Papers by Michael Amurtiya
Turkish Journal of Food and Agriculture Sciences, 2026
Dry season onion farming is central to food supply and rural income in Adamawa
State, Nigeria, ye... more Dry season onion farming is central to food supply and rural income in Adamawa
State, Nigeria, yet production is limited by inefficiencies. This study assessed the
technical, allocative, and economic efficiency of farmers using a stochastic frontier
production and cost model. A total of 240 producers were selected through multistage
sampling, and structured questionnaires provided the data. Analysis employed
Maximum Likelihood Estimation. Results showed that farm size (0.451, p<0.01), seed
(0.226, p<0.01), labor (0.1176, p<0.01), and fertilizer (0.102, p<0.05) were the most
significant drivers of output. Mean efficiency scores were 0.83 for technical, 0.81 for
allocative, and 0.67 for economic performance. Gamma values of 0.88 and 0.91
indicated that inefficiencies explained most variations in output and cost. Farmers
achieved strong technical performance but faced persistent allocative and economic
constraints. Targeted investment in irrigation, stronger extension services, improved
access to credit, and cooperative strengthening are recommended to improve cost-
effective resource use and productivity
Journal of Adolescence, 2026
Introduction: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a well-established factor influencing adolescents' me... more Introduction: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a well-established factor influencing adolescents' mental health, as young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to experience stress, anxiety, and poorer overall wellbeing. One factor that may help protect students from these negative outcomes is school connectedness which is the feeling of belonging, support, and positive relationships within the school environment. Although school connectedness is known to promote healthier psychological development, it remains unclear whether it can specifically reduce mental health inequalities linked to SES, especially in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: This study interrogates a critical gap in resilience theory: Can school connectedness effectively buffer the psychological consequences of socioeconomic disadvantage in resource-constrained environments? Through a cross-sectional design involving 535 Nigerian adolescents (mean age = 13.25 years; 53.6% female), we employed psychometrically validated measures including the California Healthy Kids Survey (school connectedness), WHO-5 Wellbeing Index, and Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale. Results: Result shows that school connectedness significantly predicted enhanced wellbeing (β = 1.98, p < 0.001) and reduced distress (β =-0.73, p = 0.001), but did not moderate the SES-mental health relationship. This result challenges conventional assumptions in resilience frameworks and raises crucial questions about the contextual limits of school-based protective factors in LMIC settings. Conclusions: The study makes three key contributions: (1) empirical evidence from an understudied Global South context, (2) theoretical contribution to the resilience models, and (3) practical implications for designing multi-level mental health interventions in resource-constrained educational systems. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
AUN Journal of Social Sciences, 2025
Energy poverty threatens social and economic development in Nigeria, with Adamawa State facing pe... more Energy poverty threatens social and economic development in Nigeria, with Adamawa State facing persistent shortages due to unreliable grid supply and dependence on traditional fuels. This study assessed the prevalence of energy poverty, its impact on households, and the coping mechanisms adopted. A descriptive survey design was employed, and data were collected from 389 respondents using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse socioeconomic characteristics, energy access, challenges, and coping strategies. Findings revealed that 71.5% of respondents were energy-poor, 57.8% had less than four hours of daily electricity, and 61.2% relied on firewood for cooking. About 73.5% experienced daily power outages, while 41.1% cited the high cost of alternative energy, and 40.4% reported respiratory problems linked to household energy use. Coping strategies included reliance on generators (37.3%), rechargeable lamps (29.1%), solar energy (24.4%), and deliberate reduction of electricity consumption (44 percent). The study concludes that energy poverty undermines health, education, productivity, and household welfare in Adamawa State. It recommends targeted investment in renewable energy, provision of subsidies for clean energy technologies, and improvements in grid infrastructure. Strengthening community-based initiatives alongside government-led interventions would reduce vulnerability, enhance energy access, and align outcomes with Sustainable Development Goal 7.
Northeast Development Journal, 2025
The study assessed the training needs of agricultural value chain actors in Nigerian BAY states (... more The study assessed the training needs of agricultural value chain actors in Nigerian BAY states (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe) in Northeast Nigeria, aiming to identify training gaps and factors influencing these needs to strengthen agricultural productivity. The study adopted a descriptive research design and sampled 2,887 actors from crop, livestock, fish, and poultry value chains actors using a multistage sampling technique. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews to gather quantitative and qualitative data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. The mean analysis findings revealed distinct training requirements across different nodes of the value chains. Input dealers needed skills in safe agrochemical handling and inventory management; farmers required training in irrigation and post-harvest practices to adapt to climate challenges; processors highlighted food safety and modern processing techniques; and marketers sought skills in market research and digital marketing. The OLS regression established that training needs are influenced by factors that include educational level, cooperative membership, gender, and operational scale. Therefore, addressing the training needs with tailored, role-specific programmes can enhance value chain efficiency. Also, it can substantially enhance market access and resilience against environmental and socioeconomic challenges in the area. The study also suggests policy initiatives targeting cooperative development and gender-inclusive support will build capacity across the agricultural value chains in the area.
Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW w Warszawie - Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego
Human-animal conflict is posing a severe threat to wildlife conservation as well as the long-term... more Human-animal conflict is posing a severe threat to wildlife conservation as well as the long-term viability of farming communities. This study assessed the economic consequence of human-hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) conflicts on rural livelihoods in Adamawa state, Nigeria. The study had the following specific goals; describe the direct effects of Human Hippopotamus Conflict (HHC) on livelihoods in the study area, and estimate the agricultural economic losses incurred in the area as a result of HHC. A mixed research method was used to collect primary data from 371 crop farmers. The study relied on descriptive statistics in the analysis of the data collected between February to May 2019. The study found that Groundnut, Cowpea, and maize were among the most severely damaged crops at their mid-stage of development based on land size. In terms of the monetary value of the damages, sweet potato is the most affected. The study concluded that farmers should work as a team and adopt...
Problems of World Agriculture, 2023
Human-animal conflict is posing a severe threat to wildlife conservation as well as the longterm ... more Human-animal conflict is posing a severe threat to wildlife conservation as well as the longterm viability of farming communities. This study assessed the economic consequence of humanhippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) conflicts on rural livelihoods in Adamawa state, Nigeria. The study had the following specific goals; describe the direct effects of Human Hippopotamus Conflict (HHC) on livelihoods in the study area, and estimate the agricultural economic losses incurred in the area as a result of HHC. A mixed research method was used to collect primary data from 371 crop farmers. The study relied on descriptive statistics in the analysis of the data collected between February to May 2019. The study found that Groundnut, Cowpea, and maize were among the most severely damaged crops at their mid-stage of development based on land size. In terms of the monetary value of the damages, sweet potato is the most affected. The study concluded that farmers should work as a team and adopt measures like fencing, scare tactics, or deterrents that will minimize significant crop losses. Also, there is the need for local awareness on the importance of Hippopotamus conservation in the area.
Problemy Ekorozwoju
The Boko-Haram insurgency has affected livelihoods in the Northeast in all ramifications. This st... more The Boko-Haram insurgency has affected livelihoods in the Northeast in all ramifications. This study reviewed scholarly submissions on the drivers and impact of the insurgency in the area. The outcome of the review showed that the insurgency is driven mainly by poverty, religious extremism, and politics. Equally, the insurgency has affected rural livelihoods entirely and has exacerbated food insecurity, unemployment, and poverty. This is because critical infrastructure like schools, hospitals, markets, and electricity/telecommunication facilities have been largely destroyed, and residents of some communities are still displaced. Hence, to better the livelihood of the people in communities where normalcy has been restored, there is the need to promote agriculture and trade by securing the communities and enhancing access to affordable agricultural inputs.
Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW w Warszawie - Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego
This study provided an analysis of the livelihoods of rural irrigated crop farmers in Kano State,... more This study provided an analysis of the livelihoods of rural irrigated crop farmers in Kano State, Nigeria. The study’s specific objectives were to; describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, assess their livelihood assets, household wellbeing, and constraints. The study adopted a multistage sampling technique to collect primary data from 251 respondents drawn from 18 communities in six Local Government Areas of the State. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics and the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty measurement were used. The study revealed that irrigated crop farming in the area is male-dominated (78.1%), and the practitioners were mostly small-scale farmers (average farm size of 1.8 ha). In terms of assets, this study revealed that most of the respondents were limited in natural, human, and financial capital. Poverty incidence was about 51%, with the lack of access to formal loans, decline in soil productivity, poor access to market, and lack of...
PROBLEMY EKOROZWOJU – PROBLEMS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, 2023
The Boko-Haram insurgency has affected livelihoods in the Northeast in all ramifications. This st... more The Boko-Haram insurgency has affected livelihoods in the Northeast in all ramifications. This study reviewed scholarly submissions on the drivers and impact of the insurgency in the area. The outcome of the review showed that the insurgency is driven mainly by poverty, religious extremism, and politics. Equally, the insurgency has affected rural livelihoods entirely and has exacerbated food insecurity, unemployment, and poverty. This is because critical infrastructure like schools, hospitals, markets, and electricity/telecommunication facilities have been largely destroyed, and residents of some communities are still displaced. Hence, to better the livelihood of the people in communities where normalcy has been restored, there is the need to promote agriculture and trade by securing the communities and enhancing access to affordable agricultural inputs.
Problems of World Agriculture, 2022
This study provided an analysis of the livelihoods of rural irrigated crop farmers in Kano State,... more This study provided an analysis of the livelihoods of rural irrigated crop farmers in Kano State, Nigeria. The study's specific objectives were to; describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, assess their livelihood assets, household wellbeing, and constraints. The study adopted a multistage sampling technique to collect primary data from 251 respondents drawn from 18 communities in six Local Government Areas of the State. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics and the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty measurement were used. The study revealed that irrigated crop farming in the area is male-dominated (78.1%), and the practitioners were mostly small-scale farmers (average farm size of 1.8 ha). In terms of assets, this study revealed that most of the respondents were limited in natural, human, and financial capital. Poverty incidence was about 51%, with the lack of access to formal loans, decline in soil productivity, poor access to market, and lack of access to farm mechanization being prominent challenges of the people. Therefore, there is a need for the government and other key actors in the agriculture and financial sectors to ease farmers' access to credit facilities and agricultural extension services.
Journal of Agriculture and Applied Biotechnology, Mar 28, 2022
Accessing financial resources is critical for achieving improved productivity in the farming busi... more Accessing financial resources is critical for achieving improved productivity in the farming business. The objectives of the study were to describe women farmers' socioeconomic characteristics; identify agricultural credit sources, and examine how such funds were utilised by the participants. The multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 148 women crop farmers in 12 communities in the study area using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed that the majority of the respondents were relatively young (with an average age of 41 years) and most (59.1%) were married with an average household size of 7 persons. Similarly, the majority of the participants were small-scale farmers with an average farm size of 1.7 hectares, rely (64%) on informal credit sources and the credit accessed was expended on the purchase of farm inputs, while some portion was used to meet family needs. This study recommended, among others, that formal financial institutions should implement policies that will boost the capacities of informal sources (like cooperative societies and other associations) to access a large volume of credit that they can distribute to their members. HIGHLIGHTS Credit sources available for women farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria were analysed. Most of the farmers in the State are young (x̄ = 41 y) Credit facilities are only available for small scale farming Women assess financial credits to procure farm tools and settle family needs
Boko Haram Insurgency has affected the livelihood of rural households in the NorthEastern region ... more Boko Haram Insurgency has affected the livelihood of rural households in the NorthEastern region of Nigeria. This research was carried out to assess the impact of insurgency on the food crop production in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Data for this study were collected from 80 randomly sampled farmers in the study area. Simple descriptive statistics were used in analyzing the data. The study revealed that there was a considerable decline in the production capacities of the rural farmers in the area as a result of increased insurgent activities. It was therefore recommended that Government should prioritize ending insurgency in the area in order to sustain food production in Nigeria.
Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica
Information is a critical factor in the farming business as the survival of the participants reli... more Information is a critical factor in the farming business as the survival of the participants relies on their ability to access innovations and meet the dynamic challenges of the sector. This study analysed the information needs of poultry farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, and a multistage sampling technique to collect data (from 113 poultry farmers) for the study. Descriptive statistics, a three-point rating scale, and the Ordinary Least Square regression model were used to analyse the data collected. The findings of the study indicated that the prominent information sources among the farmers were: the internet, acquaintances/friends, and radio. Similarly, the study revealed that the respondents require information on various aspects of poultry production. Based on the results, age, household size, educational level, and membership in association negatively influence poultry farmers’ information needs, whereas gender, farm siz...
Boko Haram Insurgency has affected the livelihood of rural households in the NorthEastern region ... more Boko Haram Insurgency has affected the livelihood of rural households in the NorthEastern region of Nigeria. This research was carried out to assess the impact of insurgency on the food crop production in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Data for this study were collected from 80 randomly sampled farmers in the study area. Simple descriptive statistics were used in analyzing the data. The study revealed that there was a considerable decline in the production capacities of the rural farmers in the area as a result of increased insurgent activities. It was therefore recommended that Government should prioritize ending insurgency in the area in order to sustain food production in Nigeria.
Croatian Review of Economic, Business and Social Statistics
This study is focused on analysing the economics of rice production by the small-holder female ri... more This study is focused on analysing the economics of rice production by the small-holder female rice-farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described female rice-farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, analysed their technical and allocative efficiencies, and also assessed their economic efficiency in the area. Primary data were collected from 180 randomly selected female rice-farmers in Adamawa State using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier function were used analysing the data collected. Findings of the study revealed that the technical in-efficiency of the farmers is influenced by farming experience, education, and access to credit facilities. Also, the allocative in-efficiency of female farmers was influenced by education, household size, and access to credits. The result showed that education and access to credit facilities were common factors affecting the technical and allocative efficiency of female rice farmer...
AGRICULTURA TROPICA ET SUBTROPICA, 2022
Information is a critical factor in the farming business as the survival of the participants reli... more Information is a critical factor in the farming business as the survival of the participants relies on their ability to access innovations and meet the dynamic challenges of the sector. This study analysed the information needs of poultry farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, and a multistage sampling technique to collect data (from 113 poultry farmers) for the study. Descriptive statistics, a three-point rating scale, and the Ordinary Least Square regression model were used to analyse the data collected. The findings of the study indicated that the prominent information sources among the farmers were: the internet, acquaintances/ friends, and radio. Similarly, the study revealed that the respondents require information on various aspects of poultry production. Based on the results, age, household size, educational level, and membership in association negatively influence poultry farmers' information needs, whereas gender, farm size, and farming experience have shown a positive influence on the farmers' information needs. Hence, the study emphasised the need for the government and other actors in the agricultural sector to employ and also motivate agricultural extension workers to widen the scope of their reach using the internet.
ACTA UNIVERSITATIS AGRICULTURAE ET SILVICULTURAE MENDELIANAE BRUNENSIS, 2018
The purpose of this study was to analyse rural farm households' access to formal agricultural cre... more The purpose of this study was to analyse rural farm households' access to formal agricultural credit in Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa state, Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the primary data collected using structured questionnaire (from 140 rural farming households). Findings from the study have shown that, 90 % of the respondents were male, mostly educated (70 %) and married (89 %) engaging in farming as their primary livelihood activity (about 81 %) with an average farm size of 2.47 hectares. The result of the binary logit regression has shown that level of education and income do influence access to credit positively, while age and distance to access point negatively influence respondents' access to formal credit. The study further revealed that, lack of acceptable collateral / security, high interest rates, low financial literacy, and complex banking procedures were the main factors that limits the respondents' access to credit facility from formal sources. In order for farmers to have an improved access to formal credits, the formation of strong groups that are viable to provide the needed capital is encouraged, banking operations should be simplified to suite farmers' needs / convenience and financial literacy among farmers should be improved through awareness campaigns (in agricultural extension packages).
Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology
This study analysed the economics of plantain production in Northeast Nigeria. The specific objec... more This study analysed the economics of plantain production in Northeast Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to; describe plantain farmers’ socio-economic characteristics in Northeast Nigeria; identify factors affecting plantain production in the study area, and also ascertain farmers’ resource use efficiency in plantain production. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique to collect primary data from 250 plantain farmers selected from 13 communities. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics and a stochastic frontier model were used. The finding of the study indicated that most (86.8%) of the respondents were male, having an average age of the respondents was 39.15 years, who are mostly educated (92.8%) and cultivate an average of 2.39 ha of land. The stochastic frontier production function maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters indicated that the production of plantain is determined by farm size, the number of suckers planted, the amount of ...
The study investigated the effect of level of awareness of Ebola virus disease on food security s... more The study investigated the effect of level of awareness of Ebola virus disease on food security status among bush meat marketers in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to; describe the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, examine the extent to which the respondents are aware of Ebola virus disease prevalence, determine their food security status, identify the determinants of household food security of the respondents and lastly, the major constraints encountered by the respondents during Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 100 bush meat marketers using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the study revealed that 89.0% of the respondents were female and 76.0% were married. Majority (90%) were educated and their age fall between 41 and 60 years (51.0%). Majority (54.0%) of the responde...
Reducing poverty has remained foremost among Nigeria’s developmental challenges. This study analy... more Reducing poverty has remained foremost among Nigeria’s developmental challenges. This study analysed poverty level among some selected households in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, determine the pattern of income distribution among the respondents, determine the incidence, depth and severity of poverty among the respondents, and lastly, identify the respondents’ coping strategy to poverty in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 80 household heads using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke (FGT) weighted poverty index, and Lorenz curve. The result revealed that majority of the respondents were male (90%), educated (70%), married (88.57%) and whose primary occupation is mostly farming (50%). Income distribution as shown by the Lor...
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Papers by Michael Amurtiya
State, Nigeria, yet production is limited by inefficiencies. This study assessed the
technical, allocative, and economic efficiency of farmers using a stochastic frontier
production and cost model. A total of 240 producers were selected through multistage
sampling, and structured questionnaires provided the data. Analysis employed
Maximum Likelihood Estimation. Results showed that farm size (0.451, p<0.01), seed
(0.226, p<0.01), labor (0.1176, p<0.01), and fertilizer (0.102, p<0.05) were the most
significant drivers of output. Mean efficiency scores were 0.83 for technical, 0.81 for
allocative, and 0.67 for economic performance. Gamma values of 0.88 and 0.91
indicated that inefficiencies explained most variations in output and cost. Farmers
achieved strong technical performance but faced persistent allocative and economic
constraints. Targeted investment in irrigation, stronger extension services, improved
access to credit, and cooperative strengthening are recommended to improve cost-
effective resource use and productivity