Farmers Use of Erosion Control Measures in Anambra State Nigeria

Abstract The study investigated the attitude of farmers to the use of erosion control measure in Anambra State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers used for the study. Results show that majority (99.2%&98.3%) of the respondents indicated that rain water run-off and poor road construction respectively were the major causes of soil erosion in the area. All (100%) the respondents used mixed cropping, tie ridging and mulching as control practice against erosion. Challenges to farmers’ use of erosion control practices were: unavailability of resource required (ẋ=3.44), and high cost of using the practice (=3.23). Respondents had positive attitude to erosion control as indicated by the results including: it is good to adopt some erosion practices as it helps to save the soil (=2.68), interested in issues concerning erosion as this will help me gain knowledge of how to control it (=2.68),I always teach their family members how to control erosion on their farmland/homes (=2.56), I will like to be trained about erosion control even though it has not directly affected them(=2.55).in the area. The paper advocates that government at all levels should provide financial incentives to farmers so that they can afford some good erosion control practices which are costly for them.   Key words: erosion, environmental degradation, farmers’ attitude, erosion control practices

Farmers Use of Erosion Control Measures in Anambra State Nigeria

Abstract The study investigated the attitude of farmers to the use of erosion control measure in Anambra State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers used for the study. Results show that majority (99.2%&98.3%) of the respondents indicated that rain water run-off and poor road construction respectively were the major causes of soil erosion in the area. All (100%) the respondents used mixed cropping, tie ridging and mulching as control practice against erosion. Challenges to farmers’ use of erosion control practices were: unavailability of resource required (ẋ=3.44), and high cost of using the practice (=3.23). Respondents had positive attitude to erosion control as indicated by the results including: it is good to adopt some erosion practices as it helps to save the soil (=2.68), interested in issues concerning erosion as this will help me gain knowledge of how to control it (=2.68),I always teach their family members how to control erosion on their farmland/homes (=2.56), I will like to be trained about erosion control even though it has not directly affected them(=2.55).in the area. The paper advocates that government at all levels should provide financial incentives to farmers so that they can afford some good erosion control practices which are costly for them.   Key words: erosion, environmental degradation, farmers’ attitude, erosion control practices

The Economics of Pineapple Marketing in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract The study analysed the economics of pineapple marketing for entrepreneurial utilization in Anambra State Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 104 respondents which comprised of 40 retailers and 64 wholesalers randomly sampled from eight markets of the study area (4 markets from each of the two cities). The markets are Main market, Ose, Ochanja and bridge-head market areas were selected from Onitsha commercial city while Eke, Nkwo Amaenyi, Aroma junction and Nnamdi Azikwe University(UNIZIK) temporary site market areas were chosen from Awka Capital city. The markets were purposively selected because they are where higher concentration of middlemen in pineapple business are commonly found in the cities. Descriptive statistics and gross margin analysis were used in data analysis. The study inter alia revealed that the majority (62%) of pineapple consumed in the study area were sourced by the middlemen from outside Anambra State, showing that the state is not self-sufficient in the crop’s production. Respective return on investment made by the wholesalers and retailers were (0.23 and 0.32) indicating that the trade on the crop is profitable. It was further revealed that high transportation cost and lack of fund to increase business scale were the main constraints of the pineapple traders. The study concluded that investment opportunities exist on the crop’s market, production and processing and therefore recommends that the potential traders and entrepreneurs should exploit the crop’s business potentials

The Economics of Pineapple Marketing in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract The study analysed the economics of pineapple marketing for entrepreneurial utilization in Anambra State Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 104 respondents which comprised of 40 retailers and 64 wholesalers randomly sampled from eight markets of the study area (4 markets from each of the two cities). The markets are Main market, Ose, Ochanja and bridge-head market areas were selected from Onitsha commercial city while Eke, Nkwo Amaenyi, Aroma junction and Nnamdi Azikwe University(UNIZIK) temporary site market areas were chosen from Awka Capital city. The markets were purposively selected because they are where higher concentration of middlemen in pineapple business are commonly found in the cities. Descriptive statistics and gross margin analysis were used in data analysis. The study inter alia revealed that the majority (62%) of pineapple consumed in the study area were sourced by the middlemen from outside Anambra State, showing that the state is not self-sufficient in the crop’s production. Respective return on investment made by the wholesalers and retailers were (0.23 and 0.32) indicating that the trade on the crop is profitable. It was further revealed that high transportation cost and lack of fund to increase business scale were the main constraints of the pineapple traders. The study concluded that investment opportunities exist on the crop’s market, production and processing and therefore recommends that the potential traders and entrepreneurs should exploit the crop’s business potentials