11 research outputs found

    Evaluating the Effectiveness of Alternative Extension Methods: Triple-Bag Storage of Cowpeas by Small-Scale Farmers in West Africa

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    This study examined two questions related to the adoption of triple-bag storage technology for farmers storing cowpeas in West Africa. First the effect of an extension program, focused on village demonstrations, on adoption was considered. Second, the effect of radio messages to augment this extension program was analyzed. The results indicate that adoption was positively affected by the extension program and radio messages do augment the effectiveness.Effective extension methods, cowpeas, hermetic storage, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

    Cowpea market integration in West Africa and food security: A spatial econometric evaluation

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    Market integration for agricultural products has been widely explored using different methodological approaches. While a substantial effort has been made towards improving the technical tools, the extent of the understanding of how markets work is still not satisfactory. The current research attempts to bring improvement to the method by using spatial econometric tools in the analysis of market integration. Three questions were analyzed in relation to the problem of food security in the region of West Africa. First, cowpea market integration is investigated. A spatial econometric model is estimated using panel data on monthly market prices over several years. Markets from Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso are included in the analysis to the extent of the data availability. Following Ravallion (1986), the three hypothesis of market integration were tested under a spatial econometric specification. Results of the test showed evidence of statistically significant spatial dependence between prices in the different markets in the region. Also, the effect of the central market price on the local market price was found to be statistically significant though relatively small. These findings indicate that cowpea markets in the region are related but not segmented. However, both short run and long run marketing integration are rejected by the test. Thus, overall, the results imply that cowpea markets are integrated but the level of integration is low, suggesting the existence of impediments. Second, linkages between cowpea and cereals markets are analyzed using the same spatial panel data specification. The results showed the presence of positive linkages between cereals prices and cowpea prices. These prices are positively linked in the sense that when cereals production does not cover household consumption, farmers tend to directly consume their cowpea reserves to compensate for the deficit. The traditional belief that cowpeas are sold to buy cereals does not seem to be supported by this finding. Third, a food security model is estimated using data from Niger to investigate the role of market price information in predicting food crises. The results of the estimation point to the importance of the effect of seasonal price pattern on food security in the region. It is important to distinguish two key periods when market prices are monitored for food security purposes. During the harvest time, farmers are usually net sellers; therefore high prices reduce food insecurity. In contrast, during the hunger period, many farmers are net buyers, so high prices worsen food insecurity

    ANALYSIS OF THE PROFITABILITY OF PICS BAGS FOR THE STORAGE OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUT SEEDS IN THREE REGIONS OF NIGER

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    This study documents Bambara groundnut storage practices and estimates the economic returns from alternative storage and marketing strategies in Niger. A random sample of Bambara groundnut growers in the main Bambara groundnut growing areas of Niger were interviewed. A total of 164 respondents participated. Slightly over half of the Bambara groundnut stored is in potentially hermetic containers including double and triple layer bags, plastic jugs and metal drums. Use of storage insecticide varied by region. Over 12% of the quantity stored was treated with insecticide in the Maradi Region, but only about 2% in the other regions. Use of the Purdue Improved Crop Storage bag also varied by region. In the Dosso region in 2012, 47% of the Bambara groundnut was stored in PICS bags, but only 8% in Maradi and 4% in Zinder. Bambara groundnut prices vary seasonally, and they vary widely from market to market. Consequently, marketing flexibilty is key to profitable commecialization. In most cases storing into the next rainy season (i.e. 8 to 9 months) is the most profitable strategy. Estimates indicate that producers using traditional storage technologies should market their Bambara groundnuts quickly because the storage damage can be severe. In contrast, PICS bags are quite profitable for Bambara groundnut producers in the study areas, especially when longer-term storage conditions are required. Even when the PICS bag is only used one season, the simple rate of return is over 100%

    ANALYSIS OF THE PROFITABLILITY OF PICS BAGS FOR THE STORAGE OF ROSELLE GRAINS (Hibiscus sabdariffa) IN THREE REGIONS IN NIGER

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    Roselle is a multipurpose crop produced for its grain, as well as flowers used in making teas and therapeutic preparations. The study is based on interviews with 164 randomly selected Roselle producers in Dosso, Maradi and Zinder Regions of Niger. Farmers store roselle grain in various containers, such as woven bags, plastic jugs, plastic bags, granaries, etc. which are mostly non-hermetic. Some store with the addition of wood ash, neem leaves (Azadirachta indica), sand or insecticide. Plastic jugs, granaries and plastic bags are used mainly for storing small amounts of roselle while metal drums and woven polypropylene bags are reserved for larger quantities. Overall the portion of roselle grain stored in 2012 in potentially hermetic containers was: Dosso, 22%; Maradi, 29% and Zinder, 26%. In 2012, the percentage reported stored in PICS triple bags was Dosso, 4%; Maradi, 2% and Zinder, 2%. The percentage of the grain quantity stored with insecticide in 2012 was Dosso, 26%; Maradi, 13%, and Zinder zero. The analysis of price fluctuations shows that about 7 months of storage is required for the producers to take advantage of price seasonality. Rozelle prices also vary widely from market to market. Consequently, marketing flexibility is key to profitable commercialization. In most cases storing into the next rainy season (i.e. 7 months) is the most profitable strategy. It is clear from this analysis that the PICS bags are a potential source of profitability for roselle producers in the study areas especially when the storage period is relatively long. For example, the simple rate of return is over 100% even when the PICS bag is only used one year compared to selling at harvest. PICS technology is much more cost effective than the traditional method of storage. After 7 months of storage without either insecticide or hermetic storage method, the return on investment is largely negative because of very high storage losses

    Analyzing the drivers of smallholder farmer’s market participation in the Sahelian region of Niger

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    AbstractMany sub-Saharan farmers rely on agricultural production for home consumption and sell crops to meet their other needs. Farmers’ market intervention enhances economic expansion and helps to improve household food security. In our current study, we strive to explore the determinants of farmers’ decisions and the intensity of market participation in the Sahelian region of Niger, where little has been published, thereby filling the gap in the literature. A double hurdle approach was employed to achieve this objective using a sample collected from 1784 farm households in Niger.Our findings reveal that the total quantity of crops produced, gender, credit access, farming experience, training, drought, and assets positively impact household market participation significantly. Based on these results, as the quantity of crop sales is driven positively and significantly by the amount of crop produced, finding ways to increase crop production will increase household market participation. This can only be achieved by encouraging farmers to adopt high-yield crop varieties, such as climate-resilient ones, to boost productivity. Furthermore, considering the positive association between credit availability and smallholder market participation, any initiative in the agricultural sector that will bring efforts to supply credit and farm inputs to farmers will surely help to improve agricultural production and household market participation

    Evaluating the Effectiveness of Alternative Extension Methods: Triple-Bag Storage of Cowpeas by Small-Scale Farmers in West Africa

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    This study examined two questions related to the adoption of triple-bag storage technology for farmers storing cowpeas in West Africa. First the effect of an extension program, focused on village demonstrations, on adoption was considered. Second, the effect of radio messages to augment this extension program was analyzed. The results indicate that adoption was positively affected by the extension program and radio messages do augment the effectiveness

    Economics of land degradation and improvement in Niger

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    PRIFPRI4; CRP2; A Ensuring Sustainable food production; D Transforming Agriculture; E Building Resilience; Land Resource Management for Poverty ReductionEPTD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM

    Evaluating the impact of improved crop varieties in the Sahelian farming systems of Niger

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    Most people in Niger still rely heavily on agriculture as a source of income. However, low productivity, climate change, soil infertility, pests, and diseases are challenges faced by this sector. As a result, the nation suffers from a severe problem of food insecurity. Many investigations indicate that adopting improved crop varieties(ICVs) increases agricultural productivity. Using information gathered from 1784 farmers, this study assesses the effects of adopting improved crop varieties (ICVs) on household welfare. To analyze the data, we employ endogenous switching regression (ESR) and inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) techniques. The analysis shows that the ICVs adoption significantly improves household income and food access in Niger's Sahelian region. The ESR model's average treatment effects estimate shows that the ICVs adoption raised per capita income, food expenditure, and household dietary diversity score (HDDS) by 75 %, 1.81 %, and 36.49 %, respectively. The IPWRA model yields similar results.Therefore we conclude that adopting ICVs has substantial dynamic benefits that improve household welfare in Sahel Niger by increasing their probability of escaping poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition. The farmer's knowledge of improved crop varieties significantly influenced favorably the decision to adopt, suggesting that intensifying dissemination and encouraging the promotion of drought-tolerant crop varieties among farmers, development agencies, researchers, and policymakers could be a crucial plan of action to combat poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition in the Sahelian region
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