Supply response of rubber to changes in economic incentives is analysed using co-integration approach. Time series data is taken for the period 1990 to 2014 and the vector error correction model framework has been applied. The empirical results confirmed the existence of a unique long-run equilibrium relationship among planted acreage, the relative price of rubber and price of fertilizer. Further, the estimates suggested that rubber supply is significantly influenced by the relative price of rubber and the price of fertilizer. The estimated short-and long-run elasticities of acreage with respect to relative price are respectively 0.04 and 0.77, while the short-and long-run elasticities of acreage with respect to fertilizer price are-0.20 and-0.28 respectively. The study recommends the design of an appropriate economic incentive structure to stimulate output and hence the income of farmers.

The study examined the structure and marketing efficiency of cassava in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained using structured questionnaires and multistage sampling method was employed to select 183 respondents comprising 93 farmers and 90 marketers. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index and Gini Coefficient were used to measure the degree of market concentration and the nature of competition in the market. The Herfindahl-Hirschman indices were 0.323, 0.346, and 0.316 for farmers, wholesalers, and retailers, respectively, suggesting that the market was uncompetitive at all levels. The computed values of Gini coefficient for cassava farmers, wholesalers, and retailers were 0.532, 0.465, and 0.569, respectively, indicating uneven distribution of income and uncompetitive market conditions. Two channels of cassava marketing were identified and the study demonstrates that the farmer-wholesaler-retailer-consumer channel had higher marketing efficiency and thus provides marketers with better opportunities for making more profits. Based on the findings, it is recommended that micro credit facilities should be made accessible to market actors to encourage investment and improve efficiency in cassava marketing. Keywords: Cassava, marketing efficiency, Ekiti, Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, Gini Coefficient

The production of groundnut pod and haulm is one way of addressing the challenge of scarcity of livestock feed as well as improving the incomes of small-scale farmers. This study examines the revenue associated with groundnut pod and haulm production, using data obtained from 253 participating farmers. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that average haulm yield ranged from 551 to 1,364 kg ha -1 while the average pod yield varied from 1,208 to 1,580 kg ha -1 . Revenue obtained from sales of haulm and grain was sensitive to price movements and differed significantly across locations and from season to season. The average revenue from haulm was lowest at US $75.8 ha -1 in October to December and highest at US $215.7 ha -1 in July to September. Similarly, the average revenue from the sales of pod was lowest at US $447.6 ha -1 in October to December and highest at US $616.3 ha -1 in July to September. The study concludes that groundnut varieties that combine high haulm and high pod yields are desirable for farmers' livelihood and should be made readily available.

This study examined the dynamics of groundnut haulm marketing in northern Nigeria states of Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi. Using a market survey in each state, data were collected from 101 haulm sellers using chance sampling with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to describe the profile of the sellers, seasonality in quantity traded, price and revenue; marketing margin to determine marketing profits; and Chi-square to highlight the importance of the marketing constraints. The result shows the mean age of sellers was 51 years, 99% were males and 79% were literate. Revenue obtained from sale of haulm exhibited significant variations across locations and from season to season. The average revenue was lowest at N71,983/ha in October-December and highest at N135,382/ha in July-September. The major constraints that significantly affected haulm sellers were lack of adequate capital, lack of storage facility, high cost of transportation, lack of shades, high taxation and uncertainty in the market. With the positive marketing margin from the trade, mass cultivation of the high haulm yield varieties and that relevant government and marketing agencies should tackle the important constraints in their states for improved haulm marketing were recommended.

This paper focuses on achieving sustainable food security through analysis of risk in honeybee production farms and determines the risk behaviour of bee farmers in kebbi and kwara states of Nigeria. Primary data were obtained using structured questionnaires and interview. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was employed for selecting 148 respondents comprising 102 traditional bee farmers and 46 modern bee farmers. Descriptive statistics: mean, percentage, standard deviation, the coefficient of variation and, safety model was used to determine the risk attitude coefficient of bee farmers. The conditional distribution of the honey harvest probabilities per ha for a food secure and insecure was plotted against the poverty index using normal kernel cumulative density. Result revealed that risks in apiculture are related to socio-economic and production characteristics. The bulk of traditional bee farmers (57.8%) is categorized as risk neutral while the majority of modern bee farmers (67.4%) belong to risk preferring (with an index of 1.52). The results revealed that the set of significant explanatory variables and their sign vary across the traditional and modern groups. The coefficient for marital status, bee farming experience and family labour were statistically significant for traditional bee farmers. While education, investment, family labour and hired labour were statistically significant for modern bee farmers. Bee farmers are encouraged to form cooperative society and if already existing should liaise with relevant agencies such as the ministry of agriculture and agricultural insurance companies for training, workshops and seminars on the capacity to handle risk-taking into cognizance their socioeconomic and institutional traits.