Income Distribution among Arable Crop Farmers in Nigeria: Evidence from Ekiti State, Nigeria

This study analysed the determinants of income distribution among arable crop farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. It was carried out using a structured questionnaire to collect data in six Local Government Areas of Ekiti State through a multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, Line chat, Gini decomposition and regression analyses were used to analyze the data collected from the field survey. It was revealed in this study that mechanization, educational level, household size, number of crops grown and secondary occupation all have significant effect on the household income distribution among the arable crop farm households in Ekiti State, Nigeria. It was revealed that the average age was about 54 years and standard deviation of 9.9. Also, majority of the respondents are males and are married and having about 19 years as average years of farming experience. This study however recommended that agricultural activities should be promoted among rural households in Nigeria. Policy makers, therefore, must concentrate on measures to increase agricultural productivity through targeted efforts such as making mechanization facilities available to the rural arable crop farmers. Similarly, large scale farming and mixed cropping system should be encouraged to further help in increasing the income of the arable crop farm households in rural and urban of the study area. Keywords: Income Distribution, Income Inequality, Arable Crop Farmers, Nigeria.

Economics of Seed Yam Production Using Minisett Technique in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study evaluated the economics of seed yam production using the minisett technique in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. The analysis was based on input and output data collected from sixty yam (Dioscorea spp.) farmers and the existing market price in the area. The socio-economic characteristics of the respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The structure of production costs was analyzed using percentages while gross margin analysis was used to determine the profitability of seed yam production using the minisett technique. Results of the analysis showed that seed yam production was dominated by men. The farmers had an average household size of 7.7 with a median of 7.0 and a mode of 7. Most of them were educated and had other occupations. The farmers assessed the technique as good, very good or excellent. The revenue per hectare of seed yam production was N337, 500. The total cost of production was N150,500 while the cost per seed yam was N16.72. On every naira invested in seed yam production using the minisett technique, farmers were expected to have N1.24 net returns. This shows that seed yam production using the minisett technique was a profitable venture in the study area. Labour costs alone accounted for 78.1% of the production cost. There is hence a need to deploy appropriate technologies to reduce these costs as a means of further reducing production costs and increasing the profitability of seed yams production using the minisett technique.L’étude portait sur l’évaluation de l’économie de la production de semences d’igname à l’aide de la technique des minisetts dans l’Etat d’Oyo, au sud-ouest du Nigéria. L’analyse était fondée sur les données d’entrée et de sortie recueillies auprès de soixante producteurs d’ignames (Dioscorea spp.) et sur les prix de marché actuels dans la région. Les caractéristiques socio-économiques des personnes interrogées ont été analysées à l’aide de statistiques descriptives. La structure des coûts de production a été analysée à l’aide de pourcentages, tandis que l’analyse de la marge brute a permis de déterminer la rentabilité de la production de semences d’ignames à l’aide de la technique des minisetts. Les résultats de cette analyse ont montré que la production de semences d’ignames était dominée par les hommes. Chez les producteurs, la taille moyenne du ménage était de 7,7 personnes, la taille médiane de 7,0 personnes et la taille modale de 7 personnes. La plupart des producteurs étaient instruits et avaient d’autres métiers. Les producteurs ont évalué la technique comme bonne, très bonne ou excellente. Le revenu par hectare de production de semences d’igname s’élevait à 337 500 N. Le coût total de production était de 150 500 N tandis que le coût par semence d’igname s’élevait à 16,72 N. Pour chaque naira investi dans la production de semences d’igname utilisant la technique des minisetts, les producteurs sont donc censés obtenir un revenu net de 1,24 N. Cela montre que la production de semences d’igname à l’aide de la technique des minisetts était une activité rentable dans la région couverte par l’étude. Les coûts de main-d’œuvre représentaient à eux seuls 78,1 % du coût total de production. Il est donc nécessaire de déployer les techniques appropriées pour réduire ces coûts, et ainsi réduire les coûts de production et accroître la rentabilité de la production de semences d’igname à l’aide de la technique des minisetts.El estudio evalúa la economía de la producción de semilla de ñame usando la tecnología «minisett» en el Estado de Oyo, al sudeste de Nigeria. El análisis se basa en los datos de entrada y salida recabados a partir de sesenta cultivadores de ñame (Dioscorea spp.) y del precio de mercado existente en la zona. Las características socioeconómicas de los participantes en el estudio se analizan mediante la estadística descriptiva. La estructura de costes de producción se analiza usando porcentajes, mientras que el análisis del margen bruto se usa para determinar la rentabilidad de la producción de semilla de ñame con la técnica «minisett».  Los resultados del análisis muestran que la producción de semilla de ñame está dominada por hombres. Los cultivadores pertenecen a una unidad familiar de un tamaño medio de 7,7, con una mediana de 7,0 y una moda de 7. La mayoría están educados y tienen otras ocupaciones. Los cultivadores calificaron la técnica como buena, muy buena o excelente. Los ingresos por hectárea de producción de semilla de ñame fueron de 337,500 N. El coste total de la producción fue de 150,500 N, mientras que el coste por semilla de ñame fue de 16,72 N. Por cada naira invertida en la producción de semilla de ñame mediante la técnica «minisett», los cultivadores prevén obtener un beneficio neto de 1,24 N. Esto demuestra que la producción de semilla de ñame mediante la técnica «minisett» es una empresa rentable en la zona de estudio. Los costes de mano de obra por sí solos suponen el 78,1% de los costes de producción. Por lo tanto, es necesario desplegar las tecnologías apropiadas para reducir dichos costes a fin de reducir aun más los costes de producción y aumentar la rentabilidad de la producción de semilla de ñame mediante la técnica «minisett»

Economics of Seed Yam Production Using Minisett Technique in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study evaluated the economics of seed yam production using the minisett technique in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. The analysis was based on input and output data collected from sixty yam (Dioscorea spp.) farmers and the existing market price in the area. The socio-economic characteristics of the respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The structure of production costs was analyzed using percentages while gross margin analysis was used to determine the profitability of seed yam production using the minisett technique. Results of the analysis showed that seed yam production was dominated by men. The farmers had an average household size of 7.7 with a median of 7.0 and a mode of 7. Most of them were educated and had other occupations. The farmers assessed the technique as good, very good or excellent. The revenue per hectare of seed yam production was N337, 500. The total cost of production was N150,500 while the cost per seed yam was N16.72. On every naira invested in seed yam production using the minisett technique, farmers were expected to have N1.24 net returns. This shows that seed yam production using the minisett technique was a profitable venture in the study area. Labour costs alone accounted for 78.1% of the production cost. There is hence a need to deploy appropriate technologies to reduce these costs as a means of further reducing production costs and increasing the profitability of seed yams production using the minisett technique.L’étude portait sur l’évaluation de l’économie de la production de semences d’igname à l’aide de la technique des minisetts dans l’Etat d’Oyo, au sud-ouest du Nigéria. L’analyse était fondée sur les données d’entrée et de sortie recueillies auprès de soixante producteurs d’ignames (Dioscorea spp.) et sur les prix de marché actuels dans la région. Les caractéristiques socio-économiques des personnes interrogées ont été analysées à l’aide de statistiques descriptives. La structure des coûts de production a été analysée à l’aide de pourcentages, tandis que l’analyse de la marge brute a permis de déterminer la rentabilité de la production de semences d’ignames à l’aide de la technique des minisetts. Les résultats de cette analyse ont montré que la production de semences d’ignames était dominée par les hommes. Chez les producteurs, la taille moyenne du ménage était de 7,7 personnes, la taille médiane de 7,0 personnes et la taille modale de 7 personnes. La plupart des producteurs étaient instruits et avaient d’autres métiers. Les producteurs ont évalué la technique comme bonne, très bonne ou excellente. Le revenu par hectare de production de semences d’igname s’élevait à 337 500 N. Le coût total de production était de 150 500 N tandis que le coût par semence d’igname s’élevait à 16,72 N. Pour chaque naira investi dans la production de semences d’igname utilisant la technique des minisetts, les producteurs sont donc censés obtenir un revenu net de 1,24 N. Cela montre que la production de semences d’igname à l’aide de la technique des minisetts était une activité rentable dans la région couverte par l’étude. Les coûts de main-d’œuvre représentaient à eux seuls 78,1 % du coût total de production. Il est donc nécessaire de déployer les techniques appropriées pour réduire ces coûts, et ainsi réduire les coûts de production et accroître la rentabilité de la production de semences d’igname à l’aide de la technique des minisetts.El estudio evalúa la economía de la producción de semilla de ñame usando la tecnología «minisett» en el Estado de Oyo, al sudeste de Nigeria. El análisis se basa en los datos de entrada y salida recabados a partir de sesenta cultivadores de ñame (Dioscorea spp.) y del precio de mercado existente en la zona. Las características socioeconómicas de los participantes en el estudio se analizan mediante la estadística descriptiva. La estructura de costes de producción se analiza usando porcentajes, mientras que el análisis del margen bruto se usa para determinar la rentabilidad de la producción de semilla de ñame con la técnica «minisett».  Los resultados del análisis muestran que la producción de semilla de ñame está dominada por hombres. Los cultivadores pertenecen a una unidad familiar de un tamaño medio de 7,7, con una mediana de 7,0 y una moda de 7. La mayoría están educados y tienen otras ocupaciones. Los cultivadores calificaron la técnica como buena, muy buena o excelente. Los ingresos por hectárea de producción de semilla de ñame fueron de 337,500 N. El coste total de la producción fue de 150,500 N, mientras que el coste por semilla de ñame fue de 16,72 N. Por cada naira invertida en la producción de semilla de ñame mediante la técnica «minisett», los cultivadores prevén obtener un beneficio neto de 1,24 N. Esto demuestra que la producción de semilla de ñame mediante la técnica «minisett» es una empresa rentable en la zona de estudio. Los costes de mano de obra por sí solos suponen el 78,1% de los costes de producción. Por lo tanto, es necesario desplegar las tecnologías apropiadas para reducir dichos costes a fin de reducir aun más los costes de producción y aumentar la rentabilidad de la producción de semilla de ñame mediante la técnica «minisett»

INCOME INEQUALITY AMONG ARABLE CROP FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the level of income inequality among arable crop farming households in rural and urban areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, Gini coefficient, decomposition based on Gini-coefficient and regression analyses were used to analyze the data from the field survey. The study revealed that over 50 percent of the respondents in both rural and urban areas are males and are married. Gini-coefficients of 0.536 and 0.180 for rural and urban areas respectively suggest that income inequality was higher among arable crop farmers in the rural areas than in the urban areas of the study area. With an average total income of N466, 552 per annum, it was concluded that income level of rural arable crop farm households is lower than that of their counterparts in the urban areas. Income from rice and maize production accounted for the largest share of total agricultural income in the rural areas with 32.2% and 30.1% respectively and contributed 21% and 22.8% respectively to total income inequality, implying that income from rice and maize production possess some potential for reducing income inequality in rural areas. It was however recommended that agricultural activities should be promoted among rural households in Nigeria. Policy makers should concentrate on measures to increase agricultural productivity through targeted efforts such as making mechanization facilities available to the rural arable crop farmers. Similarly, increased farm size and mixed cropping system should be encouraged to further help in increasing the income of the arable crop farm households in rural and urban of Ekiti State, Nigeria

Economics of Seed Yam Production Using Minisett Technique in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study evaluated the economics of seed yam production using the minisett technique in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. The analysis was based on input and output data collected from sixty yam (Dioscorea spp.) farmers and the existing market price in the area. The socio-economic characteristics of the respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The structure of production costs was analyzed using percentages while gross margin analysis was used to determine the profitability of seed yam production using the minisett technique. Results of the analysis showed that seed yam production was dominated by men. The farmers had an average household size of 7.7 with a median of 7.0 and a mode of 7. Most of them were educated and had other occupations. The farmers assessed the technique as good, very good or excellent. The revenue per hectare of seed yam production was N337, 500. The total cost of production was N150,500 while the cost per seed yam was N16.72. On every naira invested in seed yam production using the minisett technique, farmers were expected to have N1.24 net returns. This shows that seed yam production using the minisett technique was a profitable venture in the study area. Labour costs alone accounted for 78.1% of the production cost. There is hence a need to deploy appropriate technologies to reduce these costs as a means of further reducing production costs and increasing the profitability of seed yams production using the minisett technique

The Effect of Government Expenditure on Yam Yield in Nigeria

The broad objective of this study is the analysis of the long and short run effect of government expenditure on yam yield in Nigeria. The study applied descriptive statistics and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) econometric approach to the secondary data collected from Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin and FAOSTAT. The descriptive analysis shows that yam output was increasing in Nigeria with decreasing trend in yield. The result of the econometric analysis indicates that agricultural government expenditure does not have significant long and short-run effects on yam production and yield. This is because the real per capita agricultural government expenditure is small. The study concludes that although, agricultural government expenditure does not have significant long and short-run effects on yam production and yield, it is positively correlated with agricultural inputs used in yam production. Based on the findings from the study, various recommendations were made, which include the need to increase the share of agricultural public expenditure in total government expenditure in Nigeria, which stood at 2%, can be increased to 4% which is the average for Sub-Sahara Africa, while targeting 10% recommended in the Maputo Declaration

Productivity of Timber Processing in Ondo State, Nigeria

This study is aimed at evaluating the efficiency of timber processors in Ondo State, Nigeria, using Data Envelopment Analysis. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select two Local Government Areas with the highest number of sawmills, from each of which twenty saw millers were randomly selected, given a total of forty saw millers. Based on Constant Return to Scale Technical Efficiency, 35% of the saw millers were technically efficient while on the basis of Variable Return to Scale TE, 60% of the saw millers were technically efficient. About 35% of the saw millers were scale efficient. The Data Envelopment Analysis output revealed that 35% of the sampled saw millers were both technically and scale efficient and were hence operating at the most productive scale size. About 65% of the saw millers were operating at sub-optimal condition. Excesses in input utilization were observed in respect of total fixed cost, costs of electricity, servicing of mill, timber from forest reserve and operation of truck; and remuneration of labour. The inefficient firms should be encouraged to emulate the operating practices of the most productive firms so as to improve their performance