned firms) as contained in the publications of the Nigerian Stock Exchange Commission and Central Bank of Nigeria. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques to achieve the stated objectives of the study. A comparison of the firm level productivity measures show that foreign firms’ productivity is higher than that of their domestic counterpart. The results of the impact of DFI on productivity growth showed that there is positive and significant spillover effect at the firm level. However, the extent of the spillover may not extend to the sectoral level.

Economic Impacts of Chemical Pesticides Use on Fadama Crop Farming in Sudano-Sahelian Zone

Abstract Primary data were collected from users and non-users of chemical pesticides in fadama farming. The data collected included number of plots, farm size, types of crops grown, prices and quantities of outputs of the farms. In addition, the application costs of pesticides (material cost, labour for applying and equipment) were collected from pesticides users. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, partial budgetary and marginal analyses, and sensitivity and regression techniques. The results indicated that the chemical pesticides users operated smaller mean number of plots, larger mean farm size, obtained higher crop yield as such larger output per farmer. None of the chemical pesticides users used herbicides. Budgetary analysis and regression technique indicated that chemical pesticides use was economically rational at the present chemical pesticide technology, and relative inputoutput prices. An investment of one naira in chemical pesticides use returns 2.21naira in addition to the one naira invested, as such based on economics only their use should be encouraged. However, pesticides use will be irrational if ceteris paribus, prices of chemical pesticides rise by more than 86%.

Gender differentials in household poverty reduction activities of rural children.

Abstract In developing countries such as Nigeria, impact of religion and culture which make parents/guardians have full control over their children/wards, and poor economic conditions encourage the use of children as a source of either household income generation or household expenditure/cash outflow reduction to alleviate poverty. This study examines and compares the contributions to family welfare of male and female children aged between 5 and 14 years and living in the rural area of Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State of Nigeria. Data were collected on the various types; the degree of involvement; and the attitudes of male and female children towards their participation in Household Poverty Reduction Activities (HPRA); and were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, regression technique and attitudinal measures. Children contribute to household poverty alleviation with their labour. The amount of hours per week, involvement in domestic activities, and the proportion contributing to family welfare are significantly higher for girls than boys. Boys rather than girls put in significant extra hours per week in family farm labour and hired labour; significant less hours in household food preparation, and in caring for infants; and almost equal amount in street trading and other household chores. Ranking revealed family farm labour and household food preparation as the most important for boys and girls respectively. High proportion of children has unfavourable attitudes towards their involvement in household poverty alleviation, which is significantly higher for boys than girls, because participation affects their leisure and time for study. Since children have negative attitudes and HPRAs differ between boys and girls, gender-specific policies are needed to free children for their future capacity building.

Microfinancing as a poverty alleviation measure: a gender analysis.

Abstract Available statistics confirm an increase in the incidence of poverty in the country in recent years. Furthermore, rural women are the most vulnerable groups to the poverty incidence. They are denied access to productive resources most especially credit. The Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) emerged in response to the inability of formal sources of finance to meet the need of the rural poor who constitute the bulk of the poor in the country. Farmers Development Union (FADU) as a microcredit NGO was studied to assess the extent to which it took care of the interest of the rural poor women in her microcredit administration . A random sample of 164 beneficiaries in Ibadan Oyo State was taken and analysed. Results revealed a conscious gender balancing in the administration of the facility because the random sample produced an almost equal number of male and female beneficiaries. Most of the facility was short time (less than a production season of 9 months), the monitoring and evaluation efforts of the NGO ensures a very high repayment rate, and more than 90 percent of the loan requests were granted. The savings mobilization efforts of the NGO yielded positively in that the beneficiaries saved an average mount (N27530) that was more than the average income of most members before joining the NGO. Although men have more of their loan request granted, women obtain more amount as loan on the average. The reported income obtained by men is more than that obtained by women, however, the income obtained by both is more than their income before joining the program. Furthermore, the average income obtained by the beneficiaries is more than the acknowledged threshold income of

Efficiency of Fluted Pumpkin Production Under Tropical Conditions

1.00 per day. In other words, the microcredit enabled the beneficiaries get out of the vicious cycle of poverty.

Analysis of Household Demand for Underutilized Indigenous Vegetables

Abstract The efficient allocation of resources at the individual farm level has implications for investment and employment at the national level. It is also the indicator by which success of production units are evaluated. When measured correctly, it makes it easier to separate its effect from the effects of the production environment thereby enabling the enactment of sound policies by which farm level performance could be improved. The study examined the technical and allocative efficiency of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfaira occidentalis Hook F.) producers, along with socioeconomic variables affecting their performance. A random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents from six of 18 Local Governments in Edo State, Nigeria. A modified cost route approach was used to collect primary data from producers. Descriptive statistics, as well as a stochastic frontier production function, were used to analyze the data, and estimate the efficiency of producers. None of the producers were technically efficient, and the technical efficiency estimates varied from 0.65 to 0.82, with a mean of 0.75. There is potential to increase yield by about 25% if producers were more efficient. Producers were efficient in allocation of resources for weeding, but underutilized labor especially in harvesting. Age, educational status, and farming experience influenced level of inefficiency among producers.

Local Government Investments in Agriculture and Rural Development in Osun State of Nigeria

ABSTRACT Estimation of characteristics of the demand system of underutilized indigenous vegetables (UIVs) is important to understand how they can be better utilized in developing countries. The study analyzed demand responses of households to UIV prices using the quadratic almost ideal demand system (QUAIDS). More than half of respondents were female (65%), monogamously married (68%), between 20 and 39 years of age (57%), with a mean household size of six persons and primarily employed in public service or private companies (53%). The demand for the UIVs was relatively inelastic. All of the vegetables were normal goods and their cross-price elasticities were inelastic and complementary. The UIVs are consumed along with other vegetable crops mostly by a specific consumer group who could be a niche market for the commodity.

SIMILARITIES AMONG FARA-LED IAR4D INNOVATION PLATFORMS

Abstract This paper examines the local government participation in specific agricultural projects as a strategy for achieving rural development taking a case study of Osun State of Nigeria. The results of the analysis revealed that the investment in agriculture has a high potential of improving the internally generated revenue of the local governments. The rate of returns achieved was 52.7 percent which was higher than the prevailing interest rate. The observed percentage allocation to agriculture was very low across the board. If the allocation could be improved, we should expect a better performance from the agricultural projects.