ABSTRACT In rural areas particularly arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), smallholder farmers produce mainly under subsistence system due to poor access of market. Farmers in ASALs particularly in Laikipia County depend on horticultural crop production for their livelihood and as a major source of income and rural employment. The purpose of the study was to determine factors influencing choice of market facilitators and their impact on smallholder horticultural farmers’ livelihood. Primary dat...
ABSTRACT The present study quantifies the effects of the determinants of commercialisation of maize production in the East Akyem District of Ghana. The Tobit model is used. The conventional t-test is also performed to examine the differences between the characteristics of the commercial and non-commercial maize farmers in the East Akyem District of Ghana. The study observes, inter alia, that farmer age, marital status, time farmer spends on maize fanning, farming system, whether male family m...
ABSTRACT In this study, the factors that influence rural producer organizations in facilitating smallholder farmers to access to agricultural markets were studied. The study used survey data from 120 smallholder farmers (86 members and 34 non-members of smallholder farmer organizations). The study sample was selected using a stratified random sampling technique based on a number of farmer organisations. The study employed a triangulation of data from both primary and secondary data sources. ...
Abstract The magnitude of soil management techniques engaged by the crop farmers determines to an extent the level of land productivity of the farmers. This study examined thedeterminants of land pproductivity among arable crop farmers using sustainable soil management techniques in Imo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage randomsampling technique was used to select 209 arable crop farmers for this study. Information on the objectives of this study was elicited from the sampled respondentsthrough a we...
ABSTRACT African indigenous vegetable (AIV) farmers have limited information in the areas for training and readiness to access and produce vegetables to satisfy the growing demands by retailers in Kenya. The study assessed the readiness of women AIV farmers in Kakamega County to satisfy quality standards for high value markets (HVMs). Descriptive survey design, multistage sampling technique and interview schedule were used to collect data from 276 farmers. Observations and discussions with ke...
ABSTRACT Despite the importance of credit to agricultural growth, economic development and poverty reduction, it is reported that access to credit is very low among farmers in Ghana. To overcome this challenge, the government of Ghana and NGOs has made attempt to empower outgrower schemes. Based on this argument, the current study attempts to examine smallholder farmers’ participation in outgrower schemes and quantify its effect on credit access and utilization. Multi-stage sampling techniq...
ABSTRACT Access to market plays a vital role in poverty alleviation among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural markets provide income generating opportunities for farmers in rural areas hence improving their livelihoods. Avocado fruit has a high demand in both local and export markets due to its nutritional value and industrial use. However, smallholder avocado farmers have not benefited from this increased demand. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of trans...
ABSTRACT Access to market plays a vital role in poverty alleviation among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural markets provide income generating opportunities for farmers in rural areas hence improving their livelihoods. Avocado fruit has a high demand in both local and export markets due to its nutritional value and industrial use. However, smallholder avocado farmers have not benefited from this increased demand. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of trans...
ABSTRACT The study focuses on improved maize technology adoption and maize yield in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District. Specifically, the study seeks to assess the maize farmers‟ awareness level on improved maize technologies and this was analyzed with simple descriptive statistics. The two-mean comparison test was used to analyze maize yield difference between non- adopters and adopters of improved maize technologies and constraints to improved maize technology adoption were identifie...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the contribution of sunflower farming to the well-being of small scale farmers in Dalai and Mondo wards, Chamba district, Dodoma region, Tanzania. Specifically, the study identified the sunflower farming activities adopted by farmers, examined the challenges faced by small scale farmers in the sunflower production and examined how sunflower production contributes to smallholder farmers’ wellbeing (that is food security, ability of farmers to access health s...
ABSTRACT The fact that evaluating economic performance of irrigation schemes are important and therefore needed at regular intervals is actually the motivation behind this study. Major objective of the study is to provide information that can be used to improve performance of the Farmer Managed Irrigation Schemes in Tanzania in terms of; economic returns to farmers, water use efficiency and productivity, operation and maintenance and sustainability of the schemes. The study area covered thre...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess the technical efficiency of tomato farmers in the Ashanti region of Ghana using the stochastic frontier methodology. The study looked at the productivity levels of tomato farmers, examined the determinants of technical inefficiency of tomato farmers and analysed the constraints generally facing tomato production in the region. A total of 150 tomato farmers in three districts namely Offinso South, Offinso North and Asante Akim North in the Ashan...
ABSTRACT This study established the relationship between agriculture development of the programme NAADS and poverty status of rural farmers in Bushenyi District. Specifically, the study sought to determine the (i) profile of the respondents, (ii) level of agriculture development, (iii) level of poverty status of rural farmers (iv)whether there was a significant relationship between agriculture development programme and poverty status of rural farmers. A descriptive correlation design was used...
ABSTRACT The main objective of the study was to determine if there were differential barriers to entry into dry season farming in the Kassena Nankana East and Bongo Districts of the Upper East Region of Ghana and if so, how this affects participation and to what outcome. The types of barriers identified as important from the literature were categorized into economic, institutional, technical and socio- cultural barriers. The research design was a case study and used both quantitative ...
ABSTRACT This study examined access to formal credit by farmers’ co-operatives in Enugu State. The specific objectives were to: (i) ascertain the institutional credit guidelines which affected access to formal credit by farmers’ co-operatives in Enugu State, (ii) describe the patterns of access to credit, (iii) ascertain the extent of access to formal credit by the respondents, (iv) ascertain the factors which determined access to formal credit, (v) examine the respondents’ perceptions ...