Categories: Academic Research

Linkages Between Formal and Informal Financial Institutions in South Eastern Nigeria   ABSTRACT The study examined linkages between formal and informal financial institutions in South eastern Nigeria. The area was purposively chosen because of the intense economic activities including borrowing and savings of both the formal and informal financial institutions in this area. The objectives of the study were: to identify the financial institutions in the area and describe the operations of the formal and informal financial institutions; identify areas that formal and informal institutions were linked and the institutional factors that facilitated such linkages; determine major constraints to linkages; determine strategies that would enhance linkages between formal and informal financial institutions and on the basis of the findings,...

Impact of Warehouse Receipt System on Access to Markets and Income of Smallholder Maize Farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana ABSTRACT   Smallholder farmers have limited access to credit for their farming activities due to lack of collaterals that are acceptable by formal financial institutions. The farmers sell immediately after harvest at low prices to ease their financial constraints, which consequently earn them low incomes. In order to overcome these problems, warehouse receipt system (WRS) is suggested as the best alternative scheme. The WRS in Africa however lacks legal and institutional framework to ensure its successful operation. The system is mostly used by large processors, importers and exporters to secure loans for their transactions, and it is unavailable to smallholder farmers who suffer most from financial exclusion...

Economics of Small-scale Oil Palm Production in Kogi State, Nigeria   ABSTRACT The study was conducted to examine the Economics of Small-scale Oil Palm Production in Kogi State of Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to: determine the factors affecting resource use efficiency by Oil Palm Producers in the study area and determine the optimum replacement age of oil palm. The tools of analysis used are:- simple descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, optimum replacement model and gross margin analysis. From the estimate of oil palm in the state,40,30,20 and 30 oil palm farmers were proportionally and purposively sampled from the four (4) Agricultural Zones, A,B,C and D with their headquarters at Ayetoro-Gbede, Anyigba, Koton-Karfe and Alloma respectively, to give a sample size of 120 oil palm producers. The oil palm...

The Effects of Outgrower Scheme on Livelihoods of Smallholder Sorghum Farmers in Northern Ghana ABSTRACT   Outgrower scheme (OGS) is widely articulated as an ideal option that can deal with subsistence farming practices of smallholder farmers (SHF) to approach their farming as a business. For OGS to attract SHF participation and lead to livelihoods enhancement, this study argues for strengthening extension services, guaranteed market and promotion of FBO formation as part of the OGS support to farmers. The study also advocates for integration of climate change mitigation services as part of the OGS package. The study combined quantitative and qualitative research methods to analyse the effects of OGS on the livelihoods of smallholder sorghum farmers in Northern Ghana. Specifically, the study examines factors influencing SHF participation in...

Effect of Weather Risk on Assets and Labour Allocation Decisions Among Smallholder Farm Households in Developing Countries: Evidence From Burkina Faso ABSTRACT   Around the developing world, poverty remains an overwhelming rural issue. Rural dwellers rely heavily on agricultural activities and related assets as main source of livelihoods. They also have widely differing capacities to combine off-farm activities in their income generation process. However, diversification makes households better-off only if it implies increased investment in high return portfolios. An important concern is that high yielding investments are either high risk or exhibit severe entry barriers. In the absence of risk markets, liquidity constrained households may pursue low risk investments to self-insure against income volatility which may create poverty. This...

Access to Agro-credit by Farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria   ABSTRACT This study examined access to agro-credit by farmers in Kaduna state. This study employed survey research methodology which covered the three agricultural zones in the study area. To achieve the objective of the study, five research questions guided the study and one hypothesis was formulated. Hypothesis was tested using Chow test model. The data generated were analyzed using multiple regression and 4-point likert scale rating. A reliability coefficient of 0.78 was obtained using Cronbach Alpha to establish internal consistency. It was shown that, majority of the respondents (40%) were aged between 31 and 40 years, 32.5% where aged between 41 and 50 years and 18.33% were between 21 and 30 years. About 41.20% of the respondents had no formal education, 34.2% attended...

Effects of Customer Relationship Management on Customer Retention by Agribusiness Firms in Aba Metropolis of Abia State, Nigeria   ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of customer relationship management (CRM) on customer retention by agribusinesses in Aba Metropolis of Abia State. To achieve the aim of this study, fourteen agribusiness firms were randomly selected and from each firm, two staff and five customers were randomly selected. A total of 98 respondents were therefore used for the study. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected using a well structured sets of questionnaire designed for the respondents. The data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) and binary logit regression analyses. The results of...

The Economics of Post-harvest Handling and Marketing of Legumes in Ghana: the Case of Cowpea, Groundnuts and Bambara Beans. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION   The contribution  of  post-harvest  management  to  the  attainment  of  food  and  nutrition security in Ghana cannot be overemphasized. In this chapter the background and importance of marketing in the development  of  agriculture,  and  the  problems  and  expectations associated with the post-harvest handling and  marketing  of  legumes  are  discussed. Also highlighted  are  the  research  objectives,  scope  and  limitations  of  the  research as well as a description of the study area.   Background There has been widespread public  outcry  about  the  rising  cost  of  food  in  the  country in recent times. In particularly,...

Effects of Economic Partnership Agreements on Agricultural Trade Between Small and Large Ecowas Economies and the Eu   Abstract Smart Simulation Partial Equilibrium Methodology was employed in this study to determine Effects of Economic Partnership Agreements on Agricultural trade between small and large ECOWAS economies and the EU. Specifically, the study looked at the patterns of imports of sample of two ECOWAS countries the Gambia and Nigeria; the potential trade effects on the selected countries embarking on free trade under economic partnership agreement scenario; the potential revenue effects on the selected countries under the same platform; the potential welfare effects on the selected countries under the same platform; the sensitive products based on source and volume of import criteria. WITS provided access to international...

Influence of Gender on Sustainable Management of Forest Resources in Abia State, Nigeria   ABSTRACT Forest, which is a major source of resources in Nigeria, is currently facing accelerated degradation and depletion. The growing demand for ecosystem services from forests has led to over-exploitation of the resources, resulting in the extinction of some valuable species. This has continued to impact negatively on the capacity of the forests to mitigate climate change, conserve biodiversity, safeguard wildlife, and protect land and watershed. Approaches to forest management in Nigeria have not involved women in their desired perspective, irrespective of their dominant role in collection of forest produce. The influence of gender relationships on access to forests and forest resource management and sustainability has remained a concern...

Economics of Processing Cassava Into Garri and Pellets in Kogi State, Nigeria Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the economics of cassava processing into garri and pellets in Kogi State. Data were collected from 100 cassava processors (22 males and 78 females) and analysed to describe socio-economic characteristics, identify and describe various technologies used in cassava processing, ascertain gender roles, estimate the influence of socio-economic characteristics on income of processors, determine profitability and identify constraints militating against the processors of cassava in the study area. Multi-stage random sampling techniques were employed in the selection of local government areas, communities and processors on who structured questionnaires were administered. Descriptive statistics, gross margin, rate of return...

Contract Farming and Rice Quality Upgrading: Assessing Smallholder Farmers’ Motivation, Performance and Constraints Under the Business Services and Farmers’ Organisation (Esop) in Togo ABSTRACT Contract farming is emerging as a promising way to upgrade domestic rice quality in Togo. The Non-Government Organisation ‘Entreprise Territoir et Développement’ (ETD) has started promoting a kind of contract farming scheme called ’Entreprise de Service et Organisation de Producteurs’ (ESOP) in the country. The rewards from contract farming could be substantial for smallholder farmers; yet there is a serious concern about the farmers’ ability to stay in the partnership for long term because of constraints that they face. Based on the Modern Contract Theory and the Impact Evaluation Theory, this study sought to address the following issues:...