No abstract

This study investigated technical inefficiency in food crop production among farmers in Gombe State, Nigeria. A stochastic frontier production function, which incorporates technical inefficiency effects, using the Maximum-Likelihood Estimation (MLE), was used as the analytical technique. Given the specification of the stochastic frontier production function, the first null hypothesis, which specifies that the technical inefficiency effects are not stochastic is rejected. The second null hypothesis, which specifies that the explanatory variables in the model for technical inefficiency factors have zero coefficients, is also rejected. This implies that the explanatory variables in the inefficiency effects contribute significantly to the explanation of inefficiency in food crop production in Gombe State, Nigeria. Predicted technical efficiencies vary widely among farms, ranging between 13% and 89%, and a mean technical efficiency of 69%.

This chapter reviews recent policy changes in Nigeria that have had an impact on the agricultural sector. It then evaluates the changes in the research activities of 3 agricultural research institutes in recent years, based on information obtained through questionnaires completed by the 3 institutes. Finally, it briefly assesses future changes in Nigeria's national agricultural research system in view of globalization and the emerging trends in world economy.

Cocoa is an important agricultural export commodity not only because it provided about 20 per cent of the aggregate export earnings for Nigeria in the last decade but because it has generated considerable revenue for the government in terms of export duty, produce sales tax, and Marketing Board surpluses. In particular, the economy of Western Nigeria has been largely financed by the proceeds from the cocoa industry. A look at the production statistics of the cocoa industry will reveal a declining trend in output since the 1964/65 crop season. The problem of declining yield is linked with the fact that about 40 per cent of the existing 1.2 million acres of cocoa are classified as marginally productive due to old age. The production problem is aggravated by the fact that most of the farmers whose cocoa trees have become moribund do not appreciate the need for replanting, and those who do indicate that they have not been encouraged by the prevailing producer prices. On the official side, the producer prices have been defended as fair and equitable and the assertion made that what is lacking is a good response on the part of the farmers who should replant their cocoa groves and upgrade their maintenance program. The raging controversy over cocoa supply response provided the stimulus to carry out this study.

In order to ensure agricultural sustainability, as highlighted in the millennium development goals, it has become necessary to focus policies on enhancing sustainable land management, especially in vulnerable areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Hence there is the need for this study which was designed to analyze the determinants of farmers' adoption of Sustainable Land Management Practices (SLMP) in the production of maize and cassava in Ogun State. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in this study. The data for study was collected from 338 farmers with the use of questionnaire. Information collected covered farmers' socioeconomic , institutional and farm level characteristics and specific SLMPs used. The SLMPs studied included Structural and Mechanical Erosion Control (SMEC), Agronomic Practices (AP), Cultivation Practices (CP) and Soil Management Practices (SMP). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the logit model. The farmers had an average of nine years of formal education, 54% participated in Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and 91% had access to extension education, 55% had land tenancy security 81% favoured the use of AP more than other SLMPs. About 47% of the farmers cultivated undulating farmlands which were vulnerable to degradation. Farmers' level of education and their participation in CBOs positively influenced their adoption of the SLMPs. Overall results from this study show that the adoption of SLMPs can be enhanced by increasing farmers' literacy level and encouraging them to participate more in community based organizations.