The study examined household sugar consumption pattern in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Cross –sectional data were collected from 412 households using multistage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Linear regression model and budget share index. The socio-economic factors influencing sugar consumption in northern zone of Bauchi State were; age, household size (P<0.01), income (P<0.05), educational level and primary occupation (P<0.1), with R2 value of 0.685. The significant variables that influenced household sugar consumption in central zone were monthly income (P<0.05), cost of sugar and household size (P<0.01) and average monthly total food expenditure (P<0.05); with R2 value of 0.497. In the western zone sugar consumption was influenced by average monthly income and household size (P<0.01), cost of sugar (P<0.05), and primary occupation (P<0.1) with an R2 value of 0.375 and the F-value of all the three zones were significant (P<0.01). The central zone had the highest sugar budget share of 8.70%, followed by western zone (6.59%), while Northern zone had 5.20%. The result showed that, in northern zone the respondents spent 60.91% of their household budget on food, while in central and western zones it was 59.27% and 55.06% respectively. Most of the respondents, 89.4% and 84.2% in central and western zones, respectively reported price as a major constraint to sugar consumption; likewise, 79.7% in northern zone. Income is the second constraint to sugar consumption in all the three zones with 73.4%, 84.6% and 77.6% in northern, central and western zones, respectively. Household size ranked third, the northern zone had 51.0%, central zone 47.1% and western zone 32.7%. A small percentage of the respondents reported health as a constraint to sugar consumption, northern zone 23.1%, central 25.0% and western zone 24.2%. The research concluded that socioeconomic factors have an influence on sugar consumption of the household. The study therefore, recommended Policies and programs toward sugar sector in Nigeria should be improve and implemented toward self-sufficiency in sugar production. Thus, filling the demand and supply gap of the product in the country.

The study analyzed spatial price variation in maize and sorghum marketing in Kaduna State. The data set for this analysis was monthly average secondary prices from 1999-2015. Data was analyzed using Augmented Dicker Fuller (ADF) test and Cointegration test and was performed using Stata 14.2 version of software. The results of the analysis showed that prices were found to be stationary at level and first difference and there is co-integration between the reference market and other markets. The equilibrium relationship between the price of maize and sorghum in Saminaka market and other markets was found to be positive. The speed of adjustment to the long run for sorghum between Saminaka-Giwa, Saminaka-Makarfi, and Saminaka-Godogodo was -1.08, -0.98 and -1.03 respectively, while that of maize was -1.98, -1.56, and -1.02. Implying that variation in prices are fully transmitted within a period of one month. It is recommended that government should ensure improvement of the operational environment of the marketers thereby drastically reducing transfer cost involved in the movement of grains across spatially separated markets.

The research examined the contributions of Fadama II in the provision of rural infrastructure in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A total of 120 respondents were randomly selected from eight Fadama community Associations in the various parts of the Local Government Area. Data were collected through administration of questionnaire using a five-point Likert-scale. The data collected were analyzed using a combination of statistical models, including descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean. The inferential statistics used include regression analysis and cross tabulation Chi-square. The analysis shows that the average age of the respondents was 38.37 years, 80.2% of the respondents were male with only 19.8% of them female. Most (88.6%) of the total respondents were married with the remaining respondents falling into the class of divorced and widowed. Majority of the respondent had formal education with an average household size and occupational experience of 12 persons and 19.43 years, respectively. The regression analysis also reveals that infrastructure provided by Fadama II was significant at P<0.001 in improving the occupational activities of the respondents. The Chi-square cross tabulation results of asymptotic Chi-statistic was significant at P<0.001 on the contributions of infrastructure; culverts, feeder-road, water source and market structure, only funds was not significant. Therefore, it can be concluded that the infrastructure provided has positive contribution on the respondents, even though it is not provided in sufficient quantity. In view of the above the need for more funding in the area of infrastructural development cannot be overemphasized. This is because sufficient provision of infrastructure will improve the life of the rural dwellers, reduce rural-urban migration and alleviate poverty.