Irish-Potato Farming in Plateau State, Nigeria: A Profitability Analysis

Notable efforts are on-going to improve Irish potato production in Plateau State, the major producer of the crop in Nigeria. However, little attention has been given to the profitability of the enterprise while the determinants of profitability level are scanty in the literature. Thus, paper analyses the profitability of Irish-potato farming using primary data from 252 Irish potato farmers in Plateau State, Nigeria. Cost structure and profitability level of Irish potato farming were investigated using farm budgeting technique while probit regression model was used to examine the determinants of profitability level of Irish potato farms. Irish potato farming was found to be profitable with most (53.97%) farmers at high profitability level. The net farm income was ₦604, 245.81 per hectare with returns per naira spent of ₦1.70. The cost structure showed that costs of seeds, labour and fertilizer made up the largest share of the total cost of production per hectare. The probability that a farm will be at high profitability level was determined by agrochemicals, sex, farm size and labour at 1% level, respectively. It was concluded that increasing agrochemicals, reducing farm size and labour and being a male farmer will improve profitability level of Irish potato farms. This study recommended that increased use of agrochemicals and more efficient use of labour and farm land be encouraged among potato farmers increase their profitability level

REALIZING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS AMONG ORGANIC FARMERS IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE

Achieving a resilient food system through the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) greatly depends on how informed farmers and subscribers are to the benefits associated with it. The study examined the role of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) on organic farmers. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 130 respondents; data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire and analysed through the use of descriptive statistics. The results of the socio-economic characteristics revealed that majority of the respondents are male, middle-aged, married and had tertiary education. The result also characterizes respondents as organic-based crop farmers, fewer adopters of community supported agriculture and inadequate access to extension agents. Also, “increasing food security for the population” was perceived as the most (Mean=4.56) important about community supported agriculture and “effecting change through awareness-raising and encouraging sustainable behaviour" was perceived as the greatest (Mean=4.39) effect of community supported agriculture. The study concludes that community supported agriculture helps consumers, producers, and the environment build connections together through a local food network. The study recommends the need for policy and popularization that would encourage community supported agriculture. Also, extension agents and other relevant stakeholders need to be supported and strengthened in order to disseminate agricultural innovations to farmers in rural communities

An overview of anti-diabetic plants used in Gabon: Pharmacology and Toxicology

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ethnopharmacological relevance: The management of diabetes mellitus management in African communities, especially in Gabon, is not well established as more than 60% of population rely on traditional treatments as primary healthcare. The aim of this review was to collect and present the scientific evidence for the use of medicinal plants that are in currect by Gabonese traditional healers to manage diabetes or hyperglycaemia based here on the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of plants with anti-diabetic activity. There are presented in order to promote their therapeutic value, ensure a safer use by population and provide some bases for further study on high potential plants reviewed. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical studies were sourced using databases such as Online Wiley library, Pubmed, Google Scholar, PROTA, books and unpublished data including Ph.D. and Master thesis, African and Asian journals. Keywords including ‘Diabetes’ ‘Gabon’ ‘Toxicity’ ‘Constituents’ ‘hyperglycaemia’ were used. Results: A total of 69 plants currently used in Gabon with potential anti-diabetic activity have been identified in the literature, all of which have been used in in vivo or in vitro studies. Most of the plants have been studied in human or animal models for their ability to reduce blood glucose, stimulate insulin secretion or inhibit carbohydrates enzymes. Active substances have been identified in 12 out of 69 plants outlined in this review, these include Allium cepa and Tabernanthe iboga. Only eight plants have their active substances tested for anti-diabetic activity and are suitables for further investigation. Toxicological data is scarce and is dose-related to the functional parameters of major organs such as kidney and liver. Conclusion: An in-depth understanding on the pharmacology and toxicology of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is lacking yet there is a great scope for new treatments. With further research, the use of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is important to ensure the safety of the diabetic patients in Gabon.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIALIZATION ON POVERTY STATUS OF SMALLHOLDER CASSAVA FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Transforming the subsistence-oriented cassava production system into a market-oriented production system as a way of increasing the smallholder farmers' income, reducing poverty and thus increasing their welfare has been a policy focus in Nigeria. The study examined the effects of agricultural commercialization on poverty status of smallholder cassava farming households. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 189 households; data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire and analysed with the use of household commercialization index, FGT index, ordered probit model and logistic regression model. The result of household commercialization index revealed that larger proportion of the farmers commercialize at a high level. Level of education, farming experience, farm income, quantity of cassava produced and extension visits influenced commercialization. The results further showed that 37.28% of smallholder cassava farming household were poor. Sex, level of education, farming experience, quantity of cassava produced, farm income, level of commercialization and extension visit significantly influenced poverty status. The study concludes that most cassava farmers have a high level of commercialization which has a positive influence on the farmers’ welfare. The study recommends farmers’ education, effective policy intervention and programmes on commercialization and access to credit to improve farmers welfare

TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF IRISH POTATO PRODUCTION: A CASE STUDY FROM NIGERIA

Research background: Irish-potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the main root crops in Nigeria with the potential to improve food security, income and human nutrition. However, farmers are losing outputs due to inefficiency in resource use, whereas, past studies on Irish potato in Nigeria have not focussed on efficiency of the enterprise. Purpose of the article: This study is aimed at measuring technical efficiency to provide a way of quantifying and comparing the performance of each farmer, and identification of factors responsible for variation in technical efficiency. Hence, technical efficiency, and its determinants and returns to scale of Irish-potato farmers were analysed Methods: Primary data was collected from 260 Irish potato farmers using a structured questionnaire through a multi-stage sampling method. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation and percentages) and a two-stage estimation procedure to fit the stochastic frontier production function for Irish potato farmers were used. Findings & value added: Results indicated that the farmers have a mean age of 48 years which indicates an agile workforce. Over 80% of the farmers possessed some form of formal education, predominantly at the secondary level. The efficiency estimates indicated a disparity in technical efficiency among farmers with a mean technical efficiency of 89±4%. The farmers were producing at decreasing returns to scale. At the same time, socio-economic factors of gender, extension contact, membership in cooperative society and farming experience were positive determinants of farmers’ technical efficiency, while household size was negative. Thus, being a male farmer, farming experience, encouraging contact between farmers and extension workers as well as membership in cooperative societies, while reducing household size can improve technical efficiency in Irish potato production

PROFIT EFFICIENCY AMONG CATFISH MARKETERS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA: A STOCHASTIC PROFIT FRONTIER ANALYSIS (SPFA) APPROACH

The study analyzed the determinants of profit efficiency among catfish marketers in Lagos state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 catfish marketers, data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, enterprise budgetary technique, Shephered-Futrell method and stochastic profit frontier analysis (SPFA) model. The result of the gross ratio and net return on investment reveals that catfish marketing was a profitable and bankable enterprise. About 76.72% of sales revenue was taken up by the costs. The SPFA reveals that cost of catfish purchased and depreciation cost had positive (p<0.01) effects on profit while transportation cost (p<0.01) and labour cost (p<0.05) had negative effects. Furthermore, marital status and credit use (p<0.01) had negative effects on profit inefficiency, the mean profit efficiency of the catfish marketers was 74%. The study concluded that catfish marketers were inefficient, however, to improve the efficiency of the marketers and create more job opportunities; the study recommends that credit facilities that will enable the marketers increase their scale of operation, acquire better marketing resources and employ capable hands in catfish marketing should be made available and accessible. Policies that will help to provide good road networks and reduce the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) should be given adequate consideration

PROFIT EFFICIENCY AMONG CATFISH MARKETERS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA: A STOCHASTIC PROFIT FRONTIER ANALYSIS (SPFA) APPROACH

The study analyzed the determinants of profit efficiency among catfish marketers in Lagos state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 catfish marketers, data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, enterprise budgetary technique, Shephered-Futrell method and stochastic profit frontier analysis (SPFA) model. The result of the gross ratio and net return on investment reveals that catfish marketing was a profitable and bankable enterprise. About 76.72% of sales revenue was taken up by the costs. The SPFA reveals that cost of catfish purchased and depreciation cost had positive (p<0.01) effects on profit while transportation cost (p<0.01) and labour cost (p<0.05) had negative effects. Furthermore, marital status and credit use (p<0.01) had negative effects on profit inefficiency, the mean profit efficiency of the catfish marketers was 74%. The study concluded that catfish marketers were inefficient, however, to improve the efficiency of the marketers and create more job opportunities; the study recommends that credit facilities that will enable the marketers increase their scale of operation, acquire better marketing resources and employ capable hands in catfish marketing should be made available and accessible. Policies that will help to provide good road networks and reduce the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) should be given adequate consideration