Determinants of Selected Agricultural Export Crops in Nigeria: An Ecm Approach

This study examines the factors that determine the export performance of three major agricultural exportable commodities of cocoa, rubber and palm-kernel in the context of liberalization. Using time series data covering thirty three years and to avoid spurious result, error correction model was applied in the analysis. The unit root test is in line with the a priori expectation that macroeconomic variables are not stationary at their level. Virtually all the variables tested were differenced once before attaining stationarity. Each of the three equations indicated that the dependent variables cointegrated with their arguments at 1 percent level. There is the existence of short term and long term equilibrium relationships between the dependent variables and their determinants. The results of the parsimonious error correction specifications showed that the previous year’s output and the net value of world trade negatively affect cocoa exports at 1 percent level while the previous year’s GDP positively contributes to cocoa exports at 5 percent. The lagged price ratio reduces rubber exports significantly at 5 percent but the real exchange rate significantly increases the export performance of rubber at 10 percent level. The previous year’s exports of palm kernel and the real GDP contributed positively to palm-kernel exports at 5 percent level while the lagged premium and palm kernel output negatively contributed to its export at 5 percent and 10 percent respectively. Promotion of agricultural exports is essential to reduce the burden of dependence on oil exportsAgricultural exports, Cointegration, ECM, Nigeria, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Industrial Organization, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Assessment of factors influencing the saving culture among rural households in Ibarapa East Local Government of Oyo State, Nigeria

The study determined the saving culture of rural households in Ibarapa East Local Government of Oyo State. A multi-stage sampling technique was  used to select 200 respondents for the study and questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Descriptive statistics and Probit regression were used to analyse the data. The result shows that the mean household size was 7, an indication of a relatively large average  household size. The result of Probit regression shows a positive relationship between the income of respondents and their participation in commercial banks. However, participation of the respondents in Bank of Agriculture (BOA) is very low due to their poor awareness of the program. The result also reveals that distant to commercial banks, collateral and high interest rate hampered the respondents’ access to loan. The study recommends that activities of unorganized rural bank should be strengthened by the Government. Microfinance banks should also extend theiroperational unit to rural areas to bridge the gap between the formal and informal rural financial institutions. The convectional/commercial banks as well, should extend their operation unit to rural communities. Keywords: Saving Culture, Conventional banks, Keynesian’s hypothesis, Probit regression, Rural banking polic

Determinants of Rice Import Demand in Nigeria

Primarily, the study examined the determinants of rice import demand in Nigeria by assessing the short run and long run dynamic model  relationships among the determinants, trends and extent of causality among per capita income, population, exchange rate and price of rice imports were equally examined, using data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and National Bureau of statistics (NBS) over the period 1961 to 2013. Data obtained showed the perceived determinants of imports demand for rice in Nigeria were local rice production, rice import price, rice consumption, per capita income, and exchange rate, price of local rice, domestic stock variation, maize price, meat price and demographic  development. The short run dynamic model result showed that rice consumption, price of meat, price of maize, local rice quantity, demography development and stock variance are statistically significant at 5%. The significance of the coefficient of the error correction term confirmed theappropriateness of the error correction approach which also showed that ignoring the long run relationship is detrimental. The result however, revealed that rice import demand increases significantly with increasing rice consumption, increasing price of meat, increasing price of maize (keeping that for imported rice unchanged) and increasing demography development. Rice import price, per capita income, price of local rice and exchange rate had no significant effects on rice import demand. The study therefore recommends that locally-produced rice should be intensively improved. Keywords: demography, determinants, Error correction mechanism, rice import deman

Impacts of Anthropogenic Stressors on Hydrochemistry, Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Sediment Characteristics of the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

The anthropogenic impact on the water, benthic macroinvertebrates and sediment grain size of Lagos lagoon was investigated between July and October, 2019. Ten sampling stations were selected based on their importance as likely sources of different forms of anthropogenic stressor to the lagoon. Water temperatures, pH and salinity were measured in situ. Water and benthic samples were collected monthly and analysed using standard methods. Nutrient levels were determined using a spectrophotometer. The hydrochemistry of the stations differed significantly (p<0.05) with the exception of temperature and pH. The sediment grains across the study stations consists basically of sand and mud, with sand dominating the grain type. A total of 502 individuals comprising 3 phyla, 4 classes, 10 families and 11 species was recorded. The phylum mollusca which contributed 92% to the total number of individuals was represented by two Classes; Gastropoda and Bivalvia, with the gastropod Tympanotonus fuscatus having the highest number of individuals (321). Thephylum Annelida represented by one Class, Polychaeta and two Species Nereis sp. and Capitella capitata contributed 6% to the total number of individuals. The class Crustacea, representing the Phylum Arthropoda was the least sampled (7 individuals) constituting about 1.4% of the total population Result showed that different pollution sources have negatively impacted the water chemistry of the lagoon and reduced the diversity and abundance of its benthic macroinvertebrates community. The sedentary nature of this group of benthic fauna could be the major reason why they are most impacted

Determinants of Selected Agricultural Export Crops in Nigeria: An Ecm Approach

This study examines the factors that determine the export performance of three major agricultural exportable commodities of cocoa, rubber and palm-kernel in the context of liberalization. Using time series data covering thirty three years and to avoid spurious result, error correction model was applied in the analysis. The unit root test is in line with the a priori expectation that macroeconomic variables are not stationary at their level. Virtually all the variables tested were differenced once before attaining stationarity. Each of the three equations indicated that the dependent variables cointegrated with their arguments at 1 percent level. There is the existence of short term and long term equilibrium relationships between the dependent variables and their determinants. The results of the parsimonious error correction specifications showed that the previous year’s output and the net value of world trade negatively affect cocoa exports at 1 percent level while the previous year’s GDP positively contributes to cocoa exports at 5 percent. The lagged price ratio reduces rubber exports significantly at 5 percent but the real exchange rate significantly increases the export performance of rubber at 10 percent level. The previous year’s exports of palm kernel and the real GDP contributed positively to palm-kernel exports at 5 percent level while the lagged premium and palm kernel output negatively contributed to its export at 5 percent and 10 percent respectively. Promotion of agricultural exports is essential to reduce the burden of dependence on oil export

Optimum poultry enterprise combinations among small holder farmers in Osun State, Nigeria

Poultry farmers are confronted with choice for efficient allocationof farm resources between the different enterprises so as to optimize production objectives. The study therefore, was focused on optimum poultry enterprise combinations among small holder farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using questionnaires and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary technique and linear programming  model. Of the seven poultry enterprises identified, the most profitable enterprise combination was that of layers/broilers with a benefit cost ratio of ? 1.92 while the enterprise that yielded the least net farm income was the sole cockerel which had a benefit cost ratio of ? 1.57.The profitability of sole and combined poultry enterprises was limited by high cost of production in which the feed cost constitutesmore than three-quarter of the total cost. Although, the optimal poultry enterprise combination was layers/broilers, the farmers in the study area attested to the fact that poultry  business was still highly profitable.It is therefore recommended that both farmers and government must partner to find a means of reducing feed cost by financing poultry research. Also, poultry farmers should concentrate and intensify their poultry combination practices especially that of layers/broilers, which may be the appropriateoptimal combination enterprise. Keywords: Poultry enterprise, small holder farmer

Incidence, prognostic impact, and influence of antithrombotic therapy on access and nonaccess site bleeding in percutaneous coronary intervention

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative frequency of access and nonaccess site bleeding, the association of these events with 1-year mortality, and the impact of randomized antithrombotic therapy. BACKGROUND: Post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) bleeding has been strongly associated with subsequent mortality. The extent to which access versus nonaccess site bleeding contributes to this poor prognosis and the role of antithrombotic therapies remains poorly understood. METHODS: The incidence and impact of Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) major/minor 30-day bleeding and randomized antithrombotic therapy were examined in a combined dataset from the REPLACE-2 (Randomized Evaluation in PCI Linking Angiomax to Reduced Clinical Events), Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy (ACUITY), and HORIZONS-AMI (Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction) trials in 17,393 PCI patients. RESULTS: The TIMI major/minor bleeding occurred in 5.3% of patients, 61.4% of which (3.3%) were nonaccess site bleeds. After multivariable adjustment, TIMI bleeding was associated with an increased risk of 1-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.51 to 4.00, p < 0.0001). The HR of a nonaccess site bleed was approximately 2-fold that of an access site bleed: HR: 3.94, 95% CI: 3.07 to 5.15, p < 0.0001 versus HR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.17 to 2.83, p = 0.008, respectively. Randomization to bivalirudin versus heparin + a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor resulted in 38% and 43% relative reductions in TIMI major/minor and TIMI major bleeding, respectively (p < 0.0001 for both), with significant reductions in both access and nonaccess site bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Nonaccess site bleeding after PCI is common, representing approximately two-thirds of all TIMI bleeding events, and is associated with a 4-fold increase in 1-year mortality. Use of bivalirudin rather than heparin + a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor significantly decreases both nonaccess site as well as access site bleeding events by approximately 40%