Farm households' preference for cash-based compensation versus livelihood-enhancing programs: A choice experiment to inform avian flu compensation policy in Nigeria

In this paper we attempt to bridge the resilience school of thought and incentive compatibility in livestock disease control policies through a pilot choice experiment study conducted on 104 farm households in the Nasarawa state of Nigeria. The aim of this study was to shed light on farm households' valuation of various compensation plan attributes and trade-offs among these attributes. In the experiment presented here, compensation plan was defined broadly to include not just the traditional attributes, such as the number of days it takes to receive the payment, the compensation rate, and the method of payment, but also more diverse interventions, such as training in biosecurity measures and access to bank loans, which are expected to have longer-term impacts on households' livelihood outcomes. We analyzed the data using various discrete choice models, the best-fitting of which was the random parameter (or mixed) logit model with interactions, which enabled us to capture both unobserved and observed heterogeneity in farm households' preferences for the compensation plan attributes. The results reveal that overall, study households preferred compensation plans that made payment in fewer days, provided facilitated credit access, and offered biosecurity training. Households with better-educated heads and those with lower income levels valued compensation plans that provided credit access and biosecurity training the most. These findings are expected to inform the design of efficient, effective, equitable, and targeted compensation policies, which could not only reduce the livestock disease risk but also improve the resilience of poor farm households' livelihoods against future poultry-related or other idiosyncratic shocks.avian flu, choice experiment method, compensation scheme, conditional logit model, livestock disease, random parameter logit model,

Determinants of Market Participation by Maize Farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria

Smallholder farmers’ performance of marketing functions in Nigeria is very low despite the fact that there are invaluable benefits associated with market orientation and favourable trends in agricultural commercialization. This is the motivation for this study, which analyses market participation by maize farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to assess the extent of commercialization of agriculture in the rural and peri-urban areas, determine the factors that influence the degree of commercialization among households, identify the constraints facing the respondents in the study areas and carry out a policy simulation and analysis of market participation by maize farmers in the study area. The sample size for this study was 80 maize farmers from both rural and peri-urban areas by employing multistage sampling technique. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, truncated regression analysis and chow- test. The study revealed that the extent of agricultural commercialization in rural area (66.6%) was higher than that of peri-urban (65%) area in maize enterprise. It was observed that age of the household head, experience of the household head, cropping system, quantity of harvested output, farm size, land tenure and unit price of output had significant (5% and 1% significant level) influence on the intensity of market participation by maize farmers in rural and peri-urban areas of the State. As revealed from the study, some of the constraints facing majority of the maize farmers in the State covering rural and peri-urban areas were insufficient capital, high cost of transportation, poor road network, poor storage facilities, lack of credit facilities, inadequate agricultural inputs. It could be concluded that the extent of commercialization in both rural and peri-urban areas were not high enough, which calls for the attention of all the concerned parties (government and individuals) to put in place measures that will critically improve the extent of agricultural commercialization in the study area. In order to enhance market participation of maize farmers, well equipped market centers in various villages should be established by government and private individuals. Keywords: Commercialization, Market Orientation, Marketing, Peri-urban Area, Rural Area, Simulation, Truncated Regressio

Investigating the relationship between income, health and biomass consumption: a panel data analysis

The inverted-U shaped relationship between environment and economic growth has been well established in the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) literature for several local air pollutants, such as suspended particulate matter. Very few studies, however, tested the EKC relationship for biomass consumption. About 2.5 billion people in developing nations depend on biomass fuels for household cooking and lighting. Most of these people are located in the rural areas and have lower income levels than national averages. Biomass fuels, although more easily accessible, are less efficient than other fuel types, and they cause adverse health impacts due to indoor air pollution. Within the households that use biomass fuels, women and children bear most of the health costs. This study employs panel data from 132 countries, from 1971 to 2004, in order to fulfil two aims: First, to test whether or not there is an EKC type relationship between biomass consumption and economic growth. Second, to investigate the impact of biomass consumption on household health, measured by life expectancy and infant mortality. We find a true EKC for biomass consumption with the turning – point occurring at a very low level of income per capita (US $119). After the turning point, it is hypothesised that countries switch to more efficient and less polluting fuel, and hence climb up on the ‘energy ladder’. Further panel data analysis reveals that biomass consumption (negatively) and income level (positively) affects the health status of a country. The results of the cross-sectional data analysis reveal whether or not an EKC type relationship can be found depends on the year of data and econometrics technique utilised. We find that panel data fixed effect estimation method is superior to the cross-sectional data ordinary least square method in establishing the EKC type relationship for biomass consumption. The results of the panel data analysis reported in this study reveal that developing countries cannot wait for economic growth to take place to reach the turning point as a policy solution. The problem of biomass consumption should be tackled at early stages of economic growth since the health benefits brought about by economic growth can be negated by adverse health effect of biomass use. We therefore recommend that developing countries should focus on economic policies on an energy limb to alternative sources of energy, such as solar thermal energy. Such policies would not only eliminate the negative impacts of biomass consumption on health, but also enable prevention of reliance on intermediate fuels such as fossil fuel, which have been found leading to global climate change

Entrenching internationalisation in African Higher Education Institutions

In this paper, an attempt was made to locate the role of internationalisation in African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It is argued that comprehensive international, intercultural, and global dimensions in the affairs of African tertiary institutions provide for a more nuanced and diversified higher education landscape. Through a desk study approach, dwelling mainly on existing literature, the paper examines the issues of internationalisation from the perspectives of diversity and inclusion, as well as the roles of the relevant key players within those institutions to practically deliver internationalisation strategies that will put the institution on a global pedestal while remaining locally and regionally relevant. More importantly, strategies for achieving comprehensive internationalisation are discussed drawing inferences from literature and documentary sources. The interrogation of these sources in relation to the expectations of the current and future HEIs to remain socially relevant and sustainable is carried out. HEIs in Africa must contribute to socio-economic change and engage with their quad-helix and eco-system partners to ensure that high end skills training, knowledge production, entrepreneurship and innovation are accelerated. In so doing, African HEIs must embrace diversity in its fullness including welcoming differences in gender, race, culture, nationality and providing platforms of engagement that allow for inclusion, and breaking silos to allow for a nuanced agenda of internationalisation

STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE OF ARTISANAL FISH MARKETING IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.pdf

Fish is an important source of protein which is highly needed for human beings to experience necessary growth and development. This is the reason for the phenomenal rise in the consumption of fish in order to meet up with the body nutritional requirements. Therefore, marketing of this source of protein is inevitable as its distribution depends largely on the structure of the marketing system. This study examined the structural performance of artisanal fish marketing in Ondo State, Nigeria. Data collected from 250 artisanal fish sellers selected using multistage sampling technique were analysed using descriptive statistics, marketing and gross margin, Gini coefficient and Lorenze curve analyses. The results showed that artisanal fish marketing was profitable with a mean net return of N137.10/kg ($0.85/kg). The estimated value of the Gini coefficient determined was 0.64, indicating the presence of inequality in the share of the artisanal fish market in the study area. It was realized that all the respondents in the study area, mentioned poor transport network, high transport cost, inadequate fund and inadequate storage facilities as major problems confronting artisanal fish market in the study area. Therefore, programmes that will improve fish marketing should be organized for fish marketers by the relevant government parastatals, extension workers, Non Governmental Organizations and the artisanal fish marketers should be sensitized on the formation of better organized fish marketing cooperative societies where they can solve some of their problems themselves

Investigating the relationship between income, health and biomass consumption: a panel data analysis

The inverted-U shaped relationship between environment and economic growth has been well established in the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) literature for several local air pollutants, such as suspended particulate matter. Very few studies, however, tested the EKC relationship for biomass consumption. About 2.5 billion people in developing nations depend on biomass fuels for household cooking and lighting. Most of these people are located in the rural areas and have lower income levels than national averages. Biomass fuels, although more easily accessible, are less efficient than other fuel types, and they cause adverse health impacts due to indoor air pollution. Within the households that use biomass fuels, women and children bear most of the health costs. This study employs panel data from 132 countries, from 1971 to 2004, in order to fulfil two aims: First, to test whether or not there is an EKC type relationship between biomass consumption and economic growth. Second, to investigate the impact of biomass consumption on household health, measured by life expectancy and infant mortality. We find a true EKC for biomass consumption with the turning – point occurring at a very low level of income per capita (US $119). After the turning point, it is hypothesised that countries switch to more efficient and less polluting fuel, and hence climb up on the ‘energy ladder’. Further panel data analysis reveals that biomass consumption (negatively) and income level (positively) affects the health status of a country. The results of the cross-sectional data analysis reveal whether or not an EKC type relationship can be found depends on the year of data and econometrics technique utilised. We find that panel data fixed effect estimation method is superior to the cross-sectional data ordinary least square method in establishing the EKC type relationship for biomass consumption. The results of the panel data analysis reported in this study reveal that developing countries cannot wait for economic growth to take place to reach the turning point as a policy solution. The problem of biomass consumption should be tackled at early stages of economic growth since the health benefits brought about by economic growth can be negated by adverse health effect of biomass use. We therefore recommend that developing countries should focus on economic policies on an energy limb to alternative sources of energy, such as solar thermal energy. Such policies would not only eliminate the negative impacts of biomass consumption on health, but also enable prevention of reliance on intermediate fuels such as fossil fuel, which have been found leading to global climate change

Effects Of Stakeholder Management on the Sustainability of Small and Medium Scale Business.

Sustainability is imperative; an integral part of any organizational goal. However, there exist little convergence on how organizations become sustainable. Whereas, there are divergence opinions among researchers on ways sustainability is best developed and implemented within organizations. This study achieves its aims of providing insight into how sustainability emerges within small and medize business (SMB) with much focus on the influence of its stakeholder management. Business sustainability in this context explain the level and ability of small and medium scale organization’s continuity. That is, the capacity of an organization to continue operating in a sustainable manner over a long period of time. This research takes a view to such business sustainability to be dependent on the level of its stakeholder management. For this research, an integrated methodology was deployed to examine from a qualitative viewpoint the overall effects of stakeholder management on the sustainability of small and medium-sized organizations. Specifically, business owners/managers from five SMEs who possess exemplary sustainability standings were approached to share their views on stakeholder management contributions to the organization sustainability. The findings of these interactions revealed that different viewpoints toward sustainability existed at the different studied organizations with all focus on people and profit. Question such as what steps has your organization/business taken in the past to be where you are today? Elicited answers like; active engagement with stakeholders, consistent quality services, proper training of staff, meeting customers’ needs when they want it, open communication, affordable price etc

Will farmers intend to cultivate Provitamin A genetically modified (GM) cassava in Nigeria? Evidence from a k-means segmentation analysis of beliefs and attitudes

Open Access JournalAnalysis of market segments within a population remains critical to agricultural systems and policy processes for targeting new innovations. Patterns in attitudes and intentions toward cultivating Provitamin A GM cassava are examined through the use of a combination of behavioural theory and k-means cluster analysis method, investigating the interrelationship among various behavioural antecedents. Using a state-level sample of smallholder cassava farmers in Nigeria, this paper identifies three distinct classes of attitude and intention denoted as low opposition, medium opposition and high opposition farmers. It was estimated that only 25% of the surveyed population of farmers was highly opposed to cultivating Provitamin A GM cassava

Vitamin A cassava in Nigeria: crop development and delivery

Biofortified vitamin A “yellow” cassava can help address the adverse health effects of vitamin A deficiency. By 2016, HarvestPlus and its partners had successfully developed and delivered vitamin A cassava varieties to more than one million farming households in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). HarvestPlus has established the proof of concept that vitamin A cassava varieties can be developed without compromising yield levels and that these varieties are widely accepted. The delivery program has shown that farmers are willing to grow vitamin A cassava varieties and consumers are willing to buy and eat vitamin A cassava products. This paper summarizes the country, nutritional and consumer background, the crop development and release of biofortified vitamin A cassava varieties in Nigeria, progress in monitoring and evaluation of results, and synthesizes lessons learned and future challenges.Keywords: Biofortification, Vitamin A Deficiency, Cassava, Vitamin A Cassava, Yellow Cassav

Comparison of Dissolved Metal Constituents of Borehole and Well Water in Osogbo Metropolis

Introduction: Water is considered safe for consumption only if the dissolved particles are not hazardous to health. This study evaluated and compared the concentrations of certain metals in water from bore-holes and wells in Osogbo metropolis. Methods: A total number of 36 boreholes and 36 wells from six different geographical zones of Osogbo were used for this study. The concentrations of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, selenium, cobalt, cadmium, chromium, lead and zinc were determined in them using atomic absorption spectrophotometry method.Results: Concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and manganese, increased significantly (P<0.05) while the level of copper decreased significantly (P<0.05) in well-water when compared with bore hole-water. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) observed in the levels of iron and lead in well-water when compared with bore-hole water. Zinc, cadmium, chromium, selenium and cobalt were not detected in both water samples. Levels of Mg, Pb and Cu were higher in both well and bore hole waters of Osogbo metropolis when compared with the WHO standard for drinkable water.Conclusion: It could be concluded in this study that well water may contain more dissolved metals from the top soil. To avoid metal-induced toxicity, feasibility studies may be necessary to ensure that wells are not sited in areas where toxic materials have been deposited.Â