Impact of Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) on Smallholder Rice Farmers in Kebbi State, Nigeria

The study examined the impact of Anchor Borrowers Programme on smallholder rice farmers in Kebbi State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 500 beneficiary and non-beneficiary rice farmers each giving a sample size of 1000 farmers for the study. Data collected were analysed using Descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequency distribution, performance indices computation, t-test, Chow-test and production function analysis. The results of the analysis of the Chow F computation indicated that there is a significant difference in the production function of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries respectively since the computed Chow F value of 21.128 was greater than that of the critical F- value at the 0.01 probability level. This is an indication that the ABP performed well. The results further revealed that the two groups of rice farmers were not operating on the same production function. ABP significantly and positively affected output and income of the beneficiary farmers in the study area. It is recommended that Policies should be tailored towards inclusiveness of more farmers into the ABP. The programme should also be extended to cater for other sub-sectors of the Agricultural sectors such as Livestock and Aquaculture. 

Impact of Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) on Smallholder Rice Farmers in Kebbi State, Nigeria

The study examined the impact of Anchor Borrowers Programme on smallholder rice farmers in Kebbi State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 500 beneficiary and non-beneficiary rice farmers each giving a sample size of 1000 farmers for the study. Data collected were analysed using Descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequency distribution, performance indices computation, t-test, Chow-test and production function analysis. The results of the analysis of the Chow F computation indicated that there is a significant difference in the production function of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries respectively since the computed Chow F value of 21.128 was greater than that of the critical F- value at the 0.01 probability level. This is an indication that the ABP performed well. The results further revealed that the two groups of rice farmers were not operating on the same production function. ABP significantly and positively affected output and income of the beneficiary farmers in the study area. It is recommended that Policies should be tailored towards inclusiveness of more farmers into the ABP. The programme should also be extended to cater for other sub-sectors of the Agricultural sectors such as Livestock and Aquacultur

Evaluation of Groundnut Value Chain in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Data were collected through Semi structured survey questionnaires and Interview of key informants in line with the purpose of the study. Both simple random and purposive sampling method were used to select the respondents from different segments of the entire value chain. Sixty (60) groundnut farmers were randomly selected, thirty (30) wholesalers/retailers (traders) and thirty (30) processors were selected from the four agricultural zones in the State. Thus, given a total of one hundred and twenty (120) as sample size. Data were analysed using Functional Analysis, Descriptive statistics, Marketing margin, Net Farm Income (NFI) Analysis, and Ordinary Least Squares Multiple Regression Analysis. Results revealed that the major groundnut value chain actors are input suppliers, farmers, processors and traders. Their functions include production of groundnut, supply of inputs such as seeds agro-chemicals, processing, distribution and transportation of groundnut. The study revealed that both groundnut Farmers, Processors and Traders realized a profit of (N41, 044, N30, 865 and N39, 000 respectively) however, farmers realized more profit than the processors and traders. The major practices used in groundnut production by the farmers is mixed cropping (60%), sole cropping (23.3%), and both sole and mixed cropping (11.7%), respectively. The determinants of groundnut quantity supplied to the market include, Farming experience (0.335) Ownership of transportation facility (2.834), Distance to market (4.007), Agricultural extension service (3.001), and Quality of groundnut produced (1.899). The major constraints encountered by the groundnut value chain actors include; for groundnut farmers, high cost of inputs supply (53.33%), and inadequate supply of improved variety (31.00%). For processors the constraints are High cost of processing equipment (53.33%), Lack of access to credit (33.34%). While the major constraints encountered by traders are; Insecurity on rural - urban market roads (50.00%) and Fluctuation on the prices of groundnut (30.00%)

Economic Analysis of Paddy Rice Marketing in Kebbi State, Nigeria

The study analysed the economics of paddy rice marketing in Kebbi State Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 320 paddy rice marketers. Data was analysed using Descriptive statistics, Gross margin and multiple regression analysis. Majority 79.1% had attained one form of education while 56.3% were members of cooperative with an average membership of 7 years and had an average income of about ₦70,000. Result on costs and returns of paddy rice marketing had a net return of ₦10,330 per metric tonne, the return on naira spent was 7.3% which implied that for every ₦1 spent in marketing of paddy rice, a profit of 73kobo was realised as return to investment. The factors that affect price of paddy rice shows about 62% in the total variation in price of paddy rice was greatly influenced by cooperative membership, duration of storage, marketing experience and Distance to market at 5% level of significance. The determinants of profit earned by paddy marketers shows that the variables for storage cost and transportation cost were significant at 1% while licensing was significant at 5% level of probability

The Rapid Transformation of the Fish Value Chain in Nigeria: Evidence from Kebbi State

INTRODUCTION : This study presents the results from a meso-inventory conducted in Kebbi State, Northern Nigeria between March and July 2018. We explore he extent to which the farmed-fish value chain is transforming structurally and the roles of capture fishing versus farmed fish. Kebbi is one of Nigeria’s leading states for fish production. Though largely Sudan Savanna (in the north) and Northern Guinea savanna (in the south), and thus semi-arid tropics, there is still a lot of water and a lot of fish. Kebbi’s role in fish production stems from the presence of the longest river in West Africa (River Niger) in the State. River Niger traverses about 374 km within the state. (Raji et al., 2008). Furthermore, the establishment (creation) of Kainji Lake (a reservoir built 1964-68) on the River Niger, with 50% of the surface water in Kebbi State, also facilitated the emergence of fish farming in the state

Table_1_Rapid transformation in aquatic food value chains in three Nigerian states.docx

IntroductionNigeria is Africa’s most populous country, third largest fish producer, and second largest aquaculture producer. There have been numerous studies of aquaculture and fisheries in Nigeria, but no study to date has analyzed aquaculture and capture fisheries value chains together, while giving equal weight to all value chain segments and systematically capturing information on temporal trends in value chain structure, conduct, and performance. This paper does so.MethodsWe conducted a structured, qualitative, rapid reconnaissance survey of 180 actors from eight segments of the aquatic food value chain in three Nigerian states with contrasting geographies, Ebonyi, Kebbi, and Oyo.ResultsResults particularly important for future research and policy are as follows. (1) Partial vertical integration is a common feature of the organization of firms in all value chain segments, as a risk reduction strategy to overcome market imperfections and frictions. Scarcity and high cost of imported intermediate inputs is stimulating local innovation and import substitution manufacturing of feeds and fabricated items. (2) Inter-sectoral spillovers from the poultry industry have hastened the development of fish value chains, while improvements in power supply have enabled the expansion of cold storage capacity, facilitating the geographical lengthening of frozen fish value chains. (3) Rapid technological and/or institutional change is occurring in all value chain segments, including those usually viewed as traditional, such as processing and fishing. Logistics services are becoming more specialized and sophisticated, and digital communications technologies including social media play an increasingly important role in value chain coordination and marketing. (4) Increasing opportunity costs of time drive demand for convenience foods such as smoked and fried fish, which require little further preparation and can be stored at room temperature. Demand for farmed catfish is linked to growing consumption of food away from home at bars and restaurants. (5) Significant opportunities exist to improve the performance of value chains in terms of gender equity, environmental impacts, and food safety.</p