Impact of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) on Rural Poverty Alleviation in Southwestern Nigeria

The incidence, depth and severity of poverty of rural people and influencing rural poverty were investigated in the Southwestern Nigeria. Multi-stage stratified random sampling procedure was used tocollect data from 200 clients and 200 non-clients of NGOs in the study area. Linear multiple regression was used to determine the magnitude of contribution of variables affecting poverty in Southwester Nigeria.Results of the Forster-Greer-Thorbecke indices showed that at annual poverty line of-N54, 776. 77, incidence (45.50%), depth (20.17%) and severity (10.98%) of poverty among the non-clients were higherthan among the clients (29.50, 9.02 and 3.68% respectively). Relative poverty line among clients was above N141.60 ($1) per day while it was lower among the non-clients. The F-values indicated that the povertymodel Itad good fit (p < 0.01) and the Chow's test-values established significant difference in poverty model between the clients and non-clients (p < 0.01). The study revealed that gender and poverty indicators weredeterminants of poverty among non-clients but not among clients. Socio-cultural spending was a positive and significant variable in the poverty models (p <0.01). It also showed that belonging to the clients' groupalleviated poverty as well as enhanced savings of respondents. The study concludes that microfinance delivery efforts of the NGOs enhanced poverty alleviation among clients in the area

Impact of macro-economic policy reforms on the output and prices of food grains in Nigeria

No Abstract. The Nigerian Journal of Economic History Vol. 4 2001: 70-8

Analysis of the Technical Efficiency of Small-holder Cocoyam Farms in Ondo State, Nigeria

This study carried out an analysis of the technical efficiency of cocoyam production among small scale farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria, and identified some socio-economic factors, which influence productive efficiency. The data used were generated from a farm survey involving fifty cocoyam farmers using combinations of purposive and random sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics, stochastic production frontier model as well as inefficiency model were applied to primary data. A Cobb Douglas production function was used to represent the production frontier of the cocoyam farms. The results indicate that the technical efficiencies of the farmers was found to be fairly high with a mean of 84.3% which suggests that average cocoyam output falls 15.7% short of the maximum possible level. The study further observed that only education was positively correlated and significantly influenced the level of technical efficiency of the farmers while increase in the other socio-economic variables, household size, off-farm income, access to credit and farming experience led to decrease in technical efficiency

Economic Efficiency of Small Scale Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Cassava holds a prominent position as a food and industrial crop in the Nigerian economy. Thus, there are government initiatives to support its mass production for domestic use and export. This study investigated the efficiencies of cassava production in Odeda Local Government of Ogun State. A random sample of 200 cassava producers was taken and subjected to budgetary and stochastic frontier analyses. Results indicated that most of the farmers were male (90%) with more than half (53%) above 50 years of age. Land holding by inheritance (78%) was prevalent. The gross margin and profit were N105, 775 and N95. 738,10 respectively. Cost ratio (1.8) and percentage profit (80%) indicated that cassava farming was profitable in the area. Total variable and labour costs were 91.6% and 68.2% of the total cost respectively. The return to scale was 1.024. Farm size (0.771) and quantity of planting stakes (0.203) significantly (p ≤ 0.01) affected cassava production. Age and farming experience contributed to technical inefficiency while cost of fertilizer, cost of herbicides, membership of cooperative and level of education enhanced technical efficiency. Efficiency of cassava growers ranged between 88.69 and 100 with a mean of 89.4. It was concluded that cassava production was highly profitable in the area and farmers operated with maximum efficiency given the current technology. Farmers were advised to reduce labour costs and thus increase profit margin