The association of agricultural information services and technical efficiency among maize producers in Kakamega, western Kenya

Maize is the staple food for most Kenyan households, and grown in almost all the farming systems. Due to diminishing farm sizes in Kakamega District, crop productivity and the efficiency of farming systems are of great concern. This paper aims to provide empirical evidence on the links between efficiency in maize production and access to soil-related agricultural information services. Using cluster sampling, a total of 154 farmers in Kakamega District were interviewed. A 2–step estimation technique (Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Tobit model) were used to evaluate the technical efficiencies among the farmers and the factors explaining the estimated efficiency scores. Data was disaggregated into farmers with and those without access to soil-related agricultural information services. The results shows that farmers with access to soil-related agricultural information services were more technically efficient (average technical efficiency of 90%) in maize production compared to those without access to information (technical efficiency at 70%). Given the significant role that access to soil-related agricultural information services play on technical efficiency in maize production in the study area, the paper recommends improvements in farmers access to this important resources through: (i) the strengthening of the formal and informal agricultural extension services, (ii) a stronger linkage among agricultural research, agricultural extension, and farm level activities; and (iii) policy support for increased distribution of soil management inputs.Maize, Soil information, Technical efficiency, Tobit analysis, DEA, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

URBAN HOUSEHOLD DEMAND FOR MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS IN NIGERIA: AN ALMOST IDEAL DEMAND SYSTEM ANALYSIS

This study is based on micro level data on urban household food consumption and expenditure collected between 1999 and 2000 in three Nigerian cities. The LA/AIDS model, which allows the inclusion of demographic variables, was applied to a subset of the data on meat and meat products namely beef, mutton/goat, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk. Results indicate that urban demand for meat products will continue to increase as incomes improve, suggesting potential market opportunities especially for poultry. Intra-household demand patterns clearly indicate the importance of beef for children but contrary to expectations, there is a reduced demand for milk as the number of infants in urban households increase. The observed high income elasticity of demand for poultry products may have a positive impact on the derived demand for maize, a primary product in poultry feed. Encouraging poultry production will help restore the battered agricultural sector of Nigeria, increase farmer income, reduce unemployment, and conserve foreign exchange earnings.Urban households, Meat demand, Demand analysis, Nigeria, Demand and Price Analysis,

Determining smallholder farmers’ preferences for Push-Pull technology dissemination pathways in western Kenya

The push-pull technology (PPT) has widely been disseminated to control stemborer (Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca) and Striga weeds (Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica) in maize fields in Kenya. This study examined farmers’ preferences for various dissemination pathways in order to proffer better targeting of resources in an optimal dissemination strategy. The pathways considered were public meetings (barazas), radio, farmer field schools (FFS), field days (FD), farmer teachers (FT), the fellow farmers (FF) and print materials. Using a weighted score index and ordered probit regression, the different pathways were sequentially ranked as FD, FT, FFS, FF, print materials, Radio, and barazas. Marginal effects from ordered probit showed that farmers had the least preferences for baraza and radio pathways. The farmer categories with the highest preference for particular pathways were: less educated farmers for FD, farmers with small land sizes for FT, farmers belonging to groups for FFS, and young educated farmers for the print materials. This information is extremely important for targeting the different segments of farmers.Push-pull technology, Stemborer, Striga, Dissemination pathways, preference, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Resource Use Efficiency in Soybean Production in Rwanda

Even though soybean (Glycine Max) is currently a minor crop in Rwanda, it is one of the crops that the government of Rwanda is promoting because of its high nutritional value, adaptability to the climate of the country, and its good response to organic and mineral fertilizer inputs. Since farm resources are limited in Rwanda, it is critical to devise ways of improving their productivity and use efficiency even in soybean production. This study used on-farm data from Kamonyi district collected during two agricultural seasons from September 2007 to July 2008 and identified key factors determining soybean production and resource use efficiency in soybean production. Cobb-Douglas production function was fitted. Results indicate that, with an elasticity of 0.46, plot size was the most important factor of soybean production. It was closely followed by intermediate inputs (fertilizers, pesticides and seeds), with a coefficient of 0.44. When intermediate inputs were decomposed, fertilizers with an elasticity of 0.062 appears to contribute more to soybean production than pesticides (0.057) and seeds (0.034). Technical inefficiency was responsible for at least 93% of total variation in soybean output among the survey farmers. The relative efficiency (allocative efficiency) of resource use, expressed as the ratio of marginal value product (MVP) to marginal factor cost (MFC), were 1.73 for soybean plot size, 1.36 for fertilizers, and 1.92 for pesticides. These indicate that too little of these inputs are being used in relation to the prevailing market conditions. Keywords: Soybean, Resource use, Efficiency, Cobb-Douglass production models, Rwand

Profitability of Cassava Production: Comparing the Actual and Potential Returns on Investment Among Smallholders in Southern Nigeria

An analysis was conducted of the productivity of smallholder farmers enrolled into an out-growers’ scheme to supply cassava to commercial starch processors under the Nestlé-IITA cassava starch value chain project. Under the project, improved cassava varieties–cloned to be high-yielding, early maturing and disease-resistance–would be supplied to the farmers without charge. Also, to be provided would be training on good agronomic and farm management practices, like land preparation, soil management, stem-cutting habits, treatment of planting materials, fertilizer and herbicides quantity, time and method of application, and number, time and methods of weeding. It was envisaged that combined use of certified planting materials and good practices would substantially lead to increased yield and profitability. The actual performance based on baseline data was compared with the projected profitability under the project. The study was carried out using a sample of ninety-six farmers randomly selected from the eight states that participated in the project. Designed feedback form was used to assemble data on the farmers’ characteristics, previous cassava production state of affairs, including yield, experiences, and constraints to farming and marketing, input acquisition and use, and output flow and prices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and budgetary techniques. Results revealed N277400 (about US$1,840) as the baseline gross revenue, but this could have risen by over 114$3947), if farmers adopted the package of practices recommended under the project. The gross margin, calculated as N150536 (US$1003.57) could have increased by about 120$2189). Also, the return on variable cost investment calculated as 0.33 under the prevailing farmers’ practice could have risen to as high as 1.25, reflecting a return of N1.25 (rather than N0.33) on every N1 investment in the variable cost. Even though cassava production was a viable farm initiative, the farmers’ adoption and complementary use the recommended package of practices would guarantee higher yield, profitability and return on investment. Keywords: Cassava production, farm management, package of practices, profitability, smallholders, Nigeria

Efficiency and Its Determinants Among Smallholder Farming Units Supplying Cassava to Commercial Starch Processors in Nigeria: Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

Understanding the resource allocation and use efficiency is essential considering the supportive role of agriculture in the advancement of other productive sectors of the economy. Technical efficiency and its determinants were investigated among smallholder cassava-farming and decision-taking units selected from eight states of the southeast and southwest zones of Nigeria. The states’ selection was purposive, being the states in which the IITA-Nestlé cassava starch project was implemented from 2011-2015. However, a multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 96 farming units from the clusters established under the project’s out-growers’ scheme. Primary data were collected from the farming units’ heads by administering the pre-tested household survey instrument. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, data envelopment analysis, and multivariate ordinary least square regression techniques. The DEA results revealed that majority (73.9%) of the farming units had efficiency scores less than 1 and as such classified as inefficient. Over 30.2% of the cassava farming units had efficient scores greater than 0.8 including 3.1% with scores that ranged from 0.81- 0.99. Farming units with efficiency scores from 0.6-0.8 constituted 17.7% of the sample while those with scores from 0.4-0.6 consist of 33.3%, which also corresponds to the percentage of farming units with efficiencies scores of less than 0.5. Only three variables: cassava farming experience, fertilizer use and quantity of stems used were statistically significant (p<0.05) in explaining cassava farming efficiency. Of these the influence of farming experience was positive while that of fertilizer use and stems were negative. The finding suggests that the elderly and better experienced farmers combined their versatile previous knowledge of farming with willingness to adopt and use improved farming practices to achieve efficiency. Contrary to expectation, fertilizer and stems were associated with less efficiency, a surprising result that could have resulted from misapplication and wastage of the vital resources. The results highlight the need for appropriate training and technical backstopping for the heads of farming units to enhance their knowledge of the good agricultural practices and improve their levels of efficiency. Keywords: DEA; best farming practices; efficiency; processing; cassava value chain; Nigeria

Environmental impact of agricultural production practices in the savannas of northern Nigeria

Abstract The study highlights the salient agricultural production practices that impact on the environment in the savannas of northern Nigeria. Due to population pressure on land and the need to maintain household food supplies farmers have increased their land-use intensity and natural resources extraction practices that degrade the environment. Some agricultural production practices were, however, found to be environmental friendly. The study recommends remedial measures that have to be taken to avert agricultural production practices that predispose farmers to practices and extractive activities that undermine the environment

URBAN HOUSEHOLD DEMAND FOR MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS IN NIGERIA: AN ALMOST IDEAL DEMAND SYSTEM ANALYSIS

This study is based on micro level data on urban household food consumption and expenditure collected between 1999 and 2000 in three Nigerian cities. The LA/AIDS model, which allows the inclusion of demographic variables, was applied to a subset of the data on meat and meat products namely beef, mutton/goat, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk. Results indicate that urban demand for meat products will continue to increase as incomes improve, suggesting potential market opportunities especially for poultry. Intra-household demand patterns clearly indicate the importance of beef for children but contrary to expectations, there is a reduced demand for milk as the number of infants in urban households increase. The observed high income elasticity of demand for poultry products may have a positive impact on the derived demand for maize, a primary product in poultry feed. Encouraging poultry production will help restore the battered agricultural sector of Nigeria, increase farmer income, reduce unemployment, and conserve foreign exchange earnings

The association of agricultural information services and technical efficiency among maize producers in Kakamega, western Kenya

Maize is the staple food for most Kenyan households, and grown in almost all the farming systems. Due to diminishing farm sizes in Kakamega District, crop productivity and the efficiency of farming systems are of great concern. This paper aims to provide empirical evidence on the links between efficiency in maize production and access to soil-related agricultural information services. Using cluster sampling, a total of 154 farmers in Kakamega District were interviewed. A 2–step estimation technique (Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Tobit model) were used to evaluate the technical efficiencies among the farmers and the factors explaining the estimated efficiency scores. Data was disaggregated into farmers with and those without access to soil-related agricultural information services. The results shows that farmers with access to soil-related agricultural information services were more technically efficient (average technical efficiency of 90%) in maize production compared to those without access to information (technical efficiency at 70%). Given the significant role that access to soil-related agricultural information services play on technical efficiency in maize production in the study area, the paper recommends improvements in farmers access to this important resources through: (i) the strengthening of the formal and informal agricultural extension services, (ii) a stronger linkage among agricultural research, agricultural extension, and farm level activities; and (iii) policy support for increased distribution of soil management inputs

A situation and outlook analysis

PRIFPRI4; Land Resource Management for Poverty ReductionEPT