Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development

An economic analysis of the value of trade preferences on tobacco, tea and suguar sectors to Malawi.

J H Mangisoni — 2008-02-21

No Abstracts

Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 1-14

The determinants of technical efficiency in mixed-crop food production in Nigeria: A stochastic parametric approach

K Ogundari — 2008-02-21

This study employs a stochastic frontier model to examine the determinants of technical efficiency of mixed -crop farming in Nigeria using farm-level survey data collected from 240 food crops. The empirical result shows that more than half of the farmers were 87% efficient in allocating their resources. This result was further corroborated by the return to scale (RTS) of 1.115 obtained which shows that farmers practising this form of farming system operate in stage I of production surface (increasing returns to scale).Also determinants of farmers production efficiency show that farmers' socio-economic variables represented by age and experience contributed positively to technical efficiency of the farmers. While the level of schooling and household size however reduces technical efficiency of the farmers. The policy implication of these findings suggests that there is considerable scope for improvements in efficiency levels leading either to increased output or cost savings with emphasising on adequate enlightenment on the benefit of engaging in this system of farming with a view of solving the problems of food insecurity in the country.

Keywords: Mixed crop farming, , Nigeria, stochastic frontier, technical efficiency

Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 15-22

Testing market integration for Kenyan pineapples.

S O Onyuma — 2008-02-21

In this article, we analyzed the integration of pineapple markets using the Ravallion-type model with price data collected through personal interviews with thirty-one market actors from producing and consumption markets in Kenya. The market structure was found to be oligopsonistic in nature with aspects of collusion amongst the urban middlemen and local market traders thus barring further entry by other potential actors. There was little market integration between urban markets and producing markets, and very low or no integration between the remote producing markets. Market information flow between production and consumption markets influence integration. Highly integrated horticultural markets are likely to increase market efficiency through efficient resource allocation and price transmission which would result in lower transaction costs and increased incomes and profits to market actors. Improved marketing efficiency for fresh pineapple calls for improving integration process of the markets. We recommend deliberate efforts to promote market integration as a strategy for improving rural incomes since more incomes and profits would encourage more market actors to enter the marketing agribusiness system.

Keywords: Marketing chain, market efficiency, market integration, pineapple

Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 23-33

Determinants of utilization of artificial insemination (AI) services among Ugandan dairy farmers.

H Kaaya — 2008-02-21

A Tobit Model was used to establish the relationship among variables that significantly influence the utilization of Artificial Insemination (AI) technology/service by dairy farmers in central Uganda. Crosssectional data were collected from a total of 180 randomly selected dairy farmers in Mukono, Wakiso and Kayunga districts of Central Uganda. The dairy farmers were categorized based on the breeding method used into AI-users and non-users (using natural service). The data included characteristics of the household and household head, farm and farm management and attributes of the AI service itself. Data were summarised to generate means, frequencies and percentages and a chi-square test was applied to test for the significance of the differences observed between means. Five factors positively associated with adoption and use of AI technology include age of the farmer, years of awareness of the AI technology, total farm milk production and sales, extension visits per year, and quality of AI services provided to the farmers. Factors negatively associated with adoption and use of AI technology are farm level cost of AI services, farming experience, herd size, and cattle breed. Intensifying extension in form of farm visits, improvement in the quality of AI service, reduction in the cost of AI services and increased availability of skilled AI technicians are suggested as avenues to enhance adoption and use of Artificial Insemination by dairy farmers in central Uganda:

Keywords: Adoption, artificial insemination, Central Uganda, dairy farmers

Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 34-43

Economic contribution of fuel wood from Dzalanyama forest reserve to rural livelihoods of surrounding communities of Lilongwe district in central Malawi

S Funsani — 2008-02-21

People living near Dzalanyama Forest Reserve in Lilongwe District of Central Malawi collect various forest products throughout the year. This paper quantifies the contribution of fuel wood as a non-timber forest product (NTFP) to income and food security of the households surrounding the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. A sample of 150 migrant exotic fuel wood collectors, migrant indigenous wood collectors and charcoal burners within 25 km radius of Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, were randomly selected using twostage cluster sampling method and probability proportion to size (PPS). The results showed that most women sold head-loads as collected and none traveled to town to sell fuel wood. It is clear from the results that the collectors who sold wood to town earned more revenue than collectors who sold wood within the village. The results further show that mode of transport affected the amount of revenue earned from fuel wood sales, with bicycle being more remunerative than head loads. Women used head load and rarely accessed urban markets, which explain their lower earnings than men. Consequently, men's earnings contributed 12% to food security compared with only 5% for women. Thus, although minimal, the incomes realized assisted communities surrounding Dzalanyama Forest Reserve to reduce the impact of shocks and stress of low yields and crop failure. To ensure economic and ecological sustainability of the Forest Reserve, there is a need for participatory management planning, involving all stakeholders.

Keywords: Dzalanyama, food security, fuel wood, Malawi, non-timber forest products

Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 44-54

Non-governmental organizations and agricultural development in the coastal region of Kenya.

J Ndungu — 2008-02-21

This paper analyzes the potential collaboration between agricultural research and NGOs in the dissemination of agricultural technologies at the Kenyan coast. An inventory of NGOs working in the region was established, and 11 out of 25 were found to be active in agricultural development. These 11 NGOs were visited and interviewed. They employ 39 trained extension officers, are able to reach 196 farmer groups or 5320 farmers. They typically work with farmer groups and use participatory methods, but also work in other fields, in particular health, water, and micro-enterprise development. The NGO staff is well motivated and enjoys good working conditions and operational budgets. However, they have little technical training, their number is small compared to the 572 extension officers of the MoARD, and they reach only a fraction of the estimated 370,000 rural households. Therefore, NGOs cannot be expected to take over any of the major tasks of the conventional agricultural extension services, but should be included in a larger collaboration between agricultural research, the extension services of the MoARD, and non-traditional partners. To this collaboration NGOs would bring their enthusiasm, proficiency in participatory methods, and close contact with the population; agricultural extension services would bring their technical knowledge and experience; and agricultural research would bring the new technologies to be adapted and tested.

Keywords: Agricultural extension, Kenya, non-governmental organization

Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 55-64

Urban agriculture in metropolitan Lagos: An inventory of potential land and

I A Olugbenga — 2008-02-21

Sixty percent of the population of metropolitan Lagos falls within the poverty bracket. Poor urban households spend 90% of their meager monthly income on food. Urban agriculture being an individual household micro level strategy directly influences the financial empowerment of urban poor positively. However, the benefit of urban farming is hinged on availability of productive land and water resources for this economic group. In Lagos, the land ownership system makes it rather cumbersome for poor urban farmers to access land. This paper examines potential land and water resources that could accommodate urban agriculture in the metropolis. The study identified 1,197 and 28,890 hectares of potential land resources under the jurisdiction of Federal, State and private ownership respectively. The use of such land resources requires the comprehension of long term primary land use goals and objectives. Such aims will influence the choice of crops and ideal number of farmers for land and economic resources sustainability.

Keywords: Ecological carrying capacity, ecological city (eco-city), ecological footprint, urban agriculture, urban planning

Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 65-72

Analysis of input demand by smallholder cotton producers in eastern Uganda.

M Barungi

Cotton farming in Uganda is mostly undertaken by smallholder farmers who face invariably several problems such as pests, price volatility, weather uncertainty and transaction costs with limited use of purchased inputs such as cotton seed and pesticides. This study focused on transaction costs that cotton farmers incur. The study therefore aimed at determining transaction costs that cotton farmers incur in production and other factors that effect farmers' demand for seed and pesticides, and estimating the proportion of total variable costs of cotton production accounted for by transaction costs. A survey of cotton farmers was conducted in Kumi and Pallisa districts, well known for cotton production in eastern Uganda The econometric models used in this study stem from the theory of log linear or constant elasticity form of single demand equations. Linear regression analysis of data was executed using SPSS in order to facilitate the estimation of the demand functions for cotton seed and pesticides. Results indicate that the percentage share of transaction costs of total variable costs of production was remarkable (34 %). A break down of total transaction costs revealed that lost revenue formed the greatest percentage (85%), followed by imputed transport costs (11%) and opportunity cost of travel and waiting time (4%), respectively. However, the statistically significant determinants of farmers' demand for cotton seed and pesticides were farmers' income and size of the cotton field. To enable the smallholder farmers who usually plant small areas to cotton, and the low-income farmers who are the majority in the rural areas, policy amendments inclined towards reduction of the transaction costs can improve the profitability of the cotton enterprise by increasing the demand for inputs. Stakeholders in the cotton sub sector responsible for seed distribution should also delivery the seed in time.

Keywords: cotton, input demand, pesticide, transaction costs

Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 73-83

Socioeconomic analysis of smallholder land management practices in rice-based production systems in Nigeria.

AS Bamire

Optimizing and sustaining agricultural productivity requires the appropriate management of the land resource base. This paper examines the influence of farmers' socioeconomic characteristics and land management practices on the profitability of rice-based production systems in Osun State of Nigeria. A two stage sampling technique was employed to collect data from two hundred and fifty farmers using a structured questionnaire with the assistance of village extension agents. Primary data on demographic, socioeconomic characteristics, as well as constraints to rice production were collected while secondary data were obtained from the publications of CBN, FOS, Ministry of Agriculture and the Local Government Area secretariats. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, budgetary and multiple regression techniques. Results showed that rice farming is on a small scale with a mean of 1.39 hectares in the study area. Land management practices such as inorganic fertilizer, bush fallow, shifting cultivation, crop rotation and crop rotation/inorganic fertilizer mix were identified. Inorganic fertilizer was most predominant as claimed by 73% of the respondents. Crop rotation/inorganic fertilizer recorded the highest net returns of N61,272.86 per hectare over variable costs while labour constituted a major cost component on rice farms. Age, level of education, labour and farm size significantly influenced the net returns to rice farmers. Rice-based production systems will contribute to food security and poverty reduction if more effective extension services are employed to train farmers on appropriate use of land management and other information from research findings.

Keywords: Smallholder, land use, rice, gross margin, Nigeria

Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 84-95