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• DETERMINANTS OF UTILIZATION AND OPTIMUM USE OF FARMER FIELD BUSINESS SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS AMONG MAIZE FARMERS IN NORTH WEST NIGERIA

  Mercy Isemin Effiong

  Abbas Shehu

  Mohammed Gwadabe

  Makwin Francis

  Views:

  49

  This study examined the predictors of utilization and intensity of use of Farmer Field Business School (FFBS) recommendations among maize farmers in North West Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to 231 FFBS participants in Kaduna and Kano States. Data were analysed using weighted mean scores, a Utilization Index, Probit regression for the binary utilization decision, and Tobit regression for intensity of use. Results showed that 95.7% of participants utilized FFBS recommendations, yielding a mean Utilization Index of 0.7415. Intensity of use varied widely across practice areas: planting and fertilizer application recorded the highest intensity (WM = 2.49 each), while use of Aflasafe and field measurement returned low scores (WM = 1.39 and 1.58). The Probit model identified sex (p < 0.10), age (p < 0.10), household size (p < 0.05), and land acquisition mode (p < 0.01) as significant determinants of the utilization decision. The Tobit model showed that marital status (p < 0.05), household size (p < 0.10), frequency of extension visits (p < 0.01), and the Perception Index of FFBS (p < 0.01) significantly influenced optimum use. These findings underscore the importance of targeted extension engagement and positive programme perception in deepening practice uptake among smallholder farmers.

• Urban Food Crop Farming and Farm Households’ Food Security Status in Oyo State, Nigeria

  23-28

  David Tobi Olaleye

  Abiodun Elijah Obayelu

  Omotoso Oluseye Ogunmola

  Views:

  372

  Food production and supply has been on the decline in Nigeria with a consequent impact on household food security. This study examined the influence of urban farming on household food security in Oyo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 159 farm households in a cross-sectional survey. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-economic characteristics, determine the food security status of urban crop farming households in the study area, and examine the effects of urban crop production on households’ food security status. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics while the statistical tools were Food Security Index (FSI) and Probit Regression Model (PRM). Results revealed that 84.9% of the respondents was male, 81.2% married. The average age, household size, and farm size were 49.6 years, 6 persons, 1.1 hectares respectively. Most (75.5%) of the respondents did not have access to consumption credit and 62.3% did not belong to any farmers association. Based on minimum daily energy requirement per adult equivalent of N230.8, 90.6% of the farm households was food secure.

  The PRM showed that age (β = -0.1, p<0.05), household size (β= -0.4, p<0.01) and economic efficiency (β = -61.6, p<0.05) reduced the probability of household food security while access to consumption credit (β= 1.7, p<0.05) and allocative efficiency (β = 67.9, p<0.05) increased the probability of household food security. The study concluded that urban farming significantly influence household food security.

  JEL Classification: Q11

• Analysis of household crop commercialization in Nigeria

  Olubunmi Olanike Alawode

  Olumuyiwa Lekan Makinde

  Views:

  571

  Nigeria is experiencing a gradual shift from subsistence to commercialized agriculture, thereby increasing involvement and activities at different nodes of agribusiness. Participation of farmers in markets is an important determinant of well-being and development, and one of the pathways towards economic growth. This study analysed household crop commercialization in Nigeria. The secondary data used were the General Household Survey (GHS, 2018) Wave 4. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, household crop commercialization index (HCCI) and ordered probit regression model.

  Mean age of Nigerian farmers was 50.04 years (±15.22), majority (85.68%) were male, married (82.51%), and 72.14% had formal education. Farming is viable in all the geopolitical zones and majority (87.64%) of the farmers were from the rural sector, holding a mean total plot size of 12.61(±15.63) hectares, and planted 3 crops on the average. The most produced crop categories are cereals (46.75%), tubers (20.70%) and legumes (19.00%); legumes and cereals are highest in the North, and tubers in the South. Subsistence households were 32.81% (HCCI=0), only 1.71% of the households were fully commercial (HCCI=100), while semi-subsistence households (0≤HCCI≤100) constitute 65.48%. Years of education (p<0.05) and crop production in North East and North West zones (p<0.01) constrain commercialization, while at p<0.01, crop production in the rural sector and the South zones, and increased land holding are the drivers of household crop commercialization in Nigeria.

  Nigerian farming households are mainly semi-subsistence and are diversified in crop production. Nigeria relies more on market participation of the semi-subsistence households, through their marketable surplus, to feed her teeming population and for exports. Further attention on rural infrastructure development in all geopolitical zones and awareness creation on producing market oriented products will increase agribusiness activities. This will generate green decent jobs that will take unemployed youths off the streets of urban centres. This is in tune with the economy diversification bid and the new Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

  JEL CODE – Q13