SOIL CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES AND PRODUCTIVITY OF ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined soil conservation techniques and its effect on productivity of arable crop farmers in Kogi state, Nigeria. Data were collected from 184 farmers using three stage sampling technique.  Data analyses were carried out using descriptive statistics, Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and regression analysis. Result shows that the soil conservation technique prevalent in the area was application of inorganic fertilizer. About 36.4% of the sampled household heads have productivity value above average across all the soil conservation categories (productive). Result also reveals that age (-1.801), household size (-0.310) and access to credit (-0.056) impacted arable crop farmers negatively while alley cropping (0.357), crop rotation (0.380), application of inorganic fertilizer (0.503), mulching (0.560) and organic manure (0.373) positively impacted arable farmers’ productivity.  The study concludes that soil conservation techniques are productivity enhancer. Promoting sustainable conservation techniques that are farm or farmer specific is recommended.   &nbsp

Nexus of Fishing Boat Motorisation, Profitability and Poverty Status of Artisanal Fisherfolks on Epe Lagoon, Lagos State: A Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Approach

The study examined the nexus of fishing boat motorisation, profitability and poverty status of artisanal fisherfolks on Epe Lagoon, Lagos State: A MPI approach. Specifically, the study analysed profitability and determined MPI of respondents. The study area was Epe lagoon, with stratified sampling technique adopted. One hundred and sixty (160) respondents were stratified into 2 strata based on craft propulsion: Manual Propulsion Technology (MPT) and Motorized Technology (MT). The sampling unit was the respondents' households. Information obtained using interview schedules were analysed using descriptive statistics, profitability ratios, and Alkire and Foster MPI. Although the MT respondents had higher Net income, the Benefit-Cost ratio was lower due to the cost of maintenance of the outboard engine. Four MPI dimensions: education, health, living standard and financial standard were examined. MPT respondents were more deprived (MPI 27.8%) than the MT respondents (17.87%). The headcount of multidimensionally poor MPT respondents was 86.43%, while MT respondents were 53.4%. Deprivations were in living standards (no electricity, portable water or toilet and clean cooking energy) and financial standards (unreliability of fishing income; no savings, difficulty in credit access, no cooperative society). These deprivations violated some UN SDGs goals. The study recommends rapid intervention by the State government in the living standard of the fishing communities by the provision of basic amenities like potable water, electricity and an access road. The prohibition of discharge of the heated coolant water from the Egbin power plant into the western end of the lagoon because of its heavy metal deposits. Cooperative education should be extended to the fisherfolks

Land fragmentation effects on technical efficiency of cassava farmers in South-West geopolitical zone, Nigeria

This paper provides regional effects of land fragmentation on technical efficiency of 462 cassava farmers selected through a multitage sampling technique from South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The analysis was based on cassava farmers’ 2015/2016 production season data, using the stochastic production frontier model. Mean farm holdings and plots size per farmer in the study area were 2.37 and 1.075 ha respectively. Results show that quantity of labour used, land size and quantity of planting material are influential determinants of technical efficiency of cassava farmers. The result further revealed that fragmentation index and distance between farm and farmstead are the only significant technical inefficiency variables. The study found that substantial technical inefficiency exists in cassava farming. The study recommends land reforms that directly targeted at cassava farmers in form of enhancement progamme to increase their production efficiency

Market participation behaviour among urban okra producers in Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

The study examined market participation behaviour among urban okra producers in Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting 120 vegetable farmers during the dry season extending from November to March 2018/2019. Data on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, farm-specific factors, and marketing and production output activities were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (such as mean, standard deviation and percentage) and a Tobit regression model. Most of the urban farmers were young and educated and in their economic active age. The mean market share of okra marketed by the respondents was 7,662.17kg (representing 89.8% of okra produced). Sex, primary occupation, per capita land size, cost of seed, price of okra per unit, distance to nearest market and cost of labour significantly determined market participation (p<0.05). The study recommends policies that facilitate access to production resources like land, seed or planting material and farm labour at lower costs. The land policy that makes access to marginal land in an urban area available for agriculture should be as a form of empowerment to the vulnerable in society. Also, upgrading farm-to-market roads to reduce transportation costs to distant urban markets which offer better prices and encourage farmers to produce more marketable produce

Factors Influencing Entrepreneurial Intentions of Undergraduate Agricultural Students in Nigeria

Nigeria is an agrarian economy and the recognition of entrepreneurship as a mover of national development has made it to gain popularity in her educational system in recent years. This study focused on the factors influencing Entrepreneurial Intentions (EIs) of undergraduate agricultural students in Nigeria using Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Well structured, pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather relevant information from final year undergraduate agricultural students in private, state and federal government owned universities in Nigeria using multistage sampling techniques. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis and multiple regression model. The results showed that personal attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms and perceived educational support were the main factors influencing students’ EI positively at (P<0.01). Arising from this revelation, the study recommended the development of positive attitude towards becoming entrepreneurs as well as enhancement of educational facilities in the universities to improve students’ EI

Nijerya’da Ziraat Fakültesi Öğrencilerinin Girişimciliklerini Etkileyen Faktörler

Nigeria is an agrarian economy and the recognition of entrepreneurship as a mover of national development has made it to gain popularity in her educational system in recent years. This study focused on the factors influencing Entrepreneurial Intentions (EIs) of undergraduate agricultural students in Nigeria using Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Well structured, pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather relevant information from final year undergraduate agricultural students in private, state and federal government owned universities in Nigeria using multistage sampling techniques. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis and multiple regression model. The results showed that personal attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms and perceived educational support were the main factors influencing students’ EI positively at (P<0.01). Arising from this revelation, the study recommended the development of positive attitude towards becoming entrepreneurs as well as enhancement of educational facilities in the universities to improve students’ EI

Sweet potato production efficiency in Nigeria: Application of data envelopment analysis

This study examined Sweet Potato (SwP) production efficiency in Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 93 SwP farms in February, 2016. Data on farm and farmers’ characteristics, input and output quantities and prices, constraints to SwP production among others were collected using pre-tested, well-structured questionnaire. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Tobit regression. The results of the analysis revealed that the mean Technical Efficiency (TE), Allocative Efficiency (AE), Economic Efficiency (EE) under Constant Return to Scale (CRS) assumption were 0.685, 0.445 and 0.301 respectively. On the other hand, the TE, AE and EE under Variable Return to Scale (VRS) assumption were 0.783, 0.604 and 0.467 respectively. The Scale Efficiency (SE) was found to be 0.877. The results indicate that access to credit increased TE of farms by 3.5%. Regular training of SwP farmers increased their AE by 10.5% and EE by 16.6%. Access to credit by farmers decreased SE of farms under CRS and VRS by 1.9% respectively. Labour shortage, poor access to improved technology and infestation by insect pests were the three most important constraints limiting SwP production in the study area. Therefore, improving the efficiency of SwP production will require policies that will see to regular training of farmers by extension agents and other stakeholders and enhancement of rural farmers’ access to credit

Production Efficiency of Farmers under National Fadama II Project in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examines production efficiency of farmers underNational Fadama-II Project in Oyo State Nigeria. Primarydata were collected from two hundred and sixty-four farmersusing multistage sampling technique. The analytical frameworkused for the study include: descriptive, infrastructure index,gross margin and stochastic frontier production function. Averageinfrastructural index in the area was 0.42. The gross margin forIDV was ₦445, 968.30 while for IUV for under-developed inFadama villages is ₦357, 805.00. Gross margin was higher forFadama II farmers than non Fadama-II farmers in IDV. Themean technical efficiency were 0.69 and 0.59 for Fadama andnon-Fadama farmers respectively. The result showed that technicalinefficiency of female Fadama-II farmers reduced by 0.19%while that of non-Fadama II farmers by 1.23%. Similarly,extension contact, marital status and infrastructural status reducedtechnical inefficiency of Fadama-II farmers by 2.8%, 0.3% and2.6% respectively. Presence of infrastructure of Fadama-IIproject has imparted on efficiency of resource use among thebeneficiary. There is therefore need to improve on CommunityDriven Development programme like Fadama-II and on comingFadama-III project or any developmental project, so as to furtherimpart more technical and economic knowledge to farmers