An Ordered Probit Model Analysis of Transaction costs and Market Participation by Sweet Potato Farmers in South Eastern Nigeria.

This study determined the factors (related to fixed and variable transaction costs) influencing the decision to participate in sweet potato markets by a random sample of 320 small holder farmers in south eastern Nigeria. Data were collected with structured and validated questionnaire, and analyzed using the ordered probit analysis procedure. Participation decisions revealed that marketing experience, farm size, membership of cooperatives/social organizations, extension contact, farming experience and road conditions to the nearest town had positive relationship with decision to be autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic, and were significant at 1% level of probability. The coefficient of age, household size, and output were also positive and significantly related to decision to be autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic at 5% level of probability. The coefficients for access to credit, and access to communication facilities were positive and significantly relate to decision to remain autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic. The coefficients for level of education, distance to the nearest town, distance from the farm to the market and cost of transportation were negative and significantly related with the decision to remain autarkic other than a seller and to be buyer other autarkic at 1% level of probability. The coefficient for sex was positive and significantly related to decision by female farmers to be autarkic other than buyer and to be seller other than autarkic. These decisions to participate as a buyer, seller or 2 remain autarkic were as a result of fixed and proportional transaction costs associated with participating in the market.Ordered probit, Transaction costs, Market participation, potato, autarkic, Agricultural Finance, Crop Production/Industries,

Econometric Analysis Of Aggregate Demand For Meat In Imo State, Nigeria

This study was designed to isolate the determinants of aggregate demand for meat and analyze the demand elasticities of meat in Imo State. Time series data were collected with structured questionnaire along side personal observations from 120 stratified randomly selected households for the period 2000-2003. Data were collected on per capita meat demand , retail price of meat, retail price of dried fish, retail price of iced fish and per capital income, and analyzed using the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression technique. Results show that aggregate demand for meat in Imo State is generally price inelastic. Beef and poultry were found to be normal goods. Dried fish was also found to be close substitute to beef. If the demand for poultry in the State can be projected and appropriate programmes designed to boost local production of poultry, it is expected that in a short while, Imo State would be able to produce adequate quantities of this source of animal protein at affordable prices thereby improving the level of protein intake by the populace. Key words: Aggregate Demand, Meat Journal Of Agriculture And Social Research Vol. 5 (1) 2005: 62-6

Estimated billing system is the bane of grid electric power supply and development in Nigeria: An empirical analysis

The estimated billing system for electricity was introduced in Nigeria by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in 2012 for billing customers without meters or with faulty or inaccessible meters. But instead of following the guidelines and formula provided by NERC for the estimation, the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) resorted to billing these customers arbitrarily and frustrated efforts by NERC to ensure the proper metering of electricity consumers. This research evaluates the incentive, which makes the DisCos in Nigeria prefer the estimating billing system to a much more efficient smart prepaid metering system. To carry out the research, four Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) customers were selected. The estimated bills of these customers, which they received before they got smart prepaid meters, were compared with their prepaid meter bills for an equal period. EEDC was found to be over-billing these customers under the estimated billing system by a yearly average per customer of 64,901.67 Nigerian Naira (170.79 USD)

Variety Characteristics And Cassava Adoption Among Rural Households In Imo State.

This study investigated the factors contributing to low levels of adoption of improved cassava varieties in Imo State. A sample of 120 respondents was randomly selected for the study and interviewed using structured questionnaire. Empirical analysis was based on a farm household model, which explicitly incorporates variety characteristics into the households\' optimization process. A multitude of variety characteristics and some household socio -economic characteristics were considered. Results indicated that certain variety and economic characteristics are important determinants of variety choice, and that inadequate extension information and improved input distribution system may be important limiting factors to adoption of improved cassava varieties. Key words: Variety Characteristics, Cassava Adoption, rural households Journal Of Agriculture And Social Research Vol. 5 (1) 2005: 33-4

Technical inefficiency and its determinants in food crops production in Imor State, Nigeria

Technical inefficiency among food crops farmers in Imo State was estimated using stochastic translog production frontier. The mean output of food crops farmers was 20.3 tons/ha, which is 9.6 tons/ha less than the expected food crops output of 30 tons/ha, and the mean level of technical inefficiency was 61.5 percent with a wide range from 21.24 – 98.13 percent. Major determinants of technical inefficiency were education, household size, farm size, access to credit, extension contact, farming experience and family labour use. There are still opportunities for increasing technical efficiency, productivity and farm income in food crops production in Imo state if these factors and given the desired attention

Economics of Household Demand for African Breadfruit (Treculia Africana) in Owerri Agricultural Zone of IMO STATE, Nigeria

The need to build up the knowledge of the current situation regarding the household demand for African breadfruit (Treculia africana) in Owerri Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria led to this study. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the household demand for African breadfruit and to estimate price, income and cross-price elasticities of demand for African breadfruit. One hypothesis was tested. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used in selecting sixty (60) households who consume breadfruit who were interviewed with a well structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using frequency distribution, percentages and elasticity of demand model. The findings of the study showed that the household demand for breadfruit is very high (63%) in the study area. The mean quantity demanded per month was 7kg (40 cups). Majority of the respondents consume 70% of their harvest. The result of multiple regression analysis showed that increase in household demand and price of substitute will lead to an increase in quantity demanded of African breadfruit. It was recommended that more farmers need to get involved in the production of breadfruit as it is highly demanded for its food and non-food uses

Constraints to Increased Demand for African Breadfruit (Treculia africana) in Owerri Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria

The study aimed at providing information on the constraints to increased household demand for African Breadfruit (Treculia Africana) in Owerri Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria. A total of sixty respondents were used for the study. The objectives of the study were to identify the socio-economic characteristics of African breadfruit consumers in the study area, to determine the factors influencing household demand for African breadfruit and to identify the major constraints to increased demand for African breadfruit. One hypothesis was tested. Data was collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression model were used for data analysis. Results showed that the mean age of breadfruit consumers was 42.9 years. Majority of the breadfruit consumers (58%) were civil servants as their major occupation and most (68%) of them engage in farming as their minor occupation. Age, household size, educational level, income level (household income) and price of substitute to breadfruit were significant and directly related to the household demand for African breadfruit. Most of the breadfruit consumers are constrained by much stress in preparing it and seasonality of the produce. It was recommended that youths should explore breadfruit production since majority of the breadfruit consumers fall within the active proportion of the labour force. Keywords: Constraints, household demand, African breadfrui

Factors Affecting Microfinance Banks Credit Supply to Farmers in Imo State

The study examined the factors affecting microfinance banks credit supply to farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically the study identified the socioeconomic characteristics of the beneficiaries; the amount of credit supplied to the farmers and identified the constraints affecting the performance of microfinance banks in lending to agriculture in the study area.Data were collected with the aid of two sets of structured questionnaire administered to 136 loan beneficiaries and 26 microfinance banks using purposive and simple random techniques. Data collected were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics and multiple regression models. The result indicated that the mean of the credit supplied by the microfinance banks to the farmers was N163,212.50. The result of the multiple regression showed that variables for average farm income, loan period, gender and distance were significant at 1% and 5% levels and are important factors affecting supply of credit by microfinance banks in the study area. It is concluded that there is need for microfinance banks to help look into conditions for granting loans to farmers, so that the poorest of the poor will be able to take advantage of the productivity enhancing technologies that abound in agriculture. Keywords: Microfinance, farmers, lending, credit

An empirical investigation of lead-acid battery desulfation using a high-frequency pulse desulfator

The major cause of deterioration in lead-acid batteries is sulfation. There are patents on the use of high-frequency pulse desulfators to desulfate lead-acid batteries. Also, many products available in the market worldwide claim to use this technique to effectively desulfate lead-acid batteries that deteriorate due to sulfation. But there are little or no systematic studies to evaluate the performance of these products to know whether they do what their manufacturers claim. This research, therefore, aims at empirically evaluating one of such products. Four fully charged 100 Ampere-hour Valve Regulated Lead-Acid Gel batteries were discharged with an electronic-load battery discharger to ascertain their capacities. Thereafter, a high-frequency pulse desulfator was connected to desulfate the battery bank consisting of the four batteries. The battery bank was connected to be charged at the same time by a photovoltaic system. The desulfation experiment lasted for ten weeks but the batteries were tested to know their capacities after two, six, and ten weeks. The results show that the desulfation device works in desulfating lead-acid batteries as there are different degrees of improvement on the capacity of all the batteries. The percentage improvement in the capacity of the batteries is 89.5%, 75.9%, 1.6% and 1.4%, for batteries 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively

Perceived Role of Agricultural Extension Services in Promoting Cooperative Entrepreneurship among Farmers in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, IMO State

Cooperative entrepreneurship avails participating entrepreneurs the opportunity to combine different skills and competencies to set up an enterprise. This study assessed the perceived roles of agricultural extension services in promoting cooperative entrepreneurship among farmers in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State. Data was collected from 120 respondents with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that farmers in the study area were engaged in different entrepreneurial activities. They perceived the roles of agricultural extension services as effective in promoting cooperative entrepreneurship with the provision of vocational/skill training; sanitation activities; provision of storage/processing facilities; procurement of agricultural input and information on credit sources. The perceived constraints militating against extension service delivery to the respondents were inadequate finding; lack of technical support and poor infrastructure in communities. It was recommended that government and non-governmental organizations should provide adequate funding and technical support to extension personnel to enable them deliver agricultural extension services geared at promoting cooperative entrepreneurship to farmers