ISSUES OF WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN CHINA: IMPLICATIONS ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY IN THE GUANGXI PROVINCE OF SOUTH CHINA

Despite China’s great stride in technology development and economic recovery, water remains a major issue of concern. Water has a direct impact on agriculture and food production, hence, water management is critical to achieving food security. This paper reviews in a broader perspective the relationship between water resource management and food security in China, and assesses water resource management interms of water use, pollution and influence of government policies, as well as social and economic systems. It also highlights the challenges of water resource management and its implications on agriculture and food security in the Guangxi province of South China. The review also sets a background upon which further studies and frameworks could be developed to help provide a sustainable solution to regional water management challenges, with a view to achieving improved agricultural production and food security in China and other countries with similar issues. Thus, in the growing quest for economic growth, and owing to the growing need for water in the country, the government of China should ensure through a properly monitored policy framework that water resources are not exploited by a particular sector or region at the expense of other regions in the country

Implication of Leadership Change on Poverty Trends in Nigeria

Nigeria has a great potential for economic growth ranging from enormous rich natural resources to a large population size significant for both domestic and foreign investments. However, the poverty rate in the country has grown beyond the imaginable threshold since the 1980s, despite high revenues from exports of crude oil. This study takes a descriptive overview of the poverty rate in Nigeria with reference to leadership change between 1980 and 2011. The results show a continuously increasing poverty rate within the period with the highest poverty rate estimated at 71.5%. The slide drop in the poverty rate to an average of  56.1% between 1999 and 2007 could be attributed to the measures taken by the government against administrative corruption, increased domestic and foreign investments, as well as some implemented agricultural policies. From the results, it can be inferred that the increase in the poverty rate in Nigeria, among other factors, could be attributed to inadequate and poorly implemented agricultural policies, political crisis and deep rooted administrative corruption worsened by high population growth and insecurity in the country. This study, therefore, recommends that the government should design a more transparent framework to help eradicate corruption among leaders in different sectors of the economy and focus more on agricultural development which has been the foundation of economic development and major means of livelihood of the majority of people in the country before the discovery of crude oil. It is also recommended that stakeholders in politics and the entire people of Nigeria should assist the government to maintain a secure, politically stable and safe economic environment to attract robust investments that would help improve the income and wellbeing of the people. Keywords: Leadership change, poverty, poverty trends, poverty rate, Nigeri

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INCOME DIFFERENTIALS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IN URBAN AND RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA.

This study was carried out across Bayelsa State on the comparative analysis of income differentials between men and women in rural and urban households, to examine the level of income earned by women relative to that of men in rural homes and in urban/semi-urban homes, as well as make a comparative analysis between both. Structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data, using a modified multistage random sampling procedure, from each of 160 rural and urban homes, giving a total of 320 respondents across the eight local government areas (LGAs) in the state. Descriptive statistics, in the form of ranges, averages, totals and percentages were used to analyze data. Findings revealed that women earn an average of N708,335.00 in rural homes and N932,612.87 in urban homes, while men on the average, earn N1,234,828.13 and N1,406,031.25 in rural and urban homes respectively. Conclusively, across homes in Bayelsa State, men generally, with an average proportion of about 62%, earn more than women with 38%; Similarly, across the state, men in rural homes earn an average of 63.5% compared to women who earn 36.5%; while in urban Bayelsa, the proportions are 60% and 40% for men and women respectively. Thus, indicating that rural women earn less than urban women in both value and proportion, while rural men earn lower income but higher proportion of the total household income than urban men

SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITY AND POVERTY PROFILES IN OIL PRODUCING RURAL AREAS IN NIGERIA

This study examines the disparity in socioeconomic and poverty profiles of people in oil producing rural areas in Nigeria. The study involved a total of 446 respondents selected from fifteen rural communities in the Niger Delta region, where the bulk of Nigeria’s crude oil is produced. Inferences were based on the results from simple descriptive analysis involving percentages and cross tabulations. The results indicate a wide disparity in the socioeconomic characteristics and poverty profiles of people in the study areas. In particular, the results suggest poverty prevalence in oil producing rural areas particularly among farmers, fishermen and young people. The results also suggest an obvious impact of oil and gas extraction on agriculture and other traditional sources of livelihood in the rural areas. Thus, a reduction in environmental pollution would help to improve agriculture and other sources of livelihood of the rural people. The study also encourages government support and increased private sector investment in agriculture in the rural areas, while multinational oil companies are encouraged to promote agricultural development through increased financial support for rural farmers, training of the farmers and funding for agricultural research. In addition, the government and multinational oil companies are encouraged to guarantee efficient wealth distribution, provision of employment and sustainable human empowerment through viable skills acquisition programmes for young people in the rural areas

ECONOMETRICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL VALUATION: THE BAYESIAN INFERENCES ON WILLINGNESS TO PAY ESTIMATIONS

This study applied the Bayesian approach to estimate people’s willingness to pay (WTP) for mitigation of environmental hazards in oil producing areas in Nigeria. The Bayesian approach enabled estimation of the mixed logit model employing the normal and log-normal distributions of WTP parameters. The model estimate indicating a negative WTP values for the status quo (STAQUO) attribute suggests that people in oil producing areas in Nigeria do not like the current welfare situation and environmental condition which are characterised by environmental problems, affecting adequate use of resources and ecosystem services. The results also show a comparatively higher WTP for food safety (FOODSAF), poverty rate (POVERTY) and unemployment rate (UNEMP) respectively, suggesting people’s desire for mitigation of undesirable livelihood (welfare) impacts of resource exploitation. On the other hand, the results also indicate positive WTP coefficients for land and water pollution from oil spills (SPILL), gas flaring (GFLARE) and land occupied by oil and gas pipelines (LOCC), suggesting that majority of the people are in support of mitigation strategies or policy change that would ensure significant reduction in environmental pollution, gas flaring, and land-take by oil and gas companies. Oil and gas companies are encouraged to ensure mitigation of environmental and livelihood impacts of the crude oil and gas extraction, including reduction in gas flaring, based on environmental laws and global best drilling practices. The study further recommends application of the willingness to pay approach as an important strategy for assessing the values of environmental resources and the impact of resource use

IMPLICATIONS OF CRUDE OIL EXTRACTION ON AGRICULTURE AND LIVELIHOOD IN OIL PRODUCING RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NIGERIA

Activities of the oil and gas (O&G) industry directly influence the natural potentials of the ecosystem and human livelihood. In particular, the impacts of crude oil extraction grossly interfere with the daily economic life of man and the natural environment. This study evaluates people’s perception of the implications of crude oil extraction on agriculture and people’s livelihood in oil producing rural communities in Nigeria with particular focus on the Niger Delta region, an area where most onshore and offshore crude oil extractions are carried out. The bias in this study came from the fact that crude oil is mainly either extracted or transported across rural communities in the region through water routes and/or arable lands, the population here almost solely depends on natural resources – water and land – for their daily livelihood. Findings suggest that livelihood sources in the region are under evident direct threat of pollution and other impacts of the O&G industry. Results obtained from the descriptive analysis of 446 respondents indicate a perception of high impact of crude oil extraction on food prices (74.7%), food safety (60.5%), crop yield (48.2%) and animal production (28.3%). The results of the Ordered Probit regression analysis suggest that farmers and fishermen are more vulnerable or mostly affected by impacts of crude oil extraction in the region. The study thus opined that adequate mitigation of negative impacts of crude oil extraction would promote improved food safety, affordable food supply and improved household income in oil producing rural communities. Therefore, the O&G industry should intensify its commitments towards mitigating undesirable implications of exploration and extraction activities by O&G companies in the oil producing areas. In a bit to mitigate prevailing livelihood problems in the Niger Delta region, there is a need for O&G companies and government to provide necessary compensations, trainings and other support to help the rural people sustain their livelihood. In addition, all stakeholders in the O&G industry should collaborate with academic and research institutions to promote research in agriculture towards achieving improved food production and food safety in areas affected by impacts of crude oil extraction

Efficiency Profiles of Vegetable Producers in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria

Vegetables are among the major staple foods in Southern Nigeria. This study assessed the efficiency profiles of vegetable producers in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria with specific focus on farm level technical efficiency. One hundred and twenty (120) vegetable producers were randomly selected from three agricultural zones in the State. The Maximum Likelihood Estimates (MLEs) indicate positive relationships between input variables used by farmers and farm outputs. The Generalized Likelihood Ratio test confirms that vegetable producers in the area are relatively technically inefficient. The technical efficiency of the farmers ranged from 48 to 99 percent with a mean of 70 percent. The implication is that there is allowance to improve efficiency with available resource.There is, therefore, the need for policies to promote the availability of affordable farm inputs and technology to help improve farmers’ efficiency and increase vegetable production in the area. Extension services would also help provide useful information to the farmers on farm practices that would enhance output and ensure environmental sustainability of the production process by maintaining the quality of some critical environmental factors especially soil quality