Labour Use

This study provides an empirical investigation of the adjustment process of labour in Indian manufacturing industries, which evolved through structural transformation in the era of globalization. The analysis is based on a dynamic model applied to a panel of 22 two-digit manufacturing industries for a time period of 22 years covering 1980/81 to 2001/02. We assume that as competition increases industries adjust their employment to a desired level which is both industry and time specific. The results indicate that manufacturing sector has shown considerable dynamism in adjusting its workforce. The long run labour demand responds greatest to the output, followed by capital and least by wages. It is observed that Indian manufacturing is not inefficient in labour use as modest speed of adjustment has led employment size at near the optimal level.

This study provides an empirical investigation of the adjustment process of labour in Indian manufacturing industries, which evolved through structural transformation in the era of globalization. The analysis is based on a dynamic model applied to a panel of 22 two-digit manufacturing industries for a time period of 22 years covering 1980/81 to 2001/02. We assume that as competition increases industries adjust their employment to a desired level which is both industry and time specific. The results indicate that manufacturing sector has shown considerable dynamism in adjusting its workforce. The long run labour demand responds greatest to the output, followed by capital and least by wages. It is observed that Indian manufacturing is not inefficient in labour use as modest speed of adjustment has led employment size at near the optimal level.

This study focuses on the role of mechanised sowing and weeding in combination with seed priming and fertiliser microdosing in Mali. Mechanised sowing and weeding were based on using a combined donkey-drawn planter/weeder and a motorised planter/weeder. The research methods included studies of seed delivery in manual and mechanised sowing, field experiments on different levels of mechanization/intensification, labour studies on mechanisation and an economic assessment of the different levels of intensification. The average sorghum grain yield across three years increased by 352 kg ha -1 (43.7% increase) by combining mechanisation with seed priming and microdosing of 0.2 g NPK 15-15-15 fertiliser per pocket compared to a control with manual sowing but without seed priming and microdosing. The labour demand (sowing and weeding) for manual, donkey-drawn and motorised operations was respectively 184, 67 and 47 hours ha -1 , respectively. An economic analysis showed that the donkey-drawn planter/weeder is the appropriate mechanisation below six ha while above this land size it becomes increasingly interesting for the farmers to invest in a motorised planter. The use of mechanisation will result in earlier and uniform crop establishment, facilitate microdosing application, timelier weeding, higher yields, better economic return and reduced labour demand.

This paper presents a dynamic adjustment model of employment. The adjustment process is both industry and time-specific. The adjustment parameter is specified in terms of factors affecting the speed of adjustment. The model is applied to a panel of ten Zimbabwean manufacturing industries observed over the period 1970-1993. A labour requirement function is specified to model the optimal level of employment. The empirical results show that in the long-run, employment demand responds greatest to wages, followed by capital stock changes, and least by output. We further examined labour-use efficiency over time and across different industries.

This study focuses on the role of mechanised sowing and weeding in combination with seed priming and fertiliser microdosing in Mali. Mechanised sowing and weeding were based on using a combined donkey-drawn planter/weeder and a motorised planter/weeder. The research methods included studies of seed delivery in manual and mechanised sowing, field experiments on different levels of mechanization/intensification, labour studies on mechanisation and an economic assessment of the different levels of intensification. The average sorghum grain yield across three years increased by 352 kg ha-1 (43.7% increase) by combining mechanisation with seed priming and microdosing of 0.2 g NPK 15-15-15 fertiliser per pocket compared to a control with manual sowing but without seed priming and microdosing. The labour demand (sowing and weeding) for manual, donkey-drawn and motorised operations was respectively 184, 67 and 47 hours ha-1 , respectively. An economic analysis showed that the donkey-drawn planter/weeder is the appropriate mechanisation below six ha while above this land size it becomes increasingly interesting for the farmers to invest in a motorised planter. The use of mechanisation will result in earlier and uniform crop establishment, facilitate microdosing application, timelier weeding, higher yields, better economic return and reduced labour demand.

This study provides an empirical investigation of the adjustment process of labour in Indian manufacturing industries, which evolved through structural transformation in the era of globalization. The analysis is based on a dynamic model applied to a panel of 22 two-digit manufacturing industries for a time period of 22 years covering 1980/81 to 2001/02. We assume that as competition increases industries adjust their employment to a desired level which is both industry and time specific. The results indicate that manufacturing sector has shown considerable dynamism in adjusting its workforce. The long run labour demand responds greatest to the output, followed by capital and least by wages. It is observed that Indian manufacturing is not inefficient in labour use as modest speed of adjustment has led employment size at near the optimal level.

The extent to which a farmer is efficient in his work can to a large extent be determined by the demographic variables. Therefore, this study evaluates the effects of farmers ’ socio-economic variables on cocoa production. The study was carried out in Cross Rivers state of Nigeria and the information was collected from the respondents with the aid of structured questionnaire and the information sought for include demographic variables, farm size as well as cocoa output. Descriptive statistics as well as regression analysis were used to analyze the data collected Result showed that youths of the age bracket 20-30 years has the highest proportion (36%) of the respondents while majority of the respondents (80%) were formally educated. However, educational level as well as farm size significantly affected the level of cocoa production in the study area (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). Based on the findings, it was recommended that farmers should be encouraged to improve their lev...

| Factors influencing the output of rice produced and choice of marketing outlets among smallholder rural farming households are the main focus to improve rice production and increase the income of the farmers. Primary data were used for this study. Data were obtained using a well-designed well-structured questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered to two hundred and seven (207) small-holder rural rice farming households. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted. Data were analyzed using Multinomial Logit Model, Gini-Coefficient, Double-Log Regression Model, (Cobb-Douglas) and Principal Component Analysis. The results of the Multinomial Logit regression model show that among the significant factors that influence the choice of rice market outlets were: sex of the household head (P<0.10), educational level (P<0.10), access to credit facilities (P<0.05), extension services (P<0.01), price information (P<0.05), market information (P<0.01) and, marketing experience ((P<0.05). The value of Gini-Coefficient calculated was 0.91429. The observed inequality in income distribution among small-holder rural rice farmers was a reflection of inefficiency in the market structure for rice. The results of Double-Log Regression model revealed that quantity of rice output harvested was positively and significantly influenced by farm size (P<0.05), the quantity of seed planted (P<0.01), the volume of chemical applied (P<0.05), labour input (P<0.01), and contract farming (P<0.05). Quantity of fertilizer and expected price of output was negative and significant at (P<0.01), and (P<0.05) probability levels respectively. The coefficient of the multiple determinations (R 2 ) in the production model was 0.51. This signifies that the explanatory variables included in the model accounted for about 51% variations in the quantity of rice output harvested in the study area. Smallholder rice farmers were faced with the following challenges in rice production and market outlet choice which include: Fire outbreak, thieves, cattle herdsmen attack, flood occurrence, transportation problem, poor storage facility, inadequate capital, lack of land/ tractor, poor price, high cost of chemical, inadequate fertilizer, lack of improved seed, inadequate extension officers, and lack of credit facilities. This study recommends that new innovations and technology that targets increased productivity should be promoted, provision of adequate extension officers is needed, input market supply for provision of seeds, fertilizers and storage facilities should be made accessible to farmers, provision of rice processing equipment should be made available, contract farming and marketing should be encouraged for increased rice production and market out choice for profit maximization among rice farmers to eradicate poverty and improve their welfare.

The study on the efficiency performance of bitter leaf farming by cooperative members in Anambra State, Nigeria used a restrictive Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier approach; production and cost function after testing the null hypothesis for model appropriateness to analyze the data and later predict the technical and economic efficiencies. Data were collected from a cross-section of 205 randomly selected bitter leaf farmers who are members of agricultural cooperatives. The study revealed that fertilizer and labour are the important inputs for bitter leaf production in the area. The study witnessed under-utilization of fertilizer inputs, we, therefore, advised that farm managers should reduce the volume of fertilizer given to the farmers by 54.95% or that policymakers should increase the price of fertilizer available to the farmers by 54.95%. The technical efficiency was found as 77.0% implying that farmers are operating 23.0% below their optimum. For bitter leaf farmers to attain cost-efficiency, they would have to save costs by 3.72%, while cost-inefficient farmer would save 19.35% cost. But, in the short run, the farmers still reserve the chance to increase cost (economic) efficiency by 4.2% through adopting improve agricultural technology. Years of formal education and household size improve the technical efficiency of farmers, while only household size improves economic efficiency. This study is crucial at this time the world needs to grow crops that have so much medicinal value to tackle the menace of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This paper presents a dynamic adjustment model of employment. The adjustment process is both industry and time-specific. The adjustment parameter is specified in terms of factors affecting the speed of adjustment. The model is applied to a panel of ten Zimbabwean manufacturing industries observed over the period 1970-1993. A labour requirement function is specified to model the optimal level of employment. The empirical results show that in the long-run, employment demand responds greatest to wages, followed by capital stock changes, and least by output. We further examined labour-use efficiency over time and across different industries.

The study investigates the various sources of labour used for rice production in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The main purpose of the study was to find out the various sources of agricultural labour available for use in rice production, to ascertain the most preferred source of labour and the reasons for the preference and to also ascertain the relationship between the source of labour used and the size of rice farm cultivated. The study adopted a survey research design with a population of 5125 smallholder rice farmers, out of which 371 respondents were sampled using the multi-stage sampling strategy (Purposive and simple random sampling techniques). The instrument used for data collection was structured pre-tested questionnaire. Data collected was(were) analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPPS 20.0) from which simple frequencies and percentages were presented in tables to answer the research questions, while chi-square was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that agricultural labour comes from six main sources: family, friends, hired, cooperative, rotational (Himbe) as well as mechanized labour. Out of these, family labour was preferred because it is readily available and affordable. The findings also revealed that there is a significant relationship between the source of labour used and the size of rice farm cultivated. Based on these findings, it was recommended that: mechanization is the best solution to ensure maximum productivity and increase in rice yield, thus farmers should make deliberate efforts to leverage on the assistance from the government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to them to purchase farm machineries like tractors, planters, harvesters, threshers and mechanize their farms. The government and other stakeholders should also ensure the security of rural farmers to guarantee sustainable food production in the country

The study examined resource productivity analysis of small scale root and tuber crop farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Data used for the study were obtained from primary source using a multi-stage sampling technique with structured questionnaires administered to 150 randomly selected root and tuber crop farmers from the study area. Descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, frequency distribution table and percentages were used to summarize the variables used in the analysis while data envelopment analysis was used to empirically determine the resource productivity in the study area. The DEA result on the overall technical efficiency of the farmers showed that 6% of the sampled root and tuber crop farmers in the study area were operating at frontier and optimum level of production with mean technical efficiency of 1.00. Decomposition of technical efficiency also showed mean efficiency scores of 0.25 and 0.32 for overall technical efficiency and scale efficiency respec...

The study focused on determinants of Agribusiness Cooperators' access to credit in from formal sources in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents; estimated the determinants of access to credit and ascertained the challenges associated with Agribusiness Cooperators' borrowing from formal sources. Multistage sampling technique was adopted in sampling for location and respondents. A total of 150 respondents were sampled from list of Agribusiness Cooperators in the various communities. Data were collected using questionnaire administered on respondents using interview schedules and observation. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as percentages, means and the Ordinary Least Squares multiple regression model. Results indicate that Agribusiness Cooperators in the study area are predominantly young, productive and literate with average farming experience of 7 years. Findings further showed that the cooperators are predominantly males, smallholders with mean household size of 6 persons and mean income of N45,878.00 per farming season. Results of the regression model indicated that farm size, education and loan period showed expected positive signs a priori and were significant at various probability levels. Contrary to a priori expectation, experience showed a negative sign and was significant at 10% level. High interest rate, delay in loan disbursement and reluctance in repaying loans were rated the most dominant challenges to borrowing from formal sources. Based on the findings, it was recommended that cooperatives should be encouraged to organize periodic capacity building exercises for members to keep them abreast of developments vis-à-vis agribusiness investment and credit access.

Abstract: The study examined resource productivity among low external input technology smallholder farmers in Imo State and their implications for rural development in Nigeria. Cross-sectional data generated from 80 LEIT smallholder farmers randomly selected from 2 out of the 3 agricultural zones in Imo State were used. Production function analysis was used in analyzing the data. Results showed that farm size, labour input, capital input, planting materials and organic manure are the main determinants of the gross income of LEIT farmers. The relative abundance of a significant proportion of these resources in the rural areas therefore makes their increased use, a veritable instrument for sustainable rural development. Formation of cooperative societies among farmers whose lands are contiguous and utilization of extension agents as channels for credit delivery to farmers were also recommended. [New York Science Journal 2010;3(11):65-70]. (ISSN: 1554-0200).

This study investigated gender involvement of household members in cocoa production activities in south west Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to randomly select respondents from cocoa producing states in south-western Nigeria; specifically, Oyo and Osun states. Four field sites namely Iddo and Ogo-Oluwa in Oyo State and Atakumosa East and Ayedire in Osun state were purposively selected due to the on-going humidtropics project in these states. Fifty cocoa farmers registered with the state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) who were members of the Innovation Platform (IP) in the on-going humid tropics programme were purposively selected from each of the 4 field sites from Akindele, Lagbedu and Iwara, Osunwoyin in Oyo and Osun States respectively, making a total of 200 cocoa farmers comprising 147 males and 53 females.  Data were analyzed using descriptive (frequency and percentage) and inferential (Chi-square and PPMC) statistics at p=0.05. Descriptive result r...

The purpose of this study was to analyse the determinants of technical efficiency of small scale farmers in Nigeria and the effect of policy changes on technical efficiency, using the stochastic frontier methodology. Results of analysis indicates that the farmers have an average farm size of 1.56 hectares. It is also indicated that both family and hired labour were extensively used in farm production. The analysis shows a wide variation in the estimated technical efficiencies, ranging between 0.18 and 0.91, and a mean value of 0.63, indicating a wide room for improvement in the technical efficiency. The results of simulation of policy variables show that the level of technical efficiency would significantly increase with rising level of education and farming experience.

The study examined the increasing commercialization of subsistence agriculture and identified the driving forces of the commercialization process. The study defined some concepts under which the process of agricultural commercialization was examined. The study was conducted in the three agricultural zones of Abia state, Nigeria. A total of 120 farm families spread across the state were enlisted for the study. Data were collected bimonthly for a period of six months with structured questionnaires. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics and quantitative techniques. Results show that agriculture is not subsistence oriented. There is some considerable degree of market-orientation. Off-farm income was identified as important source of the commercialization of agriculture. The farm-level determinants of commercialization were labour, fertilizer and planting materials. The production elasticity of labour is high and there are diseconomies of scale. The study observes that the full potentials of agriculture have not been harnessed as agriculture is labour intensive and relies heavily on crude implements.

This paper carried out economic analysis of plantain production to see how profitable it is, and what factors impact on its output. Data for the study was obtained, through random sampling technique involving 100 plantain producers, with the aid of well structured questionnaire. Budgetary technique and multiple regression analysis, involving the use of ordinary least technique (OLS) were employed in analyzing data set for this paper. Budgetary analysis, as revealed by mean net revenue (profit) per hectare by farm size (x1668.75), shows that plantain production is profitable. Multiple regression results, revealed that farm size, hired labour wage, fertilizer and cooperative membership are significant at p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.10, respectively. Returns to scale of all inputs used in plantain production was found to be above unity (1.24), showing that plantain producers are in the irrational stage of production. It is thus concluded that plantain production is economically viable. Policy focus, therefore, should address problem of incessant hike in critical agricultural inputs and strengthening of farmers' cooperative societies at the rural sector, in order for rural farmers to have access to loan facilities that can aid their production to go beyond subsistence level.

This study was designed to examine the impact of migrant remittances on the technical efficiency smallholder arable crop farm households in South Eastern Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used in choosing the sample. Primary data collected from 120 respondents comprising 60 migrants’ remittance receiving households and non receiving households, respectively were used for the study. Data collected through the cost route method were analyzed using multiple regression analysis employing the stochastic frontier production function analysis in a single stage maximum likelihood estimation method and z test statistic. The results of data analyses show that household size, education, farming experience, and farm size were the significant determinants of technical efficiency of the remittance receiving households; while age, years of education and farm size were the significant determinants of technical efficiency of the non-remittance receiving households. The individual ...

The technical efficiency involved in cocoa production in Cross River State was estimated using the stochastic frontier production function analysis. The effects of some selected socio- economic characteristics of the farmers on the efficiency indices were also estimated. The study relied upon primary data generated from interviewing cocoa farmers using a set of structured questionnaire. A multi-staged random sampling technique was adopted in selecting two hundred (200) cocoa farmers from Ikom Agricultural Zone in the state. The data on the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while the stochastic production function, using the Maximum Likelihood Estimating (MLE) techniques was used in estimating the farmer’s technical efficiency and their determinants. Result of the analysis showed that farmers were experiencing decreasing but positive returns to scale in the use of the farm resources. The efficiency level ranged between 0.20 and 0...

Study was on the costs and returns analysis of yam production in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. A multistage random sampling technique was used in selecting respondents for the study. Primary data were collected with the aid of well structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and gross margin analysis. The result of the analysis shows that, the total cost of yam production per hectare, returns per hectare, net farm income obtained per hectare and returns per naira invested were ₦124, 129.3, ₦ 271, 166.7, ₦147, 037.3 and ₦2.19 respectively. The major problems faced by the farmers included lack of access to inputs, high cost of inputs, poor producer prices, lack of capital, incidences of pests and diseases, poor transportation facilities and inadequate extension services. It was recommended that for improving production and earnings of farmers, there is need for government and nongovernmental organizations (NGO) to ma...

The study examined resource productivity analysis of small scale root and tuber crop farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Data used for the study were obtained from primary source using a multi-stage sampling technique with structured questionnaires administered to 150 randomly selected root and tuber crop farmers from the study area. Descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, frequency distribution table and percentages were used to summarize the variables used in the analysis while data envelopment analysis was used to empirically determine the resource productivity in the study area. The DEA result on the overall technical efficiency of the farmers showed that 6% of the sampled root and tuber crop farmers in the study area were operating at frontier and optimum level of production with mean technical efficiency of 1.00. Decomposition of technical efficiency also showed mean efficiency scores of 0.25 and 0.32 for overall technical efficiency and scale efficiency respec...

This paper carried out economic analysis of plantain production to see how profitable it is, and what factors impact on its output. Data for the study was obtained, through random sampling technique involving 100 plantain producers, with the aid of well structured questionnaire. Budgetary technique and multiple regression analysis, involving the use of ordinary least technique (OLS) were employed in analyzing data set for this paper. Budgetary analysis, as revealed by mean net revenue (profit) per hectare by farm size (x1668.75), shows that plantain production is profitable. Multiple regression results, revealed that farm size, hired labour wage, fertilizer and cooperative membership are significant at p&lt;0.05, p&lt;0.05, p&lt;0.01 and p&lt;0.10, respectively. Returns to scale of all inputs used in plantain production was found to be above unity (1.24), showing that plantain producers are in the irrational stage of production. It is thus concluded that plantain production is econo...

The study analyzed the relative effect of climate variability on cassava production in Nigeria. It elicited secondary data from reputable sources such as Food and Agriculture Organization statistical data base (FAOSTAT); World Bank database; Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for the 1960 – 2008. Multiple regression model was employed in the course of data analysis and the results showed that the climate variables had no significant effect on the output of cassava within the period under study. On the basis of the outcome, the study suggested mounting of intensive expansion programs to boost cassava production since the crop is not influenced by climate variability as part of efforts to revitalize Nigeria&#39;s export subsector and national income generation drive. INTRODUCTION Issues bordering on climate change and variability have become topical and occupy the center of many scientific studies. Some of these ...

Studies aimed at modelling resource-use efficiency in small-scale farming in Africa have paid little attention to the influence of size of operation on efficiency estimates. In rising to this challenge, this paper examines the technical efficiency levels of a group of small-scale farmers in Ondo state, Nigeria, in order to determine the effects of individual farmer's size of operation on their resource-use efficiency. The stochastic frontier production function model was used to estimate the technical efficiency of the farmers, given the available resources. Results of the analysis indicate that the major farm resources were significant determinants of output level and that increasing returns to scale exists among the farmers. The results also show a wide variation in the level of technical efficiency. For land resource, farmers with total cropped area of between 1.00 and 1.49 hectares of land have the highest mean technical efficiency of 0.70. For labour resource, the highest mean technical efficiency of 0.71

Th is study estimates economic effi ciency of yam growing farmers in Oyo State of Nigeria using stochastic frontier production function. Th e empirical application used farm level data collected from 120 farms following 2007/2008 growing season. Th e results indicate that farm size, hired labour, yam set and equipment are the major factors that infl uence changes in yam output. Farm specifi c variables, such as farming experience, diversifi cation and extension, were the signifi cant factors infl uencing ineffi ciency among yam producers. Predicted economic effi ciencies range between 0.0094 and 0.876 with a mean economic effi ciency of 0.594. Based on these results, sample yam producers could increase their output by 40.6% through better use of available resources.

The study employed a stochastic frontier Cobb-Douglas production function to measure Gender Efficiency of SmallHolder Cocoyam Farmers in Nsukka Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers disaggregated into 60 males and 60 females in 2008. The results of the analysis show that individual farm level technical efficiency was higher (56.74%) for the females to the males (20.10%). For the male farmers, the study found age and education to be positively and significantly related to technical efficiency at 5% level. Extension contacts and practice index were positively and significantly related to technical efficiency at 10% and 1% level respectively. For the female farmers, household size and practice index were positive and significantly related to technical efficiency at 5% level. Farm size and occupational status had an indirect relationship with technical efficiency and significant at 1% level. Credit access, extension contacts and practice index were positive and significantly related to technical efficiency at 1% level. There is need therefore to ensure women's entitlement to productive resources and to target women in credit and small programmes in this enterprise. There is need also to ensure women's empowerment through awareness strategies aimed at increased practice of the various cocoyam technologies.

The study was carried out to determine the gender differentials in production efficiency in food crop production in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Data were collected from 270 comprising of (149 male and 121 female) farmers selected through a multistage random sampling technique. A stochastic frontier function that incorporated inefficiency effect was estimated using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) technique. The MLE of the stochastic production function revealed the mean economic efficiency of 78% and 88% for male and female farmers, respectively. The most efficient male farmer had the highest economic efficiency (EE) of 0.97 and least efficient had 76.8 while for the female farmers the most efficient farmer had highest EE of 98 and the least efficient female farmers had 75.4. The results showed that farmers generally in the study area are not economically efficient. For the female farmers, the coefficients of farm size, hired labour and planting stock were positive and...

Th is study estimates economic effi ciency of yam growing farmers in Oyo State of Nigeria using stochastic frontier production function. Th e empirical application used farm level data collected from 120 farms following 2007/2008 growing season. Th e results indicate that farm size, hired labour, yam set and equipment are the major factors that infl uence changes in yam output. Farm specifi c variables, such as farming experience, diversifi cation and extension, were the signifi cant factors infl uencing ineffi ciency among yam producers. Predicted economic effi ciencies range between 0.0094 and 0.876 with a mean economic effi ciency of 0.594. Based on these results, sample yam producers could increase their output by 40.6% through better use of available resources.

The study employed a stochastic frontier Cobb-Douglas production function to measure Gender Efficiency of SmallHolder Cocoyam Farmers in Nsukka Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers disaggregated into 60 males and 60 females in 2008. The results of the analysis show that individual farm level technical efficiency was higher (56.74%) for the females to the males (20.10%). For the male farmers, the study found age and education to be positively and significantly related to technical efficiency at 5% level. Extension contacts and practice index were positively and significantly related to technical efficiency at 10% and 1% level respectively. For the female farmers, household size and practice index were positive and significantly related to technical efficiency at 5% level. Farm size and occupational status had an indirect relationship with technical efficiency and significant at 1% level. Credit access, extension contacts and practice index were positive and significantly related to technical efficiency at 1% level. There is need therefore to ensure women's entitlement to productive resources and to target women in credit and small programmes in this enterprise. There is need also to ensure women's empowerment through awareness strategies aimed at increased practice of the various cocoyam technologies.

Farm households in Umuahia Agricultural zone of Abia State engage in crop farming with few of such farmers combining their semi-commercial farm business with livestock enterprises most of which are poultry and nonruminants. A representative sample of thirty farmers drawn from a sampling frame from Umuahia Zonal office of Abia State Agricultural Development Project was used to solve a gross margin maximization problem for an average farmer in the area. Results showed that one sole crop farm enterprise, two crop mixtures and two of the selected livestock enterprises should be produced to maximize gross margin in the prescribed combination. The extent to which land availability, labour use and wage rate affected gross margin was tested for sensitivity analysis; land availability when increased by 25% resulted to 13.48% increase in the gross margin, labour use when increased by 25% led to an increase of N15,159.90, representing about 3.04% of N499,229.90 obtained as the optimum gross margin while wage rate when reduced by 50% resulted to increase of about 6.16% in the original plan. Land I (Arable land), human labour I (land preparation and planting), human labour I (2 nd weeding), human labour I (harvesting) and human labour II (feeding) were the limiting factors of production for attainment of the objective function out of the 14 resource constraints in the model. The study recommends that more arable land and labour saving technologies should be employed in farm production and also calls for private sector driven extension services in the study area.

The study investigated the risk source and risk management practices among yam farmers in shiroro local government area of Niger State, Nigeria. A sample of 92 respondents was selected for the study through simple random sampling technique and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. It was found that a greater per cent of the respondent are faced with the problem of poor storage facilities, diseases, and poor market which makes them to adopt strategies like off-farm income generation, membership of association, and adoption of new technology. The study also reveals that soil management techniques, use of advanced storage facilities, membership of association, access to credit, and risk index were efficient with mean efficiency level of 0.842. The study recommends that infrastructural facilities such as good road network, and improved storage facilities. Extension programme should be improved on, and use of improved seedlings should be encouraged among farmers in the st...

This study examined the factors that affect farm labour supply and utilisation for food crop production in Niger state, Nigeria. The data were collected from 180 participants of Fadama II in Katcha and Agaie LGAs and analysed using descriptive statistics and 2sls regression model. The result shows that majority of the farm labour suppliers were within the ideal age distribution in the rural society of Africa and that family and hired labour are major source of the farm labour supply in the study area. Result from the 2SLS analysis confirm that variables such as income, migrated farm labour supplier, agro-chemical, household size, wage rate, farm size, and gender were statistically significant. However the level of farm/family income, high wage rate, age composition of family, lack of timely/adequate supply of labour and, aging of farm labour suppliers were identified as important constraints affecting farm labour supply and utilisation for food crop production. It is recommended tha...

This study examined the factors that affect farm labour supply and utilisation for food crop production in Niger state, Nigeria. The data were collected from 180 participants of Fadama II in Katcha and Agaie LGAs and analysed using descriptive statistics and 2sls regression model. The result shows that majority of the farm labour suppliers were within the ideal age distribution in the rural society of Africa and that family and hired labour are major source of the farm labour supply in the study area. Result from the 2SLS analysis confirm that variables such as income, migrated farm labour supplier, agro-chemical, household size, wage rate, farm size, and gender were statistically significant. However the level of farm/family income, high wage rate, age composition of family, lack of timely/adequate supply of labour and, aging of farm labour suppliers were identified as important constraints affecting farm labour supply and utilisation for food crop production. It is recommended that regulation of farm wage rate should be pursued in order to ensure that farm operations are carried in time at optimum cost.

This study focused on the analysis of the extension needs of yam farmers for increased productivity in Rivers and Imo States. The specific objectives were to: i) describe the socioeconomic characteristics of yam farmers in Rivers and Imo states, ii) find out the factors that will increase yam productivity in the areas. Descriptive survey design was used to examine the cross section of the population. A total of 587 respondents were selected from 18 LGAs in Rivers and Imo States, through proportionate random sampling technique and used in this study. Primary data obtained through structured questionnaire were analyzed, using percentage, arithmetic means and weighted mean scores. Ordinary Least Square Regression Analysis and z-Test were used for test of significance. The findings showed that majority of the farmers in the study areas were male (61%), who were middle adult (46 years old), married men (60.8%) and were more of part-time (58%). It indicated a mean annual income of N150,835.00 for the farmers in the areas of study and once per month contact with extension agents (27.1%) was dominant in the areas. It also showed that dedicated extension agents (M = 3.76), accessible credit facilities (M = 3.63), and introduction of non stake yam varieties (M = 3.48) among others will increase yam productivity in the areas. The study therefore recommended among others that: 1) The youths should be encouraged and armed financially to meaningfully engage in yam production by the state governments. 2) Only qualified and dedicated extension agents should be employed to handle technical extension services especially in yam production in these states. 3) Special but accessible credit facilities should be given to yam farmers on-the-farm only, in these two states and the mechanism for its use be assigned to agro extension professionals

Cocoa remains the most important cash crop in Ghana, with the Western Region being the leading producer. More recently, concerns have been raised about ethical cocoa production, especially regarding child labour. Drawing on historical sources and a survey, the research assessed the injury risks of children in cocoa farming in the Western Region of Ghana and its implications for extension education. The study concludes that cocoa farm households in Ghana, typically in Western Region, engage children in the households in almost all aspects of cocoa production operations as a way of socializing them into the family cocoa production business – a complex and socially tolerable practice in Ghana. The extent of engagement however, is low across the operations. The operations engaged by the children are generally repetitive and include carrying loads, land preparation, planting, fertilizer application, harvesting, and breaking cocoa pods. More importantly, the study concludes that cocoa far...

| Factors influencing the output of rice produced and choice of marketing outlets among smallholder rural farming households are the main focus to improve rice production and increase the income of the farmers. Primary data were used for this study. Data were obtained using a well-designed well-structured questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered to two hundred and seven (207) smallholder rural rice farming households. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted. Data were analyzed using Multinomial Logit Model, Gini-Coefficient, Double-Log Regression Model, (Cobb-Douglas) and Principal Component Analysis. The results of the Multinomial Logit regression model show that among the significant factors that influence the choice of rice market outlets were: sex of the household head (P<0.10), educational level (P<0.10), access to credit facilities (P<0.05), extension services (P<0.01), price information (P<0.05), market information (P<0.01) and, marketing experience ((P<0.05). The value of Gini-Coefficient calculated was 0.91429. The observed inequality in income distribution among smallholder rural rice farmers was a reflection of inefficiency in the market structure for rice. The results of Double-Log Regression model revealed that quantity of rice output harvested was positively and significantly influenced by farm size (P<0.05), the quantity of seed planted (P<0.01), the volume of chemical applied (P<0.05), labour input (P<0.01), and contract farming (P<0.05). Quantity of fertilizer and expected price of output was negative and significant at (P<0.01), and (P<0.05) probability levels respectively. The coefficient of the multiple determinations (R 2) in the production model was 0.51. This signifies that the explanatory variables included in the model accounted for about 51% variations in the quantity of rice output harvested in the study area. Smallholder rice farmers were faced with the following challenges in rice production and market outlet choice which include: Fire outbreak, thieves, cattle herdsmen attack, flood occurrence, transportation problem, poor storage facility, inadequate capital, lack of land/ tractor, poor price, high cost of chemical, inadequate fertilizer, lack of improved seed, inadequate extension officers, and lack of credit facilities. This study recommends that new innovations and technology that targets increased productivity should be promoted, provision of adequate extension officers is needed, input market supply for provision of seeds, fertilizers and storage facilities should be made accessible to farmers, provision of rice processing equipment should be made available, contract farming and marketing should be encouraged for increased rice production and market out choice for profit maximization among rice farmers to eradicate poverty and improve their welfare.

This study determined socioeconomic factors influencing yam production in Bwari Area Council Abuja, Nigeria. Primary data was used for this study. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire; the questionnaires were administered to one hundred and fifty (150) sampled yam farmers using simple random sampling technique. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics; multiple regression analysis. The resultshows that majority 87.8% were male while 91.2% were married. Also the result revealed that 33.8% had secondary education while 28.4% had obtained post-secondary education. The average age of the sampled respondents was 47 years in the study area. The analysis of multiple regression shows that age; Farming experience, gender and educational level of the sampled yam farmers were significant factors influencing yam production and were significant at 5% percent probability level respectively. The R 2 value of 0.53 which is the coefficient of multiple determination shows that 53% percent of the variation in dependent variable was explained by the explanatory variables included in the model and F-value of 3.14 is significant at 10% probability level. However yam farmers encountered inadequate capital, lack of land availability, government policy, diseases outbreak and inadequate transport facilities, bad road, and access to good market for their farm produce as a major constraint. The study therefore recommends that, provision should be made for subsidized input and Public Private Partnership (PPP) should be explored by government so as to help the education of farmers with regard to new technology and innovations in yam production in the study area.

This study was conducted to estimate technical efficiency of yam-based intercropping system among smallholder farmers in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics such as percentage response and frequency distribution were used to determine the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmer and the constraints to yam based enterprise. Trans-Log Frontier Production Function was adopted to estimate technical efficiency of the farmers. 120 farmers were randomly selected from ten villages in the study area. Primary and secondary data were collected and used for the study. The result showed that 78 percent of the respondents were males, while 22 percent were females. Age bracket of 41 and above constituted the majority (80 percent) of the yam intercropping farmers in the study area. 47.5 percent of the respondents had secondary education, while the least, 14.2 percent had tertiary education. The result also indicated that majority (54.2 percent) of the respondents cultivated 1-2 hectares of land. The determinant factors to technical efficiency in yam enterprise production were: education, farming experience and extension contact. The major constraints to yam intercropping in the study area were poor access to credit (76 percent), high cost of planting material (54 percent), and high cost of labour (73 percent). The study recommended that extension agents should be well motivated through training and provision of other incentives which will help to improve on their effectiveness. More so, there is need to ensure policy option on fertilizer subsidy in order to make the resources affordable to poor resource farmers at farm level. Furthermore, policy options aimed at enhancing farmers' access to credit, education and improved production inputs should be formulated.

Public awareness, perception and knowledge on climate change constitute essential background to deal with climate change and related problems in the Oil Palm industry. This study examined farmers’ general understanding of climate change in Ikwuano and Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, Nigeria. This research Study sort to find out Oil Palm farmers’ perception of climate change variables, the level of awareness on Climate Change. Data were collected by use of structured questionnaire administered to 200 farmers randomly selected from eight communities in the study area. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data obtained from the survey. Farmers (78%) in the study sample reported that they are well aware of the climate change while 22% percent of respondents had ‘low’ awareness level. A 4-point Likert type Scale was used to gauge farmers’ response to questions posed in the questionnaire as regards perception on climate variables. Results also showed that the dominant perception of Oil Palm farmers on climate change variables, tend to be that temperature has been increasing (or is serious) in the study area. The paper concluded that high level of awareness will in the long run increase the adaptation potential of the community and make them less vulnerable towards climate change. Also Perception is necessary because only those Oil Palm farmers who perceive change in climate will decide whether to adapt to it or not.

Keywords: Awareness, Perception, climate change, oil palm farmers, climate variables, and
Abia State

Public awareness, perception and knowledge on climate change constitute essential background to deal with climate change and related problems in the Oil Palm industry. This study examined farmers’ general understanding of climate change in Ikwuano and Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, Nigeria. This research Study sort to find out Oil Palm farmers’ perception of climate change variables, the level of awareness on Climate Change. Data were collected by use of structured questionnaire administered to 200 farmers randomly selected from eight communities in the study area. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data obtained from the survey.  Farmers (78%) in the study sample reported that they are well aware of the climate change while 22% percent of respondents had ‘low’ awareness level. A 4-point Likert type Scale was used to gauge farmers’ response to questions posed in the questionnaire as regards perception on climate variables. Results also showed that the dominant perception of Oil Palm farmers on climate change variables, tend to be that temperature has been increasing (or is serious) in the study area. The paper concluded that high level of awareness will in the long run increase the adaptation potential of the community and make them less vulnerable towards climate change. Also Perception is necessary because only those Oil Palm farmers who perceive change in climate will decide whether to adapt to it or not.

The study analyzed the determinants of allocative efficiency of smallholder cassava farmers in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the costs and returns from cassava production, estimate the allocative efficiencies of smallholder cassava and estimate the determinants of allocative efficiency of smallholder farmers in the study area. Primary data used were collected by means of a set of structured questionnaire administered to 60 respondents who were selected using dual stage random sampling. Data analysis was done using simple descriptive statistics and other appropriate statistical and econometric tools. The results showed that there were equal number of males and females among the farmers with majority of them being young and energetic, having some level of formal education and fairly large household sizes. The farmers made and aggregate return of N21979156 from their farms; average allocative efficiency was 56% while the maximum and minimum allocative efficiencies was 92% and 48% respectively. Allocative efficiency was positively influenced by household size, educational level, farm size and experience and negatively influenced by fixed cost of production. The study recommended the development of a more proactive extension service to meet the need of the entire farming household. It advocated that measures be taken by the government to reduce the rent charge on land and interest charged on loans obtained by the farmers.

Yam as a staple food in Nigeria has lot of importance, hence it has been imperative to know different ways of preserving this tuber. The study aimed at looking at the factors that affected the adoption of chemicals as a preservative in Orire local government area of Oyo-state in Nigeria. A sample size of 120 farmers was chosen and multi-stage sampling technique was employed. Majority of the farmers were male with ninety-three percent, married with seventy-five percent and with no form of education. Majority of the farmers had between 5-9 household members. The study discovered a positive significance between the adoption of the technology and the family size of the farmer. Majority still made below 20,000 NGN in sales annually. The welfare of the farmer
contributed to the adoption of the technology significantly. The null hypothesis was rejected. The study recommends that the government should encourage more female farmers to cultivate yam tubers and also more financial assistance should be given to farmers in order to encourage production and this introduction should benefit the farmers and not the researchers’ alone.

This study was conducted to estimate technical efficiency of yam-based intercropping system among smallholder farmers in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics such as percentage response and frequency distribution were used to determine the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmer and the constraints to yam based enterprise. Trans –Log Frontier Production Function was adopted to estimate technical efficiency of the farmers. 120 farmers were randomly selected from ten villages in the study area. Primary and secondary data were collected and used for the study. The result showed that 78 percent of the respondents were males, while 22 percent were females. Age bracket of 41 and above constituted the majority (80 percent) of the yam intercropping farmers in the study area. 47.5 percent of the respondents had secondary education, while the least, 14.2 percent had tertiary education. The result also indicated that majority (54.2 percent) of the respondents cultivated 1-2 hectares of land. The determinant factors to technical efficiency in yam enterprise production were: education, farming experience and extension contact. The major constraints to yam intercropping in the study area were poor access to credit (76 percent), high cost of planting material (54 percent), and high cost of labour (73 percent). The study recommended that extension agents should be well motivated through training and provision of other incentives which will help to improve on their effectiveness. More so, there is need to ensure policy option on fertilizer subsidy in order to make the resources affordable to poor resource farmers at farm level. Furthermore, policy options aimed at enhancing farmers' access to credit, education and improved production inputs should be formulated.

Agriculture has suffered from years of mismanagement, inconsistent or poorly conceived government policies, and lack of basic infrastructure. Still, the sector accounts for over 37.2% of GDP and two-thirds of employment. Moreover, the importance of yam in the economy of Nigeria cannot be over emphasized.The observed productivity decline in Nigeria before the 2001 to 2006 periods represents a major challenge to increasing yam production and its availability as food in the country.Hence, the study examines the economics of yam production in Ekiti State. Cross-sectional data of 2016 in 90 randomly selected farmers who responded to the questionnaire was utilized.Gross margin (GM) analysis result, shows that for every ? 1 invested on the farm for yam production ? 2.58 is returned. Regression modeling result revealed that 95.6% explained variation in the yam output (Y) was due to the joint effect of all the independent variables specified in the model. The rest 4.4% unexplained variation in yam output may be due to other variables of interest not specified in the model but are captured in the error term. Hence there is a significant relationship between the output of yam and the determinants of yam production in the study area.

The general objective of this study is to present an economic analysis of the resources efficiently used for cocoa production in the Lekie division of Cameroon. Data were collected in around forty cocoa farms which were selected randomly across five towns (Obala, Monatele, Evodoula, Ebebda and Okola) of the division " Lekie " , Center Region of Cameroon. The data were analyzed using descriptive and regression techniques through stochastic production functions. The average cocoa production recorded in this study area was 643.275kg/ha. Our results showed the technical efficiency ranges from 10% to 100%, with an average efficiency of 43.7%. This implies that on average 56.3% more output would have been produced with the same level of inputs, if farmers were following best practices. The results observed that the size of the farmers' household, marital status, access to bank credit, area of arable land and farmer's membership in a cooperative are the main socioeconomic determinants of efficiency across farms in the division of Lekie. Technical training of farmers, extension service and rotation of cultivated land are the important measures that can be taken for increasing cocoa production in this part of Cameroon.

A major constraint to many participatory development projects (PDP) designed to empower local actors is that local elites may capture such participatory interventions and convert resources intended for communal development or set aside for disenfranchised social groups into gains for themselves and their associates. Forty (40) Fadama Farmers (FFs) and 24 non Fadama Farmers (NFFs) in 13 out of the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) participating in Fadama III project in Imo state, southeast Nigeria were randomly selected across three the agricultural zones of the state to determine the socio-cultural characteristics, professional experience and organizational structures of these poultry farmers based on their willingness to participate in the study. Primary data were obtained by the use of structured questionnaires administered to the respondents. Data generated and published information on poultry actors in the state and environ were used to determine the appropriateness of poultry participants' selection during the intervention stage of the project. The result revealed that 75.00 and 25.00% of the FFs were males and females, while 83.30 and 16.70% the NFFs were males and females respectively. Most of FFs were within the age bracket of 36 -55 years (72.00%) while majority of NFFs fell within the 25 -55 years age bracket (83.30%), with 92.50% of the FFs, and 75.00% of the NFFs being married and formally educated, indicating that the selection of FFs was skewed in favor of late youth to adult married educated males at the expense of women, widows and youths participants. Again, 75% of the FFs were engaged in poultry production as primary occupation, while all the NFFs (100.00%) were part-time poultry farmers, who had farming experience ranging from the 16.70% recorded for the 1 -5 years experience group to the 25.00% recorded for the 21 -25 years group as against the 72.50% of the FFs that had 1 -10 years experience, indicating that the FFs may have entered the occupation during the Fadama III project life in the state. Village age grade association membership accounted for 77.50% of organizational grouping of the FFs, contrary to the regulation that participants in the Fadama III project must be members of registered farmer's multipurpose cooperative associations recognized by Imo state government. Again, 66.67% of the NFFs, however belonged to multi-purpose co-operative associations, indicating that the FFs were unduly selected emergency farmers and is supported by the 75.00% FFs who agreed that most people that were supposed to participate in the Fadama III project activities were not captured due to poor sensitization during the intervention stage.

his study examined the effect of urbanization on agricultural production in Abia State. Specifically, it categorized the land tenancy status of the farmers, analyzed the effect of urbanization on agricultural productivity and identified the constraints to agricultural productivity. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Primary data collected using structured questionnaire and interview schedules were analyzed using frequency counts, means, and percentages and regression analysis. Results showed that majority (81.7%) of the respondents cultivated both on owned and rented farms. Only 10% and 8.3% of the respondents cultivating solely on owned and rented farm lands respectively. The regression result of the effect of urbanization and other factors on agricultural productivity showed that the significant variables influencing productivity were farm size, urbanization, fertilizer/ agrochemical, land tenure system, duration of land use and cost of farm land. The major constraints to increased productivity as noted by the respondents based on their degree of effect were lack of capital for agricultural investment, lack of improved farm inputs, high cost of land, land fragmentation, high population and high cost of planting materials. The study therefore recommend that specific areas should be earmarked for agricultural use only and protected from encroachment and other competing uses through appropriate legislations and policies.