Low savings in the economy could lead to ineffective mobilization of funds for domestic investment. This could be part of the reason why Nigeria depends heavily on external borrowing for its developmental and investment projects. There is little or no documented evidence from available literatures of savings culture of farmers in the area. The dearth of such conclusive evidence has left gap which this study tried to fulfill by investigating the intervening variables. Purposive sampling was used to select four and two wards from Sabongari and Gagi wards. The choice of the selection was based on the preponderance of smallholder farmers in these locations. Two (2) villages were randomly selected from each ward. A random selection of twenty (20) farmers from each village gave a total of 120 respondents for the study. Data were elicited through a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression technique. On the whole, age, farm income, non-farm income, interest rate and the distance were significant in determining the amount of saving by smallholder farmers in the study area. Thus, these factors have to be considered in designing strategies aimed at improving the savings of smallholder farmers. IZVLEČEK DETERMINANTE VARČEVANJA MED MALIMI KMETI V OKROŽJU SOKOTO SOUTH, SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA

Extent and financial cost of cassava postharvest loss along the cassava value chain in Kwara State, NigeriaAbstract: Cassava has been identified as Africa's second most important staple food after maize, in terms of calories consumed, with Nigeria as the World leading producer. This study estimated postharvest loss of cassava along the cassava value chain in Kwara State. It estimated the size of postharvest loss of cassava; analysed the factors responsible and the financial implications of loss; and identified the strategies employed in the mitigation of loss in the study area. A threestage random sampling technique was used to select 117 cassava farmers whom were administered structured questionnaire to elicit data analysed by the study. Descriptive statistics, Shannon's diversity index and Tobit regression model were the analytical techniques utilised. The results show that 68 % of the loss occurred at the harvesting. The loss was estimated to be about 3.8 t ha −1 . The financial implication was valued at $ 300 ha −1 . Analysis of the factors responsible for cassava postharvest loss showed that the quantity expected at harvesting, household size and age of the farmer were significant factors affecting cassava postharvest loss. The result also revealed that farmers mitigate these losses by processing the roots and reburying unused roots into the soil. Steps needed to reduce loss have to take these factors into consideration to improve the economic status of cassava farmers-processors. Obseg in stroški izgube v pridelovalni verigi manioke po spravilu pridelka v državi Kwara, NigeriaIzvleček: Manioka je postala za koruzo v Afriki druga najpomembnejša vsakodnevna hrana glede zaužitih kalorij, z Nigerijo kot vodilnim svetovnim pridelovalcem. V raziskavi je bila ocenjena velikost izgube pridelka manioke po spravilu. Analizirani so bili dejavniki, odgovorni za izgubo in njene finančne posledice. Identificirane so bile strategije, ki so bile uporabljene za blaženje izgub na preučevanem območju. Uporabljena je bila tristopenska metoda vzorčenja, v kateri je bilo 117 pridelovalcev manioke, ki so izpolnili vprašalnik za pridobitev podatkov analiziranih v tej raziskavi. Za analizo pridobljeni podatkov so bile uporabljenne metode opisne statistike, Shannonov diverzitetni indeks in Tobit regresijski model. Rezultati kažejo, da je 68 % izgube nastalo med spravilom. Izguba je bila ocenjena na okrog 3,8 t ha −1 , njena vrednost pa $ 300 ha −1 . Analiza dejavnikov, odgovornih za izgubo pridelka manioke po spravilu je pokazala, da so bili pri tem najpomembnejši velikost pričakovanega pridelka, velikost gospodinjstev in starost pridelovalcev. Rezultati so še pokazali, da pridelovalci zmanjšujejo izgubo pridelka po spravilu s predelovanje in ponovnim zakopavanjem v tla. Koraki, potrebni za zmanjšanje izgube pridelka so torej upoštevanje teh dejavnikov in s tem izboljšati ekonomičnost predelave manioke pri pridelovalcih Ključne besede: manioka; izguba po spravilu; finančna ocena; Shannonov diverzitetni indeks; Tobit regresija

The increase in relative level of education and the growing middle-class income earners in Nigeria have made packaged food items attractive to consumers. These foods provide handy, nutritious and convenient food for consumers; however, they also come with public health concerns. From a policy perspective, food labelling can gauge consumers' response to the safety conditions of packaged food. However, understanding consumers' awareness and the use of food label information has attracted little research attention in many developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we investigated consumers' awareness of the use of food safety labels in Lagos state, Nigeria. We used primary data collected using pretested structured questionnaire from 220 food shoppers who bought pre-packaged foods. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Consumers' awareness and use of food safety information was revealed using descriptive statistics; Ordinal Regression Analysis was used to examine the socioeconomic factors determining the frequency of reading food safety labels. We found evidence of the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on how consumers read food labels. The study therefore recommends that there should be continuous awareness campaigns on the importance of food labels in ensuring safety and food producers should make sure their food labels are legible.

Agricultural products including rice, yam and cowpea play significant roles in the food consumption of urban dwellers. However, increase in crop production cost has continued to threaten urban food price in Nigeria. This study analyzed the determinants of demand for food commodities among urban households in Minna metropolis. Data were collected from 110 household heads of urban residences, which were selected through a three-stage random sampling technique. Data collected for the study were analyzed using multiple regression technique. The results showed that rice, yam and cowpea were price in-elastic. The cross-price elasticities for rice, yam and cowpea were -0.132, 0.028 and 0.005 respectively. The computed own price, cross price and income elasticity of demand for rice were –0.308, -0.132 and 0.018 respectively. For yam, the computed values were -1.262, 0.028 and 0.289 respectively. While for cowpea, these values were -0.530, 0.005 and 0.002 respectively. For the income elasticity, rice and cowpea were proven to be normal goods and yam as a luxury good. The social protection strategies in form of food aids policy should be put into action to minimize the inflationary pressure on food items in the urban areas.

The increase in relative level of education and the growing middle-class income earners in Nigeria have made packaged food items attractive to consumers. These foods provide handy, nutritious and convenient food for consumers; however, they also come with public health concerns.  From a policy perspective, food labelling can gauge consumers’ response to the safety conditions of packaged food. However, understanding consumers’ awareness and the use of food label information has attracted little research attention in many developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we investigate consumers’ awareness of the use of food safety labels in Lagos state, Nigeria. We used primary data collected using pretested structured questionnaire from 220 food shoppers who bought pre-packaged foods. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Consumers’ awareness and use of food safety information was revealed using descriptive statistics; Ordinal Regression Analysis was used to examine the socioeconomic factors determining the frequency of reading food safety labels. The study therefore recommends that there should be continuous awareness campaigns on the importance of food labels in ensuring safety and food producers should make sure their food labels are legible.