Browse
Recent Submissions
Item ASSESSMENT OF PRICE INTERGRATION OF COWPEA MARKETS IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA(2021) JONATHAN, JOEL ALIThis study analysed urban and rural cowpea markets integration in Gombe State, Nigeria. It specifically examined the socioeconomic characteristics of cowpea marketers, examined the trend in the price of cowpea at the urban and rural markets and examined whether there was a long run relationship between urban and rural market prices of cowpea. Multistage sampling method was used to select one hundred and fifty (150) respondents and structure questionnaire was administered on them to collect the required data. The secondary data used for the study was obtained from Gombe State Agricultural Programme (GSADP). The methods of data analysis were descriptive statistics, price trends analysis and co-integration. The descriptive statistics such as tables, frequencies and percentages were used to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. Co-integration was used to establish the integration in cowpea prices between urban and rural markets. The result of analysis of socio-economic characteristics shows that 2.5% of the respondents were less than 20years of age in the urban markets, while only 5.7% of the respondents were less than 20years of age in the rural markets. The percentage of respondents that were between 21 and 30 years of age in the urban markets was 8.8% and 27.1% of the respondents in the rural markets. About 15% of the respondents in the urban markets were between 31 to 40 years of age while 34.3% of the rural respondents were between the ages of 31 to 40 years of age. The urban markets had 99% of male respondents and 1% female respondents, while the rural markets had 81.4% male respondent and 18.6% female respondents. About 32.5% of the respondents in the urban markets had primary education while 37.1% of the respondents in the rural had primary education. In the urban markets, 37.5% of the respondent had education up to secondary school level whereas 30% of the respondents in the rural had secondary education. The maximum price of cowpea in the urban area was found to be ₦450/kg which was obtained in July 2017. However the minimum price in the urban area was obtained in January 2010 at the rate of ₦90/kg depicting fluctuation in prices across various seasons. Similarly, for rural cowpea markets, the maximum price attained was ₦400/kg in July, 2017, whereas the minimum price obtained was ₦80/kg January, 2013. The price of cowpea was not stable across seasons in both urban and rural markets. The co-integration test result for cowpea prices indicate one co-integrating equation in the market pairs at 5% level of significance. Since the test statistics was greater than the critical value for the market pairs. The null hypothesis (r=0) is therefore rejected at 5 percent level of significance. This means that the two markets are linked together in the long run despite a potential short run divergence between them. The result of pair-wise granger causality test for cowpea markets has shown one significant directional (one-way) granger causality between the rural and urban cowpea markets. Rural markets prices was however stronger as it granger caused urban prices at 5% level significance. In conclusion the study shows that there are male dominant marketers of cowpea in the urban and rural markets, market prices are cointegrated. Price relative stability to improve rural markets/farmers in getting what is commiserates with cost and obtains profit. Governments’ efforts should be geared at the provision of rural-oriented economical markets with available facilities in both rural and urban markets for cowpea. Improved varieties should be made available for the growers, so as to increase the volume for marketing and inter region marketing, exportation.Item ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN FOREST CONSERVATION IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA(2021) AGBAJE, TOLULOPE THERESAThis study assessed community participation in forest conservation in Ondo State, Nigeria. The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of respondents in the study area; evaluated the perception of the respondents about forest conservation; determined the awareness of any forest conservation programme among the respondents; identified different forest conservation association among the respondents; examined the perceived benefits derived by the respondents from the forest reserves; assessed the level of willingness of the community to accept a premium for conservation of forest; and identified factors that influenced the respondents willingness in forest conservation in the study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 200 respondents. Stage one involved purposive selection of two Agricultural zones out of the four zones in the State for occupying the largest sqkm2 of forest reserve. Stage two involved purposive selection of two Local Government Area (LGAs) from each of the selected Zones that are identified as having forest reserve in the State. In the third stage, five rural communities around the forest reserves were selected randomly from each LGA. The last stage involved random selection of 10 respondents from each community. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics, Likert Scale, Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) and Doublebounded Logit Model. The findings of the study revealed that average age of the respondents were 41.90 years which indicate that they were in their active age and most (49.5%) of them had secondary school completed. Also, larger proportion (63.0%) of the respondents were indigene of the villages around forest reserve and some (35.0%) of them had lived in the area for more than 21 years. On the average, the distance of the respondents from their home to forest was 2.68km while their mean income earned on monthly basis was ₦27,580. All the respondents have no access to social amenities. From the respondents’ perception, it shows that they strongly agreed that forest protection programme is necessary to sustain the forest reserve with mean score of 4.7. Larger proportion (65.0%) of the respondents were aware of forest degradation while some (29.0%) of them got their information on forest degradation from community leaders. From the result, it also shows that 49.0% of the respondents were aware of forest conservation programme (FCP) and 40.5% of them identified REDD+ (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) programme as their FCP. 44.9% of the respondents are fully involved in planning stage on how to control illegal logging in REDD+ programme. Most (85.0%) of the respondents harnessed fuel wood from the forest reserve while 81.0% of them were using the reserve for agricultural production. Furthermore, larger proportion (95.0%) of respondents were willing to accept a premium to conserve forest reserve and the exact mean of WTA monthly was ₦42,325.00. The double-bounded logit regression model showed that bid amount, age, marital status, income and forest distance were factors that significantly influenced the respondents WTA premium for forest protection. This study concluded that the respondents` were aware of forest degradation, and the importance of maintaining, conserving and sustaining forest reserve. In addition, the respondents` were willing to accept a premium for forest conservation. The study recommended that since they are willing to accept premium, Government and other Stakeholders should use the opportunity to involve the rural dwellers in conservation program so that forest management will be participatory in nature.Item THE COMPETITIVENESS AND COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE OF PRODUCTION SYSTEM OF PALM KERNEL PRODUCTS IN NIGERIA(2021) OMOSEYIN, MICHAEL ADEBAYOThere is demand-supply gap coupled with non-attainment of self-sufficiency in domestic palm kernel oil supply in Nigeria. Despite the various efforts of government to revive the subsector, the poor growth and development of the industry still surface. Therefore, this study evaluates the competitiveness, comparative advantages and effects of agricultural policies of palm kernel oil production in Nigeria using policy analysis matrix. The study also examined and determine the possible constraints face by the palm kernel products processors, using likert Scale and krippendorff’s Alpha Statistics, estimate the opportunity cost of not processing palm kernel nuts by the owners of nuts using conditional pay–off model, opportunity loss or regret value table and optimal decision analysis. The profitability of processing palm kernel products was examined with gross margin analysis while multinomial logistic regression was engaged to analyse the factors influencing opportunity cost of not processing palm kernel oil in Nigeria. Data were collected with multistage sampling procedures through the administration of well-structured questionnaires. The results showed that processors were highly hindered with social economic related constraint rather than production and marketing constraints, a Krippendorff’s Alpha statistic of 0.085 showed that there was a low level of concordance amongst respondents in the rating of constraints hampering palm kernel oil production in Nigeria. The Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) results showed production of palm kernel oil is competitive in Nigeria under existing market prices why the private profits was N46,631. The competitiveness of palm kernel oil production were further confirmed by Private Cost Benefit Ratio (PCBR) and Private Benefit Cost Ratio (PBCR) with 0.8158 and 1.0966 respectively. The social profits was N93,435 in the study area, which implies Nigeria has comparative advantage/efficiency of in palm kernel oil production for export. This was also confirmed by Domestic Resources Cosr (DRC) of 0.8364. However, the negative net transfer, implies poor protectionist policies and overall transfer of resources away from the production systems. The opportunity cost of not processing palm kernel nuts in the study area was estimated to be N84,892.64 per tonne if the owner of kernel nuts sells and N268,118.61 if the owner chose not to process. The aggregate optimal decision criteria results showed that processing palm kernel nuts is the optimal decision while leaving the nuts unprocessed was the best alternative decision. In addition the profitability ratio of palm kernel nut owners and investors were 1.69 and 1.34 respectively in the study areas which invariably showed that palm kernel oil production lines were profitable for both the owner and the investors.Item EFFECT OF VALUE ADDITION ON THE NET RETURNS OF CASSAVA FARMERS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA(2021) ADEWALE, ADEPEJU OLABISIThe study examined the effect of value addition on the net returns of cassava farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study also determines factors influencing the decision to add value and the level of value added and to identify the factors influencing net returns in the process of value addition in the study area. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select a sample size of 180 respondents. Primary data were collected through the administration of a structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary technique, heckman two- stage selection model, multiple regression. The socio-economic characteristics of the respondents indicated that the mean age of the farmers was 48.5 years. Most (66.1%) of the respondents were females. Majority (82%) of the respondents were married. In addition, majority of the respondents had attained some level of formal education. The mean household size for respondents was 7 persons per house. Furthermore, about 41% of the respondents had cassava production experience of 11-20 years with a mean of 15.7 years. Estimating the net returns from cassava value addition using budgetary analysis, the result shows that the net return of the farmers’ from Gari, Lafun and Cooked Fufu was ₦18,328.48, ₦28,682.05 and ₦17,446.41 respectively indicating the value addition is profitable. Net return on investment (NROI) estimated for Gari, Lafun and Cooked Fufu was 1.37, 1.86 and 1.40 respectively. The result of the Heckman analyse indicated that various factors such as education, farming experience, quantity harvested and equipment availability influenced the decisions of the farmers to add value to their product and the level of value added. Post estimation of the selection equation result indicated that years of education, farming experience, quantity harvested and availability of processing equipment significantly influenced adding value to cassava positively. Meaning that they increased probability of the farmers adding value to their produce (cassava). Similarly, the same analytical results run for level of value added showed that years of education, farming experience and availability of equipment positively influenced the level of value added to cassava. Meaning that they increased the probability of the level of value added. The determinants of net return from cassava value addition were analyzed using the production function estimates. The semi-log functional form was chosen as lead equation. The significant variables that positively influenced net return were household size, processing experience and farm size whereas, cost of cassava stem negatively influenced the farmers’ net return in the study area. There different constraints militating against cassava value addition in the study area. Using the likert type of scale, they included high cost of labour, high cost of cassava tubers, poor processing facilities, inadequate funds, inadequate drying space, long distance from farm and high cost of transportation which were severe to the cassava farmers adding value in the study area while poor storage facilities, low pricing of the product and lack of processing implement were not severe. In order to derive the highest socioeconomic and financial benefits from cassava processing, this study makes the following recommendations based on the findings of the study, there is urgent need for the government and other relevant stakeholders to assist the cassava farmers by providing more land for agriculture, hybrid cassava stems (high yielding varieties) at no cost or subsidized rate and adequate processing technology in order to improve value addition to cassava.Item THE EFFECTS OF PRICE VARIATION ON PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF RUBBER IN EDO AND DELTA STATES OF NIGERIA(2021) OBAYUWANA, JOLLY NOSAThe study was to determine the effects of price variation on the production of natural rubber in Nigeria with focus on Edo and Delta States being the major producing belt responsible for about 35% of the country’s output. Other objectives were to determine the international market concentration among rubber producing countries using the Herfindahl Hirschman Index from 2007 to 2017, the relationship between producer price and output of natural rubber using co-integration model and the determination of technical efficiency and profitability of natural rubber production among 162 smallholder rubber farmers in Edo and Delta States using data envelopment analysis and gross margin analysis respectively. Results of the study showed that the international export market for natural rubber was moderately concentrated with five countries having a total market share over 80% throughout the period with a Herfindahl Hirschman Index ranging from 2,039 to 2,458 for the entire period, while the import market was not concentrated thus indicating the possibility of collusion among major exporting countries to influence price, results also showed the producer price of natural rubber was led and predicted by output and not the other way round with a speed of adjustment of 0.72% towards the long run from a previous deviation in equilibrium and a 0.142 change in output was responsible for a 1% change in price. The mean technical efficiency was 0.477 while the average gross margin was found to be N150.2 per hectare per annum. Among factors that affected efficiency, the age of plantation was found to be significant at 5%. The study recommended the establishment of commodity trading institution for the country to provide a hedge against the adverse effects of the international market price changes on local production, the development of high yielding varieties of natural rubber and sensitization of rubber farmers to increase the adoption of good agronomic and tapping practices.Item FOREST DEPENDENCE AND WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY FOR SELECTED FOREST SERVICE ATTRIBUTES IN FRINGE COMMUNITIES OF FOREST RESERVES IN SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA(2021) FATOKI, OLALEKAN ANTHONYA clear understanding of forest households’ preferences as it relates to forest resources, valuation of associated benefits and trade-offs they are willing to make among the competing services provided by the forest are crucial in promoting sustainable forest conservation. Hence, this study assessed forest dependence and willingness-to-pay for selected forest service attributes in fringe communities of forest reserves in Southwest, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in obtaining primary data from 294 forest households in the study area. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food security module, Tobit regression, ordered logit regression and mixed logit regression models. Results showed that the household size was seven and the mean age was 47 years. Supply of firewood (85.6%), supply of medicinal plants (79.7%), provision of cool breeze (79.2%) and support for farming (74.2%) were the most important forest benefits. Farming was the most prevalent occupation in the forest communities. The major agricultural commodities produced in the forest communities were cassava, maize and plantain with returns on investment that is 3.13, 2.36 and 2.40 respectively for every one naira invested in the production of the crops. Tobit regression result shows that years spent in forest community, dependency ratio, gender (males), and farm size significantly increase dependence on forest for livelihood. USDA food security module revealed that 17.4% of the forest households sampled are food secured while 82.7% were food insecured. The ordered logit model revealed that household income, gender (male), agroforestry farming, firewood supply and flowing water from forest increase the likelihood of being marginally and highly food secured. The mixed logit model revealed that all the attributes except biodiversity reserve area significantly influence preference for afforestation and reforestation scheme. Positive preference was shown for access to farming while negative preference was shown for decreasing timber harvesting level, intervention management, access for recreation and cost. An average respondents in this study was willing to pay N4,756 for the forest service attributes. The attribute (access to farming) has the highest marginal WTP value of N4,018.03. The study concluded that forest reserves contribute positively to livelihood support in forest communities. Among other recommendations, the study recommended that livelihood support for forest households such as farming should be taken into consideration in planning afforestation and forest rehabilitation schemes to achieve sustainable forest conservation in Nigeria.Item DETERMINANTS OF ARABLE CROP FARMERS’ PARTICIPATION IN CREDIT MARKET IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.(2021) ADELOWO, EMMANUEL AYODEJIThis study examined the determinants of arable crop farmers’ participation in credit markets in Ondo State Nigeria. In specific term, factors influencing arable crop farmers’ participation in credit market and those that determine their credit demand were analysed. Multistage sampling method was used to select 150 arable crop farmers in three (3) Local Government Area (Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore) in Ondo State. Primary data were collected through the administration of well-structured questionnaire on the one hundred and fifty (150) respondents from the aforementioned three (3) Local Government Areas in Ondo State, Nigeria. The data were analysed using the descriptive statistics, Heckman Probit model, Heckman Two – Step Selection Model and Kendal’s Coefficient of Concordance. Result showed that majority of the respondents (72%) patronized formal source of credit such as cooperative societies, microfinance banks, commercial banks and Bank of Agriculture while 28% of respondents still seek loan from informal credit sources such as money lender and friends even though the amount of loan granted for arable crop farmers through these sources were small compare to the amount requested. Result revealed that majority of the respondents (64%) made use of cooperative society due to its processing and relaxed condition for active members. The respondents’ credit rating and score result showed that 81% of the farmers have low credit score and rating while only 19 % had a good credit score and rating. The results of Heckman Probit model showed that year of farm experience and level of formal education were positively significant and capital volume was negatively significant at 1%. Asset base, household size and farm size were positively significant at 5%. Income and debt status were negatively significant and savings was positively significant at 10% in determining the probability of participating in credit market. The results of Heckman two –step selection model showed that farm size and asset base were positively significant at 1% and interest rate was negatively significant at 1%. Also, debt status and capital volume were negatively significant at 5% while savings and credit source were positively significant at 5%. Income of the arable crop farmers was negatively significant at 10% in determining their credit demand. The major constraints to participate in credit markets by the respondents were distance to financial institution, lack record keeping, high interest rate and lack of collateral. This study recommended that access to credit facility with low interest rate should be granted to arable crop farmers at the appropriate time to enable them to adopt modern technologies that will improve farm production and productivity.Item NON – FARM INCOME, PRODUCTIVITY AND WELFARE STATUS OF YAM-BASED FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA.(2021) ADEBISI, OLUWADARE MICHAELThe study examined the Non - Farm Income, Productivity and Welfare Status of the Yam-Based Farming Households in Southwest, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to: identify the types of non-farm activities engaged by the farmers, the reasons for their engagement and the extent of contributions to total household income; determine the factors that influence yam- based farming households’ decision to participate in non-farm income activities; evaluate the level of productivity of the yam- based farming households; assess the welfare status of the farmers; and estimate the effect of non- farm income and productivity on welfare status of farmers in the study area. Primary data used in the study were obtained from 345 respondents selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, probit regression model, total factor productivity, fuzzy set theory and two stage least square. The result of the study showed that majority of the respondents (93.7%) were 60 years or less old with an average age of 46years which indicated that the farmers were in their economically active age. The study also showed that yam production was dominated by married men who were highly experienced and educated. The majority of the farmers engaged in one or more non- farm income activities. Some of the activities were; bricklaying, tailoring, restaurant dealer, iron works, teaching and others. The farmers had one or more reasons for participating in non-farm activities. The study also showed that non-farm income activities contributed about 50.77% to total household income of the yam – based farmers in the study area. The probit regression model result of the factors influencing the decision of the yam- based farming households to participate in non-farm income activities revealed that out of eleven included variables only four variables of education status, household size, access to social amenities and closeness to urban center positively influenced the decision to participate in nonfarm income activities while sex, farm size and access to credit facilities though significant negatively affected the probability of participating in non-farm income by the farmers. The distribution of the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) indicated that, 170(52.17%) ,54(17.39%) and 96(30.44%) of the respondents have TFP >1, TFP =1 and TFP<1 respectively. The fuzzy set result revealed that the capability to attain a desired state of welfare was highest with respect to ownership of economic asset and lowest with respect to security. Based on the welfare indexing for the elementary indicators of the welfare dimensions, the composite welfare index for farmers in the study area by the fuzzy logic aggregation was estimated at 0.2270. This indicates that the capability of the farmers to attain the valued capabilities set available to them is approximately 22.70%. The multidimensional welfare status index threshold was set at 0.5 with 36.47% of the farming households attaining state of better welfare status. The result of the two stage least square (2SLS) using total factor productivity index and non-farm income as instrumental variables on effect of non- farm income and productivity on the welfare status of the farmers showed positive relationship between the non-farm income and agricultural productivity on welfare status. The study recommends the promotion of non-farm employment as a good strategy for supplementing the income of yam –based farming households as well as sustaining equitable growth among rural households in Nigeria because non-farm income was not only a source of income for the participating households but a source of investment fund to boost agricultural productivity.Item THE EFFECT OF SAND MINING ON FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.(2021) SOTOMIWA, YUSUF MARTINSThe study analyzed the effect of sand mining on food crop production in Ondo State, Nigeria. It specifically described and compared socio-economic characteristics of landowners in the study area; identified the perceived factors influencing landowners to lease land to sand miners; evaluated the soil management requirements for remediating the mined agricultural lands and estimated the opportunity cost of leasing agricultural land to sand miners by farming household. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 respondents from the study area. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, soil analysis and Net Present Value (NPV). The result revealed that the average mean age across all four locations is 51years; about (51.7%) of the respondents have a secondary level of education across the locations. Also, the mean household size of the households was about 5 persons. Sand mining offers better job security than farming (x̅= 4.96), Sand mining provides quick access to income (x̅= 4.91), Sand mining offers job opportunities to people without lands (x̅= 4.81), Sand mining does not require any specialized skills to engage in (x̅ = 4.71), Unemployment/underemployment compel people to engage in sand mining (x̅= 4.56), Sand mining is economically more rewarding than farming (x̅= 4.52), Sand mining is economically more rewarding than farming (x̅= 4.52) were the most factors influencing landowners to lease their lands to sand miners. The result revealed that soils in the study area were acidic with an average pH of 5.3 after sand mining. The soil organic carbon of the plots was below the critical level, likewise the exchangeable potassium, sodium and the soil organic matter which is an indication that fertilization of the plots is highly necessary; the total nitrogen was higher than the critical value while the phosphorus content was within the critical value. The Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) was very low having a value less than 3meq/100g. Also, inorganic fertilizer (animal manure) has economic value as plant nutrient sources and can be used as amendments for soils to improve soil physical properties by adding organic matter. The result of the NPV from leasing the land to sand mining activities as against remediating the land for agricultural practices was -N42,187.60. The results revealed in the study area that here is severe soil nutrient depletion in the study area based on sand mining activites.Item EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ON FOOD SECURITY AMONG RICE FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA(2021) ROTIMI, TAIWO OLUWATOYINThe effect of climate change has impacted negatively on agriculture. This study focused on the effect of climate change adaptation strategies on food security among rice farming households in Ondo State, Nigeria. It described the socio economic characteristics of rice farming households; determined the food security status of rice farming households; examined the main determinants of food security status; identified rice farmers’ climate change adaptation strategies and determined the effect of climate change adaptation strategies on food security status of rice farming households. A total of 118 respondents were identified through a multistage sampling proceedure, on which well-structured questionnaire was administered. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, food security index, probit regression analysis and logistic regression model. The results of the analysis from the study showed that majority (91%) of the respondents were male, 89.8% were married and 93.2% were educated. The mean household size of rice farmers was 7 persons and 33.9% of the respondents earned between ₦50,001and ₦75,000 with the average total income per month as ₦74,872. The results of the analysis of food security status revealed that 45.8% of the respondents were food secured while, 54.2% were food insecured. Food secured households had a mean monthly household estimated income of ₦75,664 and mean monthly expenditure on food of ₦29,326; while food insecured households had a mean monthly estimated income of ₦73,935 and mean monthly expenditure on food of ₦28,494. Years of Farming experience was positively related to food security status while age and household size were inversely related. Some of the adaptation strategies employed to cope with climate change were changing planting and harvesting dates, multiple cropping, conservation tillage, planting tolerant crop varieties and engagement in other sources of income. The logistic regreression analysis revealed that age, years of farming experience, access to extension services and membership of agricultural association had a relationship with choice of adaptation strategies to climate change. Probit regression analysis showed that farmers’ use of adaptation strategies results in an increase in food security. Therefore, there is an effect of climate change adaptation strategies on food security. Existing policies in food crop production should be reviewed, farmers’ agricultural education introduced and agricultural incentives provided to farmers to help boost farm productivity with a resultant increase in food output and food security in the study area.Item EFFECT OF PALM OIL PRICE FLUCTUATIONS ON THE WELFARE OF PALM OIL PRODUCERS IN NIGERIA(2021) OMOSEHIN, OLANREWAJU OLANIYIThe economic importance of palm oil, in household food requirements, income generation, production and consumption has led to both a significant increase in demand and fluctuations in its price over the years. This study, therefore, examines the effect of palm oil price fluctuations on the welfare of palm oil producers in Nigeria. Annual time series data ranging from (1980 to 2018) were collected on relevant variables and analysed using Line Graph and Growth Function Analysis, Augmented Dickey Fuller test for Unit root, Johansen Co-integration test, Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), Impulse Response Function (IRFs), Variance Decomposition (VD), Pair-wise Granger Causality test and Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL). The result of the growth rate analysis shows that all the variables ( Exchange Rate, Inflation rate, Palm oil export and Palm Oil Price) exhibited positive trends and statistically significant at 1% significant level in the period under the study. The result of the Johansen co-integration test indicated the presence of long-run equilibrium relationship between exchange rate(ER) and palm oil export (POE) at 5% significant level. Furthermore, error correction model (ECM-1) implies that previous years’ shocks in the ER are transmitted to POE at slow adjustment rate of about 5.7%, ceteris paribus. Pair-wise granger causality test on ER and POE implied that ER granger-caused POE at 5% significant level (0.0205) with unidirectional causal relationship. In the same vein, the result of Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) indicates presence of long-run relationship when Welfare (WELF) is regressed against explanatory variables (POP, INF, and POE) and each variable containing information for the prediction of other variables. The short run dynamics adjusts to the long-run equilibrium at 13% in the current year, ceteris paribus. The study therefore recommends that backward integration policies should be adopted by the government and also government should formulate policies that will mitigate palm oil price fluctuations effect and its control variables on palm oil producers in Nigeria.Item GENDER DIFFERENTIAL IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OIL PALM PROCESSORS IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA(2021) BANKOLE, AJOKE SADIATThe study examined the gender differential in the performance of oil palm processors in South west, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from two hundred and seventy -five (275) oil palm processors with the aid of structured validated questionnaire through a multi-stage sampling procedure. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Budgeting Technique, Ordinary Least Square Multiple Regression, Gini Coefficient, Regression-Based Inequality Decomposition Index, Seemingly Unrelated Regression Equation (SURE), Stochastic Frontier Production Function (SFPF), Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR), Double Hurdle model and Independent t-test. The result showed that in terms of the profitability efficiency, the performance of the female is better than the male. Factors that significantly affect the performance of the female respondents were education, marital status, experience, age, depreciation, labor and cost of transportation while for the male respondents were age, family size, experience, household size, depreciation and transportation cost. There was more income disparity within the male processors (0.72%) than within their female (0.67) counterpart. It was also revealed in the study that age, education, extension contact, years of experience, access to credit and adoption of technology determined the annual income of female respondents while age, extension contact and years of experience determined the annual income of male respondents. Result of the Stochastic Frontier Model showed that the technical efficiency of the male was 0.77 while the female was 0.58. In the case of allocative efficiency, the male respondent has 0.63 while female has 0.54, the cost efficiency of the male was 0.80 while for the female was 0.71, this indicated that male respondent is technically, allocatively and cost efficient than the female in oil palm processing. The result of the impact of adoption of technology on output of the processors revealed that technology adoption significantly increases outputs of the female and male respondents. The expected output from female processors adopters was 414.97kg compared with the non-adopters (238.58kg), while the male processors adopters had 363.29kg compared to 261.82kg by the non-adopter respondents. The Double Hurdle Model revealed that factors affecting adoption of the oil palm processing technology are education, access to credit, extension contact, association, experience of the female respondents while for the male respondents it includes education, extension contact and experience. The outcome of the second hurdle model showed that factors influencing the intensity or rate of adoption of technology among the female were extension contact, level of education, access to credit and experience while for male respondents were level of education, extension contact and memberships of association. There were different constraints facing oil palm processors in the study area, the most serious and similar constraints among the male and female processors were poor road, inadequate capital for investment and high cost of processing technology. The study therefore recommends NGOs, Stakeholders and government should provide improved modern oil palm processing technology at subsidized rate. Adequate Access to extension services should be provided by the government to improve productivity and efficiency in oil palm processing. Processors should be educated on the use of the processing technology, the press.Item CONSUMER DEMAND AND PREFERENCE FOR MEAT CONSUMPTION AMONG URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA(2021) AKOMOLAFE, GBENGA KUNLEThe study examined consumer demand and preference for meat consumption among urban households in Ondo State, Nigeria. Nigeria livestock industry is small and slow growing relative to the population relying on it for meat. Household demand for meat products are faced with problems which are mostly due to market prices. Developing countries such as Nigeria is among low income countries where decrease in per capita income leads to decrease in meat demand and consumption. Also meat consumption varies worldwide, depending on culture or religious preference, economic conditions as well as changes in the consumer food behaviors which all contribute to the problem of meat consumption. Therefore the study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents; identified the most preferred meat type; examined the factors that influence consumer’s demand and preference for meat; estimated own price, cross price and expenditure elasticities of the demand for meat and identified constraints faced by respondents in meeting their meat consumption needs in the study area. Primary data were collected with aid of a well-structured questionnaire from one hundred and fifty (150) respondents comprising of fifty urban households each from Akure South, Ondo West and Owo Local Government Areas of Ondo state. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Multinomial Logistic Regression, Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model and Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance. The results showed among others that: Male respondents dominated with 54% and 77.4% of the respondents were in the age bracket of 20- 50 years in the study area, while 80% of the respondents had tertiary education, 76.7% of the respondents have household size of 1-5 and 42% of the respondents are civil servants. The study also revealed that dried fish is the most preferred meat (56.7%) followed by Hide and skin (ponmo) (19.3%), Pork (13.3%), while snail is the least preferred meat (10.7%). The reason for this preference were: appearance, income, smell and market. The result of Multinomial Logistic Regression showed that dried fish was the reference category, thereby making prediction for the other three meat types. Likewise, the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) showed that the own price of all the products are negative, confirming to the law of demand, while Cross price elasticity revealed that the various meat types have complementary and substitute relationships. In conclusion, Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance showed that low household income was the most severe constraint while poor health and religious belief were the least pressing constraints faced by the respondents in meeting their meat needs. The study recommended that consumer’s protection council must make sure that the prices of the available meat types are kept low by encouraging partnership in the production, distribution and marketing of meat which in turn allow the consumers to buy at relatively cheap prices. Also, the public and the private sector should ensure that there are more sales outlet readily available for the numerous consumers so as to meet their demands for meat products to help household consume what they prefer than what is availableItem LAND TENURE SYSTEM AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD AMONG WOMEN CASSAVA FARMERS IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA(2021) AKINDUKO, ABIMBOLA KIKELOMOThe study analyzed the land tenure system and sustainable livelihood among women cassava farmers in Southwest, Nigeria. The study was carried out in Ogun and Ondo States. The study data obtained through structured questionnaire and focus group discussion (FDG) were elicited from three hundred (300) respondents selected across the study areas using the multistage sampling technique. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that respondents had a mean age of 47.4 years, 82% had at least primary school education, 85.3% were married with a mean household size of 5 persons, mean farming experience was 15.4 years and mean farm size was 1.4ha. Majority (89.0 %) of the respondents had access to adequate land and 71.3% were not land tenure secured. The result of Heckman probit model showed that income (p < 0.003), farm size (p < 0.000), social group (p < 0.068), primary occupation (p < 0.002), number of dependants (p < 0.035) and proximity to processing industry (p < 0.042) were positively significant to access to land while household size (p <0.019), access to extension (p < 0.001), cassava output (p < 0.000) and proximity to market (p < 0.059) were negatively significant. Findings also shows that marital status (p < 0.000), education status (p < 0.026), access to credit (p < 0.000), access to extension agent (p < 0.001), farming experience (p < 0.008), farm size (p < 0.010) and proximity to processing industry (p < 0.00) were positively significant to land security status of respondents. The results of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) indicated that 12.8% of the land secured farmers were technically inefficient with the mean efficiency of 0.55 apiece for Constant Returns to Scale Technical Efficiency (CRSTE) and scale efficiency. For the CRSTE and scale efficiency of non-land secured farmers, 3.74% of the interviewed farmers were both technically and scale efficient with the mean efficiency of 0.38 and 0.39 respectively. Independent sampled t-test revealed that there was a significant difference between the efficiency and land security status of the women cassava farmers. The result of Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression model analysis revealed that the coefficients of marital status (p < 0.052), access to credit (p < 0.013), costs of equipment (p < 0.031), access to extension service (p < 0.061), cassava output (p < 0.013) and farming experience (p < 0.048) were statistically significant in determining respondents having two sources of income; coefficients of household size (p < 0.040), and access to credit (p < 0.0.025) were statistically significant in influencing the probability of adopting three sources of income while household size (p < 0.073) and access to credit (p < 0.033) were significantly responsible for the choice of four income sources in the study area. The result of the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) analysis showed that marital status (p < 0.058), number of extension visits (p < 0.040), farming experience (p < 0.011), farm size (p < 0.047), labour cost (p < 0.024), transportation (p < 0.028) and belonging to social group (p < 0.040) were statistically significant in affecting the farmers’ income in the study area. The major constraints encountered by cassava farmers were: shortage of land for cassava production, unsecured land ownership, poor road network, inadequate capital, and environmental hazards. Poor road network (1st) was considered the most serious problem being encountered on cassava production and the least (12th) identified constraint was problem of pest and disease. The study concluded that women cassava farmers had access to adequate land for cultivating cassava but not many of the respondents were land secured, while the land secured women cassava farmers have higher production efficiency than the non-land secured category. The study therefore, recommended that land ownership system in rural areas should be reviewed to encourage more women access to large cultivable land, and enhance their tenure security towards increased agricultural production for sustainable livelihood. This study therefore, contributes to the existing body of knowledge by investigating and providing information on the land tenure system that exist among women cassava farmers in South Western Nigeria with particular focus on Ogun and Ondo states exploring their land tenure security status and also assessed their production efficiencies in cassava farming enterprise. The study is further unique in the choice of analytical tools that were adopted in the analysis of data collected during the research such as Data Envelopment Analysis, Quantile Regression Model and Heckman Probit Model. These tools were not found to have been applied in similar studies conducted earlier.Item IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES ON CASSAVA FARMERS’ PRODUCTIVITY IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA(2021) ADEDIGBA, ADEBISI TAIWOThe study examined the impact of services rendered by cooperative societies to cassava farmers’ Productivity in Ondo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 120 cassava farmers from the state. Primary data were collected through the administration of a structured questionnaire and were analysed using descriptive statistics, Torquist -theil total factor productivity, Tobit regression model, Krippendorff Alpha Reliability Test. Findings indicated that majority of the respondents in the study area were still within the active age (50.4years for members, and 49.5years for non-members) necessary to carry out laborious activities involved in agricultural production. It was revealed that majority of the respondents were male and married with an average household size of nine persons. However the average year of experience was 13.7 for members and 14.9 for non-members with four major varieties of cassava planted namely Vitamin A cassava, TME419 cassava, TME508 cassava and Local cassava. The results from the study further indicated that 81.7% of cooperative members and 73.4% of non-cooperative members were involved in alternative livelihood activities such as trading, artisan, sales of farm produce, processing of farm produce, poultry/livestock production. The Alpha value for the militating factors against the effectiveness of farmers cooperative was 0.76.The average TFP for Cassava farmers in Agricultural Cooperative Societies (CFACS) and Cassava farmers not in Agricultural Cooperative Societies (CFNACS) were 1.66 and 0.56 respectively, also the average tones produced by Cassava farmers in Agricultural Cooperative Societies and Cassava farmers not in Agricultural Cooperative Societies were14.4tons and 11.9tons respectively. In addition most of the respondents used family and hired labour and the distance covered from home to farm was less than 5kilometer for most of the respondents. The major factors influencing productivity of Cassava farmers in Agricultural Cooperative Societies were age, level of education, farm size, saving mobilization, access to market, and market information. Access to credit was significant at 1% and technical training, farm experience were statistical significant at 5%, while access to input supplies was significant at 10%. Access to credit has a significant positive impact on cassava productivity. Thus, credit institutions should consider boosting their credit services to rural farming households in order to guarantee that more households benefit from it. Therefore, the efforts to raise productivity of cassava farmers should be geared towards strengthening cooperative management so that the societies can fulfill their primary goal of solving farmers’ financial.Item ANALYSIS OF URBAN AND RURAL PLANTAIN MARKETS INTEGRATION IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA(2012) AJAYI, JOSEPH OMOTOSOThis study analysed urban and rural plantain markets integration in Ondo State, Nigeria. It specifically examined the socio-economic characteristics of plantain marketers in the urban and rural markets in the study area, the factors that influenced the price of plantain in the urban and rural markets in the study area, examined the trend of plantain prices in the urban and rural markets in the study area and whether the urban and rural plantain markets in Ondo State are co-integrated. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and eighty (180) respondents and structured questionnaires administered on them to collect the required data. The secondary data used were the monthly nominal prices in naira per kilogramme of plantain in Ondo State of Nigeria. Secondary data were collected from the Agricultural Development Project (ADP) of the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The method of data analysis included descriptive statistics, regression analysis, price trend analysis and co-integration. The results of analysis of socio-economic characteristics of respondents in both the urban and rural markets in the study area revealed that married women dominated plantain marketing with 64.64% of the respondents being female while only 35.36% of the respondents were male in in the urban markets. In the rural markets, women represented 85.56% of the respondents in rural markets while only 14.44% of the respondents were men. The stationarity tests revealed that both price series were stationary at the first difference while the co-integration test revealed that the null hypothesis of no co-integration was rejected at 5 percent level of significance. The study concluded that the rural plantain markets and urban plantain markets had their prices tied together in the long run.Item EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ON CASSAVAPRODUCTION IN SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA.(2019) OWOEYE, Rufus SundayEvidences from literature and past studies have revealed that climate change has influenced agricultural productivity leading to declining global food production. The study was to examine the effect of climate change adaptation strategies on cassava production in Southwest, Nigeria where two different agro-ecological zones (AEZ) (rain forest and savannah) were chosen for the study. The study used multi-stage sampling procedures, with the aid of well-structured questionnaire, to select 150 cassava producers from each AEZ, making a total of 300 cassava producers for the study. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, cost-benefit analysis, multinomial logit model and stochastic frontier production function. From the study, it was revealed that cassava farmers in the study area were relatively young, fairly educated, mostly married, well experienced, adequately aware of climate change, but operated on a small scale. Result from vulnerability assessment of the cassava farmers showed that cassava farmers in rain forest AEZ (0.197) were more vulnerable to climate variability and extremes weather events than in the savannah AEZ (0.016). The most commonly practiced climate adaptation strategies were; the use of improved varieties, multiple planting dates, increasing farm size, mulching, farm plot fragmentation and crop diversification. Factors influencing the choice of these climate adaptation strategies were; sex, age, farm income, years spent in school, labour availability, amount of credit obtained, intensity of rainfall and temperature. Results from the costs and returns analysis revealed that crop diversification generated the highest gross margins of ₦472,924 per hectare and ₦377,000 per hectarein rain forest and savannah AEZs respectively among the cassava farmers that practiced only one adaptation strategy. Also, cassava farmers who practiced combination of adaptation strategies in both AEZs revealed that cassava farmers who used at least five adaptation strategies had the highest gross margins of ₦507,478.5 and ₦332,060in rain forest and savannah AEZs respectively. Result on the influence of climate adaptation strategies on technical efficiency of cassava production in both rain forest and savannah AEZs in the study area revealed that technical inefficiency effects existed in cassava production as confirmed by the gamma values of 0.687 and 0.639 in rain forest and savannah respectively. The study therefore recommended that farmers, via extension agents, should be encouraged to practice multiple adaptation strategies because the resulting crop enterprise yield high profit per hectare; and that government should create opportunities for non- farm income sources as this helps them to engage in those activities that are less sensitive to climate change.Item ANALYSIS OF MAIZE VALUE CHAIN IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA(2017) JEJE, EMMANUEL TEMITOPEThis study examined the maize value chain in Ondo State, Nigeria. It identified the various actors in the maize value chain, their products and functions, the value added at each stage of the value chain and the overall value chain. One hundred and seventy nine (179) respondents were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Interview schedule and structured questionnaire were used to obtain primary data. Data were collected on cost and returns on procurement of input supply, production, processing, marketing and consumption. Also data on information delivery was collected and this was analyzed using functional and budgetary Analysis. Result from the functional analysis with other socio-economic characteristics, showed that there were five major actors or stages in the maize value chain in Ondo State, Nigeria. They are input suppliers, farmers, processors, marketers and consumers. Budget analysis revealed gross margin per month of N8,3620,643.78k for input manufacturers, N8,956,893.87k for agricultural development programme (ADP), N1,375,766.67k for the input supply Agency (AISA), N2,841,62346 for private agro dealers, N177,104.39k for gross margin of farmers, N246,119.30k for gross margin of processors of maize flour, N51,332.25k for gross margin of Boiled maize, N45,627.98k for Roasted maize processors, N11,69,203.58k for livestock feed millers, N255,939.27 for gross margin of markers. It can be concluded that maize farmers produce or cultivates at a subsistence level based on one factor and others. Storage facilities, pest and disease control is not adequate which can reduce post-harvest losses. Market information should be adequate through marketing or price Board which will prevent consumers not to be worsen-off. Based on the study, government should tar rural communities’ roads leadings to different farms for easy motorable of farm produce. Both government and input suppliers should increase and continue training of farmers in the use of farm inputs and implements through seminar workshop, training and visit, posters, handbill. Also processors of maize products should not be left out from training especially in the handling of their milling machineries (technical know-how). Government should give soft loan to maize input suppliers, farmers, processors and marketers at low interest rate to improve maize farming.Item AN EVALUATION OF CASSAVA MARKETING IN THE AGRICULTURAL ZONE ONE (1) OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.(2015) ROTOWA, ADEOLA IDOWUThis study focused on the evaluation of cassava marketing in the ADP Zone 1 of Ondo State, Nigeria. It examined the socio-economic characteristics of the cassava marketers in the study area, analysed the structure, conduct and performance of the cassava market and identified the main marketing channels for cassava in the study area. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting eighty (80) respondents and structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Methods of data analyses include descriptive statistics, Concentration ratio, Gross Margin analysis and the Gini coefficient. The results of analysis of socio-economic characteristics of respondents in the study area showed that married people dominated the cassava market, with 87.50% of the respondents being married while the rest are either single or divorced. The study also revealed that marketing of cassava is mostly undertaken by males (55%). Most of them are literate, with at least 62.5% having secondary school education. Cassava marketing is a profitable enterprise in the study area, with average marketing margin of 35% per marketer. The market is profitable and operationally efficient, with profitability and efficiency ratios of 0.50 and 1.51 respectively. Majority of the respondents (97.5%) do not belong to cassava marketing association. The problems faced by the marketers include high transportation costs and poor pricing from buyers. More processing companies should be established in the study so as to enable marketers receive better prices; marketing cooperatives should be formed likewise. Construction and rehabilitation of good feeder roads should be done for easier and cheaper transportation of cassava tubers.Item CONSUMERS’ PREFERENCES AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR ORGANIC AMARANTH AND TOMATO IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM CHOICE EXPERIMENT(2019) AKINWEHINMI, Joseph OluwagbengaThis study made use of a stated preference technique, Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE), to elicit consumers’ preference and willingness to pay for organic amaranth and tomato. Also, the study investigated heterogeneity in consumers’ preferences at the same time described socio-economic characteristics of respondents driving heterogeneity. A total of 247 respondents were drawn through the administration of well-structured questionnaire following a multistage sampling technique. The analytical techniques employed included descriptive statistics and parametric and semi parametric logistic regression analysis. The results of analysis of key socio-economic characteristics showed that respondents in the amaranth and tomato groups had mean ages of 48 and 44 respectively. Male respondents dominated the survey with 67.9% and 84.3% in the amaranth and tomato groups respectively. Most of the respondents have smaller households with average of four members in the amaranths group and three in the tomato group. It was found that only 28.06% and 5.77% were really fully aware of the organic products in the amaranth and tomato groups. In the unobserved heterogeneity model formulations, price of organic amaranth, chemical reduction, taste, freshness and NAFDAC certified attributes were consistently revealed as strong predictors for consumers’ choice of organic amaranth. In relation to the results for organic tomato, the strong predictors were price, chemical reduction taste, complete and partial freshness. Explaining heterogeneity in mean taste parameters for organic amaranth data, age, gender and level of awareness about organic products were found to be the best explanatory individualspecific factors in preference for chemical reduction. Only gender explained variation in preference for taste while level of awareness explained variation in preference for NAFDAC certification. In the pooled data, age and percentage of spouse income contribution in the total household income significantly explained variation in sensitivities to chemical reduction. Level of awareness explained variation in sensitivities towards NAFDAC certification. The results based on WTP-space model for the organic amaranths reveal that consumers were willing to pay premium for all attributes except the relatively unknown Nigerian Organic Agriculture Network (NOAN) certification. In the tomato group, results showed that respondents were only willing to pay for chemical reduction and tastiness in tomato even though they preferred the other attributes in the preference models. In all of the models estimated and in both commodity groups, chemical reduction was revealed to be the strongest attribute that positively induced consumers’ willingness to pay. Given a relatively low level of awareness of organic concept, we suggest policies that drive consumers' awareness of organic concept. In relation to certification, certified organic market may only speed up to consumers acceptability if a relatively popular NAFDAC would include standardization of organic agricultural production in her portfolio. Furthermore, government can spark up organic food production by reviving the moribund organic fertilizer plant in the study area.