Double hurdle modelling approach to local rice consumption in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria

This study analysed the preference and expenditure decision on local rice of rural households in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. A two-stage systematic sampling technique was used in selecting 150 respondents for the study. The households were stratified based on the income levels. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (such as percentages and means) and the double hurdle modeling approach. The result of the descriptive statistics showed that majority (64%) of the respondents were female, 76% were married, 94.67% were below the age of 55 years with a mean age of 41.09 years. Majority (40%) had secondary education among the household heads with a mean years spent in school of 10.56 years while majority (40%) among the spouse had primary education with a mean years spent in school of 8.69 years. The mean household size was about 6 persons. The result of the income distribution of the households showed that majority (52%) of the respondents earn between ₦ 20,000-40,000 per month while the result of the preference for rice showed that 56% prefer foreign rice to local rice. The result of the double hurdle model showed that marital status, age of the household head, education of the household head, household size, price of rice, and the quality of rice significantly influenced the preference decision of the household while marital status, age, household size, monthly income, and quality of rice significantly influenced the expenditure decision of the household in the study area. The major reasons for rice preference by the respondents were absence of foreign matter (impurities such as stones), shape of grain, stickiness after cooking, rate of breakage and cleanliness of the rice. The study recommended that modern processing techniques, which improve on locally produced rice will enable it compete favourable with imported ones; thereby increasing consumption of local rice consumption in the country.Keywords: double hurdle, local rice, consumptio

Farm-level determinants of access to land by arable crop farmers in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to examine the farm-level determinants of access to land by arable crop farmers in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select80 arable crop farmers from four autonomous communities. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Logit regression model. Result from the descriptive statistics showed that (55%) of the farmers were maleheaded, majority of the farmers had secondary education; while farm size was relatively low. With respect to the methods of land ownership and acquisition, the result revealed that majority of the lands for arable cropfarming were owned or acquired through inheritance (92.5%), communal (72.5%) and purchase (50%) respectively. Consequently, the level of access to land for arable crop farming showed that 42% of respondents had moderate access, 35% had high access, while 22% had low access to land for arable crop farming. The result of the logit regression indicated that age, sex, household size, number of years spent in school, cooperative membership and credit amount significantly influenced access to land by arable crop farmers. Communal land ownership and male dominance were identified as constraints to access to land for arable crop farming in the study area. The study therefore, recommended strengthening of relevant institutions so as to enable farmers’ access required land for arable crop farming without gender disparity.Key words: farm-level, determinants, land access, arable crops and Logi