International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension

International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN: 2329-9797 Vol. 1 (8), pp. 061-067, June, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study on customer satisfaction on food delivery mechanism of universal PDS in Tamil Nadu (India)

Mahendran A

Assistant Professor in Economics, TKM-Institute of Management, Kerala University, Kollam, Kerala, India.

Email: [email protected].

Accepted 18 June, 2013

Abstract

Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in India was launched in the year 1997, with the goal of transparent and accountable distribution of food to the poor. It is based on below poverty line and above poverty line families. But India is facing a lot of problems with poverty and hunger in all states. Children are the future pillars of the nation. But they are the vulnerable population and they are prone to develop a lot of health problems due to poverty. According to NSSO, the TPDS is not reachable to poor people due to administrative weakness. But the Government of Tamil Nadu state introduced a strong administration on quality products distribution with affordable prices in fair price shops. It is based on the policy of ‘food for all and poor friendly’ and their concentration on health sectors, to eradicate malnutrition, anaemia and the problems of pregnant women, low income and food insufficiency. The present study finds Universal PDS reaching the poor and beneficial to all families.  In this study multi-stage random sampling was used to select different districts. The results showed that more than 60 percent of poor families in India are satisfied and effective delivery mechanism of universal PDS was followed in all the states. 

Key words: Universal, PDS, factor analysis, poor, truthful, attractive, effective, services, Tamil Nadu, India. 

International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN: 2329-9797 Vol. 1 (7), pp. 055-060, August, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impacts of gender and farmers’ level of education on access to agricultural extension services in Abuja, Nigeria

Ajah Julius

Department of Agricultural Economics/Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 04 March, 2013

Abstract

The study examined the impacts of gender and farmers’ level of education on access to agricultural extension services in Abuja. A purposive technique was adopted for sample selection while semi-structured questionnaires were used for data collection. A sample of 80 rural male and female farmers who  had post secondary, secondary, primary and no formal school education were used for the study. In each of the four educational categories, 10 male and 10 female farmers were selected. Two-way analysis of variance was used for data analysis and results indicated that irrespective of education, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in gender access to agricultural extension services. But, the mean response (3.03) indicated that female farmers had slightly more access to agricultural extension services than their male counterparts (2.98). Similarly, irrespective of gender, there was no significant (p > 0.05) effect of farmers’ level of education on access to agricultural extension services. Remarkably, farmers who had no formal school education had more access (3.40) to agricultural extension services than farmers who had at least primary school education. Furthermore, there was no significant (p > 0.05) interaction effect of gender and education on farmers’ access to agricultural extension services. Based on the findings, the paper concluded that gender and level of education were not major determinants of farmers’ access to agricultural extension services in the study area.  

Key words: Agricultural extension services, no formal school, primary school, secondary school, post secondary school.  

Full Length Research Paper

Factors influencing women participation in Women In Agriculture (WIA) Programme of Kaduna State Agricultural Development Project , Nigeria

*Tologbonse, E.B¹; Jibrin M. M² ; Auta, S.J¹; and Damisa, M.A².

¹National Agricultural Extension & Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria.

²Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology, ABU, Zaria, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail:[email protected]. Tel. +2348036426505

Accepted 05 July, 2013

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine women farmers’ participation in Women In Agriculture (WIA) programmes. The output and income of women who participated and those who did not participate in the WIA programme were also compared. A multi-stage sampling method was employed to select  272  respondents. Primary data were collected through the use of  questionnaires and interview schedule and were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean farming experience was 11.4years for WIA participants and 9.8years for non-WIA participants while mean farm size for participants was 1.4ha. and 0.9ha for non-WIA participants. The main source of agricultural information was radio. Regression analysis showed that level of education, age and marital status were significantly related with  level of participation. The mean output of WIA participants (688.06kg) was significantly higher than non-WIA participants (139.91kg). The difference in the  mean output levels was  largely attributed to participation in WIA programme. Calculated Z-statistic value (274.04) for  income was significant at 5%. The findings concluded that the difference (₦118,783.69) in the mean income could  be attributed to their participation in WIA programmes. Therefore, it was recommended that WIA programmes be sustained and encouraged by Kaduna State Government.

Key words: Women In Agriculture, level of participation, enterprise, farm income, farm output, Agricultural Development Project.

International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN: 2329-9797 Vol. 1 (6), pp. 042-046, July 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Functional response of Exochomus flavipes Thunberg (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a local predator of the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti Matile Ferrore,(Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

Essien, Rosemary Anietie¹*, Odebiyi, Johnson Adebayo² Ekanem, Mfon Sunday³, Umoetok, Sylvia Bassey Akpassam⁴

^1*Department of Crop Science, Akwa Ibom State University, PMB 1167, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

²Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

³Department of Zoology, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +234-8027022191.

Accepted 10 July 2013

Abstract

Functional response of first and fourth larval instars of Exochomus flavipes, as a predator of Phenacoccus manihoti was studied in the laboratory. Day old (24 hours) first and fourth instars E. flavipes were each fed on one day old eggs of P.manihoti at densities of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700. This was replicated 10 times. Daily eggs consumption (functional response), was recorded. Functional response of fourth instar to different prey densities increased from 100 to a plateau between 500 and 700. For the first instar, eggs consumption was lower than that of fourth instar. There was a correlation between mean number of prey eggs consumed and the prey density, r = 0.982 and 0.995 for the first and fourth instars, respectively. Rate of discovery by predator was reduced with increase in prey density. There was a negative correlation between the rate of discovery and number of P.manihoti eggs consumed by the fourth instar (r = - 0.973). Functional response of E flavipes to increasing number of P. manihoti showed a density dependent action in this study. E. flavipes shows a potential to be exploited as a biocontrol agent of P. manihoti.  

Keywords: Predator, prey, functional response, cassava mealybug, Exochomus flavipes, larval instars, prey dens

International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN: 2329-9797 Vol. 1 (6), pp. 031-041, July, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Marketing channel and margin analysis: A case study of red pepper marketing at Jabitehinan District in Northwestern Ethiopia

Amare H. Tesfaw¹ and Dawit Alemu²

¹Lecturer (Agricultural Economics) Debre Markos University, Ethiopia.

²Agricultural Economics Research-Extension & Farmer's Linkage Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]. Tel.+2510913233094

Accepted 21 June, 2013

Abstract

A study was conducted at Jabitehinan District, Northwestern Ethiopia to identify red pepper marketing channels, analyze marketing margins and investigate the role of different marketing actors. Relevant data were gathered using formal and informal methods of data collection and analyzed with descriptive statistics using SPSS. A total of 39,544qts of pepper was produced in the district and of this; 7,513qts was transacted during 2008/09. Based on the direction of flow of pepper, 10 marketing channels were identified. Markets were found to be inefficient, with wide margins and oligopoly in structure. The highest gross marketing margin was taken by ‘baltinas’, (70.83%) and the minimum being for farmer traders (5.5% of the consumers’ price). Similarly, the highest and lowest net marketing margins were 67.37% and 0.5% of the consumers’ price which are taken by ‘baltinas’ and farmer traders respectively and hence, in terms of the price spread, markets were found to be inefficient. In order to settle price fluctuations and to strengthen the bargaining power of producers, there should be a well stated commodity standard. Government’s intervention in the enterprise can help producers and other middlemen involve in pepper trading thereby improving the market competitiveness, structure and efficiency.

Key words: Assemblers, ‘Baltinas’, channel, efficiency, margin, wholesalers.

International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension Vol. 1 (5), pp. 024-030, June, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Modelling the role of pro poor agro based micro, small and medium enterprises on poverty reduction in Malawi

PhiriInnocent Pangapanga¹, George Kussein², Shelton Kanyanda³ and Charles Machinjili⁴

This paper quantifies the impacts of pro poor micro, small and medium scale enterprise on households’ poverty reduction in Malawi. The paper employs normalized censoring modelling on 1000 household dataset from across Malawi. The paper found that pro poor agro based micro, small and medium scale enterprises sure as  fish and mushroom farming, cassava flour processing, pig and chicken rearing, rural bakeries, and others have positive effect on household poverty levels. Pro poor agro based enterprises generally reduced household poverty by 8-24% in Malawi at 5% level of significance. However, the data depicts that pro poor small and medium scale businesses owners are challenged by lack of credit, low bargaining power, high input costs, low product prices and lack of reliable markets. The paper strongly recommends that pro poor programs ought to be gender responsive and strongly mainstream micro, small and medium enterprises in poverty reduction programs at all levels of their operations.

Key words: Households, censoring modelling, pro poor agro enterprises, Malawi.