African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 4 (1), pp. 266-273, January, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the application of simple numerical simulation model for Palestinian economy 

Askar Khater*, Murad Hegazy and Ali Saber Tobar

Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Quds Open University, Palestine.

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

Accepted 12 September, 2015

Abstract

This paper develops a four-sector numerical simulation model of economic growth in Palestine which permits the calculation of macroeconomic growth multipliers resulting from income shock to agriculture, services, manufacture and non-manufacture. The resulting multipliers are 1.53 for agriculture, 1.63 for services, 1.52 for manufacture and 1.30 for non-manufacture. An income shock to agriculture is clearly the most progressive choice, indicating the need to highlight agricultural development in growth strategy for Palestine. Yet the simulation results further indicate that going imposes relatively little trade off against total benefit. While a $1 Service sector income shock generates $0.63 in indirect benefit, a $1 agricultural income shock still generates $0.53 in indirect gains-a somewhat smaller benefit, but one likely to make the greatest possible impact on poverty reduction.

Key words: Agriculture, economic growth, growth multiplier, Palestine.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 314-321, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of profitability and production determinants of fish farming in Umuahia Capital Territory of Abia State, Nigeria

Kelechi Nwapa*, Raymond Enwerem and Iheme Obianuju

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Abia State University, Umuahia Campus, PMB 7010, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.

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

Accepted 09 October,  2015

Abstract 

This study was conducted in Umuahia Capital Territory, of Abia state, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 72 respondents. Data were collected for a year from a panel group of fish farmers using semi structured questionnaire and interview sessions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, net return analysis and multiple regression models. Results showed that mean age and mean farming experience of the fish farmers was 44 years and 8 years respectively, 63.9% of the respondents had no access to credit, 73.6% of them were males, 100.0% of them had acquired varied levels of formal education, 77.8% of them were married, 50.0% of the fish farmers were in civil service, 87.5% used purchased feed and 47.2% of them stocked their ponds with between 201 and 300 fingerlings per 10 m². Annual gross margin and net return from fish production was N 265,760.11 and N 225, 791.98 respectively. Fish farming had a BCR of 2.20 and RORCI of 90%. Farming experience, access to credit, farm income and pond size were significant determinants of production level at 1, 5, 10 and 10% critical levels respectively. High cost of feed and inadequate storage facilities were two main problems constraining fish farmers. It is recommended that unemployed youths should be trained in fish farming methods and given soft loans to engage in fish farming business since it had a BCR of 2.20.

Key words: Profitability, output level, fish farming.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 287-300, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of socio-economic characteristics of farmers to determined their perceptions on climatic variables and adaptation options in Imo State, Nigeria

Ijoma Mbakwe*, Osita Judith and Njoku Obaji

Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

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

Accepted 13 September, 2015

Abstract

The study evaluated the trends, perceptions and adaptation options of arable crop farmers to climate change in Imo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted in selection of respondents. The sample size comprised sixty farming households. The main tool for data collection was a set of structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, trend analysis and multinomial logit regression model. In order to forecast the future trends of climate change in the area and beyond, climatic record of 40 years duration were obtained between 1972 and 2012 from Agro-meteorological Station, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Findings revealed mean age to be 43.24 years. Majority (73.33%) were males. Greater proportions (71.67%) were married with an average household size of six persons. Average farm size was 0.97 ha. The study confirmed the evidence of climate change in the area, as result from trend analysis revealed a sustained decrease in number of rainy days and relative humidity while results on temperature level and sunshine duration showed an increasingly significant trend, respectively. If the trend continues, arable crop production (vegetables, maize, okra, roots and tubers) in the area may be adverse with time. Perceptions of farmers on climatic variables were all in line with the trends result. Thus, it is obvious that arable crop farmers in the area are noticing the change and its negative impact in the area and are responding to the change through the adoption of certain local practices to thwart its negative impacts. Estimated multinomial logit model showed that socio-economic characteristics of the farmers have a significant influence on their adaptation options to climate change. Farmers complained of inadequate information. It was therefore recommended that agricultural policies and programmes should focus on intensifying awareness on climate change as this would affect farmer’s adaptation to climate change positively.

Keywords: Arable crop farmers, socio-economic characteristics, trends, perceptions, adaptation options, multinomial logit model, Imo State, Nigeria.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 301-313, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Contributions of women and men farmers to households’ poverty in rural Nigeria

Lamidi Ayinde*,  James Adeyemi, Akande Adedeji and Ademola Akinjide

Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

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

Accepted 12 January,  2016

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of gender time allocation on farming households’ poverty. It relies on primary data collected from 150 rural farming households comprising 150 men and 150 women farmers in southwest Nigeria during the rainy and dry seasons. The study finds that men’s time allocation to farm work is significantly higher than that of the women’s, while women’s housework time is significantly higher than that of the men’s. Furthermore, women committed more time to work than men did. The incidence of poverty was higher during the dry season than rainy season. Years of formal education and non-farm work time of both men and women significantly lowers household poverty during the rainy and dry seasons. Housework time of women aggravates household poverty during the two seasons. The study recommended: human capacity development, promotion of non-farm work and reduction in women’s housework time in other to reduce farming households’ poverty in Nigeria.

Key words: Gender time allocation, poverty, rainy and dry seasons, rural Nigeria.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 3 (7), pp. 253-265, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Economic and socio-cultural evaluation of livestock farming amid severe soil degradation in Western Kenya

Yuko Yamane and Shuichi Asanuma

International Cooperation Center for Agricultural Education (ICCAE), Nagoya University Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan. +81-52-789-4225.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. +81-52-789-4225 / +81-52-789-4222

Accepted 16 May, 2015

Abstract

This paper analyzes, from both economic and socio-cultural perspectives, the roles of livestock in the livelihoods of western Kenya’s Luo people, who live in an area facing severe soil erosion due to overgrazing. Forty-five households within the study area were surveyed and studied through participatory observation over 10 months. We classified them into five groups depending on their livestock keeping and examined the groups’ socioeconomic characteristics in order to link livestock to livelihoods. The results show that households in the two groups owning the most livestock included many paternal extended families and their widows. The former group tended to live under unfavorable economic conditions, with comparatively lower off-farm incomes and negative post-food-purchase incomes. On the centrally, the latter group did not show negative post-food-purchase income due to smaller number of family members. However, these both groups’ households also obtained large shares of their livestock through socio-cultural methods, such as entrustment, gifts, and marriage payments. After obtaining higher incomes by selling these livestock, they were able to pay school fees for their children, allowing them to access to a better future through education. The results demonstrate the importance of socio-cultural methods for obtaining livestock, which work through reciprocity. This has clear policy implications: when devising countermeasures to overgrazing, policymakers must consider both economic and socio-cultural roles played by livestock.

Key words: Entrustment, Livestock, Livelihood, Pastoralist, Reciprocity, Overgrazing, Socio-cultural motivation, Soil erosion.

Abbreviations used: Kenyan shilling (Ksh), meters above sea level (masl), tropical livestock units (TLU). 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 3 (7), pp. 246-252, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full length Research Paper

A survey on the relationship between irrigation, manufacture and utilization patterns for rural smallholders with pre-scaling up of bread wheat

Birtukan Ejigu Zewdie

Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Gender Research, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 30 June, 2015

Abstract 

Conceptually, benefits of irrigation are realized through improvements in agricultural productivity. At household level, agricultural production increases could be followed by improvements in food consumption patterns. The goal of this research is to examine relationship between irrigation, production and consumption patterns for rural smallholders with pre-scaling up of bread wheat(Ga’ambo variety). A survey was undertaken and data collected on demographics, landholdings, irrigation, returns, consumption behaviors, farmer perceptions, experiences, and other related variables. The results show that using irrigation to the production of bread wheat has positive impact in yield. Though overall production increases the agricultural income of households but amounts spend on food for each household did not increase as consequence because the produced wheat was changed as food source in the form of bread, Injera, Qolo and other forms. However better dietary diversity was found on the consumption pattern of the households with higher income since part of the generated yield was supplied as a seed to the surrounding agro-pastoral wheat producers. Integrated approaches are needed to secure a healthy diet when the food supply of the family is increasing from the cereal part. The average total land holding was found 2.9 ha while the average land cultivated in the bread wheat production at the season was 1.4 ha. Average years of experience of agro-pastoral households in using different improved verities were 2.5 years which had good contribution in production management. The seed amount used on average for the production was found 84.5 kg/ha which lies between the national recommendation which is 80 to 90 kg/ha for irrigated areas while the average seed cost was 13.1 birr (Ethiopian currency) per kg. The average yields collected from the small scale irrigation users were found 31.8 quintal (which is about 3,180 kg) yet at individual levels it was varied from 15 to 37.3 quintals the variation was because of management practice with keeping other heterogeneous factors constant.

Key words: Bread wheat, yield, irrigation, land, extension, labor, food consumption, dependency ratio, adult equivalent.