African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 7 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of the effective factors on organic olive cultivation decision

I.Coşkun Ceylan*, Emine Olhan and Özdal Köksal

Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University, 06110 Diskapi Ankara, Turkey.

Accepted 12 March, 2019

Abstract

This research has been carried out to determine effective factors on decision making behavior for organic olive cultivation in the İzmir, Aydin and Çanakkale provinces where organic olive production is done intensively. Logistic regression method has been used for the determination of effective factors on decision making behavior of organic olive cultivation. Whether making or not making organic olive cultivation was considered as a dependent variable; individual characteristics, farm holding characteristics and sources of information were considered as independent variables in the model. It has been found that of individual characteristics (income), (type of land ownership) and of farm holding characteristics (machinery assets) are the significant factors on decision making for organic olive cultivation. The other significant factors are economic and environmental reasons in the model. It has been calculated that, the probability for farmers who use formal information sources to make organic olive cultivation is 333 times higher than that of the farmers who use informal information sources.

Key words: Organic olive cultivation, decision making, logistic regression.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 7 (5), pp. 001-014, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Agriculture agency, mass media and farmers: A combination for creating knowledgeable agriculture community

Md. Salleh Hassan*, Hayrol Azril Mohamed Shaffril, Muhamad Sham Shahkat Ali and Nor Sabila Ramli

Institute for Social Science Studies, University Putra Malaysia.

Accepted 16 March, 2019

Abstract

Mass media power in disseminating agriculture information to the farmers is essential, but the main question now, does the Department of Agriculture Malaysia as one of the main agriculture agencies in Malaysia, wisely utilize all the mass media sources to disseminate the valuable agriculture information to the farmers and their officers? Data was gained through three ‘focus group discussions’. The Department of Agriculture Malaysia has produced 20 types of printed publications and they are also one of the major sources for radio and television agriculture programs aired at Radio Television Malaysia and Selangor FM. Besides, the Department of Agriculture Malaysia also provides sources for agriculture newspaper insert for Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. The Department of Agriculture Malaysia has its’ own website which is www.doa.gov.my for the public and the Agris Geo Portal for their staff. Some of the printed publications that do not reach the grassroot level, finance and delayed information received are among the problems faced by the Department of Agriculture Malaysia. The Department of Agriculture Malaysia has yet to establish specific evaluation process for their printed and electronic publications, but for their website, they have internal and external evaluation. The Department of Agriculture Malaysia should encourage other daily newspapers such as Harian Metro, The Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Tamil Nesan to have their own agriculture newspapers insert. It is recommended that programs and publications on agriculture should be increased. The best way to make it is through cooperation between the Department of Agriculture Malaysia and giant agriculture based companies. The farmers should be provided with the schedule of the date of the Department of Agriculture Malaysia publications to be disseminated to the farmers, the air time of television and radio program and the list of agriculture agencies websites.

Key words: Agriculture community, mass media and agriculture information.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Awareness and effectiveness of vegetable technology information packages by vegetable farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Sabo Elizabeth^1* and Dia Y. Zira²

¹Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Adamawa State University, P.M.B 25 Mubi Nigeria.

²Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Adamawa State College of Agriculture, Mubi, Nigeria.

Accepted 18 March, 2019

Abstract

Dry season vegetable production plays a key role in agricultural economics of Adamawa state, as a basic source of food, income and employment especially for resource poor farmers. This study evaluates the awareness and effectiveness of agricultural technology information by dry season vegetable farmers in Mubi region. Findings revealed that the vegetable production is gender sensitive to the male sex. Most household depend on family as a reliable source of labour. Awareness was high for vegetable production information packages. The farmers indicated the need for agricultural extension services, the dearth of which limits achieving high productivity. The use of mechanized land preparation techniques was less effective among the farmers interviewed. Vegetable technology information as seed dressing, availability of improved seeds, planting methods, weeding, water and disease management, pest control, harvesting and use of fertilizer were found to be very effective among the farmers. This could influence positively vegetable production in the study areas. The low effectiveness rating for mechanized land preparation and water management practices may be associated with the complex and expensive nature of these technologies.

Key words: Dry season farming, agricultural technology information, complex technology, effectiveness, awareness.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An application of probit analysis to factors affecting small-scale farmers’ decision to take credit: A case study of the Greater Letaba Local Municipality in South Africa

T.O. Sebopetji¹* and A. Belete²

¹Department of Land Affairs, South Africa.

²Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Limpopo, South Africa.

Accepted 23 March, 2019

Abstract

Based on primary data collected in the Greater Letaba Local Municipality from 73 small-scale farmers in the 2006 season, this study used the probit modelling approach to analyse the influence household characteristics have on farmers’ decision to use credit. The model predicted 84.93 per cent of the sample correctly. The results revealed that farming experience, gender and marital status have positive significant effect on farmers’ decision to use credit. In contrast, farmers’ age, education level and membership to farmers’ association had negative significant effect. The study recommends training on the benefits of farm credit among both borrowers and non-borrowers in rural areas. Most borrowers were male-headed and these imply that targeting female-headed households will most likely improve their likelihood of taking credit. It is recommended that the full rollout of Micro Agricultural Finance Institutions of South Africa (MAFISA) and the imminent implementation of the Communal Land Rights Act (CLARA) will ease the collateral problems of these categories of farmers.

Key words: Small-scale farmers, decision, credit, probit analysis.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing the efficiency of hazelnut production

Osman Kilic¹*, Turan Binici² and Carl R. Zulauf³

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.

²Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, Sanlıurfa, Turkey.

³Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, Ohio State University, Ohio, USA.

Accepted 13 March, 2019

Abstract

This study investigates production efficiency of hazelnut farmers located in the Carsamba Plain, Samsun-Turkey. A sample of 78 farmers was selected by a two-stage sampling process. Data Envelopment Analysis and Tobit Regression Analysis found that production efficiency of the hazelnut farmers ranged from 26.1 to 100.0%, with an average of 73.5%. This level of technical efficiency is consistent with the technical efficiency found in other studies of crop production in developing countries. Nevertheless, 70.5% of the hazelnut farms are using inputs inefficiently. A statistically significant positive relationship between a farmer’s education and a farm’s technical efficiency underscores the need for public investment in rural education to improve the efficient use of inputs. A statistically insignificant relationship between farm size and a farm’s technical efficiency implies that education programs should be available to all farmers regardless of the size of their farm. Moreover, the statistically significant relationship between farm fragmentation and efficiency is consistent with the importance of land consolidation program.

Key words: Data envelopment analysis, technical efficiency, hazelnut, Turkey.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of technical efficiency in cotton growing farms in Turkey: A case study of Cukurova region

Mevlut Gul¹*, Besir Koc², Erdal Dagistan³, M. Goksel Akpinar⁴ and O uz Parlakay⁵

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.

²Bingol University, Faculty of Agriculture, Bingol, Turkey.

³Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.

⁴Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.

⁵Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.

Accepted 04 February, 2019

Abstract

This paper analyses technical efficiency of cotton farms in Çukurova region in Turkey. Data was collected from cotton farms through a questionnaire study. Data collection was carried out following 2004-2005 growing seasons. Technical efficiency of cotton farms was estimated by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and technical efficiency scores were calculated employing an input oriented DEA. Tobit regression analysis was used to identify determinants of technical efficiency. Results indicate that cotton farmers can save inputs by at least 20% while remaining at the same production level. Factors strongly affecting efficiency level of the farmers were found to be farmers’ age, education level and groups of cotton growing areas.

Key words: Efficiency, data envelopment analysis, cotton, Turkey.