African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-008, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Strategies for effective loan delivery to small – scale enterprises in rural Nigeria

Benjamin Okpukpara

Centre for Entrepreneurship and Development Research, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel.: 234-8035623279.

Accepted 09 January, 2020

Abstract

Economic growth and development cannot be achieved without putting in place well-focused programmes to reduce poverty through empowering the rural entrepreneurs with credit. In noting this, government has initiated many programmes to enhance adequate loan to rural entrepreneurs. However, these programmes have achieved mixed successes. This paper therefore examines the determinants of loan acquisition to rural enterprise and recommends best practices. The study noted that channel of loan delivery to rural entrepreneurs is politicized with huge bureaucratic network, which makes the loan almost inaccessible to rural entrepreneurs. In addition, the study noted that the major factors that determine loan acquisition by rural entrepreneurs are type of enterprise, gender of operator, experience of the operator as well as past loan history. The study therefore recommended a financial institution, which will not only be a joint venture of government, non-governmental organizations, rural entrepreneurs and rural communities but also less bureaucratic and requires asset -less collateral. The author trusts that such recommendations will enhance rural entrepreneur’s capacity to fight poverty

Key words: Rural enterprise, financial institutions, poverty, loan, Nigeria.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hispanic consumer’s perceptions towards organically grown ethnic produce: A logistic analysis

Ramu Govindasamy¹*, Venkata Puduri¹ and James E. Simon²

¹Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, U.S.A.

²Department of Plant Biology and Plant Pathology, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, U.S.A.

Accepted 20 October, 2019

Abstract

Organic foods sector is one of the fastest growing agricultural markets in the U.S and sales of organic products have increased on average by 20% annually since 1990. The rapid expansion of Hispanic ethnic populations presents significant opportunities for organic and conventional fruit and vegetable producers in the region to take advantage of their close proximity to densely populated areas. The main objective of this study was to gather market information on Hispanic customer behavior towards organic produce in the east-coast region of United States. The results indicate that those who were willing to buy country of origin labeled produce and those who were willing to buy ethnic produce when it is recently introduced or new to the market were more likely willing to buy organically grown ethnic produce. The results also indicate that those who were vegetarians, those living in urban areas and those with average annual incomes of between $125,000 and 149,999 were more likely willing to buy organically grown ethnic produce. These results will help policy makers understand Hispanic consumer’s behavior towards organically produce and facilitate effective segmentation by producers, wholesalers, and retailers to target Hispanic markets and locations.

Key words: Hispanic consumer, organic produce, logit model, United States.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Socio-personal characteristics on the adoption of rice-fish culture system in North of Iran

Seyyed Ali Noorhossaini Niyaki and Mohammad Sadegh Allahyari*

Department of Agricultural Management, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran.

Accepted 20 October, 2019

Abstract

Rice-fish culture system is not a purely technical decision and different factors may affect it. The identification of these factors can help in distinguishing adopters from non-adopters in an attempt to extend the rice-fish culture. This study sought to identify effective socio-personal characteristics on the adoption of rice-fish culture system by farmers in North of Iran. A survey was conducted using a stratified random sampling to collect data from farmers of selected rural in Western Guilan, Northern Iran. The questionnaire validity and reliability were also determined to enhance the dependability of the results. The subjects under study were then divided into two groups of adopters and non-adopters. A total of 61 adopters and 123 non-adopters were studied for effective characteristics. Results showed that effective socio-personal characteristics affecting an adoption of rice-fish culture in Western Guilan are family size, membership in social institutions, rate of participation in extension activities and number of extension contacts.

Key words: Adoption, rice-fish culture, socio-personal characteristics, farmers, North Iran.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-014, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determinants of farmers’ willingness to pay for blue Nile River Protection: The Case of Gilgel Abay River Mouth, Ethiopia

Abdurhman Wariwo^1* and Abrham Seyoum²

¹Agriculture and Agro-forestry Officer, The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, P.o.Box, 503, Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia).

²Assistant Professor, Center for Rural Development, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

Accepted 12 January, 2020

Abstract

The paper examines the determinants of farmer’s willingness to pay for the protection of Abay River. A total of 158 randomly selected households were interviewed. Descriptive statistics and Econometrics Models particularly Contingent Valuation Method, Probit and Seemingly Unrelated Bivariate Probit models were applied. Result of the study showed that annual income, education, number of dependents in the household, family size, total cultivated land, awareness trainings, and community bylaw are significant determinants of farmers WTP in cash. Response to the hypothetical scenario revealed that the mean WTP in cash is 74.22 ETB per year for each household with an aggregate value of 171,411.09 ETB per annum. In addition, awareness trainings and age of the respondents were important variables in determining labor contribution. The mean labor WTP of households is 17.46 labor days per year with an aggregate benefit of 41, 291 labor days per year, which is equivalent to 2, 477, 460 ETB Birr. This indicates that aggregate WTP in labor is greater than cash payment. Therefore, river protection efforts should be focused more on labor contribution of rural households than in cash and key socioeconomic and institutional derivers of community participation should also be considered while deigning river protection.

Keywords: Blue Nile River, Improved River Protection, Contingent Valuation Method, Willingness-to-Pay, Ethiopia.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Patterns of access and utilization of output markets by emerging farmers in South Africa: Factor analysis approach

G. M. Senyolo¹*, P. Chaminuka¹, M. N. Makhura² and A. Belete³

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Limpopo, South Africa.

²Agricultural Economic Research and Innovation Services (AERIS), Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa, South Africa.

³Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Limpopo, South Africa.

Accepted 13 December, 2019

Abstract

Based on the data collected from 500 emerging farmers that were randomly selected from nine provinces of South Africa, this study determines the patterns of access and utilization of output market by emerging farmers in South Africa. Factor analysis was applied on twenty components of output markets in South Africa. The results show that there are patterns that are observable in terms of access and use of output market by emerging farmers. The most commonly used output markets by emerging farmers are family and friends, the fresh produce markets as well as public stores. The study reveals that farmers tend to sell their produce to public stores as most of these stores are close to the farming communities. Friends and family also provide an important market outlet for produce by emerging farmers. Improving road conditions and transport services in rural areas will not only improve accessibility of external markets, but will also improve accessibility of local output markets.

Key words: Emerging farmers, factor analysis, market access, output market, South Africa.