An Ordered Probit Model Analysis of Transaction costs and Market Participation by Sweet Potato Farmers in South Eastern Nigeria.

This study determined the factors (related to fixed and variable transaction costs) influencing the decision to participate in sweet potato markets by a random sample of 320 small holder farmers in south eastern Nigeria. Data were collected with structured and validated questionnaire, and analyzed using the ordered probit analysis procedure. Participation decisions revealed that marketing experience, farm size, membership of cooperatives/social organizations, extension contact, farming experience and road conditions to the nearest town had positive relationship with decision to be autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic, and were significant at 1% level of probability. The coefficient of age, household size, and output were also positive and significantly related to decision to be autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic at 5% level of probability. The coefficients for access to credit, and access to communication facilities were positive and significantly relate to decision to remain autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic. The coefficients for level of education, distance to the nearest town, distance from the farm to the market and cost of transportation were negative and significantly related with the decision to remain autarkic other than a seller and to be buyer other autarkic at 1% level of probability. The coefficient for sex was positive and significantly related to decision by female farmers to be autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic. These decisions to participate as a buyer, seller or 2 remain autarkic were as a result of fixed and proportional transaction costs associated with participating in the market.Ordered probit, Transaction costs, Market participation, potato, autarkic, Agricultural Finance, Crop Production/Industries,

Factors Affecting Microfinance Banks Credit Supply to Farmers in Imo State

The study examined the factors affecting microfinance banks credit supply to farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically the study identified the socioeconomic characteristics of the beneficiaries; the amount of credit supplied to the farmers and identified the constraints affecting the performance of microfinance banks in lending to agriculture in the study area.Data were collected with the aid of two sets of structured questionnaire administered to 136 loan beneficiaries and 26 microfinance banks using purposive and simple random techniques. Data collected were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics and multiple regression models. The result indicated that the mean of the credit supplied by the microfinance banks to the farmers was N163,212.50. The result of the multiple regression showed that variables for average farm income, loan period, gender and distance were significant at 1% and 5% levels and are important factors affecting supply of credit by microfinance banks in the study area. It is concluded that there is need for microfinance banks to help look into conditions for granting loans to farmers, so that the poorest of the poor will be able to take advantage of the productivity enhancing technologies that abound in agriculture. Keywords: Microfinance, farmers, lending, credit

Analysis of costs and returns in rice farming by farm size in Ebonyi State

Small-scale rice farmers are not equally considered with their large scale counterparts in resources inputs allocation and distribution with the presumption that their returns on investment is not as high as those of the large scale farmers. However, this presumption of lower returns on investment has no empirical backing for rice production in Nigeria. This study was designed to analyze the costs and returns of rice farming by farm size in Ebonyi state of Nigeria. Data were collected through the cost-route approach with pre-tested structured questionnaire from 40 randomly selected small scale and 40 purposively selected large-scale rice farmers, Data were analyzed by Net Farm Income analytical technique, Z - statistics and percentages. Rice production was found to be profitable enterprise but there was no significant difference in the net farm income levels of large scale and small-scale rice farmers. Labour cost is a major component of the total variable costs in rice farming and is higher in large-scale rice farms. There would be increased rice outputs and farm income if resource inputs are equally distributed among large scale and small scale farmers by the agencies charged with farm inputs distribution. (Journal of Agriculture and Social Research: 2003 3(1): 29-39

An Ordered Probit Model Analysis of Transaction costs and Market Participation by Sweet Potato Farmers in South Eastern Nigeria.

This study determined the factors (related to fixed and variable transaction costs) influencing the decision to participate in sweet potato markets by a random sample of 320 small holder farmers in south eastern Nigeria. Data were collected with structured and validated questionnaire, and analyzed using the ordered probit analysis procedure. Participation decisions revealed that marketing experience, farm size, membership of cooperatives/social organizations, extension contact, farming experience and road conditions to the nearest town had positive relationship with decision to be autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic, and were significant at 1% level of probability. The coefficient of age, household size, and output were also positive and significantly related to decision to be autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic at 5% level of probability. The coefficients for access to credit, and access to communication facilities were positive and significantly relate to decision to remain autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic. The coefficients for level of education, distance to the nearest town, distance from the farm to the market and cost of transportation were negative and significantly related with the decision to remain autarkic other than a seller and to be buyer other autarkic at 1% level of probability. The coefficient for sex was positive and significantly related to decision by female farmers to be autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic. These decisions to participate as a buyer, seller or 2 remain autarkic were as a result of fixed and proportional transaction costs associated with participating in the market

Green Economy-A Panacea for the Devastating Effects of Climate Change on Agricultural Productivity in Southeast Nigeria

The study was carried out in southeast Nigeria. It focused on green economic path and the severe implications of the alternative development pathways as typified by the devastating effects of climate change on agricultural productivity. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 312 cassava based food crop farmers. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Total factor productivity was used as an index of agricultural productivity. The effects of climate change on productivity were determined using ordinary least square regression method. Results showed that the mean age, household size, annual household income and farm size of farmers in the study area were 51 years, 8 persons per home, ₦391,530.64 and 0.84 hectares respectively. It was also found that factors such as excessive heat (Eh), frequency of dry spell (Ds) and frequency or incidence of flooding and erosion (Fd) negatively affected agricultural productivity while volume of rainfall positively affected productivity. The study concluded that extreme poverty is a threat to the quest for green economy and safe environment. Hence the need for a synergy among nations towards poverty reduction, cleaner and more sustainable development strategies and enlightenment campaign on the need for low carbon technologies

Size Distribution of Income Among Rice-Based Farming Households in South Eastern States of Nigeri

The study was designed to investigate the income distribution among rice-based farming households in Okigwe Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 120 rice-based farmers was selected by multistage sampling technique. Data were collected with a well structured questionnaire administered to 120 randomly selected rice farmers. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Gini-coefficient model was also employed. The socio-economic characteristic of the farmers revealed that majority of the farmers were educated. Besides, majority of them also hadappreciable experience in rice farming which makes them better rice farmers. It was revealed that income share percentage of the richest households was 17.65% followed by the second richest group with income share percentage of 13.27%. Those in the twelfth decile represented the poorest group with a cumulative share percentage 2.82%. The Gini-coefficient of distribution of 0.32 showed that incomes were not highly concentrated but varied around the low per capita of N1442,859per household. It becomes imperative therefore to enhance farmers’ income through a sustainable improved technology in rice farming

Size Distribution of Income Among Rice-Based Farming Households in South Eastern States of Nigeria

The study was designed to investigate the income distribution among rice-based farming households in Okigwe Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 120 rice-based farmers was selected by multistage sampling technique. Data were collected with a well structured questionnaire administered to 120 randomly selected rice farmers. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Gini-coefficient model was also employed. The socio-economic characteristic of the farmers revealed that majority of the farmers were educated. Besides, majority of them also had appreciable experience in rice farming which makes them better rice farmers. It was revealed that income share percentage of the richest households was 17.65% followed by the second richest group with income share percentage of 13.27%. Those in the twelfth decile represented the poorest group with a cumulative share percentage 2.82%. The Gini-coefficient of distribution of 0.32 showed that incomes were not highly concentrated but varied around the low per capita of N1442,859 per household. It becomes imperative therefore to enhance farmers’ income through a sustainable improved technology in rice farming