Credit Reserve and the Demand for Agricultural Loans in Cross River State, Nigeria

This paper analyses credit reserve amongst small scale crop farmers and its use in the demand for loans from banks in Cross river State, Nigeria. 101 crop farmers from the three agricultural zones of Cross River State were randomly sampled. The results showed that the mean credit reserve of these farmers was N435, 332.89 (USD 2720.83). Age, level of education farm size and the amount of credit reserve owned were positively related to the demand for agricultural loans. Keywords: Credit reserve, small-scale farmers, loans, Cross River State, Nigeria

Analysis of risk management practices among cassava farmers in Ideato South Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria

Risks are pervasive and inescapable in agriculture. There has been great concern about the problems posed by risk in agriculture. This apprehension stems from the harmful effects of risk on the output of farmers in Nigeria. This study examines risk management practices among cassava farmers in Ideato South Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State, Nigeria. It specifically sought to identify the types of risks encountered, management practices adopted, and socio-demographic factors that influence cassava yields. The study used purposive and multistage sampling techniques to sample 90 cassava farmers from seven autonomous communities in Ideato South LGA. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Inferential and descriptive statistics such as multiple regression model, mean, percentage frequency counts were used in data analysis. Findings showed that poor yield due to bad weather conditions and inadequate transportation systems were the most intense risks faced by cassava farmers. The major farmers’ risk management strategies in order of importance were mixed cropping, mixed farming, off-farm investment and Insurance. Insurance was least ranked mainly because the farmers lacked adequate information on the insurance benefits. Off-farm income and farming experience were the socio-demographic variables that positively influenced the output of cassava, implying that increase in these variables would increase the output of cassava. On the other hand, age as a variable was significant but had adverse effects on output. The findings show that risk cannot be eliminated in the agricultural production process because agricultural production has a high dependence on the vagaries of nature. The study recommends that farmers be encouraged to diversify their farming operations through a diversification process where the farmers produce several products rather than cassava, a single product. The use of improved cassava varieties should be encouraged. Additionally, farmers should increase their involvement in more income-generating activities to plummet the risk among cassava producers.&nbsp

Application of Kuhn-Tucker Optimality Criteria in the Selection of Fertilizer Combination for Crop Optimal Yield

The application of response surface methodology in agricultural context, especially in agronomical research for years now, has been of great interest to many statisticians. Most of their earlier works were to a large extent on ordinary polynomials which exhibited undesirable problem of unboundedness, symmetry about the optimum, false location of optimum and nonsensical extrapolation. In this work, Kuhn-Tucker optimality criteria have proved to be more efficient when compared with methods like Berry and Mitscherlich. In fact, the initial problem of unboundedness, symmetry about the optimum, etc, are removed. Numerical application using different types of fertilizer combination to compare crop yield confirmed this assertion

A Modified Vogel Approximation Method for Solving Balanced Transportation Problems

A modified Vogel Approximation Method is proposed and compared with those of the existing methods available for solving balanced transportation problems (in linear programming) for Basic Feasible Solutions (IBFS). The method is shown to be better than existing ones (excluding Vogel Approximation Method) since it does not only considers each unit cost in its solution algorithm, but also minimises total cost  (comparatively) just like Vogel Approximation Method

Technical Efficiency Analysis of Small Scale Cassava Farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria: A Stochastic Production Frontier Approach

The stochastic production frontier was employed in the analysis of the technical efficiency of small scale cassava farmers in Cross River State. A multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted in selecting two hundred (200) cassava farmers from Ikom and Ogoja Agricultural zones in the State. Structured questionnaires were used in collecting data for the study. A stochastic production function, using the Maximum Likelihood Estimating (MLE) technique, was used in estimating the farmer's technical efficiency and their determinants in the study area. The mean technical efficiency of the cassava farmer's was 89%. The result of the generalized Likelihood Ratio (LR) tests confirm that the cassava farmers were technically inefficient, implying that there is room to improve technical efficiency with the farmers' current resource base and available technology. Age and sex of the farmers had negative but significant effect on their technical efficiency, while education, family size, farming experience and farm size had significant and positive influence on farmer's technical efficiency. Therefore, policies that would encourage experienced and educated farmers, especially women to continue in cassava farming are recommended

Esophageal cancer presenting with atrial fibrillation: A case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Atrial fibrillation was previously reported in patients with esophageal cancer as a complication of total esophagectomy or photodynamic therapy. Here, we propose that atrial fibrillation may also be caused by external compression of the left atrium by esophageal cancer.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a 58-year-old man who developed atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate in the emergency room while being evaluated for dysphagia and weight loss. Atrial fibrillation lasted less than 12 hours and did not recur. Echocardiogram did not reveal any structural heart disease. A 10-cm, ulcerated mid-esophageal mass was seen during esophagogastroscopy. Microscopic examination showed squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography of the chest revealed esophageal thickening compressing the left atrium.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>External compression of the left atrium was previously reported to provoke atrial fibrillation. Similarly, esophageal cancer may precipitate atrial fibrillation by mechanical compression of the left atrium or pulmonary veins, triggering ectopic beats in susceptible patients.</p

An Obscure Case of Hepatic Subcapsular Hematoma

Spontaneous liver bleeding is often reported in preeclampsia. It is otherwise rare and has been linked to gross anatomical lesions and coagulopathy. We report a case of subcapsular hematoma of the liver without any apparent lesion and in the absence of coagulopathy. A 41-year-old male, paraplegic for 16 years, presented to the emergency department 3 days after sudden onset of right upper quadrant and shoulder pain. He had been on vitamins and 5,000 units subcutaneous heparin 12-hourly at the nursing home for the last month. He was in no distress, afebrile, with stable vitals. Physical examination showed a diverting colostomy, tender hepatomegaly and sacral decubiti. A fecal occult blood test was negative. There was spastic paraplegia below the level of T12. Two days after admission, the patient was afebrile and hemodynamically stable. PTT, PT, liver profile, BUN and creatinine were all normal, however his hemoglobin had dropped from 11.3 to 7.6 g/dl. An abdominal CT scan revealed an isolated 9.0 × 1.8 cm subcapsular hematoma. The patient received blood transfusion in the intensive care unit and was discharged 7 days later. In conclusion, spontaneous liver hemorrhage occurs in the nonobstetrical population in the setting of gross anatomical lesions or coagulopathy. This is the first report of an isolated subcapsular liver hematoma

FINANCIAL INCLUSION OF URBAN AGRO-PROCESSORS: EFFECT OF CREDIT ON POVERTY STATUS OF ROASTED PLANTAIN VENDORS IN CALABAR, NIGERIA

This study analysed the effect of credit on the poverty status of roasted plantain vendors in Calabar, Nigeria. The study described sources of credit, comparing the poverty status of credit recipients versus non-recipients, and the relationship between credit access and poverty index alongside the relationship between socioeconomic factors and poverty index. Data was collected from 110 randomly sampled roasted plantain vendors with the use of structured questionnaire. Poverty was measured with the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) model class of weighted poverty measures. Descriptive statistics were used to examine poverty status, access to credit and the sociodemographic attributes of the roasted plantain vendors. Next, using descriptive statistics, the poverty status of the vendors who accessed credit was compared to those who did not access credit. Finally, the association between access to credit and poverty index was analyzed with logistic regression model while adjusting for the effects of sociodemographic factors. Descriptive statistics showed that 60% of the vendors were female, the average age was 35 years, and the average household size was four persons. Precisely, 91% of the roasted plantain vendors had completed primary or higher education. Exactly, 64.5% received credit, while 30.79% reported non-institutional lenders as sources of credit. The mean monthly income was N48,036.36 (US$116.89). Poverty incidence was lower among credit recipients (0.268) compared to nonrecipients (0.487). Credit access (OR = .083, p<.01) and household (OR=2.496, p<.01) had statistically significant associations with the poverty index. Policies promoting structural transformation are recommended for sustainable financial inclusion. An effective economic growth and development program, for example, will increase productive capacities and reduce capital losses, increase creditworthiness, motivate capital expansion and sustainable growth. Also, it was recommended that cooperative formation among the vendors is required. Membership of such a cooperative will increase credit access through reduced transaction cost, higher group’s creditworthiness/borrowing experience and stronger negotiation capacity. A Nigerian economic transformation program to promote increased productive capacities and reduced capital losses is necessary for any financial inclusion policies to sustainably alleviate poverty among deprived agro-processors such as the roasted plantain vendors. Such programs will include financial literacy including banking and loan repayments, business innovations, and business plan development