This paper examined the profitability of small-scale maize production in the Bichi community using the multistage sampling procedure. Gross margin, OLS Multiple regression analysis, and Descriptive statistics were employed as analytical tools. A higher percentage of males (90%) as against females (10%) were revealed from the analytical results. The household size of the majority (70%) was less than 11 persons per family among family households (60%). A total of ₦395,355/ha was earned as gross income whilst the gross margin of ₦201,331/ha was estimated. Total variable cost and Total fixed cost estimated were ₦194,024/ha and ₦36,413/ha respectively. With an R-square of 0.807, six explanatory variables positively explained the response variables according to the double log function. Farm size and labor had positive coefficients of 0.479 and 0.352 respectively which were significant at 1% and 5% level of significance respectively. Inadequate resources, pests and diseases, high labor costs, transport, insufficient storage facilities, and insufficient government support were problems affecting small maize producers in the study area.

Agriculture trade remains the economic fulcrum of most African countries as the continent continues to host the largest percent of arable land. This research analyzed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and China’s agricultural products trade determinants based on 19 years (2000-2018) panel dataset of West African countries aggregate agricultural products exports ($) and macroeconomic variables; GDP, population, arable land, language investment, and trade association(WTO)) as predictors. The PPML estimation method was employed due to its prediction accuracy, the size of the data, and potential hetroskadacity issues. With a 78.5% prediction power, the model explained the variation in ECOWAS-China agricultural trade (Exports). GDPj, lnPOPj, lnPOPi, and lnARLj, LndLj, ConfInsj, and WTOij were positive and statistically significant determinants of trade as hypothesized by existing trade literature. In addition, the China’s population (lnPOPj) had a value of 0.5877, which is significant at the 5% level, indicating that a 1% increase in the Chinese population significantly increases trade in agricultural products with ECOWAS states. The coefficient of distance (Dij) is -4.4573 statistically significant at the 1% level, indicating that distance between partners impedes trade flow. There are unidentified barriers that delay the progress of trade in agricultural products between ECOWAS and China. Based on the above findings, Investments in ECOWAS arable lands demand urgent attention if significant progress in exports is expected, additionally, governments of both partners should assist Agricultural research and development to identify and rectify stifling trade barriers. Furthermore, as trade between ECOWAS and China has not yet reached its full peak, studies on export determinants of individual Agro-commodities and potentials are needed to enrich literature.

Forest products have become an integral component of China-Africa trade engagement.  However, with increasingly global climate change warnings and the need to turn down the heat below the pre-industrial level, understanding the trade-off from forest trade in relation to CO2 emissions is paramount in shaping forest product trade sustainability in the long run. This study, therefore, tests the haven and halo hypothesis based on the FMOL technique by analyzing China-FOCAC forest products trade engagements. A balanced panel data of 20 FOCAC members were selected based on availability and consistency from 2000-2014. The variables; forest products trade (exports value), GDP per capita, FDI inflow, institutional quality, energy use and carbon emissions were gleaned from the world bank and the United Nations database. The descriptive statistics results reveal a disparity in economic growth, FDI inflow and value of forest products exports among FOCAC members. Per the FMOL estimation results, the China-FOCAC forest products trade has an insignificant impact on the level of carbon emissions in the selected countries which contributes to the ongoing debate on whether Africa is a pollution haven for China. Nevertheless, Per capita GDP and energy use are significant drivers of emissions whereas FDI’s and the quality of institutions have shown high potential for transforming the quality of the environment in the selected countries. These results are paramount in shaping existing and future forest trade agreements.

No abstract

No abstract