Publication Title Technical Efficiency of Resources use in Yam Production among Small Scale Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences
Publication Authors 1Chisonum Michael, 2Onyemekonwu Raymond Chukwuka and 3Anarah Samuel Emeka
Year Published 2021-02-02
Abstract The study examined technical efficiency of yam production in Delta State of Nigeria and focused on the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and focused on determination of the presence of technical efficiency and the factors contributing to technical efficiency. Primary data collected from a cross section of 208 respondents through the administration of 230 questionnaires and adopting the multistage sampling method were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the stochastic frontier production function. The results showed that males dominated yam production (93.3%), the respondents were ageing (X = 53 years) and majority of them were married (85.1%). They had low level of education with mean years of schooling of 7 years, were experienced in farming (X = 20 years) and cultivated large farm size (X = 2.0ha). There was presence of technical inefficiency effects in yam production, although technical efficiency was found to be high with a mean technical efficiency of 0.83 and with 79.3% of the respondents having technical efficiency of 0.80 and above. The educational level of the respondents, extension agent visit and household size were found to be the variables that contributed to technical efficiency achievement of the farmers. It was recommended that young school leavers be advised to take to the venture as they were found to contribute to technical efficiency achievements.
Publication Title Nitrogen and Potassium Status of Selected Soils and Their Effects on the Growth, Yield and Cyanide Content of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Delta State, Nigeria Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher IAR Journal of Agriculture Research and Life Sciences
Publication Authors Umeri C, Moseri H and Chisonum M.
Year Published 2022-08-20
Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient status and the effects of Nitrogen and Potassium fertilizer on the growth, yield and Hydrogen cyanide content of cassava (Manihot esculenta (L) Crantz) in Delta State, Nigeria; Representative soil samples were obtained from Abraka, (Rainforest zone); at 0- 15cm and 15 -30cm depths. These were analyzed for their physical and chemical properties. The design was a 4×4 factorial scheme fitted into a Randomized Complete Block design giving 16 treatment combinations with 3 replicates. The following treatment combinations of N and K were applied: N0K0(no fertilizer), N0K20, N0K40, N0K80, N40K0, N40K20 N40K40, N40K80, N80K0, N80K20, N80K40, N80K80, N120K0, N120K20, N120K40, and N120K80 kg/ha-1 The plant parameters measured were: plant height. These were taken at 2,4,6,8 and 10 months after planting (MAP). Fresh tuber weight and Hydrogen content of tuber were also determined. In the trials involving the application of N, K and their combinations, K had significant effect 2-10 MAP on plant height at (p<0.05) influenced fresh tuber weights of cassava. It was concluded that 120kgN/ha in combination with 20kgK/ha be applied to soils in the study area for the cultivation of cassava variety for best tuber yields and hydrogen cyanide content.
Publication Title ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF PRIVATE EXTENSION AMONG SMALL SCALE CASSAVA FARMERS IN EDO AND DELTA STATE, NIGERIA. Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher FUDMA Journal of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology
Paper Link https://doi.org/10.33003/jaat.2022.0802.18
Publication Authors 1Onyemekihian, Felix; 2*Onyemekonwu, Raymond Chukwuka, and 1Chisonum, Michael
Year Published 2022-12-12
Abstract The study examined economic feasibility of private extension among small-scale cassava farmers in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of small-scale cassava farmers, examined farmer’s willingness to pay for extension services for cassava production, examine farmer’s perception on economic feasibility of private extension for cassava production and established the relationship between farmer’s socio-economic characteristics and the economic feasibility of private extension delivery for cassava production. Multi-stage sampling procedure, comprising of purposive and random sampling was used to select 391 respondents sampled with the use of structured questionnaires. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, mean, percentage and probit regression. The result showed that the respondents were young (mean age 38 years), educated (98.48%), cultivated a mean farm size of 2.04 hectares and earned a mean income of ?151534.53 per annum. The major extension services the farmers were willing to pay for were bulletins and handbills (mean=4.83), market price information (mean=4.72), information on pest and disease control (mean= 4.72), input hiring services (mean= 4.69) and pay for advert for radio and television programmes (mean=4.56). It was equally revealed that 52.17% of the respondents (farmers) fell under the high feasibility status implying that about 52% of the respondents believed private extension services was highly feasible. Education (b=-0.263; p<0.05), farming experience b=0.044; p<0.005 and frequency of extension visit (b=0.494; p<0.05) were significant variables influencing the economic feasibility of private extension service delivery in cassava production among the respondents. It was concluded that private extension service for cassava is economically feasible in the study area from the farmer’s point of view. It was recommended that private extension service providers should reach out to small-scale cassava farmers in this study area with the view of enhancing their production performance without conflicting with the existing extension services of the government operated extension system of the Agricultural development Programme (ADP) in the study area.
Publication Title PRODUCTIVITY FACTOR AND CONSTRAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH YAM FARMING AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher Nigerian Journal of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (NJAAT)
Paper Link https://dio.org/10.59331/njaat.v3i2
Publication Authors 1Onyemekonwu, R. C., 2Chisonum, M. and 2Onyemekihian, F.
Year Published 2023-12-02
Abstract The study examined the productivity factor and constraints associated with yam farming among smallholder farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from a cross-section of 208 respondents through the administration of 230 questionnaires and adopting the multistage sampling method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Marginal Value Productivity (MVP). The results showed that males dominated yam production (93.3%), the respondents were ageing (mean = 53 years) and a majority (85.1%) of them were married. They had a low level of education and farming experience of 7 and 20 years respectively. The result also revealed that farmers in the study area cultivated an average of 2 hectares. The farmers were found to operate at an increasing return to scale (RTS = 1.545). Allocative efficiency was never achieved in yam production in the study area with the ratio of marginal value product (MVP) of the inputs to the inputs’ acquisition prices found to be either less than unity or greater than unity. The problems facing yam production in the study area were; Low price of the product (mean = 2.79), high cost of staking (mean = 2.66) and high cost of labour (mean = 2.62). The study concluded that no allocative efficiency in yam production was achieved implying that there was inefficient allocative efficiency in yam production in the study area; Factors such as land, seedlings and labour were over-utilized while staking material and seedlings were under-utilized by small-scale yam farmers in the study area. It was recommended that provision should be made by relevant authorities to make land available to prospective yam farmers to avoid the over-use of the farmer’s existing holdings, the high cost of labour should be addressed through the mechanization of some of the operations in yam production and the attraction of yam-producing communities to the young school leavers through the provision of basic amenities