Factors influencing the output of rice produced and choice of marketing outlets among smallholder rural farming households are the main focus to improve rice production and increase the income of the farmers. Primary data were used for this study. Data were obtained using a well-designed well-structured questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered to two hundred and seven (207) small-holder rural rice farming households. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted. Data were analyzed using Multinomial Logit Model, Gini-Coefficient, Double-Log Regression Model, (Cobb-Douglas) and Principal Component Analysis. The results of the Multinomial Logit regression model show that among the significant factors that influence the choice of rice market outlets were: sex of the household head (P<0.10), educational level (P<0.10), access to credit facilities (P<0.05), extension services (P<0.01), price information (P<0.05), market information (P<0.01) and, marketing experience ((P<0.05). The value of Gini-Coefficient calculated was 0.91429. The observed inequality in income distribution among small-holder rural rice farmers was a reflection of inefficiency in the market structure for rice. The results of Double-Log Regression model revealed that quantity of rice output harvested was positively and significantly influenced by farm size (P<0.05), the quantity of seed planted (P<0.01), the volume of chemical applied (P<0.05), labour input (P<0.01), and contract farming (P<0.05). Quantity of fertilizer and expected price of output was negative and significant at (P<0.01), and (P<0.05) probability levels respectively. The coefficient of the multiple determinations (R 2 ) in the production model was 0.51. This signifies that the explanatory variables included in the model accounted for about 51% variations in the quantity of rice output harvested in the study area. Smallholder rice farmers were faced with the following challenges in rice production and market outlet choice which include: Fire outbreak, thieves, cattle herdsmen attack, flood occurrence, transportation problem, poor storage facility, inadequate capital, lack of land/ tractor, poor price, high cost of chemical, inadequate fertilizer, lack of improved seed, inadequate extension officers, and lack of credit facilities. This study recommends that new innovations and technology that targets increased productivity should be promoted, provision of adequate extension officers is needed, input market supply for provision of seeds, fertilizers and storage facilities should be made accessible to farmers, provision of rice processing equipment should be made available, contract farming and marketing should be encouraged for increased rice production and market out choice for profit maximization among rice farmers to eradicate poverty and improve their welfare.

Aims: This paper assesses the population pressure on land resources in Nigeria: The past and projected outcome. Study Design: 1967 to 2068 time series data were used. The data sets were resorted to due to lack of complete national data. Place and Duration of Study: Past (1967-2017) and projected (2018-2068) five decades in Nigeria. Methodology: The time series data were obtained from the United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, National Population Commission, International Energy Statistics and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on population levels, renewable and non renewable resources in Nigeria. Others such as transformity were adapted from Odum (1996) and Odum (2000) for specific objectives. Data collected were analyzed using modified ecological footprint/carrying capacity approach, descriptive statistics and Z-statistics. Results: Results showed that the mean annual pressure on land resources in the past five decades (1967-2017) was 9.323 hectares per capita, while the projected pressure in the next five decades (2018-2068) was 213.178 hectares per capita. Results also showed that about 73.08 percent of the pressure per capita in the past five decades emanated from arable land consumption (6.813ha), while 75.91percent of the pressure is expected to emanate from fossil land in the next projected five decades due to crude oil and mineral resource exploration and exploitation. The carrying capacity of land resources in the past five decades was 6.4091 hectares per capita, while that of the projected five decades was 1.667 hectares per capita, an indication of ecological overshoot in both periods. Conclusion: Population pressures on land resources per capita in the past and projected five decades are higher than the carrying capacity of these resources in the country. Citizens lived and are expected to live unsustainably by depleting and degrading available land resources. Arable land consumption is the major contributor to the total pressure on land resources in the past five decades, while the consumption of fossil land due to exploration and exploitation of crude oil and mineral resources is expected to contribute majorly to the total pressure on land resources in the next five decades. Limiting affluence (per capita consumption of resources) and improving technology will not only ensure sustainable use of arable and fossil lands but place consumption within the limits of these resources for a sustainable future.

This study evaluated Economics and Technical Efficiency of Maize Production Among Small Scale Farmers in Abuja, Nigeria; Stochastic Frontier Model Approach; Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted and used. Primary data were collected through the use of well-structured questionnaire from one hundred and fifty (150) sampled respondents in the study area. Data were analyzed to achieve the specified objectives using the following tools of analysis, Descriptive Statistics, Stochastic Frontier, Gross Margin Analysis, Financial Analysis, Five Point Likert Scale, and Principal Components Analysis. The results show that majority 40.47% of the sampled respondents were among the age range of 41-50 years of age and 25.33% were within the age bracket of 31-40 years of age. The mean age of the sampled farmers is 44 years. Which indicated that Young and energetic farmers are able to withstand stress and adopt new innovations. Most 88.67% of the farmers were male. Majority 72.67% were married. The mean household size of the sampled respondents is 6 members per family. Majority (67%) of the small-scale maize farmers had 1-2 ha of land and the average farm size cultivated by the farmers was 2.576 ha. The factors influencing total output of maize were seed input (P<0.01), Farm Size (P<0.05), quantity of fertilizer (P<0.05), and labour input (P<0.01) were statistically significant variables. The results of the inefficiency components show that the factors influencing technical inefficiency includes: age (P<0.01), education (P<0.01), access to credit (P<0.05), farming experience, and household size (P<0.05) and were statistically significant. The total revenue realized by the sampled small-scale maize farmers was N238,317 on average. While the total variable costs on average basis was N109,702.93. The gross margin realized was N128667.07. The gross margin ratio was 0.54 while operating ratio calculated was 0.857 and the rate of return on investment (RORI) was 1.17. The retained component from the constraint’s analysis include Lack of Improve Seed, Lack of Transportation, Poor Storage Facilities, Inadequate Capital, and Cattle Herdsmen. The retained components explained 60% of the variation of the component included in the model. The study therefore, recommends that affordable loans and adequate capital should be made available to the small-scale maize farmers, farmers should be properly trained and educated by the non-governmental organizations and extension agents on chemical application, fertilizer use and pests and diseases control measures especially on integrated pest management (IPM). Inputs like improve seeds, fertilizer, and chemicals should be made available to farmers at subsidized rates and at appropriate time coinciding with production periods for proper usage. Provisions should be made for transportation and storage facilities for farmers, the issue of conflict between farmers and herdsmen should be brought to book and resolved amicably for peaceful coexistence.

This study estimated resource-use efficiency and factors influencing maize production in Kuje Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; determine the socioeconomic characteristics of maize farmers; analyse cost and returns associated with maize production; evaluate factors influencing the output of maize production; determine the resource-use efficiency of maize production and identify the constraints faced by farmers in maize production in the study area. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select 60 7sampled maize farmers in the study area. The following tools of analysis were used to achieve the specific objectives of the study. Descriptive statistics; Gross margin analysis; resource-use efficiency and Cobb Douglass production function. The results showed that majority, 75 percent, of the sampled respondents were male while 73.3 percent were married. From the results it can further be deduced that 48.3 percent of the sampled respondents attended secondary school and 31.7 percent attended tertiary institution while the rest stopped at primary school level or did not have any formal education. The results also indicated that about 55 percent of the sampled maize farmers had household size ranges within 6-10. 100 percent of the sampled respondents had no access to credit and 83.4 percent had no access to extension services. From the analysis of cost and returns associated with maize production in the study area, the total revenue (TR) realized on average was N1,269,152.69 and the average total variable cost (TVC) was N188,462.69, the gross margin obtained was N1,080,690. With this result we can say that maize production is profitable in the study area. The results of the resource-use-efficiency revealed that farm size, seed input and labour input were underutilized while fertilizer input and chemical input were over utilized by maize farmers. The results of the Cobb Douglass production function model revealed that the factors influencing total output of maize production in the Study area were farm size (P&lt;0.1), labour (P&lt;0.01), chemical (P&lt;0.01) and Fertilizer P&lt;0.05). The major constraints faced by maize farmers in the study area include; inadequate capital, lack of fertilizer and lack of extension agent. Therefore, the study recommends that maize farmers should be encouraged to join the farmers’ association, and supported with credit facilities. Government should supply inputs like agrochemical, fertilizer and improved seed varieties to maize farmers at a subsidized rate and at appropriate time and extension agents are to guide the farmers in the usage of these inputs while mechanize farming system should be encouraged by providing tractors to replace local farm implements. Good roads are essential in linking maize production areas with available markets around the study area.

Farmer organizations are effective mechanisms for increasing agricultural production, darners income and reducing poverty. Regrettably, farmers have not taken advantage of the lofty benefits accruable to those who voluntarily join these organizations. The study estimated the factors influencing households decision to participate in cooperative organizations and also tested the level of agreement among identified constraints linked with participation. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 farmers for the study. Primary data  were obtained using questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Probit model and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Results of analyses revealed that the mean age, years of educational attainment  household size and years of farming experience were 32, 15, 5 and 7 respectively. Result of probit analysis further indicate that age of the farmer, farm income, household size, participation in meeting, major decision maker, distance of farm to the nearest road and farmers social status were the most critical factors influencing households decision to participate in cooperative organizations. Result of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance revealed that there was 0.42 (moderate agreement) between the ranking of constraints associated with farmers' participation in cooperative organizations. Furthermore, findings showed that the top five factors limiting households’ decision to participate in cooperative organizations were inadequate capital accumulation, high embezzlement of funds, poor leadership, recurring internal crises and lack of initiative. Policies to provide good and accessible roads, increase farmers incomes and encourage youths are rational options that will enhance effective participation in cooperative organizations.