MONETIZING THE ENVIRONMENTAL WELFARE IMPACT OF DEFORESTATION IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA: THE CONTINGENT VALUATION APPROACH

This paper investigated the economic valuation of alternative uses of rainforest land using the contin- gent valuation approach. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in the collection of the 260 respon- dents in the data from the four Ogun State Agricultural Development zones used for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the dichotomous-choice contingent valuation method that terminated into the logit model. Food crop cultivation accounted for 66.4% of deforestation. The households yearly Willingness To Pay/hectare (WTP/ha) for rainforest protection was N16,186.76. This translated to N0.60 billion for the 'average 36,817.62 hectares/year deforested for food crop culti- vation. The key determinants of the likelihood to pay for rainforest protection were the bid, rainforest visitation, and immigrant status that had the coefficient of -0.0074. -0.11 and -0.71 and were significant (p<0.01) for bid and (p<0.05) for the others. In addition were the income, educational status and food crop producer status that had the coefficients of 0.13. .0063 and .00012 and were significant (p<0.01). Lower cost of rainforest protection as indicated by the WTP would lead to further deforestation and the consequent environmental impacts for a long time. There is therefore the urgent need for environ- mental sensitization through education to arrest deforestation

ECOTOURISM VALUES AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OBUDU CATTLE RANCH, NIGERIA

This paper estimated the total recreation use value to the eco-tourists of the Obudu Cattle Ranch (OCR) and assessed the sustainability potential of the ranch. An on-site individual observation travel cost method, count data distribution and a discounting framework were used to estimate a measure of the present recreation use of the ranch and the total discounted recreation value for a medium-term of 50-year period. Budgetary analysis was used to determine the net farm income/ hectare which was compared to the Total Recreation Value/hectare and so determine the problem of sustainability. The empirical estimates of the average representative visitor’s present equivalent surplus willingness to pay based on the impact assumption of closure or loss of access to the ranch were N139.00. This, for a visit of three days per eco-tourist to the ranch, was N3,417.00. This translated to current recreation value for 516 recreation days in a year to N101,088,528.00. The future long-term (fifty years) utilities derivable from the OCR based on the current total recreation value was N442,406,302.38. The annual net farm income/hectare from the major alternative land use of arable crop farming was higher than that of the total recreation value/hectare. This brings about sustainability problems as communities around the ranch are likely to encroach on the ranch area for food crop production to sustain their livelihoods. The sustainability problem will equally be sustained if government emphasizes the descrip- tive approach based on market rates for determining future discount rates rather than the lower future discount rates of the prescriptive approach in the appraisal of ecotourism projects that depict *economics of happinessâ€

AN ANALYSIS OF YIELDS OF KOLA-NUT PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND MARKETING IN SAGAMU LGA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study on Kola nut production in Ogun State was aimed at describing the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, net farm income, marketing channels and factors influencing output of kola nut for its impact on food security. Multistage sampling technique was used in the study; the first stage involves the purposive selection of Sagamu Local Government as largest Kola nut farming with 4 communities; namely; Agbowa; Sagamu; Igodo, and Odelemo. The second stage involves simple random selection of 100 kola nut farmers, 25 per community. A structured questionnaire was administered subject to descriptive analysis, multiple regressions, and budgetary analysis. The results revealed that male 82% and female 18% were involved in kola nut production, processing and marketing. Average household size of 6 members with a minimum of 25 years farming experiences. The study revealed that 51% of the farmers sold directly to wholesalers, 37% sold to processors, and 12% sold to retailers. Also, 83%, of the producers and marketers were married 16% were widowed and only 1% divorced. Average age was 58years and average farm size of 2.71 hectares. Average farm net income was ₦208,680.40 per annum with the total revenue of ₦291,149 and a gross margin of ₦237,789.50 per annum. The average total cost incurred was calculated as ₦82,468.40 being cost of labour, transportation and items such as cutlass, hoes and files. Regression analysis used to determine the factors affecting the output of kola nut showed that farm size, age of kola nut plantation and the age of farmers were significant at 10%, 5% and 1% respectively using double log equation and the model was significant at 1%. The age of farmers (x1) was negatively significant which implies that as farmers reach old age, this may serve as hindrance due to physical inability to undertake vigorous farm activities hence reduction in output occurs by 13.3%. Farming experience (x2) was negatively correlated with output of kolanut indicating that a unit increase in experience of kolanut farmers will decrease output by 12.3%. Farm size was found to positively significant which implies that a unit increase in farm size will increase output by 83.1%.The result revealed that kola nut business is a profitable venture and male dominated. The women could be encouraged to invest in the business to increase their income and livelihood.

Cocoa farming households’ vulnerability to climate variability in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Rural livelihoods in south western Nigeria are at risk to climate variability on the short run and climate change on the long run. This subjects agro ecological niches to high sensitivity and exposure thus reducing the adaptive capacity. Vulnerability results and the cocoa farming households, the major contributors to the Nigerian non-oil foreign exchange earnings are not exempted. This paper therefore attempts to assess the degree of vulnerability of cocoa farmers in Ekiti State to climate variability hazards using the Integrated Vulnerability Assessment Approach (IVAA). Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoa farmers from whom data were generated for this study. Data were processed using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA).The result indicated that Cocoa farmers in Ekiti North, Ekiti South and Ekiti Central Agro Ecological Zones (AEZs) had the vulnerability index of -0.05, -0.76 and 0.82. This implies the first two zones are more relatively vulnerable as compared to the Ekiti Central AEZ. This is attributable to the higher exposure, sensitivity and the lower adaptive capacity in the Ekiti North and South AEZs in relation to the Central. The relative low level development and poor adaptive capacity in terms of access to basic infrastructure, technology, institutions and pervading poverty in the first two AEZs can be held accountable for this. All efforts should be in put in place by all relevant agencies to promote integrated rural development that enhances investment in infrastructure and alleviation of poverty. National regulations that restrict anthropogenic activities inimical to climate variability should be put in place. Efforts should equally be made by our national government to endorse and key-in to international treaties and protocols that control climate variability and change

DETERMINANTS OF HERBAL SOAP SMALL ENTERPRISES AND MARKET-LED DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA

Research into alternative natural products with health potential such as herbal soap has become very important to curb the disastrous effects of mercury-based soap on healthy living and so enhance women’s productive activities of the rural peasantry. The study examines the factors affecting herbal soap small enterprises development and marketing. In identifying the factors affecting the small enterprises, five hundred and two (502) herbal soap processors and marketers were surveyed from South West, Nigeria comprising 65 villages in the sampled 16 Local Government Areas. A close-ended questionnaire was used to gather data for the study. The data collected from herbal soap entrepreneurs was fitted into three regression functional forms. The functional forms were linear, semi-log and double log functions. The double log function was selected as the lead equation based on the significance of the individual coefficients and their signs, the magnitude of the coefficient of the multiple determinations (R2) and the magnitude of the standard error (SE) which was 0.80 and F- statistics of 2.35. The R2 of 0.829 indicated that 82.9% of the variation in the gross profit of herbal soap production (Y) was accounted for by the regressors/explanatory variables. Regression analysis result revealed that, household size and labour were significant at 10% while extension contact was significant at 5%. It is therefore recommended that, extension contact should be encouraged among the herbal soap processors in other to generate more income, also, awareness should be created for existing and prospective entrepreneurs about business opportunities in Natural resources utilising agricultural-wastes. 

Quantum well state of self-forming 3C-SiC inclusions in 4H SiC determined by ballistic electron emission microscopy

High-temperature-processing-induced double-stacking-fault 3C-SiC inclusions in 4H SiC were studied with ballistic electron emission microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum. Distinctive quantum well structures corresponding to individual inclusions were found and the quantum well two-dimensional conduction band minimum was determined to be approximately 0.53 ?? 0.06 eV below the conduction band minimum of bulk 4H SiC. Macroscopic diode I-V measurements indicate no significant evidence of metal/semiconductor interface state variation across the inclusions.open292

Monetizing the Environmental Welfare Impact of Deforestation in Ogun State, Nigeria: The Contingent Valuation Approach

This paper investigated the economic valuation of alternative uses of rainforest land using the contingent valuation approach.  Multi-stage sampling technique was used in the collection of the 260 respondents in the data from the four Ogun State Agricultural Development zones used for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the dichotomous-choice contingent valuation method that terminated into the logit model. Food crop cultivation accounted for 66.4% of deforestation. The households yearly Willingness To Pay/hectare (WTP/ha) for rainforest protection was N16,186.76. This translated to N0.60 billion for the 'average 36,817.62 hectares/year deforested for food crop cultivation. The key determinants of the likelihood to pay for rainforest protection were the bid, rainforest visitation, and immigrant status that had the coefficient of -0.0074. -0.11 and -0.71 and were significant (p<0.01) for bid and (p<0.05) for the others. In addition were the income, educational status and food crop producer status that had the coefficients of 0.13. .0063 and .00012 and were significant (p<0.01). Lower cost of rainforest protection as indicated by the WTP would lead to further deforestation and the consequent environmental impacts for a long time. There is therefore the urgent need for environmental sensitization through education to arrest deforestation. &nbsp

Estimating Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Safety of Street Foods in South-west Nigeria

Street foods have the potential to improve both food security and nutrition but they have the possibility of causing food poisoning outbreaks because they are mostly produced in dirty environments along dusty roads and other sources of contamination. In order to reduce the incidence of food borne diseases there is need for improved safety practices especially by the street food vendors which may increase costs. Parts of these costs will be transferred to consumers in form of higher prices. There is therefore an urgent need to assess consumers’ Willingness to Pay (WTP) for safer street foods. Data were collected from 126 respondents who were selected from consumers patronizing street food stalls in Abeokuta, South-west Nigeria. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Logit regression model. WTP was estimated from the Dichotomous Choice Contingency Valuation Method (DCCVM). Average age of consumers was 35years with income of N29, 903.00. The Logit regression estimation showed that income and education have significant and positive effects on consumers’ WTP. Estimated WTP value of N12.70 per N100 worth of street food was obtained from the DCCVM. It is recommended that safer street stalls should be located in areas populated by high income and educated people due to their readiness to pay for the improved quality. Public enlightenments should also focus on food safety education in order to stimulate food safety awareness among consumers especially in areas populated by low income and lowly educated people

Produce certification and income risk management strategies of cocoa farming households in South-West Nigeria

Agricultural produce certification is synonymous to farm assurance of which cocoa certification is an example; dealing with issues of Good Agricultural, Environmental and Social Practices (GAP, GEP and GSP) in cocoa production. Essentially, GAP, GEP and GSP packages had in-built mechanism that can aid farmers mitigate factors that could lead to farm income risks in cocoa production. Consequently, this study examined the influence of cocoa certification on income risks of cocoa farming households in South-west Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 cocoa farming households from whose heads data were obtained with interview schedule in Southwest Nigeria. Data were analyzed with Chi-square Statistic, Income Risk Management Diversification Index (IRD) and Mann-Whitney-U Test Statistic. Chi-square analysis shows that (52.3%) certified cocoa farming households employed more risk management strategies than (94.2%) uncertified cocoa farming households (p<0.01). The Mann-Whitney-U test revealed a significant difference (p>0.05) between the income risk management practices of certified and uncertified cocoa farming households. Therefore, produce certification has been helping cocoa farming households in mitigating farm income risk in cocoa production through the employment of diverse (risk) management strategies. Hence, stakeholders should intensify efforts in encouraging farming households to embrace (cocoa) produce certification

Produce Certification and Income Risk Management Strategies of Cocoa Farming Households in South-West Nigeria

Agricultural produce certification is synonymous to farm assurance of which cocoa certification is an example; dealing with issues of Good Agricultural, Environmental and Social Practices (GAP, GEP and GSP) in cocoa production. Essentially, GAP, GEP and GSP packages had in-built mechanism that can aid farmers mitigate factors that could lead to farm income risks in cocoa production. Consequently, this study examined the influence of cocoa certification on income risks of cocoa farming households in South-west Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 cocoa farming households from whose heads data were obtained with interview schedule in Southwest Nigeria. Data were analyzed with Chi-square Statistic, Income Risk Management Diversification Index (IRD) and Mann-Whitney-U Test Statistic. Chi-square analysis shows that (52.3%) certified cocoa farming households employed more risk management strategies than (94.2%) uncertified cocoa farming households (p<0.01). The Mann-Whitney-U test revealed a significant difference (p>0.05) between the income risk management practices of certified and uncertified cocoa farming households. Therefore, produce certification has been helping cocoa farming households in mitigating farm income risk in cocoa production through the employment of diverse (risk) management strategies. Hence, stakeholders should intensify efforts in encouraging farming households to embrace (cocoa) produce certification