Drivers and Constraints to the Adoption of Organic Leafy Vegetable Production in Nigeria: A Livelihood Approach

Nigeria, the seventh most populous country in the world, is plagued by livelihood challenges such as poverty and food insecurity, which are more pervasive among farming households and rural communities. Organic farming is being promoted by some domestic non-governmental organizations as a means of addressing the problem of poverty and food insecurity among farming households and rural communities in the country. Promoters consider organic farming to be well-suited to smallholder farmers’ socio-economic conditions in Nigeria, and that it can help improve their livelihood conditions through increased agricultural productivity and farm income. However, the adoption of the technology by smallholder farmers has been underwhelming, for reasons yet to be studied. Using a livelihood framework and through a case study of farmers in Ibadan, Oyo State, this study qualitatively explores and provides insights into the factors that influence, constrain, and gender the adoption of organic farming in Nigeria. Overall, it was found that a mix of factors, which include institutional considerations, farmers’ livelihood assets and vulnerability contexts, their livelihood activities, and gender-related variables shaped adoption decision-making. The policy implications of the findings were outlined.

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Efficiency of small scale vegetable farms: policy implications for the rural poverty reduction in Nepal

Agricultural Economics (Zemědělská ekonomika) ◽

10.17221/81/2015-agricecon ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 62 (No. 4) ◽

pp. 181-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

R.B. Shrestha ◽

W.-Ch. Huang ◽

S. Gautam ◽

T.G. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Support Services ◽

Poverty Reduction ◽

Production Efficiency ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Rural Poverty ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Farm Income ◽

Small Scale ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Parametric Data

Poverty and hunger reduction are intertwined challenges and enduring issues in the world, particularly in developing countries. Improvement in the efficiency in vegetable farming helps the farmers increase the per capita income, reduce poverty and eventually improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers. This paper evaluates economic efficiency of vegetable farms in Nepal using a non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. The results show evidence to suggest that vegetable farms in Nepal have a considerable potential for improving the vegetable production efficiency with a greater access to improved seed, agricultural credit, and training and extension services. Some policies options with regard to the vegetable production technology, and support services for farmers in general and women farmers in particular, are suggested to increase the farm efficiency. While some of these support services are currently available, we suggest that a more focus be given to creating the improved market access, to the women focused extension, and to training packages for the sustainable production. These support services can lead to increases in the farm income and to reduce poverty.

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The effect of sustainable land management technologies on farming household food security in Kwara state, Nigeria

Journal of Agricultural Sciences Belgrade ◽

10.2298/jas1902203s ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 203-214

Author(s):

Shehu Salau ◽

Robiu Aliu ◽

Nofiu Nofiu

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Land Management ◽

Household Head ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Farm Income ◽

Sustainable Land Management ◽

Security Index ◽

Farming Households

Nigeria is among countries of the world confronted with the food insecurity problem. The agricultural production systems that produce food for the teeming population are not sustainable. Consequently, the use of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) technologies becomes a viable option. This study assessed the effect of SLM technologies on farming households? food security in Kwara State, Nigeria. A random sampling technique was used to pick 200 farming households for this study. The analytical tools included descriptive statistics, Shriar index, Likert scale, food security index and logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that the average age of the respondents was 51.8 years. The food security index showed that the proportions of food secure and insecure households were 35% and 65% respectively. The binary logistic regression revealed that SLM technologies were one of the critical determinants of food security. An increase in the usage of SLM technologies by 0.106% raised food security by 1%. Other important factors that were estimated included farm income, family size, gender and age of the household head. To reduce the effects of food insecurity, the effective coping strategies adopted by the respondents were reduction in quantity and quality of food consumed, engaging in off-farm jobs to increase household income and using of money proposed for other purposes to buy foods. Governments at all levels should encourage the adoption and use of SLM technologies through both print and electronic media. Policies and strategies towards reducing the household size should be vigorously pursued to reduce food insecurity.

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Application of Probit Analysis in the Decision of Youths to Participate in Vegetable Production

Journal La Bisecoman ◽

10.37899/journallabisecoman.v1i5.234 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (5) ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Nsikak-Abasi Etim ◽

Dorothy Thompson

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Production ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

National Development ◽

Probit Analysis ◽

Primary Data ◽

Farm Income ◽

Small Scale ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Probit Regression ◽

Factors Affecting

Youths are successor farming generation and therefore the future of food security. At present, they constitute about 60% of Nigeria’s population and have over the years contributed significantly to national development. Unfortunately, the present environment makes it difficult to explore their full potentials in production through participation in agriculture. The ageing smallholder farmers are less likely to increase capacity needed to sustainably expand agricultural production. There is therefore a pressing need to engage the youth in ways that they can see a promising future in agriculture as well as influence them to build capacity through effective involvement in agricultural production. Several factors however, have continued to hinder capacity building and effective participation of youths in vegetable farming. An empirical study was conducted to estimate the factors affecting the willingness of youth to participate in small scale waterleaf production. The representative waterleaf producers were selected using the multi stage sampling procedures.With the aid of questionnaire, primary data were obtained from 100 farmers. Univariate probit regression model was used to analyze the data. Results of analysis indicated that the most critical factors affecting the participation of youths in waterleaf production were age, educational qualification, size of household members, and farm income. Results indicated that youths who have acquired some form of education were more willing to be involved in waterleaf production. Findings further indicated that youth in families with higher income from farming activities were more willing to participate in waterleaf production.

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Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers towards Organic Farming in South Africa

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11111157 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 1157

Author(s):

Solomon Eghosa Uhunamure ◽

Zongho Kom ◽

Karabo Shale ◽

Nthaduleni Samuel Nethengwe ◽

Jacobus Steyn

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Organic Farming ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Critical Factors ◽

Awareness Training ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

High Profit ◽

Significant Difference

In South Africa, smallholder farming is an important aspect of livelihood. More so, organic farming is increasingly becoming popular among farmers. However, many studies undertaken focused on the trade possibilities of the industry leaving the farmers’ perceptions underrepresented. This study, therefore, aims to capture the farmers’ opinions by evaluating the critical factors and policy implications of organic farming in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. A total of 220 semi-structured questionnaires were administered to smallholder farmers in the province. The results revealed that organic farming is gaining recognition according to 82.8% of the participants, and 86.6% believed that organic farming has high-profit returns. However, 88.4% of the respondents agreed that the required standards for organic farming are too restrictive while a further 74.6% indicated that organic farming certification is difficult to obtain. The results also indicated a statistically significant difference in the perceived benefits of organic farming (p ≤ 0.001) and access to markets (p = 0.042). Based on the results, the study suggests more awareness, training and ease of certification as a way forward in changing the perceptions of the farmers in the province.

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Food Insecurity and Related Factors among Farming Families in Takhar Region, Afghanistan

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su131810211 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (18) ◽

pp. 10211

Author(s):

Sayed Alim Samim ◽

Zhiquan Hu ◽

Sebastian Stepien ◽

Sayed Younus Amini ◽

Ramin Rayee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Household Head ◽

Unit Group ◽

Ordered Probit ◽

Farm Income ◽

Related Factors ◽

Agricultural Income ◽

Farming Families ◽

Farming Households

Improved food security remains a major challenge for policymakers in Afghanistan. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence and drivers of food insecurity among farming households in the Takhar region of Afghanistan. Household questionnaire survey datasets were obtained from 262 farmers via multi-stage sampling across four districts. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was constructed to assess the prevalence of food insecurity, and an ordered probit econometric model was used to identify the factors influencing the prevalence rates in farming families. The findings indicate that 66.79% of the farming households were food insecure, whilst 30.53% were severely food insecure. After adjustment of socio-economic and demographic characteristics of families, the ordered probit results reveals that household head education, dependency ratio, farm income, access to non-agricultural income, livestock unit, group membership, borrowing, farm diseases, flood, and war significantly influenced farming households’ food insecurity in the study area. Our findings highlight the urgent requirement for policies and initiatives to support farmers to improve their overall food security. Such strategies should focus on introducing improved farming techniques, enhancing farmer education levels, livestock development programs, building and empowering farmers groups, creating credit access to households, and providing humanitarian food support.

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Determinants of agriculture credit fungibility among smallholder farmers: The case of rural Ghana

10.7764/ijanr.v48i1.2235 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Kwabena Nkansah Darfor ◽

◽

Martinson Ankrah Twumasi ◽

Selorm Akaba ◽

Michael Kwamega ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Financial Burden ◽

Probit Model ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Farm Size ◽

Farm Income ◽

Variable Approach ◽

Male Farmer ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Instrumental Variable Approach

This study examined the determinants of rural household agriculture credit fungibility (CF). The study found agricultural CF among farmers, with approximately 79% of farmers involved in agricultural CF. Household financial burden was found to be the main cause of CF among the studied farmers. Most fungible credit was used for clothing and food consumption. A probit model was employed to analyze survey data collected from four regions in Ghana. We employed an instrumental variable approach (IV-Probit) to test for robustness due to endogeneity issues. The econometric model results show that the variables of off-farm income and farm size inversely influenced agricultural CF, while those of education, household size, male farmer gender, and chronic disease variables had a positive effect on agricultural CF. Our findings have policy implications for alleviating agricultural CF.

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Adoption of NPS Fertilizer on Sorghum Crop Production by Smallholder Farmers in Gemechis and Mieso Districts of West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Journal of Materials Science Research ◽

10.5539/jmsr.v9n2p46 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 46

Author(s):

Muhammed Shako Hiko

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Econometric Models ◽

Inorganic Fertilizer ◽

Farm Income ◽

Hurdle Model ◽

Economic Factors ◽

Adoption Decision ◽

Double Hurdle Model ◽

Double Hurdle ◽

Socio Economic Factors

The adoption of inorganic fertilizer such as NPS which is concerned by development clients and government is different from one farmer to another farmer and this makes productivity of agricultural crops to vary from one plot to another plot due to socio-economic, institutional and other factors. Therefore, this study was intended to know the socio-economic factors that significantly affect utilization of inorganic fertilizer NPS. Primary data was collected from 201 sampled households of selected districts. Secondary data was collected from stakeholders related with production of sorghum and inorganic fertilizer NPS in the study areas. In the sampling procedure, two stage simple random sampling was used. In the first stage, kebeles were randomly taken from total kebeles in the two districts. In the second stage, households were randomly selected from the selected kebeles. Data was analyzed using descriptive, inferential statistics and econometric models methods of data analysis. In econometric models Double Hurdle model was use to know factors affect adoption decision of inorganic fertilizer NPS and intensity use of inorganic fertilizer NPS. Double Hurdle model result confirms that district of the household, education level, family size, extension visit, expectation of the coming rainfall by the household, number of farm plot owned, total farm land owned and off/non-farm income earned by the household significantly affect adoption decision inorganic fertilizer NPS. Double hurdle model result also reveals that, district of the household, livestock holding, number of farm plot owned, participation on agricultural training by the household significantly affect intensity use of inorganic fertilizer NPS. Government and concerned stakeholders should give attention on these significant socio-economic factors so that utilization inorganic fertilizer can be improved to sorghum crop productivity.

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Assessing Food Insecurity and Its Drivers among Smallholder Farming Households in Rural Oyo State, Nigeria: The HFIAS Approach

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11121189 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1189

Author(s):

Olutosin A. Otekunrin ◽

Oluwaseun A. Otekunrin ◽

Barbara Sawicka ◽

Piotr Pszczółkowski

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Sampling Procedure ◽

Farm Size ◽

Farm Income ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Piped Water ◽

Multi Stage ◽

Food Security Status ◽

Farming Households

Hunger and food insecurity take center stage in most debates in Africa, and in recent times with serious concerns about Nigeria. This study assessed food insecurity among farming households in rural Oyo State, Nigeria, using cross-sectional datasets from 211 farming households through a multi-stage sampling procedure. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) module was employed in assessing food insecurity status of farming households, and the ordered logit model (OLM) was used to analyze factors influencing food insecurity among farming households. The results revealed that 12.8% of the farming households were food secure while 87.2% had varying levels of food insecurity. The OLM results indicated that age, household head’s years of schooling, gender, farm size, farm experience, non-farm income, food expenditure, and access to extension service significantly influenced food insecurity among farming households. Based on the findings, efforts should be geared towards promoting households’ education-related intervention programs in order to improve their nutrition-related knowledge that can enhance their food security status. Additionally, there should be provision of rural infrastructural facilities such as piped water, rural electrification, and healthcare service that promote healthy living and enhance households’ agricultural productivity.

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Food Security and Rural Livelihoods in the Doldrums: Exploring Alternatives for Sanyati through Sustainable Development Goals

Africanus Journal of Development Studies ◽

10.25159/0304-615x/4752 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Tinashe Mitchell Mashizha ◽

Munyaradzi Admire Dzvimbo

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Food Security ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Rural Livelihoods ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Development Goals ◽

Food Security And Nutrition

The topical issue of sustainable development has received significant attention from scholars, social commentators and decision-makers, yet it seems there is a gap with regard to the examination of alternatives and sustainable methods of combating food insecurity. This article makes a number of observations that point to a deepening food insecurity, and it makes recommendations to avert further catastrophes. Findings from the study indicate that the Sanyati district in Zimbabwe faces perennial food shortages and relies on government food handouts, drought relief and donor food aid. The study found that command agriculture (a government initiative) is perceived as a catalyst for ensuring food security and nutrition and enhancing self-sufficiency among smallholder farmers in rural communities. Knowledge of sustainable development goals can lead to an expanded understanding of food security in general and the manifestations of alternative rural livelihoods strategies in particular. In this article, we recommend the implementation of climate-smart agriculture at local and national levels to help farmers adapt to the changing climatic conditions. However, there is a need to make subsidised inputs available in time so as to increase household adaptive capacity and improve livelihoods.

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FOOD SECURITY STATUS: ITS DRIVERS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG VEGETABLE FARMING HOUSEHOLDS

Cercetari Agronomice in Moldova ◽

10.46909/cerce-2020-035 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 414-425

Author(s):

Ridwan MUKAILA ◽

Abraham FALOLA ◽

Olubunmi Abayomi OMOTESHO

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Calorie Intake ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Food Security Status ◽

Vegetable Farming ◽

And Coping ◽

Farming Households

Food insecurity remains a major challenge worldwide, especially among the rural areas of developing nation. Women and children are most vulnerable to this phenomenon. However, while many studies have assessed farming households’ food security status in general, there is dearth of information on vegetable farmers’, who are mostly women, food security status in particular. This study, therefore, investigated the food security status of vegetable farming households, its drivers and coping strategies in Kwara State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, food insecurity index and logistic regression were used to analysed data collected from 180 respondents. The findings showed that food insecurity remains a major challenge in rural areas as only 45.55% were food secure. The food secure group surpassed the food security line by 17%. Food insecure group fell below the food security line by 36% with a daily average calorie intake of 1581.35 kcal. Annual income (p< 0.1), cooperative membership (p< 0.1), vegetable production (p< 0.05) and access to credit (p< 0.05) were the significant factors enhancing their food security status, while household size (p< 0.01) negatively influenced it. The widely used food insecurity coping mechanisms by the households were eating less expensive food, eating wild fruits, reducing rational consumption, allowing children to eat first, borrowing money to buy food, buying food on credit and skipping meal within a day. The study recommends encouragement of vegetable production through provision of credit facilities to the farmers as this would enhance their food security status.

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