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Livelihood and Income Diversification Assessment in Northern Nigeria: Evidence from Sudano-Sahelian Region
Aminu Abba,
Muhammad Halliru,
Sani Ubale,
Amina Mustapha,
Amina Mustapha Lawan,
Nuhu Bello Rano,
Amina Idris,
Hauwa Ladi,
Muhammad Musa Bello
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 3, May 2022
Pages:
96-107
Received:
11 April 2022
Accepted:
28 April 2022
Published:
7 May 2022
Abstract: Agriculture and other income-generating activities in the Sudano-Sahelian region face many natural and human constraints that affect households' economic activities and livelihood development over time. Stratified and simple random sampling considered 1,200 households across four (4) Sudano-Sahelian States with 300 respondents each from Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Gombe. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire to information on livelihood and income generating activities. The findings regarding household demographics indicated active age, moderate farming experience and average income, respectively. The results further show overall access to credit, market, extension contact and cooperative participation of 14.68%%, 73.21%, 56.90% and 63.28%, respectively. Ownership and the capital problem have been the major constraints to land access for crop production. The majority of the household goes into multiple income-generating activities with a shortage of planning and guidance on the value of income diversification. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in high income and livelihood deterioration of households' remittances from internal and external sources. The significant variable that affects income diversification includes education, off-farm income, access to credit, and output volume. The development of households and community requires multiple income alternatives for improved livelihood in saving mobilisation and investment opportunities. Households in the Sudano-Sahelian region engaged in agriculture and additional income sources that must be strengthened to support income generation. The study further concluded the existence of potential income diversification alternatives in rural including multiple cropping, off-farm investment, and non-farm income potentials. COVID-19 period posed a serious constraint to households, particularly deterioration in income sources, making livelihood activities more difficult. Access to credit, educational status, off-farm income generation, and output volume are the strongest determinants of income diversification in the Sudano-Sahelian region. The study recommends the need for government and development agencies to improve the quality and availability of rural infrastructural facilities (road, markets, electricity) in the study area to help rural households sustain their investment and engage in sustainable livelihood activities. The development of essential programs on enterprise support and business development service is essential to strengthen livelihood and income diversification opportunities. Strengthening cooperative participation and awareness creation on savings and investment opportunities is essential for sustainable livelihood, implying the need for collective actions, enhancing risk strategies, and influencing government policies for livelihood development.
Abstract: Agriculture and other income-generating activities in the Sudano-Sahelian region face many natural and human constraints that affect households' economic activities and livelihood development over time. Stratified and simple random sampling considered 1,200 households across four (4) Sudano-Sahelian States with 300 respondents each from Kano, Jigaw...
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Profitability Analysis of Smallholder Rice Production Under Urea Deep Placement Technology and Conventional Fertilizer Application Practice in North Central, Nigeria
Ike Nkechinyere Ifeoma,
Ater Peter Iorhon,
Aye Goodness Chioma
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 3, May 2022
Pages:
108-119
Received:
27 December 2021
Accepted:
1 April 2022
Published:
26 May 2022
Abstract: The study examined the profitability of smallholder rice farmer’s under urea deep placement innovation and conventional fertilizer application practice in north central Nigeria. The study was carried out in six (6) LGA’s of Wushishi, Shiroro and Katcha in Niger State and Gwer East, Okpokwu and Kwande in Benue State respectively of North Central Nigeria. The study was guided by two objectives which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and standard farm management accounting models. Systematic, multistage and purposive sampling techniques were adopted to select 398 rice farmers from the study area consisting of 197 farmers using the urea deep placement innovation (UDP farmers) and 201 farmers practicing the conventional broadcast of urea fertilizers (Non-UDP farmers) for rice production. The structured questionnaire used to source the primary data for the study was administered by trained field extension agents to the respondent farmers using personal interview. However, assistance was given to farmers who were unable to read or undertstand the contents of the questionnaire. Findings from the study revealed that majority (78%) of the farmers were male; with mean age of 42years for UDP farmers and 41years for Non-UDP farmers. The mean farm size cultivated by the farmers’ was 1.2ha (UDP farmers) and 1.3ha (Non-UDP farmers) in Benue State, while in Niger State it was 3.6ha (UDP farmers) and 2.3ha (Non-UDP farmers) respectively. UDP farmers harvested an average output (paddy) of 4.23Mt/ha (3.2Mt/ha milled equivalent) as against 2.76Mt/ha (2.1Mt/ha milled equivalent) obtained by Non-UDP farmers. The Net Farm Income (NFI) and profitability ratio analysis revealed that UDP farmers earned a mean net farm income of N276, 986.68 as against the N117, 354.27 earned by Non-UDP farmers in Niger State; while in Benue State the mean NFI was estimated as N312, 451.84 for UDP farmers as against the N137, 326.64 earned by Non-UDP farmer respectively. The profitability ratio analysis revealed a return on investment (ROI) of 0.92 (92%) for UDP farmers in both states; while it was 0.46 (46%) and 0.48 (48%) for Non-UDP farmers in Niger and Benue State respectively. These results implies that UDP farmers had a higher return of (0.44) 44% for each invested naira (N) over their Non-UDP counterpart from both states. The key policy statement and recommendation from the study is that UDP technology should be spread widely among Nigerian rice farmers to enhance the countrys’ capacity to increase output and attain self sufficiency in rice production. To achieve this, there is need to create more awareness of the urea deep placement technology and address the challenges militating against its adaption among rice producers in the area and country at large.
Abstract: The study examined the profitability of smallholder rice farmer’s under urea deep placement innovation and conventional fertilizer application practice in north central Nigeria. The study was carried out in six (6) LGA’s of Wushishi, Shiroro and Katcha in Niger State and Gwer East, Okpokwu and Kwande in Benue State respectively of North Central Nig...
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Effect of Market Access on the Adoption of Sustainable Soil Management Practices in Oyo State, Nigeria
Sadiat Funmilayo Arifalo,
Julius Olumide Ilesanmi
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 3, May 2022
Pages:
120-128
Received:
21 March 2022
Accepted:
20 April 2022
Published:
26 May 2022
Abstract: The study examined the effect of market access on the adoption of sustainable soil management practices by farmers in the study area. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; identified the sustainable soil management practices adopted by the farmers; determined factors influencing the choice of sustainable soil management practices used; determined the relationship between market access and the adoption intensity of sustainable soil management practices and identified constraints faced in adopting sustainable soil management practices. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to collect data from one hundred and fifty (150) farmers. Thereafter, data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate probit regression. The findings revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 45 years, with a mean household size of about 6 members. Majority (69.6%) of the respondents had formal education and a mean year of experience of about 18. The study also revealed that all the respondents had access to one form of market or the other for purchase of inputs and sales of their products. In addition, the mean distance covered from farm to home was less than 5 kilometres for most of the respondents while the distance from home to major market and farm to major market was between 5 and 10 kilometres. The most popular sustainable soil management practices adopted by the farmers were the use of chemical fertilizers, crop rotation and intercropping. Furthermore, the multivariate probit regression model showed that age of the respondents, educational level, farm size, household size, farming experience, farm income, awareness of sustainable soil management practices, average distance to the input market, average distance to the output market, average price of product, average price of input for each practice, subsidies on input for each practice, significantly influenced the adoption of sustainable soil management practice by farmers. Also, it was found by the study that inadequate fund is the major constraint faced by the respondents in adopting sustainable soil management practices.
Abstract: The study examined the effect of market access on the adoption of sustainable soil management practices by farmers in the study area. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; identified the sustainable soil management practices adopted by the farmers; determined factors influencing the choice of sustainab...
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Background and Effects of NREGA on Potential Benefits, Rural-Urban Migration and Food Security Vis-a-Vis Present Status: Empirical Analysis of Bihar
Shikha Yadav,
Ramesh Kumar Yadav,
Rajiv Kumar Sinha
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 3, May 2022
Pages:
129-139
Received:
23 April 2022
Accepted:
9 May 2022
Published:
26 May 2022
Abstract: On 2nd February, 2006, the Government of India implemented the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) as a part of its Common Minimum Programme (CMP) Agenda in 200 districts across India, which was extended to the remaining districts across the states and Union Territories w.e.f. 1st April, 2008. On 2nd October, 2009, the scheme was renamed as 'Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Pitched tentatively as Mission of Shri Narendra Modi led Government of India with larger ambition of Antyodaya, efforts are being made to work on a major plan to converge Social Welfare Plans and Schemes across Ministries and target these to reach individual households- based on their specific deprivations as indicated in the recently published Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC). Objectives: (i) To briefly annotate background of employment policies in India, (ii) Concept and provisions of NREGA, (iii) Envelop latest restructuring of social welfare plan, (iv) Illuminate changes in charges of agricultural operations, village economy during post-NREGA period, (v) Pause upon effects, (vi) Gauge potential benefits related to food security, (vii) Discuss current scenario of MNREGA in Bihar and (viii) Suggest Action Points. Methodology: For featuring objective-based analysis, five districts from the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central regions of the state were taken up. The districts of Samastipur, Kishanganj and Rohtas were selected from Phase-I and Banka and Goplaganj from Phase-II. A total of 10 villages-2 from each district were surveyed using ‘structured household questionnaire’ and a ‘Village Schedule'. Of the two villages selected from each district, one was within a 5 km periphery from the district/city headquarters, and the second was the one, situated at a distance of 20 km or more. 200 participants, i.e. 20 each from the selected 10 villages (who worked as NREGA wage worker)- were surveyed for detailed information. Further, for being elaborately familiarized with around realities in detail, 5 villagers (who did not work as 'NREGA labourer) were surveyed from each of the 10 villages spread over 5 districts of Bihar. In this way, total sample size was 250. For the selection of participant households, stratified random sampling was used with Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Caste and Forward Castes (others) given proportionate representation. Reference Period: The study used secondary data for the period before NREGA (i.e. 2001 and 2005) and particular 'reference years 2009 to 2013'. For primary data, the selected year was 2009 (January- December) and some aspects were revisited in 2019.
Abstract: On 2nd February, 2006, the Government of India implemented the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) as a part of its Common Minimum Programme (CMP) Agenda in 200 districts across India, which was extended to the remaining districts across the states and Union Territories w.e.f. 1st April, 2008. On 2nd October, 2009, the scheme was ren...
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Determinants of the Adoption of Forage Crops in the Rural Municipality of Koumbia in Burkina Faso
Tionyele Fayama,
Lankpitouo Jacqueline Poda,
Issouf Traore,
Souleymane Ouedraogo,
Baba Ouattara
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 3, May 2022
Pages:
140-145
Received:
4 May 2022
Accepted:
2 June 2022
Published:
8 June 2022
Abstract: To improve animal productivity and increase producers' income, forage production is encouraged by many development actors. However, these crops are low adopted by producers and struggle to be sustainably integrated into farms despite their technical potential. This study was conducted in the rural municipality of Koumbia with 73 agro-pastoralists. The objective of the study was to evaluate an optional approach to the development of fodder production implemented by the project "Production and development of fodder resources by small-scale producers in the High Basins region in intensive, market-oriented animal production. The quantitative research method was used to conduct the study. Thus, the questionnaire and the document review were used to collect information in the villages of Makognadougou, Gombélédougou, Sébédougou and Koumbia center, which represent the 4 villages in the commune that hosted the project. The information obtained was processed with SPSS version 26 software and then subjected to descriptive statistics analysis. The results obtained from the study reveal an adoption rate of 88% for forage crops. The factors that determine the adoption of these crops by producers are the level of education, access to land, improved income, availability of forage seeds and mastery of forage production techniques. These are the factors mentioned above that guide the decision and the logic of the choice of whether or not to adopt fodder crops among agro-pastoralists. The influence of these factors on the decision of these farmers depends on their perception of fodder crops as an alternative for feeding their animals. It should be noted that a negative perception of forage production has a negative influence on the decision to produce "grasses to feed animals" and inversely.
Abstract: To improve animal productivity and increase producers' income, forage production is encouraged by many development actors. However, these crops are low adopted by producers and struggle to be sustainably integrated into farms despite their technical potential. This study was conducted in the rural municipality of Koumbia with 73 agro-pastoralists. ...
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