FAMAN Journal Volume 10 No 1 2009

FAMAN Journal Volume 10 No. 1, 2009

CREDIT AVAILABILITY, UTILIZATION AND REPAYMENT AMONG SMALLHOLDER WOMEN CROP FARMERS IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Ike, P.C.

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba, Nigeria Email: ikepeecee@yahoo.com

 

ABSTRACT

 This study assessed the availability and use of credit from Microfinance NGOs by small holder women crop farmers in Enugu state, Nigeria. Cross sectional data were obtained from 260 randomly selected loan beneficiaries. The data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, t-test and multiple regressions. Results showed a statistically significant gap (p ≤ 0.01) between the amount applied for and that received. The study also found that only about 56% of the loans were invested directly in farm activities. Factors that significantly affected the rate of credit allocation (p ≤ 0.05) to farm sector include age, education, farm size, household size, length of loan delay and visitation by NGO credit officers. In the same vein age, education, household size, dependants, farm size and size of loan all influenced repayment of loan by beneficiaries. The paper recommends an increased flow of capital to NGO microfinance institutions. In addition benefiting farmers should be given basic training on efficient management of loans in order to curtail high rate of loan diversion.                            

 

Key words: Microcredit, Smallholders, Women farmers, Average budget share (ABS)

 

 

ADOPTION OF IMPROVED MAIZE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES IN YEWA NORTH, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

 

Otunaiya A. O¹. and S. O. Akinleye²

1. Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 012, Yewa Campus, Ayetoro, Ogun State, Nigeria
2. Departtment of Economics, Universit of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

 

ABSTRACT

Adoption of maize production technologies has received much attention in recent years because of increase in demand for maize. The analyses in this paper focus on the adoption of improved maize varieties and fertilizer use in maize production, using a data collected from 120 maize farming households in Yewa North Local Government. The Tobit model estimate showed that increase in education, access to extension agents and planting of the improved maize variety VA2 (Yellow maize) were significant factors affecting the amount of land a farmer was likely to allocate to improved maize. The probit model estimate showed that education, number of tools owned by farmer, extension contact, cultivation of improved maize variety VAI and farm labour were the determinants of fertilizer use in maize production.  

 

SOCIO-ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

 

Opeolu, B. O.¹, Adebayo, K², Badru, F. A.³ and Okuneye, P. A.⁴

1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa. E-mail: opeolubt@yahoo.com
2. Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, United Kingdom
3. Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, Lagos,  Nigeria
4. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

 

ABSTRACT

Data obtained from 350 migrants selected from high, middle and low income sectors of Lagos, Nigeria show that over 80% of the migrants come from 11 States of the Federation. The migrants felt that their socio-economic characteristics have changed since moving to Lagos, but have observed increasingly poorly kept dumpsites in their areas of abode in Lagos due to increases in-migration. They perceived typhoid, depression, hypertension and headache as the most prevalent diseases that they cope with in Lagos compared to their places of orientation. Yet, most of them wish to remain in Lagos and in fact bring more people from their places of origin to Lagos. The study concluded that in order to address the environmental and health problems faced in cities with high inflow of migrants, efforts to improve the socio-economic situations of rural areas and transit towns should receive greater attention.

 

EFFECTS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION ON COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES MANAGEMENT IN ABEOKUTA SOUTH, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

 

Akerele E. O., Oludimu O. L and Aihonsu J.O.Y

College of Agricultural Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yewa Campus, Ayetoro

Email:  ezeakerele@yahoo.com

                                  

ABSTRACT

The importance of co-operative education in the proper management and profitability of co-operative societies cannot be over-emphasized. The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of co-operative education on co-operative management in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Ogun State. To achieve this objective, both primary and secondary data were used.  A two-stage sampling technique was used. The first stage involves randomly sampling of 5 town/villages and in the second stage, 20 co-operators were randomly selected from the selected town/villages making the total numbers of 98 co-operators. Questionnaire was used for obtaining data from members of the co-operative societies on their socio-economic characteristics, determinants of co-operative membership education, effects of co-operative education on the cooperative societies’ profitability and managerial competence of members. Data were analyzed using frequency, chi-square, correlation and regression. Result indicates that, the socio-economic variables were found to be important factors that influence the level of co-operative education. The result showed that most of the respondents are female that ranges between 21-40 years. Co-operative loan, monthly subscription, and age of members significantly affect co-operative society’s profitability. This implies that the more educated the members of the co-operative society about the principles of co-operative, the more profitable the co-operative becomes. Based on the findings, it is, therefore, recommended that the members of the co-operative societies should be orientated about the importance of co-operative education. Also, the management of each co-operative society should make use of the 15% proportion of the dividend that is meant for co-operative education.

 

Keyword: Cooperative Education, Membership Education, Managerial Competence, Profitability Index

 

MONETIZATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE FUNCTIONS OF FOREST TREES IN A DEVELOPING ECONOMY

 

Adekunle¹ M. F. and Sanni ² I. O.

 

1. Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
2. Dept of Land resources mgt and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University

Mekelle, Ethiopia

 

ABSTRACT

The problems of undermining the environmental services of the forest arose from inadequate information and data on the monetary values of its service functions. This necessitated this study which attempted to ascribe monetary values to the environmental service functions of forest trees in a university campus. The respondents were the small-scale business enterprise (SSBE) owners in main campus of University of Agriculture Abeokuta. The payment card system contingent valuation (cvm) was adopted to elicit willing to pay (WTP) values from the respondents. The results showed that all the respondents were willing to pay various sums of money ranging from N5 to N1000 with N200 as the modal value having recorded the highest percentage of response. The mean monthly WTP was N134.17 which summed up to a monthly aggregate value of N11806.96. The multiple regression equation indicated that some variables such as age of business, income and educational status of the respondents significantly contributed to the monetary values of forest trees service functions in the study area. The conclusion was reached that stake holders in a university environment valued the services of the forest to the extent that they are willing to contribute part of their incomes to ensure the continue existence of trees in the environment. Some suggestions were made toward the sustainable management of forests in order to stem the tide of current threatening global warming.

 

US$1 = N129

 

Keywords: cvm, environment, forests, SSBE, global warming

ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF OGUGU COMMUNITY BANK IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

 

Onoja*, A. O., Onu*, M.E. and Ahmed**, E. J.

* Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Port-Harcourt

Email: tonyojonimi@gmail.com

**Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Kogi State University, Anyigba

 

ABSTRACT

This study attempted to assess the economic performance of a reputable community bank involved in agricultural lending in Kogi State, Ogugu Community Bank Limited, prior to its transformation to Microfinance Bank. A total of 80 respondents who claimed to be farmers were randomly drawn from the list of the bank’s customers over the years spanning from 2005 to 2006. Econometric and statistical tools used to achieve the three objectives of the research included descriptive statistics and multiple regression using three functional forms, linear, semi-log and double log forms (semi-log was finally applied based on its R² and F-ratio). A single null hypothesis was tested to guide the study. The results of the analyses indicated that 73.75% of the farmers collected between N100,001 to N250,000 within the period in review from the bank, 18.75% got between N50,000 and N100,000 while 7.5% of them received less than N50,000. Five variables, volume of loan, farm size, farmer’s age, level of education and family size showed positive signs with farm income. Surprisingly, even though the sixth one, non-farm income, was significant, its effect was negative on farm income. Farm size and duration of formal education were expectedly significant. On the whole the all the variables of the model had 49% effect on farmer’s income. The mean rate of loan repayment was very low (36%). Three recommendations were made based on the findings including the need for Microfinance Banks and other financial institutions to increase their funding of agriculture especially through cooperatives; use of NAIC to insure MFBs agricultural loans and stepping up agricultural extension activities in the state to facilitate financial management skills of farmers in the area.

 

Key Words: Agricultural Lending, Farm Income, Community Bank and Microfinance Bank

 

ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF FADAMA MAIZE PRODUCTION IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

 

Fakayode, S. B., Omotesho, O. A., Olorunsanya, E., Babatunde, R. O. and Obafemi, A. A.

Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, University of Ilorin, Ilorin

Email: segun_fakayode@yahoo.com

 

ABSTRACT

This study assesses fadama maize production systems in Kwara State, Nigeria. For the study 120 fadama maize farm households were interviewed via the use of the interview schedule. The gross margin analysis and the regression econometric tool were used to analyse the study data. The study result reveals that fadama maize farmers in the study area have small farmland holdings which were rented on very short–term basis to them. Based on the gross margin analysis, the most profitable fadama maize crop mixture was the maize/yam. Regression results indicated that farm size, labour, fertilizer, and farmer’s access to credit significantly influence the crop output from fadama maize farms. The amount of irrigation water was not a significant factor influencing farmer’s output. However the Resource Use Efficiency ratio (RUE) revealed irrigation water, farm size and labour used to cultivate fadama maize farms were over-utilized. The study therefore recommends that efforts should be geared by the government and other stake-holders towards providing fadama lands to farmers on soft conditions as regards land leasing agreements and the enlightenment of farmers on fadama irrigation.

 

Keywords: Maize, Fadama, Resource-use efficiency, Nigeria

EFFECTS OF MICRO–CREDIT ON FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN ABEOKUTA NORTH, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Akerele, E. O., Idowu A. O., and Otunaiya A. O.

Department of Agribusiness and Farm Management, College of Agricultural Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yewa Campus, Ayetoro. Email:  ezeakerele@yahoo.com

 

ABSTRACT

Unavailability of credit and vicious circle of poverty prevalent in rural area makes it difficult for small scale farmers to adopt new technologies and improve their socio-economic status. Government’s efforts to channel credit to farmers are always frustrated by the tripartite problems of low patronage, credit diversion and low recovery rate. This research was carried out to assess the effects of Micro-credit on Foodcrop Production and to identify the sources of credit facilities being used for agricultural purposes by farmers. The data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to farmers in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and quantitative analyses. The study drew a sample of hundred small holder farmers. Random sampling technique was adopted in selecting the areas and household members that were interviewed. The study showed that majority of the respondent (89.0%) acquire their loan through gift from friends and personal savings which means that access to loan micro-credit scheme is not easily available for the respondents in the study area. Regression analysis revealed that age, level education, farm size, farm practice employed and farm land acquisition were found to be an important factors that influence variation in amount repaid, while increase in household size and loan default negatively affect the amount of credit repaid. Hence, it was recommended that credit should be made available to farmers in sufficient quantities and at the right time for farming purposes.

 

Keywords: Credit Use; Loan Default; Micro-Credit; Repayment Level and Food crop

 

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF RAFFIA PALM (Raphia hookeri) PRODUCTION IN OBIO/AKPOR AREA OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

 

Unaeze, H. C., Onu, M.E. and Agumagu, A. C.

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

 

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the economic analysis of raffia palm products on the   livelihood of rural dwellers in Obio/Akpor LGA. A purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of 75 respondents. The data obtained were analyzed using percentages and net income analysis. It was found that, majority of the respondents who were engaged in raffia palm business are of middle age bracket (31 – 40) (29.3%) and also of men folk (80%). The women, who engaged in this business (20%), sell and assist in carrying the tapped palm wine out of the bush. Also those gainfully employed in the raffia palm business, sell mainly the palm wine (35%). It was found that in spite of the positive effect of raffia palm business, its sourcing impose dangers to those directly involved in the business (drudgery, scarcity of raffia palm, snake bites, inadequate preservative measures, problems of climbing and falling etc.). The introduction of improved palm seedlings with shorter height and good preservative measures should be encouraged extensively. There is therefore need for government and private organization to invest in this raffia palm business, so that rural livelihood in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria will be improved.