Determinants of Demand and Participation by Poultry Farmers in Formal and Informal Credit Markets in Cross River State, Nigeria

A typical challenge for over 65 percent of the Nigerian population living in rural areas and surviving through agricultural activities is access to credit facilities needed to procure technological inputs that trigger productivity. This has consequently limited the capacity of small and micro agro-enterprises - especially poultry enterprises - to develop. Therefore, this study was undertaken to analyse factors affecting the demand and participation of agro-entrepreneurs, particularly poultry farmers, in formal and informal credit markets in Cross River State, Nigeria. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 295 poultry farmers. Data were collected for the 2022 production cycle using structured questionnaires and interviews, and the results were analysed using a multinomial logit model. The results revealed that socioeconomic and enterprise characteristics such as educational level, gender, farm capacity, poultry training, and household assets were significant factors that influenced the participant's choice of credit institution in the study area. Also, favourable terms, outstanding loans and easier access to loans were the institutional factors that affected credit demand. Training and workshop programmes should be organised by government and corporate financial institutions to encourage participation in credit markets so that the abundant available funds can be efficiently utilised in the production process

Land exchange practice and technical efficiency of rice farmers in North-eastern zone of Nigeria

In the context of agricultural development, economic growth, and food security in Africa, examining the practice of land exchange holds significant relevance. This study analyses the practice of land exchange and its effect on farmers' performance in Norther Eastern Zone of Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select a sample of 400 rice farmers engaged in irrigation farming. The selected farmers participated in structured interviews, providing the necessary data for the study. Descriptive analysis (of the mean) revealed that farmers are engaged in land exchange (16.07%) using two methods: land exchange for agricultural use (or farming purposes) and land exchange for property. Using a logistic regression model, it was found that number of plots, decrease in distance among plots, practice of mechanization, decrease in production costs, and improvement of efficiency were factors influencing farmers to exchange land. The result also suggested that farmers exhibited a high level of technical efficiency, implying that there is room for further enhancement in efficiency through the adoption of advanced technologies and the optimal utilization of existing resources. The beta regression's results indicated that land development have a negative effect on technical efficiency, while household size, rented land, and hired labor have positive effects. However, it was found that the practice of land exchange did not affect the level of technical efficiency of rice farmers in the study area, because of the observed limited land market and the high level of crop diversification. Hence, policymakers are advised to define land use rights explicitly and encourage land transactions, such as renting among farmers, selling occupancy rights, and transferring leasehold rights. These measures aim to improve land efficiency and bolster the land market

Determinants of Demand and Participation by Poultry Farmers in Formal and Informal Credit Market in Cross River State, Nigeria

A typical challenge for the over 65 percent of the Nigerian population living in the rural areas and surviving through agricultural activities, is access to credit facilities needed to procure technological inputs that triggers productivity. This has consequently limited the capacity of small and micro agro-enterprises especially poultry enterprises to develop. This study therefore, was undertaken to analyze factors affecting demand and participation of agro-entrepreneurs particularly, poultry farmers in formal and informal credit market in Cross River State, Nigeria. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 295 poultry farmers. Data were collected for the 2022 production cycle using structured questionnaires and interview schedule, administered on the respondents were analyzed using multinomial logit model. The results revealed that socio-economic and enterprise characteristics such as educational level, gender, farm capacity, poultry training and household asset significant factors that influenced participant choice of credit institution in the study area. Also favourable terms, outstanding loan and easier to get loan were the institutional factors that affect credit demand. Training and workshop programmes should be organized by government and corporate financial institutions to encourage participation in credit market such that the huge fund deposit seeking to be invested can be efficiently utilized in the production process

Determinants of Demand and Participation by Poultry Farmers in Formal and Informal Credit Market in Cross River State, Nigeria

A typical challenge for the over 65 percent of the Nigerian population living in the rural areas and surviving through agricultural activities, is access to credit facilities needed to procure technological inputs that triggers productivity. This has consequently limited the capacity of small and micro agro-enterprises especially poultry enterprises to develop. This study therefore, was undertaken to analyze factors affecting demand and participation of agro-entrepreneurs particularly, poultry farmers in formal and informal credit market in Cross River State, Nigeria. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 295 poultry farmers. Data were collected for the 2022 production cycle using structured questionnaires and interview schedule, administered on the respondents were analyzed using multinomial logit model. The results revealed that socio-economic and enterprise characteristics such as educational level, gender, farm capacity, poultry training and household asset significant factors that influenced participant choice of credit institution in the study area. Also favourable terms, outstanding loan and easier to get loan were the institutional factors that affect credit demand. Training and workshop programmes should be organized by government and corporate financial institutions to encourage participation in credit market such that the huge fund deposit seeking to be invested can be efficiently utilized in the production process

The Impact of Government Spending and Food Imports on Nutritional Status in Nigeria: A Dynamic OLS Application and Simulation

The physical and human capital stock of a country determines its economic development and functioning. Despite the Federal Government of Nigeria's initiatives and policies aimed at ensuring the country's long-term viability. Citizens' nutritional status is still a widespread issue that undermines productivity. For a period of 41 years, the impact of government expenditures and food importation on overweight and stunting was studied using dynamic ordinary least squares and simulation (1980-2020). Stunting and overweight are reduced as a result of food production and importation, according to the findings. Stunting and overweight will be reduced by 2.12 percent and 1.22 percent, respectively, if public spending increases and food imports are reduced by 30%. To complement public initiatives, the best alternative policy for improving Nigeria's nutrition status should focus on increasing government agriculture and health spending, as well as increasing food imports with a lower comparative advantage

Land Exchange Practice and Technical Efficiency of Rice Farmers in North-Eastern Zone of Nigeria

In the context of agricultural development, economic growth, and food security in Africa, examining the practice of land exchange holds significant relevance. This study analyses the practice of land exchange and its effect on farmers’ performance in Norther Eastern Zone of Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select a sample of 400 rice farmers engaged in irrigation farming. The selected farmers participated in structured interviews, providing the necessary data for the study. Descriptive analysis (of the mean) revealed that farmers are engaged in land exchange (16.07%) using two methods: land exchange for agricultural use (or farming purposes) and land exchange for property. Using a logistic regression model, it was found that number of plots, decrease in distance among plots, practice of mechanization, decrease in production costs, and improvement of efficiency were factors influencing farmers to exchange land. The result also suggested that farmers exhibited a high level of technical efficiency, implying that there is room for further enhancement in efficiency through the adoption of advanced technologies and the optimal utilization of existing resources. The beta regression’s results indicated that land development have a negative effect on technical efficiency, while household size, rented land, and hired labor have positive effects. However, it was found that the practice of land exchange did not affect the level of technical efficiency of rice farmers in the study area, because of the observed limited land market and the high level of crop diversification. Hence, policymakers are advised to define land use rights explicitly and encourage land transactions, such as renting among farmers, selling occupancy rights, and transferring leasehold rights. These measures aim to improve land efficiency and bolster the land market

Evaluating demand side factors that affect institutional credit use and profitability of small-scale growers of roots and tubers: evidence from Cameroon's South West region

In this study, demand-side variables affecting the use of institutional finance with small-scale growers of roots and tubers profitability in Cameroon’s southwest are investigated. Using a multi-step stratified and straightforward random sample process, 837 respondents were chosen. In study was found that as farm size grows, so does the likelihood of loan need. A farmer with more years of farming expertise has more opportunities to use and demand finance. Credit institutions are more willing to lend to couples because they believe they will be able to repay the loans collectively. Educated farmers are certain that using borrowing to grow their investment will yield output that will cover their loan repayments due to their knowledge of production processes and record keeping. Further, the profitability of institutional credit users for cassava, cocoyam, and yam was higher than that of non-users of institutional credit. New techniques for identifying financially disadvantaged rural poor in the Region should be created by focusing on metrics that would increase the efficiency of entrepreneurs and take them closer to the production frontier. One of these solutions may be for the government to encourage microfinance institutions to lend to businesses in the form of inputs rather than cash

Assessing the Performance and Participation among Young Male and Female Entrepreneurs in Agribusiness: A Case Study of the Rice and Maize Subsectors in Cameroon

The role played by youth in agriculture cannot be overemphasized, while agribusinesses are important generators of employment and income worldwide. Improving the sustainability of food value chains can benefit millions of rural poor people living in developing countries, especially young women. Despite policies and programs aimed at encouraging agricultural entrepreneurs, they are still facing challenges such as high-cost agrochemicals, limited access to credit, price volatility, etc. which seriously affect their capacity to remain in the sector. This study was undertaken to assess the performance and participation of young male and female entrepreneurs. This study made use of cross-section data from a survey conducted on 1019 young agricultural entrepreneurs in Cameroon. The data were analyzed using gross margin, student t-test, and logistic regression. Our study contributes to the literature by showing that young women agribusiness entrepreneurs are as competitive as their male counterparts and that the opportunities for young women in agriculture are good. Incentives such as single-digit interest rates and no collateral security should be directed to young women to receive more credit for purchasing agrochemicals and improved varieties of seed. Furthermore, a price control policy should be set up throughout the year to enable young women earn as their young men counterparts to enable them remain in production and marketing activities

The perceived influence of COVID-19 preventive measures on the profit efficiency of smallholders’ cereal marketers in Cameroon

AbstractThis study was carried out to analyse the perceived influence of COVID-19 preventive measures on the profit efficiency of smallholders’ cereal marketers in Cameroon. The study hypothesizes that COVID-19 preventive measures significantly influence cereal marketers’ profit efficiency. A method of sampling, involving multiple stages and random selection, was employed to choose a group of 747 cereal marketers, and was analysed via the stochastic frontier model and beta regression. Cereal marketers are aware of the COVID-19 pandemic (80%), and of the government preventive policy measures (63%). The number of days in lockdown, the costs of hand sanitizer and face masks negatively influence cereal marketers’ profit efficiency while community sensitization positively influence cereal marketers’ profit efficiency. Borrowed money from friends (73%), Borrowed of money from money lenders (69%), withdrawal of savings (70%), material/financial support (37%), sell off assets to meet the daily need (73%), reduction of the quality of meals eaten (66%), and sell off reserved food to earn more money (63%) are the copying strategies used by cereal marketers. The study did not involve control groups that face different levels of exposure, and suggest that control groups could help isolate the effects of preventive measures from other external factors and provide a basis for comparison for further studies. To make preventive outbreak measures effective, price subsidies should be implemented to enable the use and access of hand sanitizer and disposable face masks, and the continuous wide broadcasting through community sensitization