Aims: To examine the effect of oil spillage on cassava farm land, yield and land productivity. Place and Duration of Study: Niger Delta region of Nigeria between January and October, 2012. Methodology: Delta State was purposively chosen from the Niger Delta region for the study. A random sampling technique was employed to select 17 cassava farmers each from three (3) oil spillage communities (Otor-Udu, Olomoro and Uzere) and three (3) nonoil spillage communities (Egini, Aradhe and Ellu), giving a total sample size of 102 respondents for the study. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, Likert scale, t-statistic and regression analysis. Results: The results showed that the major significant effects of oil spillage on cassava production perceived by the farmers included crop failure, poor yield, rotting tubers, and stunted crop growth with mean scores of 4.80, 4.78, 4.75 and 4.75 respectively. Others included increased soil temperature and toxicity (mean: 4.73), reduction of soil fertility (mean: 4.70), degradation of farm land (mean: 4.70) and low land productivity (mean: 4.70). The results further indicated that the cassava farm size, yield and land productivity in oil spillage affected communities were significantly (p < 0.01) lower than those of the nonoil spillage communities by 0.61 ha, 6119 metric tonnes (MT) and 1447 MT/ha respectively. These represent significant reduction of 36, 48 and 20% of these variables in the oil Research Article

ABSTRACT:The study focused on the production cost efficiency and profitability of Abakaliki rice in Ihialia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria.. A random sampling technique was employed to select a total of 100 Abakaliki rice farmers from the study area. Data collection was achieved through the administration of structured questionnaire assisted with personal interview. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and stochastic frontier cost function. The results of the study showed that the Abakaliki rice production was profitable with average gross margin, net profit and return per naira invested of N141,607.22/ha, N126,056.33/ha and 3.54 respectively. With the exception of depreciation and output of rice, all the variables under consideration had positive and significant effect on the total cost of rice production. They were all significant at 5% level of probability. The farmers had cost efficiency ranging from 1.001 -1.122 with the average of 1.048. Majority (90%) of them had efficiency range close to the frontier (1.001 -1.100). Since the Abakaliki rice production was profitable and there was high level of cost efficiency, the farmers should be encouraged to expand their holdings and boost rice production. ©JASEM http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v19i2.21 KEY WORDS: Cost efficiency, stochastic frontier, Abakaliki Rice, inefficiency factors.

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This study examined the effects of demographic factors on plantain production in Edo State, using Ovia Northeast Local Government Area as a case study. Primary data were collected with a multistage sampling procedure. Ten (10) plantain farming communities (Utese, Uhen, Egbeta, Ogbese, Okada, Iguomo, Aghanokpe, Ugbuwe, Ofunwengbe and Ugboke) were purposely selected and fifteen (15) plantain farmers were selected randomly from the communities to get a total of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive and regression statistics. The Findings revealed that majority (66%) of the farmers were male, with average farm size of 2.63hectares, mean age of farmers at 40 years, educational level of secondary school, farming experience of between 11 and 20 years respectively. The regression analysis shows that education level (0.255), marital status (0.149), farm size (0.666) and farming experience (0.603) coefficients were positive, an indication that these variables have direct effect on plantain production in the study area. About 55.7% variation in the farmers output were explained by the demographic factors which also are confirmed by F-ratio (25.489) that is significant at-level of probability. Based on the findings, government should facilitate policies towards education of farmers, subsidize alternatives to labour for farm activities and enhance availability of arable land to plantain farmers in Edo state.