action by which 4% DSMREC prevents petroleum-induced pulmonary toxicity in rats.

This article assesses the link between asymmetric information and transaction cost and how this can enhance or hinder female business owners from attaining entrepreneurial sustainability transitions in the Nigerian business space. The concept of information dissemination, business environment, and ease of doing business were scrutinized as a subdivision of asymmetric information and transaction cost theory among female entrepreneurs in Nigeria using the Enterprise Survey Data of the World Bank. Key indicators like regulations and taxes, gender, firm characteristics, finance, and infrastructure were highlighted as major business obstacles limiting female entrepreneurs. These were found to limit female entrepreneurs in accessing information, which can help them adequately flourish in the Nigerian business environment, as well as the attainment of entrepreneurial sustainability transitions.

Purpose Rice processing, an important feature in rice production involving the transformation of harvested paddy into edible rice, is dependent on the type of rice processing techniques used. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the choice of processing techniques among rice processors in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The study was carried out in Nigeria using structured questionnaires among 410 rice processors selected from four states (Ebonyi, Ekiti, Ogun and Nasarawa) from three geo-political zones (Southeast, Southwest and North-central) of Nigeria. Information on socio-economic characteristics (age, sex, household size, marital status and education) and processing characteristics (experience, paddy source, processing activities, processing techniques, credit and distance) were obtained. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression model at 0.05. Findings The mean age of processors was 47.8±9.9 years, mean household size was 6.5±4.2 persons and 88.7 percent were married. In total, 73.6 percent had formal education and mean years of experience was 16.4±9.2 years. Main processing activities were parboiling and drying (50.0 percent); milling (40.0 percent); and de-stoning (10.0 percent). In all, 65.7, 20.4 and 13.9 percent used traditional and modern techniques (TMTs), traditional techniques (TTs) and purely modern techniques (PMTs), respectively. The probability of choice of TT relative to TMT reduced by years of education (4.5 percent), paddy source (1.8 percent) and distance to processing center (4.4 percent), while probability of choice of PMT relative to TMT increased for male processors (7.3 percent), membership of association(18.0 percent) and other income sources (6.2 percent). Research limitations/implications Level of education of processors and reduction in the distance taken to paddy source reduced choice of TTs. Practical implications Other income sources increased the choice of PMTs of rice processing in Nigeria. Social implications Processors with high level of education, who also engage in other income generating activities, were able to choose modern processing techniques. Originality/value This research was an original research carried out among rice processors in Nigeria.

The present work examined micro-credit and farmers' productivity in Osun State, Nigeria. A total of 140 respondents were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model. The research showed there was a significant relationship between household size (β=0.623), farming experience (β=0.858) and loan condition (β=1.29) on the acquisition of credit by farmers. Income generated was used as a proxy for productivity, and it was in the minimum of N20,000 per planting season. Interest rate had a negative relationship with credit acquisition which implied the majority of the farmers patronized the informal sources of credit. The research showed that loan conditions from informal sources was favorable compared to that from formal sources; and a reason for the high patronage. This, therefore, suggests that formal lending institutions should relax agricultural lending condition and provide credit for agricultural purposes to increase the productivity of farmers.

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