Participation in “Planting for Food and Jobs” Programme and Commercialization among Maize Farm Households in Savelugu Municipality, Ghana

Ghana’s “Planting for Food and Job” programme aims to improve farmers’ access to farm inputs. The idea is that through improved access to quality seed varieties, fertilisers and good agronomic practices, output would increase leading to an increased market surplus. This study sought to investigate whether engagement in ‘Planting for Food and Job’ (PFJ ) programme influences farm households’ maize commercialization level in Savelugu Municipality, in the Northern Region of Ghana. To correct for selectivity bias, unobserved endogeneity and avoid the problems associated with weak instrumentation, the conditional mixed process (CMP) method was used. The results revealed that participation in the PFJ programme and maize yield positively influenced maize commercialization. However, commercialisation was negatively influenced by gender of the farm household's head, household size and membership of community based organisations (CBOs). Participation in the PFJ programme itself was enhanced by education, marital status, increased farm size, farm ownership, membership of farmer-based organization (FBOs) and non-farm engagement. Government and all relevant stakeholders should step up efforts at promoting the PFJ programme and maize commercialisation through access to formal education, farmland and other productivity enhancing inputs and services.

Millet-Production Analysis

Analysis of millet-production shows the size and variability of returns to different farm inputs, for each of the millet varieties. Regression analysis is based on the Cobb-Douglas production function, to generate a set of marginal returns to factors between uses, from one year to the next and between farmers. Farmers make decisions based on past experience and in a context of uncertainty about the future. The principal inputs are described for analysis of village-field and bush-field millet varieties, their measurement and representation in regression equations. Results from the analysis are presented to show the relative significance of each factor, and the high levels for R2 associated with manure use, plough-team use, and the soil dummy variable. The labour variable was more problematic. Analysis of the residual error term permitted a review of each farming household, difficulties in accurately measuring particular variables, and significant differences in farmers’ knowledge, aptitude and judgement.

Influence of Extension Connectivity on Youth Engagement into Paddy Farming in Kano State, Nigeria

The international development agencies have made a clarion call to the developing countries, upon strengthening their agricultural sectors with a modern technological connectivity, so that massive unemployed youth can be employed in the sector. The insufficient of youth data and studies becomes a major challenge in these countries. However, emphasis of Nigeria’s government was more on the provision of farm inputs subsidies to farmers. While the policy on youth’s inclusion into paddy farming was not given much consideration, despite the growing number of unemployed youths. Also, the availability of paddy fertile land and increase in extension connectivity subscription in the country could have improve both the paddy production and youth employment. Yet over 33% of the youths are unemployed. Thus, designing an effective youth policy could not be realized without analysing factors that can inspire them to participate into farming. This study examines the effect of extension connectivity technology in influencing youth participation in paddy farming in Kano, Nigeria. The study selected 180 youth respondents from mixed sampling techniques and the questionnaire was administered in three paddies local government areas in Kano state around August 2019. The binary logit was used in the estimation of different models. The findings proved that extension connectivity used in farming can inspire youths to participate and remain in paddy farming. The study highlights the need for greater attention in utilising the extension connectivity in enlightening and educating youths to access information to aids paddy farming activities.

Effects Of Farmers Empowerment Porgrammes On Agricultural Productivity In Kwande LGA Of Benue State, Nigeria

The study examined the effect of farmers' empowerment programmes on agricultural productivity in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. The specific objectives were to; examine the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; determine the effect of farmers empowerment programme on farm inputs accessibility; determine the effect of farmers empowerment programme on productive asset acquisition; determine the effect of farmers empowerment programme on the income of the farmers; and examine the problems encountered by farmers in farmers empowerment programmes. Data for the study were collected using questionnaire administered to farmers. Frequency distribution, percentage, and chi-square statistics were used for data analysis. The major findings of the study showed that the male gender participated in the programme more than the females (59.1%), and most of the farmers were above 40 years (59.5%). Majority (59.1%) had a household size of more than six persons, cultivating 3-4.99 hectares of land (50%) and had farming experience of more than 7 years (59.1%). There was discrimination in distribution of agricultural incentives, subsidies and credit facilities (59.1%). Poor awareness of the scheme was an obstacle to capturing farmers on the scheme (59.1%). There was high positive effect of farmers' empowerment programmes on farm inputs accessibility (t-tab.0.995; t-cal.4.585), productive asset acquisition (t-tab.0.479; t-cal.8.557) and income of farmers (t-tab.0.349; t-cal.16.515). The study recommended that the government, individuals and non-governmental organizations should join hands to adequately finance farmers' empowerment programmes of the rural dwellers. The agencies and government officials' in-charge of the empowerment programmes should avoid discrimination against farmers in the distribution of agricultural programme packages. The government and empowerment agencies should ensure that awareness is created about the existence of the programme so that more farmers will be captured on the scheme through frequent seminars; workshop and enlightenment campaigns.

Assessment of Domestic Terms of Trade on Oilseed Crops Supply and Demand by Parity Index in Rajasthan: An Analysis

In this paper, the terms of trade between the input and output prices of selected major oilseeds i.e. groundnut, rapeseed & mustard and soybean have been estimated for selected districts of Rajasthan for the period 1996-97 to 2015-16. The indices of terms of trade for groundnut has shown mixed trend whereas for rapeseed & mustard trend remained favourable from 1996-97 to 2010-11. The ratio of index of procurement prices to index of input prices for rapeseed & mustard was more than one during this period reached to as high as of 165 in 2003-04 over the base of 100 in 1996-97. Like rapeseed & mustard, terms of trade for soybean cultivation in Baran was found favourable for about a decade (1996-97 to 2008-09) and afterward had shown mixed trend of ups and downs. The decline in indices can be attributed to relatively higher rate of increase in prices of inputs than of output prices. Based on the study it was suggested to conduct regular studies for better understanding the trend in prices of farm inputs and outputs that will help in revising the existing policies with confidence. To remove the disparity between ‘prices received and paid’, concerted efforts should be made to maintain the parity, which will help farmers in buying inputs and other items of household consumption.

Rainfed Rice Farming Production Constrains and Prospects, the Kenyan Situation

Kenya experiences huge production-consumption deficit in relation to rice. This is due to changing eating habits that has adopted more rice in the menu and rapidly rising population. Rice production has remained low being unable to meet consumption. Rice ecosystems in Kenya include irrigated, rainfed lowland and rainfed upland. Irrigated ecosystem has over the years been given more emphasis despite rainfed rice farming having double the potential over irrigation system. Ecologically rice grows well in abundant water supply, warm to high temperatures and in Clay sandy to loamy soils with slightly acidic to neutral pH. Rice varieties grown in Kenya are mainly traditional, introduced improved, hybrids and landraces. Rainfed rice farming faces constraint’s key among them being; drought and erratic rainfall, weeds, pest and diseases, cheap imports, land ownership and poor infrastructure. Mitigating against drought and erratic rainfall, improving farm inputs and equipment, increasing germplasm production and distribution, credit support and marketing to farmers, improving farmers skills through technological transfers and infrastructural development are prospects that if adopted could increase rainfed rice productivity. More attention towards improvement of rainfed rice farming could greatly contribute to bridging the production-consumption deficit that is bridged through imports. It is with this, that this review updates our understanding of rain fed rice farming in Kenya in terms of ecological conditions, ecological systems, varieties, constraints and prospects.

Does credit utilization lead to increasing farm outcome? a micro-perspective of tea production from Rwanda

Credit is a crucial factor for tea growers to pay for physical farm inputs mainly input fertilizers, research and development of high yielding tea clones and labour in order to improve the production of green tea leaf and to meet factories’ demand for raw materials. However, mismanagement of accessed credits by farmers has been reported among the snags affecting the sector development. The study analyzed the determinants and impact of credit utilization on farm income among smallholder tea growers in Nyaruguru District, Rwanda. Crosssectional tea household level data were collected from 358 farmers randomly selected from tea cooperatives. The credit utilization and causal effect were estimated using the Endogenous Switching Regression model. Results showed a positive and significant relationship between credit utilization and tea farm income. Precisely, the causal effect of credit is a 7% increase in tea income for farmers who utilised credit for tea production, while its potential effect is up to a 55% decrease in tea income for those who divert credit for out-off tea production uses. Furthermore, training on good agricultural practices and credit management, cost of farm inputs, labour and access to group credit significantly influence utilization of credit for tea production. However, the size of credit (cash) and off-farm businesses significantly increase the diversion of credit and level of tea farm income. Tea farmers are encouraged to use tea credits for planned projects. Sensitizing farmers to procure farm input fertilizers in bulk through cooperatives should be vigorously pursued to discourage credit diversion. Key words: tea credits, tea farming households, farm income, endogenous switching regression

Adaptation of Crop Diversification to Climatic Risks and Agro-ecological Zone: Case of Under-resourced Farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa

ABSTRACT Crop diversification can reduce the extent of losses from climate change and climate risks. This paper explains the state of crop diversification in the study area and identify significant exploitable benefits from the practise. The study employed survey data from farmers in major agro-ecological zones of the Eastern Cape Province, namely Grassland, Savannah and Karoo. Data on crop enterprises, input and output variables were processed in monetary terms and subjected to gross margin analysis. A correlation analysis was applied to examine the sensitivity of farm inputs, outputs and profitability/loss to different crop mixes and agro-climatic variation. Study findings revealed that crop-based enterprise combinations of farmers vary across agro-ecological zones. Farmers choose crops that reduces the risk of emerging climate related losses, input costs and increase output and/or revenue. The study recommends experimental research that details yield benefits and losses in responses to both biotic, abiotic factors and specific crop combinations.

A GIS Assessment of the Suitability of Tilapia and Clarias Pond Farming in Tanzania

Aquaculture production in Tanzania has increased in recent years, responding to an increased demand for fish, but the scale and productivity of smallholder aquaculture remains below the level needed to support significant sector growth in Tanzania. This study assesses, through geospatial analyses, the suitability for freshwater pond farming of Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus in Tanzania, by assessing the geographical distribution of seven criteria (water availability, water temperature, soil texture, terrain slope, availability of farm inputs, potential farm-gate sales, and access to local markets) identified as important for fish pond farming. The criteria were developed and standardized from 15 sub-criteria, which were classified into a four-level suitability scale based on physical scores. The individual weights of the different criteria in the overall GIS suitability assessment were determined through a multi-criteria evaluation. The final results were validated and compared through field observations, interviews with 89 rural and 11 urban aquaculture farmers, and a questionnaire survey with 16 regional fisheries officers. Our results indicate that there is a good potential for aquaculture in Tanzania. Almost 60% of Tanzania is assessed as being suitable and 40% as moderately suitable for small-scale subsistence pond farming, which is the dominating fish farming practice currently. The corresponding figures for medium-scale commercial farming, which many regions expect to be the dominating farming method within ten-years, were 52% and 47% respectively. The availability of water was the most limiting factor for fish pond farming, which was confirmed by both farmers and regional fisheries officers, and assessed as being “suitable” in only 28% of the country. The availability of farm-gate sales and local markets were “moderate suitable” to “suitable” and were seen as a constraint for commercial farms in rural areas. The availability of farm inputs (agriculture waste and manure) was overall good (26% very suitable and 32% suitable), but high-quality fish feed was seen as a constraint to aquaculture development, both by farmers and regional fisheries officers. Soil, terrain, and water temperature conditions were assessed as good, especially at low altitudes and in regions close to the sea and south of Lake Victoria.

Allocative Efficiency Analysis of Capsicum Cropping System under Tunnels

The focus of this study was to analyze the allocative efficiency of the capsicum cropping system under tunnels. The data is collected from those farmers that were cultivating the capsicum crops under the tunnels in Pakistan. Cultivation of the crops under tunnels has a rising trend in Pakistan. To achieve the best possible output with a minimum cost of newly opted farm technology can be beneficial if farmers have proper skill and know-how regarding the application of balanced use of inputs. The sample size was around 150 capsicum farms. The Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) was used to examine the allocative efficiency of capsicum farms in Pakistan. The result of the study demonstrated that the average allocative efficiency of capsicum cropping systems under tunnels in Pakistan was around 65%. Around 35% of allocative inefficiency is present in the capsicum cropping system. Mismanagement of resources related to the utilization of farm inputs i one of the main reasons for allocative inefficiency. After removing the mismanagement of resources, most farms have another way of reducing allocative inefficiency. It is linked with reallocating inputs or changing the input combination used, to achieve an optimum level of capsicum output at a given level of input prices. Hence, the objective of adoption of advanced farm technologies along with balanced application of farm inputs will result in higher farm productivity and allocative efficiency.