Competitiveness of Groundnut Processing in Adamawa State, Nigeria

The research is financed by Kwaji Emmanuel, Student of Agricultural Economics and Environmental Policy programme (M.AgSE), Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment. Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Nigeria. Abstract The study assessed the competitiveness of groundnut processing in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The objective was to examine the competitiveness of groundnut processing in the study area. Secondary and primary data were used; structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 200 groundnut processors using multistage sampling procedure from 10 selected Local Government Area. The data were analyzed using policy analysis matrix (PAM). The analysis revealed that the processors private profit was (₦5,153,672.4/MT), social profitability (₦-6,112,076.31/MT). Results of sensitivity analysis revealed that groundnut processing is competitive in Adamawa State  and DRC ratio still remain negative indicating that the processing of groundnut does not have comparative advantage at social price. The study recommends that; Policy makers should discourage any policy measures to import groundnut or groundnut products and encourage the domestic production that will boost output to ensure availability of raw groundnut throughout the year for groundnut processors. Keywords: competitiveness, groundnut, processing, matrix, policy DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-24-03 Publication date: December 31st 2021

Assessing the determinants of agricultural commercialization and challenges confronting cassava farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study assesses the agricultural commercialization levels, determinants, and challenges confronting smallholder cassava farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. This study was conducted in Oyo State, Nigeria using cross-sectional data from 211 smallholder cassava farmers and employing multi-stage sampling procedures. Descriptive statistics, Crop Commercialization Index (CCI), and Ordered Logit Model (OLM) were used to analyze the data collected. The results revealed that 83.9% of the cassava farmers participated in the commercialization of their cassava roots while the remaining farmers were non-participants. The greatest challenge faced by the cassava farmers in the study area was the incessant attacks by the Fulani herdsmen (destroying growing cassava on the farm) while other challenges included cassava cyclical gluts and poor access road. Moreover, OLM revealed that age, farm size, cassava marketing experience and distance to market had significant influence on commercialization levels of cassava farmers. However, in order to enhance increased commercialization levels of cassava farmers and peaceful coexistence in the study area, policies and intervention programmes that will facilitate rural infrastructure development and proffer lasting solution to the farmers-herders crisis should be given upmost priority.JEL Classification D13; M31; Q19

Dietary diversity, nutritional status, and agricultural commercialization: evidence from adult men of rural farm households

Access to healthy and affordable diet hinged on the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 2, higher productivity and, economic prosperity while it is difficult for a poorly nourished people to achieve optimum production of goods and services. This study assessed whether dietary diversity (DD) and nutritional status of adult men are associated with crop commercialization index (CCI) levels of agricultural households in two states of Southwestern Nigeria. This research utilized 352 farm households, comprising 277 adult male members. The individual version of dietary diversity score (DDS) of 9 food groups was used to calculate adult men’s DDS over a 24-h recall. Anthropometric data was obtained using body mass index (BMI) while CCI levels was estimated for each agricultural household. Logistic regression and ordered logit models were used to examine the determinants of adult men’s dietary diversity and nutritional status respectively. Hundred percent of adult men consumed starchy staples, with 11.2% consuming egg, 5.8% milk and milk products and 0.4% consuming organ meat over 24-h recall. Adult men of CCI 2 and CCI 4 agricultural households recorded overweight prevalence of >20% in Ogun state while the association between DDS and CCI was statistically insignificant suggesting that being a member of any of the CCI households may not guarantee the consumption of healthy diets among adult men. From Logit regression analysis, it is more likely for adult men with higher farm size to attain the minimum DDS of 4 food groups than those with smaller size of farmland (OR = 4.78; 95% CI: 1.94, 11.76; p = 0.001). The age, farm experience, and cassava marketing experience were positively related to the likelihood of obtaining the minimum DDS. For adult men to achieve a healthy diet, their diet pattern must incorporate a more diversified intake of food from different food groups capable of improving their nutritional status. This study emphasized the need for relevant stakeholders to provide adequate nutrition knowledge intervention programmes capable of improving the diets and nutrition of adult men and other members of farm households