This study described the structure, conduct and performance of banana market in Anambra State of Nigeria. The specific objectives are to describe the structure of the banana market; analyze the conduct of the banana market; determine banana market performance; and examine the major problems of banana marketing in the area. One hundred and twenty respondents spread in six major urban centers in the State and their concomitant major markets were randomly selected for interview. Descriptive statistics, Gini coefficient measure and the price spread analysis were used to analyse data. The study revealed that the activities of the banana market structure is almost optimum with a good conduct and performance as farmer's share of the consumer spending is 56%. The study also shows that lack of storage facilities and capital were the most pressing problems of the middlemen while the farmers were constrained from increased production by lack of capital, high yielding and disease resistant banana varieties. Policy recommendation to this effect was suggested.
Social media is a new trend in communication and a new platform for sharing, engagement and networking in all spheres of life including agriculture. This study analysed social media mainstreaming in e-extension services delivery by the Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in North CentralZone of Nigeria. Four ADPs of Kogi, Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa and Niger states that participated in the Research Extension Farmer Input Linkage (REFIL) activities in November 2017 were purposively selected and used for the study. Secondary data were generated from the REFIL reports and descriptively analysed. Result established insufficient field extension agents to effectively reach out to1.412 million farm families in the zone. Also, the result reveals zero exclusion of social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Chats, YouTube and Mobile phone tools in the ADPs communication strategies. ADPs communication targets dwelled more on old media such as radio (21%) and television (50%) were costly and achieved low projected targets. Mainstreaming social media in e-extension will be more effective to reach out to farm families and overcome observed field manpower shortage problems. Modern networking tools and proactive creative measures such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Chat, mobile phone tools of short message sending and voice call are recommended for inclusion in their communication strategies. In this regard, REFIL organisers and Federal Department of Extension should facilitate ADPs innovativeness and staff training on social media to improve competence and skills of actors in the agricultural value chain providers in extension delivery to the agribusiness community.
This study analysed improved breadfruit (Treculia africana) awareness and adoption situation in Southeast Nigeria. It examined farmers’ budded breadfruit awareness and adoption status and their willingness to adopt the innovation. The study also identified the reasons why farmers do not adopt the crop’s new varieties. Two hundred and sixty respondents (260) spread in thirteen (13) communities of Anambra and Enugu States were randomly selected and interviewed using survey questionnaire. Data collected were verified in an in-depth interview (II) and two Focus group discussions (FGD). Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results show that: adoption status (20.47%) of its improved varieties was low while majority of the farmers were willing to adopt (88%). The study also found the major reasons why the farmers have not adopted the crop’s improved varieties. The result concludes that farmers are greatly in need of improved breadfruit varieties and that the crop requires favourable policy interventions. The paper recommends policy interventions for the crop’s conservation, awareness creation and provision of its improved varieties to farmers at affordable prices.
The study analyzed the economics of pineapple production in Awgu Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 50 respondents from Amoli and Ihe communities of the LGA through a simple random sampling technique. The communities were purposively selected because they contain higher concentration of pineapple farmers. Primary data were collected using interview schedule administered to the respondents. Data were realized with descriptive statistics, enterprise budgeting techniques and multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that (36%) of the farmers had farming experience of 1 to 10 years’ experience in pineapple production, indicating that new farmers entered the crop’s production sector within the last decade. The enterprise proved profitable with farmers’ net return on investment value of 1.7. Farm size, cost of input, level of education and household size significantly determined net farm income. It was further revealed that poor access road and high transportation cost were the main constraints of the pineapple producers. The study concluded that profitable production opportunities exist on the crop. The study recommends that extension agencies should encourage more new farmers to exploit pineapple production potentials while encouraging its existing farmers to scale up production through farm size increment, reinvestment of their gains and production knowledge increase.
The study analysed the economics of pineapple marketing for entrepreneurial utilization in Anambra State Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 104 respondents which comprised of 40 retailers and 64 wholesalers randomly sampled from eight markets of the study area (4 markets from each of the two cities). The markets are Main market, Ose, Ochanja and bridge-head market areas were selected from Onitsha commercial city while Eke, Nkwo Amaenyi, Aroma junction and Nnamdi Azikwe University(UNIZIK) temporary site market areas were chosen from Awka Capital city. The markets were purposively selected because they are where higher concentration of middlemen in pineapple business are commonly found in the cities. Descriptive statistics and gross margin analysis were used in data analysis. The study inter alia revealed that the majority (62%) of pineapple consumed in the study area were sourced by the middlemen from outside Anambra State, showing that the state is not selfsufficient in the crop's production. Respective return on investment made by the wholesalers and retailers were (0.23 and 0.32) indicating that the trade on the crop is profitable. It was further revealed that high transportation cost and lack of fund to increase business scale were the main constraints of the pineapple traders. The study concluded that investment opportunities exist on the crop's market, production and processing and therefore recommends that the potential traders and entrepreneurs should exploit the crop's business potentials.
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