Economics of fish farming in Owerri agricultural zone of Imo State

A study of the economics of fish farming in the Owerri Agricultural zone of Imo State was carried out. Simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of 30 fish farmers from the zone. Data were collected using structured questionnaire while descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used for analysis. The study showed that majority of the farmers (51.20%) intensively managed their fish farms which were mostly homestead concrete ponds. The application of cost and return analysis showed that fish farmers in the zone made positive net gain from the two different pond types studied, with 4.22% in homestead pond and 49.13% in commercial concrete pond. The study recommended that investors and fish farmers should adopt intensive fish farming in commercial concrete ponds as it was found to be very profitable

Analysis of income distribution patterns of broiler farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the income distribution patterns of broiler farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to disaggregate the broiler  farmers into different scale of production in the study  area; determine the pooled income distribution patterns of broiler farmers in the study area; and to determine the income distribution patterns of broiler farmers across different scale of production. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted, and a total of 9 LGAs were purposively selected from the 3 zones. Stratified random sampling was used in selecting 26small-scale, 9 medium-scale and zero large-scale broiler farmers from Owerri Agricultural Zone for the study. In Orlu, 15 small-scale, 15 medium-scale and 6 large-scale of broiler farmers were selected, while 15 small-scale, 11 medium-scale and 3 large-scale broiler farmers were selected from Okigwe Zone using the same method. This gave a total of 113 broiler farmers selected from the chosen LGA’s in the state. Out of 113 broiler farmers selected for study only a total of 100 responses were retrieved from the field. The survey was conducted between June 2018 to November 2018. Data were collected on the socio-economic variables of the broiler farmers; scale of operation of broiler farmers; cost of broiler production, imputed cost  and income; and revenue from broiler production. Use was made of Gini Coefficient, Lorenz curve, and Decile distribution. The result of this study revealed 3 scale of broiler operation with small-scale having 57%, medium-scale 34%, while large-scale is 9%. The study discovered that income was unequally distributed among the broiler farmers and this was confirmed by Gini coefficient value of 0.58 for small-scale broiler farmers, Gini  coefficient value of 0.68 for medium-scale farmers, Gini coefficient value of 0.83 for the pooled income of broiler farmers across the state and deciledistribution of the pooled income in which 10th decile controls 77.39% of the total income of broiler farmers while 1st decile controls only 0.52% of the total income of broiler farmers. The Lorenz curve confirmed the existence of unequal distribution of income which is a deviation from the line of equality. In contrast, income gap among large-scale broiler farmers is very small, thus the distribution pattern can be regarded as relatively equal with a Gini Coefficient value of 0.25. The result reveals that the income gap among broiler farmers in Imo State is too wide to allow broiler farmers to transition from small-scale operation to large-scale which left majority of them as small-scale farmers. Keywords: Income distribution, broiler farmers and scale of operation

Loan Accessibility and Repayment Performance of Livestock Farmers under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund in Southeast, Nigeria

The study analysed livestock farmers’ accessibility and repayment performance to lending institutions under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund in Southeast, Nigeria. Two states (Ebonyi and Imo states) were purposively chosen as   representative of the five Southeast states. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered on 195 loan beneficiaries that were selected through simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, logit and multiple regression analysis techniques were used in data analysis. The result showed that the lending institutions were able to meet 53.7% of the credit demand of the farmers, while their repayment performance was 90.1%. The logit analysis showed a “Percentage Correct” of 71.8% with age, marital status, educational level, farming experience, collateral value and total income as significant factors influencing accessibility to credit demand. The multiple regression analysis on factors influencing the farmers’ loan repayment showed that amount borrowed, age, educational level, household size, livestock value and total income  as significant variables at 5% level of probability influencing their loan repayment. The Federal Government of Nigeria is advised to fashion and enforce a programme for livestock development under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund that will guarantee credit to livestock farmers. This will assist in enhancing the farmers’ accessibility to the much needed credit thereby making animal protein available at reasonable prices to people. Keywords: Livestock, Loan Accessibility, Repayment Performance, Credit Guarantee, Southeast

Determinants of Access to Landholding in Female-Headed Cassava Farming Households in Abia State, Southeast Nigeria.

This study on determinants of access to landholding by female-headed households involved in Individual tenure system in Abia State, Southeast Nigeria was carried out to ascertain the access to farmland by gender in individual tenure systems in the area as well as identifying the factors affecting access to landholding of female-headed cassava-based farming households under individual tenure system. A multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted for this study while data were collected through primary sources. The sample size consists of male and female headed households involved in individual tenure system respectively making a total of 234 cassava farming household respondents. Descriptive statistics as well as multiple regression technique were employed in analyzing the field data. Male headed households had more access to farmland than female headed households. Results show that age, income, asset size, farming experience, level of education, access to credit, land prices and location of farmland were factors affecting access to landholding by female headed households under individual tenure system in the study area

Size Distribution of Income Among Rice-Based Farming Households in South Eastern States of Nigeri

The study was designed to investigate the income distribution among rice-based farming households in Okigwe Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 120 rice-based farmers was selected by multistage sampling technique. Data were collected with a well structured questionnaire administered to 120 randomly selected rice farmers. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Gini-coefficient model was also employed. The socio-economic characteristic of the farmers revealed that majority of the farmers were educated. Besides, majority of them also hadappreciable experience in rice farming which makes them better rice farmers. It was revealed that income share percentage of the richest households was 17.65% followed by the second richest group with income share percentage of 13.27%. Those in the twelfth decile represented the poorest group with a cumulative share percentage 2.82%. The Gini-coefficient of distribution of 0.32 showed that incomes were not highly concentrated but varied around the low per capita of N1442,859per household. It becomes imperative therefore to enhance farmers’ income through a sustainable improved technology in rice farming

Size Distribution of Income Among Rice-Based Farming Households in South Eastern States of Nigeria

The study was designed to investigate the income distribution among rice-based farming households in Okigwe Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 120 rice-based farmers was selected by multistage sampling technique. Data were collected with a well structured questionnaire administered to 120 randomly selected rice farmers. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Gini-coefficient model was also employed. The socio-economic characteristic of the farmers revealed that majority of the farmers were educated. Besides, majority of them also had appreciable experience in rice farming which makes them better rice farmers. It was revealed that income share percentage of the richest households was 17.65% followed by the second richest group with income share percentage of 13.27%. Those in the twelfth decile represented the poorest group with a cumulative share percentage 2.82%. The Gini-coefficient of distribution of 0.32 showed that incomes were not highly concentrated but varied around the low per capita of N1442,859 per household. It becomes imperative therefore to enhance farmers’ income through a sustainable improved technology in rice farming