Farm Management Dividends in a Friendly Policy Environment: The Case of Cassava Industry in Nigeria

Following the radical reorientation of agricultural policy during the SAP years, beginning in the mid-1980's, cassava emerged as an important crop in the national effort to replace imported foods with domestic production. The policy direction of the Nigerian government has encouraged cassava development leading to a new orientation in research-extension-farmers linkage, especially in the IFAD-assisted Cassava Multiplication Programme (CMP). This study evaluated farm management dividends in a friendly policy environment: the case of cassava industry in Nigeria. Data were collected from randomly sampled 360 cassava farmers in Benue State, Nigeria using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the stochastic frontier production function. The findings of the study indicated that the elasticity of mean value of cassava output with respect to farm size (1.39) was of increasing function while labour cost (0.19), family labour (0.90), cassava stems (0.95) and fertilized (0.01) were of decreasing function. Moreover, the coefficients on the variables: labour cost, X1(-0.19), farm size, X3 (1.39), cassava stems, X4 (0.95) and fertilizer, X5 (0.01) were statistically significant at the 1% level while family labour,X2 (-0.09) was not significant. The sum of the coefficients on the significant variables of the stochastic frontier production model (2.63) was higher than unity. The estimated coefficient of cassava variety planted (-0.18) and the estimated coefficient of processing technology available (-0.1) were negative and significant at 1% level, suggesting that technical inefficiency effects declined with the planting of improved cassava varieties and the use of improved cassava processing technology. The estimated sigma squared, á2 (0.16), was significantly different from zero at 1% level. This indicates a good fit and the correctness of the specified distributional assumption of the composite error term. In addition the magnitude of the variance ratio, was estimated to be high at 0.96, suggesting that the systematic influences that are unexplained by the production function are the dominant sources of errors. Thus, given the specifications of the Cobb-Douglas frontier production function, the Cobb-Douglas frontier is an adequate representation of the model for the farm data collected on the cassava farmers in Benue State of Nigeria. Majority of the respondents (63.61%) operated closer to their frontier production function while predicted technical efficiencies varied widely among farms, ranging between 31% and 100%, and a mean technical efficiency of 89%. It is recommended that adequate financial assistance and credit facilities should be made available to the farmers to enable them increase their production. Since there are potentials for cassava growth in the study area, the cassava farmers in Benue State should expand their production because they would obtain more output in the long run. Technical efficiency in cassava production in Benue State could be increased through better use of available resources via improved farm-specific factors, which include access to improved cassava planting material, access to improved cassava processing technology, access to available cassava markets and access to improved extension services.Crop Production/Industries,

Technical Efficiency Analysis of Nigerian Cassava Farmers: A Guide for Food Security Policy

This study analyzed relationship between techn ical efficiency and socio-economic variables of cassava farmers in Nigeria. Data were collected from randomly sampled 360 cassava farmers in Nigeria using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics comprising mean, minimum value, maximum value and standard deviation, as well as inferential statistics, which comprised correlation and regression. The findings of the s tudy indicated that a significant relationship exists between technical efficiency and cassava output (0.542), farm income (0.612), processing cost (- 0.414), gari yield (0.608), gross margin (0.483), farming experience (0.278), education (0.699) and extension contact (0.585) of the sampled cassava farmers in Nigeria. Multiple regression result showed that variation in technical efficiency is explained by variations in annual farm income (2.718E-06), annual processing cost (- 1.542E-05), annual gross margin (9.383E-07) farming experience (3.825E-03), education (0.191) and extension contact (6.562E-02). Hence, policy that would enable cassava farmers in Nigeria increase farm income, gross margin and have access to quality education and extension services will lead to the enhancement of technical efficiency of cassava production. Furthermore, policy that would encourage experienced farmers in cassava production and ensure that cost effective improved cassava processing technology is available to the cassava farmers will enhance technical efficiency in cassava production in Nigeria. Policy that would further raise the current level of technical efficiency in cassava production in Nigeria is strongly recommended for the enhancement of the welfare of the cassava farmers in Nigeria.technical efficiency, Nigerian cassava farmers, food security policy, Crop Production/Industries, Food Security and Poverty, Productivity Analysis,

Comparative Analysis of the Impact of World Bank Root and Tuber Expansion Programme on Poverty Alleviation of Peri-Urban and Rural Communities in Benue State, Nigeria

This study examined in 2005 t he impact of World Bank Expanded Programme for Root and Tuber Production (RTEP) on the poverty alleviation of peri-urban and rural communities in Benue State, Nigeria. It aimed at delineating causal effect disparity in poverty alleviation of two major producer communities. Data were collected from two hundred and eight (208) respondent s randomly drawn from ten (10) typically rural and ten (10) peri-urban communities. Simple descriptive statistics (percentages) and discriminant function analysis were used to analyze the collected data. The discriminant function was fitted on the poverty alleviation score to analyze causal and effect relationship. The study found disparities in valued output, quality of life, income and a homogeneous non-significant age disparity in both rural and peri-urban root and tuber crops producer communities. Major contributors to t he poverty alleviation were: Income realized from market able surplus (X3), distance in kilometers to the nearest urban market of best sales (X1), the kilometer distance traveled to evacuate produce (X2), with 5 5%, 15% and 10% contributions respectively in that sequence to the tot al discriminant score(Z) of 87%. Other contributory indicators were average revenue receipt per unit of root and tuber in the best market (X4), quality of life score (X5) and mobility score (X6). The study recommends that developing nations should re-focus their policy framework to provide better markets and marketing opportunities as well as improved transportation and communication infrastructures for the typically rural to accelerate poverty alleviation.World Bank, Poverty Reduction programme valued output, Discriminant Function, Crop Production/Industries, Food Security and Poverty,

Farm Management Dividends in a Friendly Policy Environment: The Case of Cassava Industry in Nigeria

Following the radical reorientation of agricultural policy during the SAP years, beginning in the mid-1980's, cassava emerged as an important crop in the national effort to replace imported foods with domestic production. The policy direction of the Nigerian government has encouraged cassava development leading to a new orientation in research-extension-farmers linkage, especially in the IFAD-assisted Cassava Multiplication Programme (CMP). This study evaluated farm management dividends in a friendly policy environment: the case of cassava industry in Nigeria. Data were collected from randomly sampled 360 cassava farmers in Benue State, Nigeria using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the stochastic frontier production function. The findings of the study indicated that the elasticity of mean value of cassava output with respect to farm size (1.39) was of increasing function while labour cost (0.19), family labour (0.90), cassava stems (0.95) and fertilized (0.01) were of decreasing function. Moreover, the coefficients on the variables: labour cost, X1(-0.19), farm size, X3 (1.39), cassava stems, X4 (0.95) and fertilizer, X5 (0.01) were statistically significant at the 1% level while family labour,X2 (-0.09) was not significant. The sum of the coefficients on the significant variables of the stochastic frontier production model (2.63) was higher than unity. The estimated coefficient of cassava variety planted (-0.18) and the estimated coefficient of processing technology available (-0.1) were negative and significant at 1% level, suggesting that technical inefficiency effects declined with the planting of improved cassava varieties and the use of improved cassava processing technology. The estimated sigma squared, á2 (0.16), was significantly different from zero at 1% level. This indicates a good fit and the correctness of the specified distributional assumption of the composite error term. In addition the magnitude of the variance ratio, was estimated to be high at 0.96, suggesting that the systematic influences that are unexplained by the production function are the dominant sources of errors. Thus, given the specifications of the Cobb-Douglas frontier production function, the Cobb-Douglas frontier is an adequate representation of the model for the farm data collected on the cassava farmers in Benue State of Nigeria. Majority of the respondents (63.61%) operated closer to their frontier production function while predicted technical efficiencies varied widely among farms, ranging between 31% and 100%, and a mean technical efficiency of 89%. It is recommended that adequate financial assistance and credit facilities should be made available to the farmers to enable them increase their production. Since there are potentials for cassava growth in the study area, the cassava farmers in Benue State should expand their production because they would obtain more output in the long run. Technical efficiency in cassava production in Benue State could be increased through better use of available resources via improved farm-specific factors, which include access to improved cassava planting material, access to improved cassava processing technology, access to available cassava markets and access to improved extension services

Technical Efficiency Analysis of Nigerian Cassava Farmers: A Guide for Food Security Policy

This study analyzed relationship between techn ical efficiency and socio-economic variables of cassava farmers in Nigeria. Data were collected from randomly sampled 360 cassava farmers in Nigeria using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics comprising mean, minimum value, maximum value and standard deviation, as well as inferential statistics, which comprised correlation and regression. The findings of the s tudy indicated that a significant relationship exists between technical efficiency and cassava output (0.542), farm income (0.612), processing cost (- 0.414), gari yield (0.608), gross margin (0.483), farming experience (0.278), education (0.699) and extension contact (0.585) of the sampled cassava farmers in Nigeria. Multiple regression result showed that variation in technical efficiency is explained by variations in annual farm income (2.718E-06), annual processing cost (- 1.542E-05), annual gross margin (9.383E-07) farming experience (3.825E-03), education (0.191) and extension contact (6.562E-02). Hence, policy that would enable cassava farmers in Nigeria increase farm income, gross margin and have access to quality education and extension services will lead to the enhancement of technical efficiency of cassava production. Furthermore, policy that would encourage experienced farmers in cassava production and ensure that cost effective improved cassava processing technology is available to the cassava farmers will enhance technical efficiency in cassava production in Nigeria. Policy that would further raise the current level of technical efficiency in cassava production in Nigeria is strongly recommended for the enhancement of the welfare of the cassava farmers in Nigeria

Comparative Analysis of the Impact of World Bank Root and Tuber Expansion Programme on Poverty Alleviation of Peri-Urban and Rural Communities in Benue State, Nigeria

This study examined in 2005 t he impact of World Bank Expanded Programme for Root and Tuber Production (RTEP) on the poverty alleviation of peri-urban and rural communities in Benue State, Nigeria. It aimed at delineating causal effect disparity in poverty alleviation of two major producer communities. Data were collected from two hundred and eight (208) respondent s randomly drawn from ten (10) typically rural and ten (10) peri-urban communities. Simple descriptive statistics (percentages) and discriminant function analysis were used to analyze the collected data. The discriminant function was fitted on the poverty alleviation score to analyze causal and effect relationship. The study found disparities in valued output, quality of life, income and a homogeneous non-significant age disparity in both rural and peri-urban root and tuber crops producer communities. Major contributors to t he poverty alleviation were: Income realized from market able surplus (X3), distance in kilometers to the nearest urban market of best sales (X1), the kilometer distance traveled to evacuate produce (X2), with 5 5%, 15% and 10% contributions respectively in that sequence to the tot al discriminant score(Z) of 87%. Other contributory indicators were average revenue receipt per unit of root and tuber in the best market (X4), quality of life score (X5) and mobility score (X6). The study recommends that developing nations should re-focus their policy framework to provide better markets and marketing opportunities as well as improved transportation and communication infrastructures for the typically rural to accelerate poverty alleviation

Determinants and Measurements of Food Insecurity in Nigeria: Some Empirical Policy Guide

This study aims at identifying and analyzing food security measures in Borno State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied on 1,200 households. Cost-of-Calories (COC) method and Logit model are used as analytical techniques for the study. Based on the recommended daily energy levels of 2,250 kcal, food insecurity line (s) for the households is N23, 700.12 or US $176.87 per adult equivalent per year. Over 58% of the sample households are therefore food insecure. Major determinants of this food insecurity factors are, household size, gender, educational level, farm size and type of household farm enterprise. Policy measures directed towards the provision of better family planning should be given adequate attention and priority by the Government in addition to improved access to education, credit facility and agricultural extension services by rural households. The poster plan begins with the introduction in section 1, followed by study objectives in section 2. The description of the study area and sampling procedure are presented in section 3, followed the analytical technique section 4. The results are presented and discussed in section 5 and policy recommendations in section 6

Determinants and Measurements of Food Insecurity in Nigeria: Some Empirical Policy Guide

This study aims at identifying and analyzing food security measures in Borno State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied on 1,200 households. Cost-of-Calories (COC) method and Logit model are used as analytical techniques for the study. Based on the recommended daily energy levels of 2,250 kcal, food insecurity line (s) for the households is N23, 700.12 or US $176.87 per adult equivalent per year. Over 58% of the sample households are therefore food insecure. Major determinants of this food insecurity factors are, household size, gender, educational level, farm size and type of household farm enterprise. Policy measures directed towards the provision of better family planning should be given adequate attention and priority by the Government in addition to improved access to education, credit facility and agricultural extension services by rural households. The poster plan begins with the introduction in section 1, followed by study objectives in section 2. The description of the study area and sampling procedure are presented in section 3, followed the analytical technique section 4. The results are presented and discussed in section 5 and policy recommendations in section 6.Determinants, Food Security, Policy Guide, Food Security and Poverty,