Alleviating Rural Poverty: What Role for Small-Holder Livestock Production in Delta State, Nigeria

In order to examine the role of small-holder livestock production in reducing rural poverty among small-scale farmers in Delta State, Nigeria, structured questionnaire were administered randomly to 264 small-scale farmers in 24 communities in six local government areas of the State, using multistage sampling technique. Data collected include socio-economic characteristics of households, flock size, livestock income, annual income of households, index of food insecurity, improved nutrition, ownership of residential accommodation, educational level, as well as gender of household head. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The results showed that annual income, household size and gender of household head are statistically significant determinants of the value of flock size in small-holder livestock production. Average annual household income from livestock keeping was N12,447.47 and this constituted 42.6% of the mean annual income of N31,262.95. The study also found that income from small-holder livestock operation have a positive and statistically significant (p< 0.001) effect on improved nutrition, household food security, and consequently, rural poverty reduction

Alleviating Rural Poverty: What Role for Small-Holder Livestock Production in Delta State, Nigeria

In order to examine the role of small-holder livestock production in reducing rural poverty among small-scale farmers in Delta State, Nigeria, structured questionnaire were administered randomly to 264 small-scale farmers in 24 communities in six local government areas of the State, using multistage sampling technique. Data collected include socio-economic characteristics of households, flock size, livestock income, annual income of households, index of food insecurity, improved nutrition, ownership of residential accommodation, educational level, as well as gender of household head. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The results showed that annual income, household size and gender of household head are statistically significant determinants of the value of flock size in small-holder livestock production. Average annual household income from livestock keeping was N12,447.47 and this constituted 42.6% of the mean annual income of N31,262.95. The study also found that income from small-holder livestock operation have a positive and statistically significant (p< 0.001) effect on improved nutrition, household food security, and consequently, rural poverty reduction

A Quantitative Determination of Allocative Efficiency in Broiler Production in Delta State, Nigeria

In order to determine the allocative effi ciency of broiler production enterprises in Delta State, Nigeria, panel data were collected for the period from January 2003 to September 2004, from 96 farmers, using a three – stage selection process. A production function incorporating inputs such as feed expenses, broiler stock size, operating and fi xed costs, with value of matured broilers as output was fi tted to the data. Th e results indicate that the average size of holdings is small, with a mean size of 680; average revenue per farm was N507,774.70 (US$3761.29) while net revenue per broiler was N 127.59 (US$0.95). Costs of feeds, day – old chicks and other capital inputs signifi cantly infl uenced the revenue generated by farmers (P 0.05). However, variable expenses were negatively related to output. Estimates of allocative effi ciency were 24.9, 24.8, – 4.6 and 11.9 for stock size, feed expenses, variable expenses and fixed capital inputs respectively. The implications are that though the farmers are generally and allocatively efficient, they need to increase the quantity of inputs in order to maximize profi ts. Farmers should be supported to expand the size of their holding and make better use of their resources by enhanced access to production credits and onfarm training

Impact of Noise on Hearing Amongst Commercial Motor Bike Riders in Benin- City, Nigeria.

The ambient noise level and noise-induced hearing impairment (NIHI) in 200 motorbike riders from six motorbike parks were evaluated. All were males aged between 20- 62 years. Subjects were sampled using a cluster sampling technique. Parameters measured were environmental noise using the noise meter (peters) and hearing function using an audiometer (amplaid). A control group of 150 males was selected from amongst the staff of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and students of University of Benin after informed consent was obtained. The mean ambient noise for motor bike riders was 90 \ub110 dB a level significantly (x=0.000), higher than the International Standard Organization (ISO) standard of 60dB. That for control group was 50 \ub1 10dB. While there was no NIHI in control group, a significant hearing impairment for both air conduction (AC) and Bone conduction (BC) was observed in the study group. Unlike previous observations AC and BC impairment were predominantly in the left ear. Development of both AC and BC impairments increased with period of exposure. Environment noise impacts adversely on hearing and is a risk factor in commercial motorbike riders. Development of NIHI is significantly higher in the left ear than right unlike in other occupations

Entrepreneurial Traits and the Distribution of Poultry Farm Entrepreneurs in Delta State, Nigeria

The authors attempted to ascertain the entrepreneurial potential of poultry farmers in Delta State using farmers’ scores in six entrepreneurial traits measured on a five-point Likert scale. The study covered the population of 275 poultry farmers in the State. The objectives were to ascertain the level of entrepreneurial traits of Poultry farmers and to determine the distribution of poultry farm entrepreneurs by category, namely; low, average and high potential, across the three agricultural zones. The hypotheses tested were that entrepreneurial traits of poultry farmers were not above average and that there was no significant variation in poultry farmers’ entrepreneurial potentials across the three agricultural zones. Primary data were collected using copies of a structured questionnaire. By using analysis of variance and test of differences between a test value of 3.4, major findings were that poultry farmers were above average in three entrepreneurial traits but with significant variation across the zones; that entrepreneurial potential was generally below average, finally, that the three categories of poultry farm entrepreneurs were randomly distributed across the zones. The authors concluded that while there may not be any inherent biases in drawing sample of poultry farmers across the State for development projects purposes, there may be differences in cost implications for farmers’ entrepreneurial development

Efficiency of Resource Use by Rice Farmers in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria: A Data Envelopment Analysis

This study investigated the technical and scale efficiencies in rice production by rice farmers in Ebonyi State Nigeria using the data envelopment analysis (DEA). Data was collected from a sample of 180 farmers using multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Data Envelopment Analysis (DAE) approach. The result showed that majority of the rice farmers were operating with increasing returns to scale 77.2%, 18.99% decreasing returns to scale and only 3.9% with constant returns to scale. The result further indicated that only 5.56% of the farmers were 100% technically efficient in resource – utilization under variable returns to scale (VRS). Result of the analysis also showed that education level, farmers experience and extension agents visit significantly influenced the efficiency level of the rice farmers. Farm size was however negatively correlated and had no significant effect on resource use efficiency of the rice farmers. The variables having significant influences on technical and scale efficiencies of the farmers such as education and extension agents visit should be improved upon to enhance the farmers efficiency level and reduce resource wastage and increased cost of production