Comparative Analysis of Expenditures of Male-Headed and Female-Headed Cassava-Based Farm Households in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria

The study analyzed expenditures of male-headed and female-headed cassava-based farm households in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: describe socio-economic characteristics of male-headed and female-headed cassava-based farm households in the study area; analyze budget share and expenditure elasticity in male-headed and female-headed cassava based farm households and analyze determinants of expenditure in male-headed and female-headed cassava-based farm households’ in the study area. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used in selection of 70 male-headed and 70 female-headed cassava-based farm households, from whom data were elicited using structured and pre-tested questionnaire that was self-administered. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budget shares and expenditure elasticity analysis and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple regression model, The budget shares and expenditure elasticity analysis revealed that Marginal Budget Share (MBS) was higher than the Average Budget Share (ABS) in expenditure items of shelter, health, clothing, education and utilities in male-headed cassava farm households. Similarly, the MBS was higher than the ABS for some expenditure items (shelter, health, education and utilities) in female-headed farm households. The result of OLS multiple regression estimation revealed that expenditures in male-headed cassava farm households were influenced by age, level of education attainment, household size and income. While, expenditures in female-headed cassava farm households were influenced by farm size, age, educational level and access to credit. Special recognition should be made in providing for clothing expenditure in both male-headed and female-headed households to alleviate poverty and improve the living standard of women in farm households. Keywords: Expenditure, Male-headed households, female-headed households, Cassava, Farmer

CONTRIBUTIONS OF MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS TO ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF CASSAVA FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined contributions of microfinance institutions to economic efficiency of cassava farmers in Abia state, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was adopted in collecting cross sectional data on a sample size of 240 respondents (120 MFI beneficiaries and 120 non beneficiaries). Primary Data was collected by administering questionnaire on cassava farmers. The result showed that economic efficiency of MFI beneficiaries was influenced by wage rate, price of fertilizer and adjusted Y (output), while wage rate, price of fertilizer and price of cassava cutting s are variables that influenced economic efficiency of non beneficiaries. The t – test analysis confirmed that MFI beneficiaries had higher economic efficiency advantage compared with non beneficiaries. It is recommended that government agricultural policy should take positive steps to reduce interest rate to encourage MFI efforts in providing the necessary platform to encourage higher efficiency in cassava production in Abia state, Nigeria

THE ECONOMICS OF INDUCED BREEDING OF Heterobranchus longifilis (VALENCIENNES, 1840) USING HORMONAL INDUCTION AND MANUAL STRIPPING

The economics of two induced breeding methods-hormonal induction and manual stripping were evaluated. In a 1:1 male: female ratio. Three (3) trials were made in each method using spawners weighing 1.5kg each. In the hormonal trial, 0.5ml ovaprim was injected into each spawner and both placed in a breeding tank containing aerated water 10 cm deep. Spawning occurred overnight and eggs incubated at 260C. In the stripping method, eggs were obtained from the female by gentle pressure on the abdomen and fertilized with milt from the macerated testes of the male partner, incubated in another tank containing aerated water 10 cm deep at 260C. Hatching occurred 25 hours later in both tanks. Fingerlings raised were harvested on the 30th day with mean counts of 509 and 3,032 in the hormonal and stripping methods, respectively. Statistical analysis using the least significant difference test (LSD) showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the mean effect of the treatments. Economic analysis showed a loss of N9,089.00 and a profit of N64,600.00 with mean cost-returns ratios of 0.30 and 1.6 in the hormonal and stripping methods, respectively. It was therefore recommended that farmers use the stripping method in producing Heterobranchus lonifilis fingerlings. [Read full article] [Citation

DETERMINANTS OF WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN SELF HELP GROUP LED MICRO-FINANCING OF FARMS IN ISUIKWUATO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

This research analyzed determinants of women’s participation in self help group-led micro-financing of farms in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; determine the level of women’s participation in self help group led micro financing of farms; determine the factors that influence women’s participation in self help group micro financing of farms; identify constraints of women participation in self help group micro financing of farms in the study area. Multistage random sampling technique was employed in collecting data from one hundred and twenty (120) members of women self help group using structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, likert scale type and probit regression analysis. The research revealed that the women (respondents) actively participated in self help group meetings ( = 3.07), financial and material contributions (= 3.33), self help group project (= 3.36) and recruitment of fresh members (= 3.16), because their calculated means were greater than the critical midpoint mean score (3.0). The study also showed that the women did not participate in committee membership ( = 2.54) and holding of official executive position (= 2.53) in self help group since the midpoint score (3.0) was greater than their calculated mean values. The result of probit regression analysis showed that women’s participation in self help group led micro financing of farms was influenced by household size, years of membership experience, access to credit, primary occupation, mode of entry and annual contribution. The model predicted 94.69 per cent of the sample correctly and posted a log likelihood value of -33.54958, a pseudo R2value of 0.3013 and a goodness of fit chi-square value of 32.10 which is statistically significant at 1.0% level. Meanwhile irregular monthly contribution and loan default were the major constraints of women’s participation in self help group led micro financing of farms. It was recommended that leadership positions within self help groups should be made to rotate among the broad spectrum of longer serving members. This will ensure greater commitment to group success and sustenance by a greater number of members

LABOUR-USE EFFICIENCY BY SMALLHOLDER YAM FARMERS IN ABIA STATE NIGERIA: A LABOUR-USE REQUIREMENT FRONTIER APPROACH

Production of yam is a labour intensive set of activities especially in the Tropics. In Eastern Nigeria this is done by small farmers at subsistent level due to inadequate and short supply of labour. This study examined labour-use efficiency by smallholder yam farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 smallholder yam farmers from Ikwuano and Umuahia North Local Government Areas of the state. Data were collected during a survey with a wellstructured questionnaire administered by personal interview method with the farmers. The result revealed that farm households provided an average of 336 man-days used in yam production activities, with 36.66% using hired labour while family labour, share croppers, and exchange labour provided the balance labour (63.34%) required. The Cobb-Douglas functional form of labour-use frontier estimates shows that the quantity of harvested yam, size of cleared farm land and quantity of fertilizer applied significantly affected the amount of labour used in yam production at 10.0%, 5.0% and 1.0% level of significance respectively. The socio-economic determinants of labour use efficiency were age, education, farm size, gender, labour wage and household size which were statistically significant at 1.0% risk level except the coefficient of age which was significant at 5.0% risk level. The result showed that the estimated farm labour-use efficiency ranged from 0.20 to 0.97 with a mean labour-use efficiency value of 0.76. Policies aimed at increasing yam farmers’ scale of operation through improved access to production inputs like fertilizer, agrochemical and capital are required for increasing labour use efficiency in the area

CASSAVA ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND GENDER PARTICIPATION IN UDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

This Study on cassava entrepreneurship and gender participation was carried out in Udi local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Quarterly data from a panel of thirty male-headed and thirty female-headed cassava-based farm households randomly selected followings a multistage sampling of ten out of 24 autonomous communities of the study area was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Both male and female entrepreneurs engaged more on three of cassava products namely Garri, Fufu and Tapioca on account of relatively better profits from them. Segregating male from female entrepreneurs, participation of males in cassava enterprise was negatively influenced by adult number of males, time spent on housework, and daily non-farm wage while participation of females in the enterprise was influenced by adult number of females in household, daily non-farm wage, time spent on housework and frequency of contact with extension agency with challenges of high operational costs, and poor packaging on the enterprise in the area. To bring male and female entrepreneurs at par in terms of resource needs, all social and cultural constraints on female access to arable land and credit should be addressed by law such that that there will be prohibition against any discrimination on women. We recommended provision of financial credit and grants for SMEs development to enable entrepreneurs (especially women) purchase fertilizers and automated machines for processing, and packaging of the products to attract better prices

LABOUR-USE EFFICIENCY BY SMALLHOLDER YAM FARMERS IN ABIA STATE NIGERIA: A LABOUR-USE REQUIREMENT FRONTIER APPROACH

Production of yam is a labour intensive set of activities especially in the Tropics. In Eastern Nigeria this is done by small farmers at subsistent level due to inadequate and short supply of labour. This study examined labour-use efficiency by smallholder yam farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 smallholder yam farmers from Ikwuano and Umuahia North Local Government Areas of the state. Data were collected during a survey with a well-structured questionnaire administered by personal interview method with the farmers. The result revealed that farm households provided an average of 336 man-days used in yam production activities, with 36.66% using hired labour while family labour, share croppers, and exchange labour provided the balance labour (63.34%) required. The Cobb-Douglas functional form of labour-use frontier estimates shows that the quantity of harvested yam, size of cleared farm land and quantity of fertilizer applied significantly affected the amount of labour used in yam production at 10.0%, 5.0% and 1.0% level of significance respectively. The socio-economic determinants of labour use efficiency were age, education, farm size, gender, labour wage and household size which were statistically significant at 1.0% risk level except the coefficient of age which was significant at 5.0% risk level. The result showed that the estimated farm labour-use efficiency ranged from 0.20 to 0.97 with a mean labour-use efficiency value of 0.76. Policies aimed at increasing yam farmers’ scale of operation through improved access to production inputs like fertilizer, agrochemical and capital are required for increasing labour use efficiency in the area