Analysis of resource use efficiency among soybean (Glycine max) farmers in Gboko local government area of Benue state, Nigeria

The study examined the efficiency of resource use in soybean production in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to identify and describe the socio economic characteristics of soybean farmers and to determine resource allocation among soybean farmers. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 120 respondents. Data collected were subjected to Descriptive statistics and production function analysis. The result revealed that 93.3% of the farmers had one form of formal education, or the other with over 65% cultivating between 1-4 hectares. Also, 87.5% of the farmers were in their active age, and 81.7% utilized their personal saving as a major source of finance for production. The result of the production function analysis indicated that 87.21% of the variation in the output of soybean is explained for by the independent variables. Resource-use efficiency revealed that quantity of seed, farm size, herbicide and inorganic fertilizer were underutilized while labour was over utilized. Provision of adequate and timely farming inputs, making loans accessible to farmers and reasonable market price of soybean are essential to boost production.KEYWORDS: Analysis, Resource use efficiency, Farmers, production function analysis, Benue, Nigeria

Analysis of structure and performance of paddy rice marketing in Adamawa state, Nigeria

Abstract. Many factors such as inadequate capital, poor infrastructure, poor price information could bring about distortion in the structure and performance of the market process resulting to the reduction in profit margin of marketers and a disincentive to present and prospective marketers of paddy rice. This study was conducted to analyze the structure and performance of paddy rice marketing in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to examine the structure of rice market and to evaluate the performance of the market participants in the study area. Data were collected from 204 rice marketers using multi stage sampling technique. Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) was used to determine structure of the market, while Marketing Efficiency measure was applied in analyzing the market performance of the market participants. The HHI pooled results for year 2013, 2014 and 2015 revealed that paddy rice marketing in Adamawa State has a highly competitive market structure (11.38 and 71) with low (42% and 24%) marketing performance for retailers and wholesalers, respectively. To improve the performance of market participants, it is recommended that government should open up and rehabilitate the road network in the hinterlands to facilitate easy evacuation of agricultural inputs and commodities in and out of the market. Financial support and formation of unions would enable the marketers benefit from scale operation and enroll for training on entrepreneurship

Analysis of the contribution of women in the production of hevea planting materials and latex in the rubber belt of Nigeria

The involvement of women in areas of direct production (budding and tapping operations) at Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria(RRIN) main station Iyanomo were evaluated by randomly selecting 37 respondents (20 and 17 from budding and tapping) through a questionnaire survey. Data collected were subjected to descriptive and general entropy class of measures. Result of the analysis indicated women were educated and had one form of formal education or the other and is experienced with large family sizes. Majority of the respondents (62.16%) had income above N50, 000.00 Finding also showed that total of 388 trees were tapped with a total of 34,882 kilogramme of dry rubber for tappers and total planting materials of 36,987 seedlings for budders. The computed value of general entropy (GE) was 130.78 indicated that significant differences exist between households in the income distribution. However, there was no significant difference within group income (0.90374 less than 1).Keywords: Budders, tappers, contribution, women, descriptive statistics, general entropy class of measure

Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal): A dependable ally in Industries and Environment: A stochastic frontier production function analysis.

This study evaluated the technical efficiency of gum arabic production in selected Local Government Areas of Jigawa and Yobe States of Nigeria .. A total of 166 gum arabic farmers were selected through purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data collected were analysed using stochastic frontier production function analysis. Results of the analysis indicated that variance parameters of the stochastic frontier production function; sigma squared (82 ) and gamma (y) are significantly different from zero at one percent probability level. This indicated a good fit and correctness of the distributional form assumed for the composite eITor term. Gamma indicates that the systematic influences that are unexplained by the production function are the dominant sources of random error and the estimate (0.96) shows the amount of variation resulting from the technical. inefficiencies of the farmers. The variation in fa1mers' output is due to difference in technical efficiency. The mean technical efficiency (TE) of gum Arabic farmers is 0.97. The findings also shows that 46.67 percent of the farmers have TE index below the mean figure while 53.33 percent attaine1 TE of more than the average. Family and hired.labour are statistically significant at 1 percent level

Analysis of the effect of globalisation on Nigerian rubber industry

The globalisation of trade hcts. exposed. Nigeri,m. rubber. to the fltwtu_ations .in. global rubber prices and the instability in the natural rubber pr~ces has been a disincentive for rnbber production and exports. Underlyi_ng factors in the e?C,p9.rt of natural rubber &S a sub-sector of agriculture are investigated using secondary data_ frorn Nigeria· _d_µring J960-2004 and primary data from 120 farmers, Data were analysed using descriptiv.e statistics and multiple regression,. Result reveaJed that output and producers pri~e exerted positive effects on export supply, thaJ )s. a rise .in output and.·producers price would cause exporters to export more natµral rubqer. However; domestic consumpti9rt quantity and annual rainfall were dis-incentives to rubber exporters. Rubber producets als.o e_xperienced a multiplicity of probJems which centered on inputs ,used in rubper producticm and ~ged rubber trees