Post-harvest technology change in cassava processing: a choice paradigm

Open Access Article; Available online: 27 Jan 2020This study employed a choice model to examine the factors influencing the choice of post-harvest technologies in cassava starch processing, using a sample of five hundred and seventy (570) processors in the forest and guinea savanna zones of Nigeria. In addition, the profitability of various post-harvest technologies in the study area was assessed using the budgetary technique while the impact of improved post-harvest technology on processors’ revenue and output was analysed using the average treatment effect model. Sex of the processor, processing experience, income, and cost of post-harvest technology, the capacity of post-harvest technology and access to credit amongst others significantly influence the choice of post-harvest technologies. Although the use of improved post-harvest technology comes with a high cost, the net income from its use was higher than the other types of post-harvest technologies, suggesting that the use of improved techniques was more beneficial and profitable. In addition, using improved post-harvest technology had a positive and significant effect on output and income. These findings shows that investment in improved post-harvest technologies by cassava starch processors and other stakeholders would increase income, thus, improving welfare

Does institution type affect access to finance for cassava actors in Nigeria?

The cassava system in Nigeria is developing, with increasing attention to its potential positive outcomes. However, credit access is a major problem in expanding productive activities of the different actors across the value chains of cassava products. This study investigates the extent of access to credit by cassava actors with respect to the different financial institutions in the country using data obtained from a sample of 168 actors, including producers, processors, marketers, fabricators and end users. The study found that commercial banks had the highest disbursement rate (88.0%) despite higher interest rate charged, while government banks had the least (73.6%). Processors (79.5%) and marketers (79.4%) had highest credit access rate while fabricators (67.5%) had the least. Regression results revealed that cassava actors that patronized commercial banks particularly those who are medium scale had access to higher amount of credit. However, female actors and those using cooperative banks secured lower credit amount. In line with the results, Nigeria should champion private-sector-led credit provision through appropriate policies aimed at improving the capacity of the institutions. Financial institutions should be strengthened for better credit access by the cassava actors, and hence improve their productivity

Smallholder agroprocessors' willingness to pay for value-added solid-waste management solutions

Open Access JournalThe paper examined the willingness of smallholder cassava processors to pay for value-added solid wastes management solutions in Nigeria. We employed a multistage sampling procedure to obtain primary data from 403 cassava processors from the forest and Guinea savannah zones of Nigeria. Contingent valuation and logistic regression were used to determine the willingness of the processors to pay for improved waste management options and the factors influencing their decision on the type of waste management system adopted and willingness to pay for a value-added solid-waste management system option. Women constituted the largest population of smallholder cassava processors, and the processors generated a lot of solid waste (605–878 kg/processor/season). Waste was usually dumped (59.6%), given to others (58.1%), or sold in wet (27.8%) or dry (35.5%) forms. The factors influencing the processors’ decision on the type of waste management system to adopt included sex of processors, membership of an association, quantity of cassava processed and ownership structure. Whereas the processors were willing to pay for new training on improved waste management technologies, they were not willing to pay more than US$3. However, US$3 may be paid for training in mushroom production. It is expected that public expenditure on training to empower processors to use solid-waste conversion technologies for generating value-added products will lead to such social benefits as lower exposure to environmental toxins from the air, rivers and underground water, among others, and additional income for the smallholder processors. The output of the study can serve as the basis for developing usable and affordable solid-waste management systems for community cassava processing units in African countries involved in cassava production

Buyer Satisfaction with Residential Brokerage Services

This study employs ordered probit to estimate a model of buyer satisfaction with real estate brokerage services. The model provides evidence that: (1) satisfaction falls with length of search; (2) satisfaction is lower for married homebuyers; (3) satisfaction falls when the buyer experiences difficulty with housing finance; and (4) buyer satisfaction is increased when the broker fully discloses the requirements of the fair housing law.

In situ degradability of dry matter of browse forages consumed by ruminants in the semi-arid region of northern Nigeria

Three ruminally cannulated bulls were used to determine variations in dry matter (DM) degradability of forage consumed by ruminants in the semi-arid region of north Nigeria. Organic matter and crude protein (CP) contents were higher (P< 0·05) in all the browse forages. Higher numerical values neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin and cellulose were recorded. DM degradability after 24 and 48 h of ruminal incubation were higher (P< 0·05) in all the browses. Higher values (P< 0·05) in DM bag losses at zero time (a fraction) were recorded for the browses. The insoluble but fermentable DM (b fractions) were higher (P< 0·05) in among browse forages. Numerically lower values of DM c fraction were found in browses, whereas DM potential degradability were higher (P< 0·05) in all the experimental leaves. High (P< 0·05) contents of CP in grazed forage, DM degradability after 48 h of ruminal incubation, and b and a+b, were observed in the browse leaves. Thus, these results may be related to both the better feeding value of forage consumed by the animals and better performance of livestock during in this areas. Then, the DM degradability after 48 h, together with the soluble fraction ‘a’ and insoluble but fermentable fraction ‘b’ and the c fraction permit the nutritive value of the forage consumed by grazing goats to be accurately described

Effect of Moringa oleifera Supplementation on Acceptability and Nutrient Utilization of Goats Fed Mango Seed Kernels.

Twenty four growing goats with mean body weight of 8.00 ± 0.45kg were fed mango seed kernel meals with Moringa oleifera  supplementation on to asses their acceptability and energy with nitrogen utilization. Goats were assigned to three dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with eight goats per treatment. The three compared treatment diets were: A (45% of raw mango seed kernel), B (45% of soaked mango seed kernel) and C (45% of parboiled mango seed kernel). Concentrate of 45% was added to each of the experimental diet, while each goat received 8 grams of Moringa oleifera as supplement in their respective diets. The results indicated that, diet A was significantly (P < 0.05) highest in gross energy intake (15.23MJ/kg), faecal energy output (4.59MJ/kg), total energy output (6.25MJ/kg) and faecal nitrogen output (4.02g/day) compared to diets B and C. Mean dry matter intake (3.09kgDM), coefficient of preference (3.98), digestible energy intake (12.22MJ/kg), metabolizable energy intake (11.01MJ/kg), nitrogen balance (12.37g/day) and nitrogen retention (81.17%) were significantly (p < 0.05) best in diet C compared to other treatment diets. Significant difference (P > 0.05) did not occur in nitrogen intake and urinary nitrogen output among the treatment diets. It was concluded that parboiled mango seed kernels and concentrate with Moringa oleifera supplementation ( diet C) has the potential to improve acceptability and enhance energy with nitrogen utilization for goats. Keywords: Mango seed, Moringa oleifera, acceptability, nutrient utilization, goats.

Evaluation of Rice Brands by Sensory Qualities

A purposively selected 20 member sensory panel was used to do sensory and cooking qualities assessment of locally processed rice brands and popularly imported rice brands consumed by most Nigerians. The local brands are ‘Enyi, Lobi, Eagle and Veetee; while the imported brands are ‘Tomato and Caprice. The results showed that Olam was significantly better and distinguishable from Abakaliki, Tomato and Caprice brands for colour (P<0.05); Olam was significantly better than Caprice for flavour (P<0.05); Olam was significantly better than Abakaliki and Caprice for sogginess (P<0.05); Olam was significantly preferred than Veetee for stickness (P<0.05); Olam was significantly better than the other brands for taste (P<0.05); Olam was significantly preferred to other brands for texture (P<0.05) and significantly better from Tomato for general acceptability (P<0.05). On assessment of rice grains, the results also showed that Enyi and Abakaliki had poor grain colour rating (P<0.05); the general  acceptability of Olam, Caprice and Veetee grain brands were significantly better than the other brands (P<0.05). Generally speaking, the results of the analyses showed that local brands of processed rice competed well with imported brands for sensory qualities.Key words: rice brands, sensory qualities, consumer preference, general acceptabilit

Estimating Sales for Retail Centers: An Application of the Poisson Gravity Model

The projection of total retail sales for a shopping center development is of critical importance in its valuation, in the making of investment decisions by investors, and to the retail merchants who must make location decisions. In this study, we apply the Poisson Gravity Model to forecast the number of shopping trips attracted to each of the major retail centers in the Atlanta metropolitan area. In the second stage, the estimated total retail sales for all the shopping centers covered in the study, are allocated to the individual centers, based on their estimated shopping trip shares.

Determinants of intensity of biomass utilization: evidence from cassava smallholders in Nigeria

Open Access Journal; Published online: 30 April 2019he paradigm shift from value chains to value webs in the emerging bioeconomy has necessitated a review on how agricultural systems transit to value web production systems. This study examines how smallholders in the cassava system in Nigeria have been able to increase utilization of biomass in their production systems. Using a sample of 541 households, the study employed cluster analysis and ordered probit regression to examine the intensity of cassava utilization and the determinants of the intensity of utilization. The study found that over 50% of the respondents were classified as low-intensity utilization households, while ~13% were high-intensity utilization households. Land, social capital, farming experience, and asset ownership increased the probability of intensifying cassava utilization among smallholders. The study recommends strengthening assets acquisition, improving land quality and encouraging social capital development among smallholders

Impact of Agricultural Value Added on Current Account Balances in Nigeria

The aim of this research paper is to explore the relationship between agriculture value added and current account balances in Nigeria. The study therefore examines the agricultural value added on current account balances over 33 years in Nigeria using data from different sources, from 1980 to 2013. The study found that the variables of interest were stationary at first difference. The Engel Granger two step test of co - integration found that the variables have a long run relationship, while the Johansen test found at least one co-integration relationship among the variables. Agriculture value added has a negative relationship with current account balances in the country in both the long run and the short run. Terms of trade and per capita gross domestic product also have negative with the current account position, while net foreign asset, real effective exchange rate and the gross domestic output have positive effects on the current account position. The short run adjustment parameters however showed that agricultural value added as a percentage of the GDP as well as the net foreign assets are the only variables capable of adjusting to their long run equilibrium within the economy. Keywords: Current account, Agriculture, Value added, Time series, Nigeri