African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 11 (7), pp. 001-013, July, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
 

Full Length Research Paper

The nNexus between access to credit and farm income: A propensity score matching approach for smallholder dairy farmers in Central Kenya 

James Sidika¹*, Martin Muriuki2Christopher Obel Gor², Yusuf Tande³ Otiende Millicent Adhiambo³, Ogweno Peter Oyier^4
1Department of Agricultural Bio systems, Economics and Horticulture, University of Kabianga, Kericho, Kenya.
²Department of Agriculture and Environmental studies Rongo University.
³Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology,Bondo, Kenya
⁴Department of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Rongo University, Rongo, Kenya.

Accepted 27 February, 2023

Abstract

In this contemporary economic system characterized by rapid population increase, more food is required to encounter the ever growing food demand. Adequate credit accessibility and utilization therefore becomes necessary to achieve a sustained level of production and income. In view of this, we examined the link between access to credit and farm Income in Kinangop Sub-County in the Central Highlands of Kenya. Descriptive survey research design was employed on a target population of 35,840 dairy farm households. Similarly, The study utilized cross-sectional data was collected from a sample of 230 smallholder farmers dairy farm households using both stratified and simple random sampling techniques. DDescriptive analysis involved running a t test and chi square tests to compare the means and frequency distribution of different variables respectively while inferential statistical methods involved application of the propensity score matching technique to determine the average treatment effects of the intervention on the outcome. Descriptive methods analysisrevealed significant differences in respondents gender, ownership status, financial education status, association membership status and value addition practice between credit users and credit non-users. Significant differences in income characterized by gender, financial education status, association membership status and value addition practice were also observed. In addition, milk output, off-farm income, on-farm income; (p≤0.01), land size, land under forage production; (p≤0.05) and number of associations;(p≤0.01) were significantly higher for credit users relative to credit non-users. Estimation of the Average Treatment Effect revealed a positive and significant effect of credit access on farm income with credit users having their income increased by between KES 6,307.5 and KES 7,358.5. The study therefore, therefore, concluded that Enhancing credit accessibility is therefore would be vital in increasing farm income returns of dairy farmers.

Keywords:  Agricultural credit, farm income, smallholder dairy farmers, propensity score matching, kinangop. 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 11 (2), pp. 001-003, February, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Soil-phosphorus extraction methodologies: A review

Abdu N.

Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria- Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 10 November, 2022

Abstract

Soil available phosphorus has been measured using chemical extractants and ion-sink methods comprising of resin membranes and FeO coated filter papers or strips. This study compared the conventional chemical extractants such as Bray-1, Olsen, and Mehlich- 3 etc with the ion-sink extraction methods. Investigations from researchers have shown the efficacy of the ion-sink methods especially the resin membranes which extract soil-available P in a similar manner as plant roots does. It can be employed for a variety of soil types irrespective of their properties. In contrast to chemical extractants that is designed for specific soil types. Resin membranes does not alter the chemical composition of the soil and therefore gives a close estimate of soil-available P. Economically, resin membrane strips can be used and re-used several times without loosing its extraction power. The size and dimension of the resin strips should be standardized to avoid disparity in the amount of P extracted when different sizes were used for same soils.

Key words: Phosphorus, extractants, chemical, ion-sink.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Economic evaluation of bell pepper production under colored shade nets system in the southeast region of the USA

Esendugue Greg Fonsah¹, *Saurav Raj Kunwar² and Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez³

¹Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 2360 Rainwater Road, Tifton, GA 31793.

²Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 336 Mumford Hall, 1301 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL.

³Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia. 2360 Rainwater Road, Tifton, GA 31793.

Accepted 01 September, 2022

Abstract

Bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is one of Georgia’s top ten commercial vegetables and an essential crop in the southeast and the United States at large. In 2020, Georgia reported a farm gate value of $126 million. Economic Research Service report shows that bell pepper production fell by 11% in 2020 compared to 2019. The annual US utilized production was 1,200.4 million pounds in 2017; in 2020, it decreased to barely 821.9 million pounds, hence a 31.5% decrease. As a result, the University of Georgia started researching bell pepper production under the colored shade nets in 2015 to determine if plant growth and fruit yields would be superior to the conventional system. The research aimed to determine whether the bell pepper produced under the colored shade nets will provide a superior return to investment to the growers vis-à-vis the conventional system. Our findings will be crucial to the vegetable industry and stakeholders in their crop production decision-making process and profit-maximizing goal.

Keywords: Bell pepper, colored shade, costs, risk-rated returns, sensitivity analysis.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effect of sheep-manure vermicompost on quantitative and qualitative properties of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown in the greenhouse

Rasool Azarmi*, Mousa Torabi Giglou and Behzad Hajieghrari

Department of plant productions, Moghan Jounior College of Agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

Accepted 26 May, 2022

Abstract

This experiment aims to evaluate the effects of vermicompost produced from sheep manure on growth, yield and quality of 2 fruit cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) varieties (cv. ‘Sultan F1’ and cv. ‘Storm F1’) under greenhouse condition. Four vermicompost treatments at the rate of 0 (control), 10, 20 and 30 t ha^-1were incorporated into the top 15 cm of soil. During the experiment, fruits were harvested three times per week and fruit number and weight were recorded for 3 months. Leaf number, plant height and chlorophyll content were measured at 30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting, while leaf area, stem and leaf dry weight and fruit qualitative properties were evaluated at 90 days after transplanting. The results showed that leaf number, plant height and chlorophyll content increased significantly (P 0.05) compared to control plots for both varieties at 30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting. The plots treated with 30 t ha^-1 vermicompost showed increase in leaf are, stem and leaf dry weight for both varieties. The application of vermicompost at 30 t ha^-1 increased total fruit yield 26% for cv. ‘Sultan F1’ and 25% for cv. ‘Storm F1’ compared to the control. The plots treated with vermicompost at 30 t ha^-1 enhanced fruit number per plant 26% for cv. ‘Sultan F1’ and 25% for cv. ‘Storm F1’ than plot without vermicompost. Fruit harvested from plants receiving vermicompost had higher total soluble solid (TSS), lower juice acidity and more dry matter than plots without vermicompost. Growth and yield parameters were improved with increasing vermicompost rates up to 20 t ha^-1. There are no significant different between plots at 20 and 30 t ha^-1 vermicompost in all evaluated parameters.

Key words: Vermicompost, quantitative, qualitative, greenhouse cucumber.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 10 (6), pp. 001-013, June, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Does Intrinsic Honesty Accumulate with Employment Through Foreign Direct Investments: The Case of Mozambique

Erin Farmer¹, Amy Farmer², Lanier Nalley³, Rodolfo M. Nayga, Jr.⁴

¹Department of Plant Breeding, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and Department of Economics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA.

²Department of Economics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA.

³Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas. Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA.

⁴Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA. 

Accepted 18 December, 2021

Abstract

Given the influx of FDI in Mozambique, it is important to investigate how honesty and trust play a role in these economic interactions between the local community and foreign investors. To explore these issues, a case study was conducted at Novos Horizontes, the largest, fully integrated poultry farm in Northern Mozambique. Using a well established trust experiment, we find that participants associated with the FDI trust both strangers and members of NGOs more than those without such an association.  This effect is increased when the interviewer is a foreigner, providing evidence that trust of forigners can be built through collaberations and institutions in an FDI context.

Keywords: Trust, Mozambique, Foreign Direct Investment, Honesty.