Factors influencing the use of selected inputs in yam production in Nigeria and Ghana

In West Africa, yam can be an important crop to reduce poverty and hunger if Research and Development measures identify and properly engage its key production factors for enhanced outputs and better income. Data from 1400 households in Ghana and Nigeria were collected in a multistage random sampling survey (and complementary data from 76 farm family fields) with a structured questionnaire and qualitative interview questions. The results showed that yam is produced mainly with crude inputs/technologies to reduce high dependence on labour, seed production and control of pests and diseases. Yam is produced widely with purchased inputs including seed yam and hired labour; chemical fertiliser, herbicide and pesticides are less often used. Analyses of determinants of use of purchased inputs reveal three serious impediments to expansion in yam production: the increasing scarcity and high cost of hired labour, shortage of suitable land and poor farm roads. As employment opportunities for unskilled labour in urban centres are presently expanding, increased yam production will be hard to achieve without labour-saving inputs for at least some of the production tasks, especially seedbed preparation and weeding, and without improvement in infrastructure

The Impact of Incubators on the Success of Innovative Agribusinesses Founded by Youths in Cameroon

Entrepreneurship is a credible option for countries that aim to solve the problem of youth employability by supporting them. Therefore, the relevance of support structures such as incubators in an agricultural developing country like Cameroon is still relevant, and the analysis of their impact is necessary to the relevance and effectiveness of their action. The objective of this article is to analyze the impact of incubators in the agricultural sector, on the success of incubated firms by analyzing the direct impact of accessing the proposed services on the performance (development and growth) of incubated firms; we started from the Service-Dominant Logic to analyze the value of the proposed services from the point of view of the incubates. We mainly used the PLS method and found that incubators through their services (infrastructure, training and coaching, consulting and assistance, and networking) have an impact on the development (management, strategic alliances, innovation development) and growth (employment and wealth) of agribusinesses founded by young people. However, this impact is somewhat weak

The Impact of Incubators on the Success of Innovative Agribusinesses Founded by Youths in Cameroon

Entrepreneurship is a credible option for countries that aim to solve the problem of youth employability by supporting them. Therefore, the relevance of support structures such as incubators in an agricultural developing country like Cameroon is still relevant, and the analysis of their impact is necessary to the relevance and effectiveness of their action. The objective of this article is to analyze the impact of incubators in the agricultural sector, on the success of incubated firms by analyzing the direct impact of accessing the proposed services on the performance (development and growth) of incubated firms; we started from the Service-Dominant Logic to analyze the value of the proposed services from the point of view of the incubates. We mainly used the PLS method and found that incubators through their services (infrastructure, training and coaching, consulting and assistance, and networking) have an impact on the development (management, strategic alliances, innovation development) and growth (employment and wealth) of agribusinesses founded by young people. However, this impact is somewhat weak

Adoption and impact of improved agricultural technologies in developing countries: the case of Imazapyr-resistant maize in Western Kenya

PhD ThesisDeclining productivity of food crops in developing countries is associated with several factors including poor adoption of improved technologies against pests and parasites destroying crops with developmental implications on food insecurity and poverty. This study has been undertaken to contribute to the understanding of farm-level adoption dynamics and economic impacts of agricultural technologies. This study was done using a case of imazapyr-resistant maize technology for combating noxious Striga weed which has devastating effects on maize production in western Kenya. A cross sectional survey that included randomly selected samples of 169 adopters and 431 non-adopters. The relevant data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics, stochastic production frontier and tobit regression models. The net present value (US $21 680 402), benefit-cost ratio (4.77) and net benefits per capita (US$41 063) for imazapyr-resistant maize enterprise were attractive. However, its adoption rate was low, whereby about 28% of the surveyed households adopted the technology. The results from tobit model estimation indicate that farming experience, education of the household head, gap between maize production and consumption, farmer’s risk-taking, number of extension visits, lack of seeds, membership to social groups and imazapyr- resistant maize’s effective dissemination pathway were found to be significant (P<0.05) in influencing the adoption decision. The results of impact assessment indicated that its adoption increased significantly (P<0.01) the frontier maize output. Imazapyr-resistant maize had succeeded in reducing Striga seed-bank hence significantly (P<0.05) raising productivity from 2.2 ton/ha (non- imazapyr-resistant maize) to 2.8 ton/ha (imazapyr- resistant maize) with significant returns to land (US $173/hectare) and labour (US$8/man-day).ii Two main conclusions can be drawn from this study. First and foremost, is that the use of imazapyr-resistant maize is a promising option for farmers since this technology has been shown to be profitable compared with other maize varieties and, secondly, it has the potential to impact positively on poverty reduction in western Kenya. Therefore, its adoption deserves attention from policy makers who should: (a) Initiate new awareness campaign, improve the seed supply chain in order to broaden its adoption and (b) provide significant positive public investment for technology transfer to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA

Adoption and impact of improved agricultural technologies in developing countries: the case of Imazapyr-resistant maize in Western Kenya

PhD ThesisDeclining productivity of food crops in developing countries is associated with several factors including poor adoption of improved technologies against pests and parasites destroying crops with developmental implications on food insecurity and poverty. This study has been undertaken to contribute to the understanding of farm-level adoption dynamics and economic impacts of agricultural technologies. This study was done using a case of imazapyr-resistant maize technology for combating noxious Striga weed which has devastating effects on maize production in western Kenya. A cross sectional survey that included randomly selected samples of 169 adopters and 431 non-adopters. The relevant data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics, stochastic production frontier and tobit regression models. The net present value (US $21 680 402), benefit-cost ratio (4.77) and net benefits per capita (US$41 063) for imazapyr-resistant maize enterprise were attractive. However, its adoption rate was low, whereby about 28% of the surveyed households adopted the technology. The results from tobit model estimation indicate that farming experience, education of the household head, gap between maize production and consumption, farmer’s risk-taking, number of extension visits, lack of seeds, membership to social groups and imazapyr- resistant maize’s effective dissemination pathway were found to be significant (P<0.05) in influencing the adoption decision. The results of impact assessment indicated that its adoption increased significantly (P<0.01) the frontier maize output. Imazapyr-resistant maize had succeeded in reducing Striga seed-bank hence significantly (P<0.05) raising productivity from 2.2 ton/ha (non- imazapyr-resistant maize) to 2.8 ton/ha (imazapyr- resistant maize) with significant returns to land (US $173/hectare) and labour (US$8/man-day).ii Two main conclusions can be drawn from this study. First and foremost, is that the use of imazapyr-resistant maize is a promising option for farmers since this technology has been shown to be profitable compared with other maize varieties and, secondly, it has the potential to impact positively on poverty reduction in western Kenya. Therefore, its adoption deserves attention from policy makers who should: (a) Initiate new awareness campaign, improve the seed supply chain in order to broaden its adoption and (b) provide significant positive public investment for technology transfer to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA

Will farmers intend to cultivate Provitamin A genetically modified (GM) cassava in Nigeria? Evidence from a <i>k</i>-means segmentation analysis of beliefs and attitudes - Fig 1

<p>a: LGAs where the selected EAs are located in Benue State. b: LGAs where the selected EAs are located in Oyo State.</p

Share of cassava land area farmers were intending to dedicate to the cultivation of Provitamin A GM cassava.

<p>Share of cassava land area farmers were intending to dedicate to the cultivation of Provitamin A GM cassava.</p

Correlation between TPB variables (Pearson’s <i>r</i>).

<p>Correlation between TPB variables (Pearson’s <i>r</i>).</p

TPB conceptual path to farmers’ intentions towards cultivating provitamin A GM cassava <i>(***p<0</i>.<i>01</i>, <i>**p<0</i>.<i>05</i>, <i>*p<0</i>.<i>10)</i>.

<p>TPB conceptual path to farmers’ intentions towards cultivating provitamin A GM cassava <i>(***p<0</i>.<i>01</i>, <i>**p<0</i>.<i>05</i>, <i>*p<0</i>.<i>10)</i>.</p

Socioeconomic characteristics by state.

<p>Socioeconomic characteristics by state.</p