Poultry farming provides rich source of animal protein and contributes significantly to food security among Nigeria households. However, the poultry sector is largely vulnerable to risk conditions, ranging from natural events, climate disturbances, and human lapses resulting in tumultuous performances of the poultry enterprise. This study was carried out in the agrarian suburb of Lagos State, Nigeria to determine the dominant risk sources in the poultry egg sector, and the determinants of mitigation strategy adoption among egg farmers. Primary data were obtained in a crosssectional survey of 125 poultry egg farmers drawn by multi-stage random sampling across major communities in the study area, and were analysed by both descriptive and quantitative techniques. A risk behavioural model (RBM) was used to estimate the determinants of farmers’ adoption of specific mitigation strategies. From the findings, 62% of the respondents were male, married (64%), formally educated (74%), and of mean age and household size 40 ± 15 years and 4 ± 2 persons, respectively. Average farmer’s flock size was 524 ± 327 layers, 6 ± 5 average years of farming experience, and average gross income of N1,490,000/production cycle. The identified risk factors (response scores and survival propensities in parentheses) were; disease epidemic shocks (1.82, 44.67%); egg glut shocks (1.85, 39%); adverse weather shocks (2.01, 53%); and input price instability shocks (2.21, 60%). Identified lead risk mitigation strategies were strict adherence to routine vaccination regime; advance egg sales arrangement; proper timing/frequency of bird stocking, and advance/wholesale inputs purchase arrangements. Findings from the study established that medically disenfranchised (2.974; p<0.01) and non-remotely located farms (1.682 p><0.1) had higher propensity for routine vaccination/drugs administration to mitigate disease outbreak. Likewise, experienced farmers (2.780; p><0.01) operating farms with less capital-based assets (2.655; p><0.01) would more likely adopt advance sales arrangement to mitigate egg glut shock. With better human skills development (2.173; p><0.05), poultry farmers would likely engage proper timing for birds stocking to mitigate the effect of adverse weather condition on their farms. To enhance farmers’ timely access to major inputs (feeds, drugs and stocks) for a sustainable poultry egg industry in the study area, localisation of farms within policy-regulated areas and proximity to input supply firms were recommended.
Purpose: Returns on education was found to be worker, scale and allocative effects with positive higher payoff to agricultural productivity but its effects on non-farm employment among agricultural households who obtain income through non-farm activities to complement proceeds of agricultural activities are not yet known. Therefore, this study critically investigates the real cost effect of education on involvement in non-farm employment among rural households in Southwestern Nigeria. Research Method: The study drew a sample of 411 rural farm households through a multi-stage sampling technique from three states in southwest Nigeria and the data obtained were analyzed using the Mincerian equation, logistic model, inverse of Herfindahl index, calculation of expected annual rural income earning and rates of return to schooling. Findings: Results indicate that mean age and education of the rural household heads were 49.9 years and 8.8 years respectively while the household incomes were diversified up to 2.82 level and the nonfarm sources contributed an average of 67% of the total income. Education is found to have considerable returns of N4706.30 (US$31.95) to gross household income and an additional year of schooling from other members of the households returns of N12519.90 (US$85) to the households' income. Education of the household heads increases the probability of farm households participating in rural non-farm employment but the probability of participation reduces with increased level of education of the household heads. Tertiary education has the highest opportunity costs of schooling (N352200.04) per annum and the lowest rate of return to schooling (0.57%) from rural non-farm employment. Research Limitations: The study revealed the real cost of rural farm households' educational level on the type of non-farm employment and income generated through it. The study presents information on southwestern zone of Nigeria. Originality/Value: The practical value of this research is that decline rates of return to higher education reveal the rural non-farm employment being not the prime incentive for rural farm households' members in obtaining higher education in rural southwest Nigeria. Therefore, implications are drawn for an integrated approach to higher education which may yield agricultural and non-agricultural transformation in rural Nigeria.
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