Risk is a major issue that affects so many aspects of people's livelihoods in the developing world. It is imminent in all management decisions of agricultural systems, as a result of fluctuations in price, yield and resource uncertainty. Hence, uncertainty, risk aversion and management strategies were investigated among the cocoa farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data employed in the study were obtained from 102 cocoa farmers selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate probit model. Results showed that farmers view rainfall as the most important source of risk and uncertainty and majority of the farmers utilized mixed cropping as a risk management strategy in their farms. The result of multivariate probit model indicated that age of farmer negatively influenced the probability of precautionary savings while household number and access to information determined their choice of social network as risk management decisions used in the farms. The study recommends government policies and institutional mechanisms that reduce risk (such as crop insurance) and those that facilitate farmers' access to assets like off-farm investments in order to manage risks.

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Small farms have shown spirited livelihood over time as they have significantly influenced agricultural production and rural poverty reduction. Small farm characterizes agriculture in Nigeria and seems to be persisting. What is the relationship between these persisting small farms and productivity? Multistage sampling technique was engaged in choosing the samples desirable for this study and where 880 farming households' data across the four regions of Nigeria were used to examine this linkage. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, cross‐tabulation analysis, and Total Factor Productivity analysis. Majority of the respondents derived livelihood in petty farming, but income received is somewhat insignificant. Farming households with less than 2 ha of agricultural land are poorer (30.1%) and used family/communal land for farming purposes. Total Factor Productivity analysis indicated 29% of these farmers operated on a low productivity out of which 65% of them identified poor, hence confirm the correlation between small farms and low productivity. About 67% of the poor households with low productivity augment household income from nonfarm rural acridities. Productivity has a significant effect on small farms doggedness at p < .05 and a deviation of 3.21. Thus, 1% increase in productivity would lead to 3.21% decrease in small farms persistence. Hence, the empirical analysis of persistence of small farms and the productivity models has thus shown that there exists a causal relationship. The simultaneity test between small farms and productivity revealed a direct link. This suggests that policies that can expedite efficient rural service delivery, interactions of agricultural production systems, and rural livelihoods can influence income increase and can also do same to improve productivity. Similarly, policies that promote the development of the rural nonfarm sector are crucial to help increase income available for farming and hence, improve smallholders' well‐being, preventing small farms from being a pool of the poor.

This study examined the socio-economic factors underlining arable crop famers' use of mobile phones for agricultural-related purposes in Iwo Agricultural Development Program (ADP) Zone of Osun State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 150 arable crop farmers from whom primary data were collected with structured interview schedule. Data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least square regression analysis. Findings from this study revealed that most frequently used applications include voice call (99.3%), calendar (96.7%), calculator (96%) and torch light (95.3%). Most of the farmers strongly consented that mobile phones facilitated timely access to needed services (𝑋̅ = 4.74), eased production decision making (𝑋̅ = 4.54), enhanced increased income and profit (𝑋̅ = 4.50) and accessing personalized information about new farming techniques (𝑋̅ = 4.44). Major constraints identified for limiting the usage of phones for agricultural purposes were poor internet access (𝑋̅ = 3.73), inadequate electricity to charge t he mobile phone (𝑋̅ = 3.55), poor network access (𝑋̅ = 3.54) and high charges on services (𝑋̅ = 3.41). Gender (b= 4.337; P˂ .01), level of education (b= 16.358; P˂ .01), years of farming (b= 0.513; P˂.05), information sources (b= 0.645; P˂.01) all jointly had positive influence on farmers' use of mobile phones for agricultural information. It was recommended that higher capacity of female and arable crop farmers with lower level of education should be energized to utilize their mobile phones for enhancing their production activities.

The study analyzed the marketing of maize in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State and describes the socio-economic characteristics of maize marketers by determining the marketing margin, marketing cost, markup, operational efficiency as well as constraints faced by maize marketers in the area. Data used for the study were generated through the administration of structured questionnaire. A total of 120 respondents comprising of 40 maize wholesalers and 80 retailers, were randomly sampled from three purposively selected major maize markets. Descriptive statistics, Concentration Ratio, Gini Coefficient and Operational Efficiency Model were the analytical tools adopted for the study. The findings of the study revealed that maize marketing was efficient and profitable; N900 and N1200 per 100 kg bag for wholesalers and retailers, respectively in the study area. There also exists variation in marketing cost, marketing margin, marketing profit, and markup for both wholesale and retail maize markets. Gini Coefficients of 0.319 and 0.312 were obtained for wholesaler and retailer, respectively indicating high level of competition in the industry. Major problems facing both wholesalers and retailers are price uncertainty, high perishability of maize and seasonal nature of maize. However, insecurity and high capital requirement are considered as major constraints. It is therefore recommended that the challenges be alleviated to improve efficiency of maize market in the area.