scholarly journals Determinants Sorghum Market among Smallholder Farmers in Kafta Humera District Tigeray Ethiopia

Author(s):  
Tewoderos Meleaku ◽  
Degye Goshu ◽  
Bosena Tegegne

Markets are important for economic growth and development of a given country to ensure sustainable supply of food. Failure of market leads to failure of adoption of new technology which is necessary for increasing productivity. Sorghum has been considered as a strategic crop by the Ethiopian government aiming at enhancing food security and essential source of income for farmers as whole economic benefits to the country. Smallholder’s farmers producing about 95 percent of the national agricultural production increasing market participation among smallholder farmers have a big opportunity to boost their living standards. The objective of this study was analyzing factors determining smallholder sorghum farmer decision to participate in output market and level of marketed output smallholder farmers in Kafta-Humera district of Tigeray Ethiopia. A two stage sampling technique was used to select 289 sample farmers who were interviewed using a semi- structured questionnaire to obtain data pertaining to sorghum production during the year 2016/2017. Descriptive and Tobit regression analyses were used to determine the key factors that influence household participation in the market in terms of volumes of product sales.  The study identified that quantity of sorghum supplied to the market was positively affected by credit, extension contact, training, sorghum farm size, current price of sorghum and education, while family size and lagged price of sesame negatively affected. These indicate that there is a room to increase in supply and intensity of sorghum in the study area. Therefore, government authorities and other concerned bodies should take into consideration the mentioned demographic, socioeconomic and institutional factors to increase supply of sorghum to the market in study area.

Author(s):  
Daniel Hailu ◽  

The study identified the factors that cause variation in the level of efficiency in potato production. The study used household level cross sectional data collected in 2015/16 from 196 sample farmers selected by multistage sampling technique. For the data collection, a personally administered structured questionnaire was used. In the analyses, descriptive statistics, a stochastic frontier model (SFM) and a two-limit Tobit regression model were employed. Tobit model revealed that technical efficiency was positively and significantly affected by education, land tenure status, extension service, credit and soil fertility whereas variables such as sex of household head, age of household head, farm size and land fragmentation affected it negatively. Therefore the study suggested the need for policies to discourage land fragmentation and promote education, extension visits, access to credit and soil fertility for improvement in technical efficiency.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 614-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shakirat Bolatito Ibrahim ◽  
Idris Akanbi Ayinde ◽  
Aisha Olushola Arowolo

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the determinants of arable crop farmers’ awareness to causes and effects of climate change in south western Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – Using primary data, 150 arable crop farmers in Ogun State were selected through a multi stage sampling technique. Survey method was used to elicit information on farmers’ socioeconomic, production characteristics, and their level of awareness to causes and effects of climate change. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, environmental awareness index (EAI), and Tobit regression analysis. Findings – Most (81.08 percent) of the arable crop farmers were males with an average household size of eight persons, farming experience of 24 years and farm size of approximately 1 ha. The computed climate change EAI showed that only 47 percent of the respondents were aware of causes of climate change, while 68 percent were aware of its effects. Results further revealed that age, income from secondary occupation (p < 0.10), marital status, household size (p < 0.05), years of farming experience, frequency of extension contact, land size in hectare, and farm revenue (p < 0.01) were the determinants of respondents awareness to causes and effects of climate change. Practical implications – The study recommended among others that, awareness should be created among arable crop farmers on climate change causes and effects for appropriate mitigation actions to be taken for improved agricultural productivity. Originality/value – The study provided new empirical evidence on the awareness level of respondents to causes and effects of climate change on their production activities and livelihood in general. Implications for policy will be to provide a public education program that will target females, the poor, the illiterate, and the people in the economically active age group among others in order to create awareness and provide information and adequate knowledge on the causes and effects of climate change for proper mitigation and adaptation options.


Author(s):  
Tewoderos Meleaku ◽  
Degye Goshu ◽  
Bosena Tegegne

Efficiency is an important factor for increasing productivity which leads to increase market output to achieve the goal of food security. In economics where resources are scarce and opportunities to use new technologies are limited, increasing efficiency remains the most reasonable means to raise productivity without necessarily developing new technologies or increasing the resource base. So, this study aimed to investigate level of production efficiency, factors affecting production inefficiency of sorghum small holder farmers in Kafta-humera district of Tigray Ethiopia. A two stage sampling technique was used to select 289 sample farmers who were interviewed using a semi- structured questionnaire to obtain data pertaining to sorghum production during the year 2016/2017.Stochastic production frontier model was used to identify production efficiency levels, where as Tobit models was used to estimate factors affecting production efficiency levels. Accordingly, the mean technical, allocative and economic efficiencies were 78.01%, 65.21% and 39.91% respectively. This implies that output can be increased by 21.99% or cost can be reduced by 34.79% with the existing level of technology and resources. Input variables such as land, labor, tractor plow power, chemicals, DAP and Urea fertilizers positively affects production of sorghum. The discrepancy ratio (γ) implied that about 91.91% of the variation in sorghum production was attributed to technical inefficiency effects. Tobit model revealed that age, education, non-farm income, credit, extension service and training positively and significantly affected technical efficiency while age square and total livestock holding had negatively and significantly affected. Additionally, age square, education and frequency of farm visit positively and significantly affected allocative efficiency, while age, non-farm income, credit and extension contact have a negative and significant affect. Economic efficiency was positively and significantly affected by age, education, non-farm income, credit, extension contact and frequencies of farm visit but negatively affected by age square. These indicate that there is a room to increase in production efficiency of sorghum in the study area. Therefore, government authorities and other concerned bodies should take into consideration the above mentioned demographic, socioeconomic and institutional factors to increase efficiency of sorghum.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Tetteh Anang ◽  
Hamdiyah Alhassan ◽  
Gideon Danso-Abbeam

Abstract The study explored the impact of improved variety adoption on technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers in Tolon District of northern Ghana. Smallholder maize farmers in the study area were sampled using random sampling technique. Double bootstrap data envelopment analysis was applied to estimate technical efficiency and its determinants. The results indicate that producers in the study area have a bias-corrected technical efficiency of 57% under variable returns to scale (VRS) assumption and 52% under constant returns to scale (CRS) assumption. Controlling for potential endogeneity of the adoption variable, the results indicate that adoption of improved varieties enhance technical efficiency of maize farmers in the study area. Technical efficiency of the farmers increased with herd size but decreased with years of formal education, household size, extension contact, frequency of weeding, and farm size. Ensuring that improved seeds are made available and affordable to smallholder farmers and promotion of livestock rearing are policy measures likely to enhance technical efficiency of smallholder farmers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20(35) (4) ◽  
pp. 58-67
Author(s):  
Ogheneruemu Obi-Egbedi ◽  
Omowunmi Ogungbite ◽  
Isaac Oluwatayo

Genetically Modified (GM) crops are crops modified through genetic engineering to improve their quality. Although safety concerns about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are still being debated, the food security benefits have led to adoption by many counties. In Nigeria, where most farmers are uneducated and likely unaware of the agricultural technology, the government approved its first biotechnology crop for commercialization in 2018. Level of farmers’ awareness is crucial to acceptance of GM crops, although; this has not been fully explored in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to assess farmers’ awareness for GM crops and the factors that determine their awareness in Oyo state, Nigeria, using primary data collected in 2018 with the aid of well-structured questionnaires from 242 smallholder farmers. Principal component analysis and Tobit regression model were used for data analysis. Results showed that farmers were aged 43 years with farm size of 3.57 ha, farming experience of 14 years and 11 years of education. Most farmers were male (71.90%), married (67.36%), not members of farmer groups (64.46%) and sourced their seeds from non-credible sources (85.12%). Most farmers (52.07%) had either not heard of or did not know of any benefits/costs of GM crops, hence; were not aware of GM crops. Factors that influenced awareness of GM crops were being a male farmer, years of education and source of seeds. The study concluded that increasing years of education and ensuring use of credible seed sources will increase awareness of the costs and benefits of GM crops among farmers.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Martey ◽  
Alexander Nimo Wiredu ◽  
Prince M. Etwire ◽  
Mathias Fosu ◽  
S. S. J. Buah ◽  
...  

<p>Northern Ghana is characterized by food insecurity largely due to over reliance on rain-fed agriculture under low farm input conditions. The present study investigated the effect of factors influencing mineral fertilizer adoption and use intensity among smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana. A total of 330 smallholder farmers selected through multi-stage sampling technique were interviewed. Adoption of fertilizer technology was determined by age, nativity, farm size, access to credit, and distance to agricultural office. The result of the truncated regression estimates indicated that income of household head, membership of farmer association, distance to agricultural office, access to input shop, income earning household that do not participate in agricultural development project and income earning male headed household were the significant factors influencing fertilizer use intensity. Distance to agricultural office was a key positive determinant of fertilizer adoption and use intensity. The study recommends improvement in road infrastructure and technical training of agricultural extension agents. Farmer based organization must be trained on regular basis to enhance their productive skills and technology uptake.</p>


2021 ◽  
pp. 097300522199991
Author(s):  
Peter Asare-Nuamah ◽  
Mclarence Shungu Mandaza ◽  
Athanasius Fonteh Amungwa

This study explores adaptation and farmer-led agricultural innovation strategies of smallholder farmers in Mbire District of Zimbabwe. Guided by explanatory sequential mixed methods design, 201 smallholder farmers were selected through multistage probability sampling technique and 18 participants were purposively selected. The instruments for the study included questionnaire and interview, which were analysed through basic descriptive and thematic analysis, respectively. The results show that smallholder farmers have adapted to climate change through multiple strategies including planting improved and drought resistant crops, cultivating fewer plots, mixed cropping, keeping more livestock, applying agrochemicals and local ecological knowledge as well as livelihood diversification, which are influenced by gender, education and farm size of respondents. The respondents have diversified their livelihood by engaging in brick moulding, sales of livestock, petty trade and dependence on remittance and social safety net as well as reduction in size and number of diets. The study identified financial, technological, social, institutional and information barriers to farmers’ adaptation. Farmer-led innovations identified by this study included planting Kanongo open pollinated variety of maize, pen fattening, over mulching, cassava cultivation and staggered planting. The implications of the results are teased out and policy recommendations are suggested.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (05) ◽  
pp. 17989-18004
Author(s):  
Teshome Kassahun ◽  

This study investigated the level and determinants of garden coffee production technology package adoption in Ethiopia. The analysis was based on survey data collected from 293 garden coffee-growing households. The findings show that garden coffee production technology package adoption status in Dale districts was various across the smallholders’ growers. The productivity of improved coffee varieties at farm plots was less than at research plots in Dale due to low coffee production technology package adoption. The use of improved coffee varieties, weed control practices, compost application, pruning practices, shade tree management, intercropping practices, and coffee seedling planting spacingisthe main garden coffee production technology package practiced by smallholder coffee growersinDale. Thus, the garden coffee production technology package adoption index score ranged from 0.43 to 1.00. Adoption index scores were categorized into high (0.71 to 1), medium (0.5 to 0.7) and Low (0.43 to 0.49) adopters. Only 57% of farmers reached high coffee production technology adoption status but the remaining30% and 13% of garden coffee farmers attained medium and low adoption status. The mean adoption index score was found to be 0.66, which implies the overall adoption status was found under the medium technology adoption category. The maximum likelihood estimates of Tobit model result shows that gender of household head (-0.261), education level (0.09),the annual income of the household (0.003), farm size (0.031), availability of labor (0.155), credit facilities (0.087), coffee extension services (0.047) and farmer perception of improved coffee varieties (-0.024) were significant determinants of garden coffee production technology package in Dale district. Hence, for farmers to adopt new technology they must know it well. Adopting all components of the coffee production technology package simultaneously as recommended by the research center enhances coffee productivity at farm plots level. Moreover, building better coffee production extension services, institutional arrangement, and access to new technology information can possibly increase coffee production technology package adoption in Ethiopia.


Author(s):  
Isaiah Gabriel ◽  
Frank Olajuwon ◽  
Blessing Michael

The research was funded by Syngenta Foundation for sustainable Agriculture, Nigeria to ascertain Farmer’s perception on tomato seedlings technology in North West Zone of Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed for the selection of One hundred and ninety-five (195) producers of Tomato in Kano and Jigawa States. Data were collected with the aid of a questionnaire. Data obtained were analysed using mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, charts, and graphs. The results of the study revealed that the producers of tomato had a mean age of 38 years, majorly males (86%) with secondary school education (32%), married (88%) with mean household size of 11 persons, mean farming experience, vegetable experience and tomato production experience of 18, 13 and 12 years respectively, mean land cultivated 3ha and mean tomato farm size of 2ha. Maize, sorghum, and rice are the three most cultivated crops by the farmers with tomato and onions as major vegetables. Plum tomato (UTC) variety (34%) is the most widely cultivated during both dry and wet seasons. The study further revealed that 82% of the farmers used recycled seeds to produce seedlings, 88% of the farmers had no extension and advisory service training, 59% made use of seedlings for planting with Plum tomato (UTC) as the common variety, 95% are interested in buying and selling seedlings, and 98% propagated their seeds in the open field. Therefore, it is recommended from the study that public and private’s sector at all levels should strengthen extension service systems to increase farmers’ knowledge and understanding of new tomato production technology-through provision of tomato seedlings technology, frequent trainings and marketing demos establishment to showcase this new innovation, Seed companies should ensure that seed packages contain recommended agronomic practices for all round effectiveness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23
Author(s):  
Nsikak-Abasi A. Etim ◽  
Dorothy Thompson ◽  
Ubong A. Asa ◽  
Ubong A. Asa

Majority of Nigeria’s rural poor especially smallholder farmers who rely on agricultural production for their subsistence face considerable difficulties in increasing productivity due to the adverse impact of changes in climate. But migrant remittance has become an important part of the strategy for rural households to cope with negative environmental consequences through reduction in vulnerability to climate variability, improvement in livelihood and expansion in production. An empirical study to measure the impact of migrant remittances on small holder agricultural production was conducted. Through the multistage sampling technique, 120 smallholder farmers were selected and data were collected using questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis based on Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine the impact of migrant remittance on agricultural production. Result of the analysis revealed that the most critical factors which positively and significantly (p<0.05) influenced the output of remittance receiving households were education, experience, farm size and labour. Findings also showed that the same covariates also influence output of non-remittance receiving households. Policies to increase the inflow of remittances to poorer households engaging in agricultural production would be a rational decision.


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