Farmers’ choice of varieties and demand for improved cassava stems in Nigeria

In this study, we used a household level survey to assess choices of varieties and demand for improved cassava varieties. A multivariate probit model was used to examine the determinants of choice decisions of the farmers for different varieties preventing potential endogeneity and measurement error. A Linearized Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) model was used to analyze the demand system for improved cassava varieties. The results of the (LA/AIDS) model indicated farmers were very price sensitive to changes in improved stem prices and incomes. We suggest that intervention program that will improve the purchasing power of the farmers should be targeted towards the smallholder cassava farmers to accelerate adoption of improved cassava varieties. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 42-51, Dec 2021

Analysis of Risk Coping Strategies Among Catfish Farmers in Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Nigeria

The aim of this study was to analyse the risk coping strategies among catfish farmers in Ikorodu division of Lagos State, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained from 100 catfish farmers with the aid of a pre-tested questionnaire and focus group discussion using multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and multivariate probit regression model were employed for data analysis. Results revealed that majority (68.1%) of the respondent were male with a mean age of 41 years and a mean stock size of 1130. The major sources of risks in the study area were fluctuation in price (89.4%), cost and quality of feed (79.8%), high cost of labour (76.6%), quality of fingerling (75.6%), bird invasion (75.6%) among others. Reduced volume of stock (87.2%), treated pond before stocking (77.7%), purchased good feed quality (74.5%), and used personal savings (72.3%) were the major coping strategies adopted by the farmers in the study area. The estimate of the multivariate probit regression model revealed that sex, age, education, household size, catfish experience, start-up capital, farming status, membership of cooperative association and access to loan were the factors determining the adoption of risk coping strategies in the study area. Therefore, government, both at the federal and state level should intensify efforts at implementing the various agricultural support programs such as anchor borrowers, poverty alleviation fund and other subsidy programs that can help the farmers expand their capital base and better cope with risk in the study area.

Willingness To COVID-19 Vaccination: Empirical Evidence From EU

The unforgettable COVID-19 shock can only be reversed by a viable vaccination strategy. In this paper, we investigate willingness to be vaccinated (WTV) against the COVID-19. We provide first of its kind empirical evidence on the citizens (N=11,932) of the EU-27 by employing the recent data from the European Commission. Controlling for the correlations in the error terms, we utilize a simulated multivariate probit regression model. Our results show that amongst all the statistically significant drivers of the WTV, the positive perception (vaccination works and has no side effects); R&D information (clarity on how vaccination is developed, tested, authorized) has the largest impact on the WTV. We find that the group of variables on social feedback, and on trustworthy sources of information are to be considered for WTV policy. The counteracting policy gaps are also identified. Our work is novel and has implications for COVID-19 vaccination policies across the EU.

Adoption of complementary climate-smart agricultural technologies: lessons from Lushoto in Tanzania

Background Agriculture is important for economic growth and development in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania. However, agricultural production and productivity remain relatively low, with significant yield gaps attributed to factors such as limited access to and low adoption of appropriate agricultural technologies, and climate-related risks resulting from climate variability and change. This paper explores the drivers of adoption of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) technologies and practices, taking into account the complementarity among agricultural technologies and heterogeneity of the farm households, using data from Lushoto in Tanzania. Methods We use a Multivariate Probit analysis of cross-sectional data collected from 264 smallholder farmers in Lushoto—a climate hotspot in Tanzania—to understand the drivers of household decisions to adopt CSA technologies and practices. The technologies included diversification of multiple stress (drought, floods, pests, diseases)-tolerant crop varieties, use of fertilizers, and application of herbicides and pesticides. The Multivariate Probit model was preferred as it takes into account the inter-relationships of the technologies as well as heterogeneity of the smallholder farmers for more robust estimates. The independent variables used in the analysis included household socio-economic factors such as the relative importance of crop and livestock enterprises, household land size, social capital, access to agricultural credit and weather information, previous experience with fertilizer use and household characteristics (age, education and gender of household head, and household size). Results About 63% of the households diversified their crop enterprises, shifting to improved resilient crops and crop varieties. Another 37% adopted fertilizers, while 38% applied pesticides and herbicides. Conditional on the unobservable heterogeneity effects, the results show that household adoption decisions on diversification of multiple stress-tolerant crops and crop varieties, fertilizer, and pesticides and herbicides are complementary. In addition, the results confirm existence of unobserved heterogeneity effects leading to varying impact of the explanatory variables on adoption decisions among farmers with similar observable characteristics. Conclusions The findings indicate that any effective CSA technology adoption and diffusion strategies and policies should take into account the complementarity of the technologies and heterogeneity of the smallholder farmers. Therefore, inter-related technologies should be promoted as a package or bundled while taking into consideration household and farm-level constraints to adoption.

A multivariate probit analysis for indigenous chicken ownership at household level: The case of Alice communal area, South Africa

African indigenous chickens (IC) though commonly kept by households in rural areas for consumption and sale, their contribution to rural livelihoods is generally overlooked. Literature suggests that IC production plays a vital role in rural communities of South Africa as an important source of animal protein and income. Despite these claimed benefits, production of indigenous chickens in Alice and other parts of South Africa’s rural areas is very low. This study used a cross-sectional survey of 120 households who keep IC in Alice communal area. The multivariate probit model was employed to investigate the factors that determine the choice of indigenous chicken owned by rural households. Results reveal that, gender, age, household size, association membership, access to formal markets, access to veterinary services, access to informal credit, access to formal credit and diversity score drive ownership of different indigenous chickens at household level. Thus far, the paper argues that, promotion of ownership of indigenous chicken at household level calls for strategic institutional alignment and a clear understanding of social demographic characteristics of the targeted community, which should be supported by several awareness campaigns and client based selection of indigenous chicken breeds of socio-economic importance to the household.

Residents’ preferred measures and willingness-to-pay for improving urban air quality: A case study of Hanoi city, Vietnam

PurposeThis purpose of this paper is to understand residents’ choice of preferred measures and their willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the measures to improve the air quality of Hanoi city.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaire surveys were conducted to collect the opinions of 212 household representatives living in Hanoi City. The survey tools were tested and adjusted through an online survey with 191 responses. Multivariate probit and linear regression models were used to identify determinants of respondents’ choices of measures and their WTP.FindingsRespondents expressed their strong preferences for three measures for air quality improvements, including: (1) increase of green spaces; (2) use of less polluting fuels; (3) expansion of public transportation. The mean WTP for the implementation of those measures was estimated at about 148,000–282,000 Vietnamese dong, equivalent to 0.09–0.16% of household income. The respondents’ choices appear to be consistent with their characteristics and needs, such as financial affordability, time on roads and their perceived impacts of air pollution. The WTP estimates increase with perception of air pollution impacts, time on roads, education and income; but are lower for older people.Originality/valueTo gain a better understanding of public opinions, we applied multivariate probit models to check whether respondents’ choices were consistent with their characteristics and perceptions. This appears to be the first attempt to test the validity of public opinions on choices of measures for improving urban air quality in Vietnam. Our WTP estimates also contribute to the database on the values of improved air quality in the developing world.

Facteurs déterminants l’adoption des mesures de gestion intégrée de la fertilité des sols (GIFS) au nord du Bénin : une application du modèle probit multivarié au cas de producteurs de maïs

La baisse du niveau de fertilité des terres cultivables du fait des pratiques agricoles inadaptées, de la déforestation et du changement climatique reste l’une des contraintes majeures de l’agriculture béninoise. Les mesures de Gestion Intégrée de la Fertilité des Sols (GIFS) en sont une des approches de gestion durales des terres à l’échelle des exploitations agricoles. Ainsi, l’étude a fait usage d’un modèle probit multivarié pour identifier les déterminants de l’adoption des mesures de GIFS au sein des exploitations agricoles productrices de maïs au Nord-Bénin. Elle a été conduite sur un échantillon de 100 producteurs de maïs sélectionnés suivant un sondage aléatoire stratifié. Les résultats ont révélé l’existence d’une interdépendance et de complémentarités dans l’adoption des différentes mesures de GIFS. Aussi, la majorité des producteurs de maïs enquêtés préfèrent adopter une combinaison de deux mesures de GIFS (32%) ou de trois mesures (26%). Par ailleurs, la distance du village au champ, l’appartenance à un groupement, le contact avec la vulgarisation, la superficie emblavée en maïs, la taille du cheptel et le nombre d’actifs agricoles restent les principaux facteurs déterminants l’adoption de ces mesures de GIFS par les producteurs.Mots clés : Bénin, changement climatique, gestion durable des terres, Gestion Intégrée de la Fertilité des Sols, pratiques agricoles, probit multivarié. English title: Adoption of integrated soil fertility management measures in northern Benin: an application of the multivariate probit model to the case of maize producers The decline in the level of fertility of arable land due to unsuitable agricultural practices, deforestation and climate change remains one of the major constraints of agriculture in Benin. Integrated Soil Fertility Management measures (GIFS) are one of the sustainable land management approaches that have been promoted at the level of farmers’ communities. Thus, the study made use of a multivariate probit model to identify the determinants of the adoption of GIFS measures within maize-producing farms in North Benin. It was carried out on a sample of 100 maize farmers selected following a stratified random survey. The results revealed the existence of interdependence and complementarities in the adoption of different GIFS measures. The majority of maize producers surveyed prefer to adopt a combination of two (32%) or three GIFS measures (26%). In addition, the distance from the village to the field, the membership of a group, the contact with the extension service, the area sown with maize, the size of the herd and the number of agricultural workers were identified as the important factors determining the adoption of these GIFS methods by producers.Keywords: Benin, climate change, sustainable land management, Integrated Soil Fertility Management measures, agricultural practices, multivariate probit.

Flood Hazards and Farm Based Agricultural Production Risks Management Practices in Flood Prone Areas in Punjab, Pakistan

Climate induced disasters more specifically the floods have caused severe damages to agriculture sector in Pakistan. These climatic risks have constrained farming community to adopt numerous risk management strategies to overcoming such risks. This research work attempted to examine the association of risk management tools with farmer’s perception of risk, risk averse attitude and various socioeconomic factors. The study employed the sample data of 398 farmers from flood prone two districts of Punjab, Pakistan. To investigate the association of dependent and independent variables this study used the multivariate probit model. Results of the study illustrated as heavy rains and floods consider not significant source of risk for large farmers in the study area while for small farmer these indicated as high risks as most of small farmers were more risk averse. Estimates of multivariate probit model interpreted as age of farmer, heavy rains risk perception and landholding size were positively relationship with risk management tool of depletion of assets. Farmers education, off-farm income, age and risk averse attitude of farmer were positive whereas experience of farming were negatively linked with reduction of consumption. Furthermore, experience of farming, risk averse attitude, heavy rains and floods risk perception were positively association with diversification adoption. Flood prone farming community of the study area is more vulnerable to these climatic risks and also relying traditional strategies for risk management. There is need of some specific agriculture base measure such as crop insurance, extending formal credit and flood base measure as pre-flood warning system, flood rescue management and post flood rehabilitation to overcome these climatic risks.

Analyzing Potato Market Participation, Market Surplus and Market Outlet Choice on Small Farm Household Level: the Case of Lemoworeda, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

This study was aimed to analysis potato market participation, market surplus and market outlet choice in Lemo woreda of Hadiya zone southern Ethiopia. In this study, primary and secondary data source were employed. Data were obtained from a sample of 202 farm household. To take 202 sample farm household simple random sampling techniques were used. For data analysis, Heckman second stage and multivariate probit models were employed to identify factors that determine potato market participation decision and potato sale volume of the farm households, and potato farmer market outlet choice respectively. The Heckman's first stages (probit) indicates that education level, sex, membership in the cooperative, distance to the nearest market, remittent from family members, own transportation facilities, seed types, frequency of extension contact, lagged market price and amount of credit that farm household used for potato production determine potato market participation. Heckman the second stage (OLS) result shows that education level, cooperative membership, family size, total cropland, oxen owned, types of seed, and lagged market price were significantly determine potato marketed surplus. On the other side; the multivariate probit results showed that the probability of choosing wholesalers, retailers, collectors, and consumers market outlet choice significantly affected by age, educational level, sex, farm experiences, distance to near market, family size, remittance, land size, product supplied to the market, own transport facility and extension service. Based on the findings of the study, we recommend that the government and concerned stakeholders should focus on promoting improved potato seed, encouraging education, promoting farmers’ cooperatives, empowering females, strengthening rural-urban infrastructure, and protecting informal labor trading.

Land Rights and Improvement Investments Among Crop Farmers in Southwest, Nigeria

This study examined the effects of land rights on investment decisions of farmers and determinants of land rights as well as the impact of land rights on farm productivity in Southwest Nigeria. Multistage sampling process was used in the selection of 320 respondents for the study. Two-stage conditional maximum likelihood (2SCML) approach of multivariate probit regression model and Endogenous switching regression (ESR) model were used for the analysis of the collected data. The results of Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) estimates from ESR revealed that land rights increase farm productivity. This study further confirmed the importance of land rights in facilitating investment in soil-improving measures which subsequently leads to higher productivity. One of the policy implications emanating from this study suggests that having use and transfer rights as against use only rights goes a long way in enhancing investment in soil-improving or conservation measures. Keywords: Crop, Investment, Land, Multivariate Probit Regression Model, Rights, Two-stage Conditional Maximum Likelihood.