List of Articles Ufedo Shaibu

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  1 - Assessment of the Effect of Rural Transportation Cost On Agricultural Productivity in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria
  Ufedo Shaibu Felix Oyibo
  This study assessed the effect of rural-urban transportation on agricultural produce in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Primary data obtained from 90 rural farming households were analysed using frequency count, Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression More

  This study assessed the effect of rural-urban transportation on agricultural produce in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Primary data obtained from 90 rural farming households were analysed using frequency count, Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis and mean score from a 3 point Likert type of scale. Results of the study revealed that majority of the farmers were married males in their active productive age of 41-60 years and a household size of 4-9 members. Farming in the area was still on a subsistence level as only 22.2% of the farmers cultivated above 3 hectares of farm land. The major modes of transporting farm produce identified in the area include the use of tricycle (92.2%), motorcycle (70%), and pick up van (64.9%). Furthermore, annual cost of transportation and number of years spent schooling (education) were negatively related to farmers’ income at 1% and 10% level of significance respectively. The major challenges faced by farmers in transporting their produce were bad road network (M= 2.4) and high transportation cost (M = 2.3). It was recommended that government should provide good road network and transportation facilities as it will ease the movement of farm produce to urban areas and as well increase farmers’ productivity and better their standard of living. Manuscript profile
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  2 - Access and Utilization of Government Health Facilities by Rural Farm Households: Evidence from Kogi State, Nigeria.
  Ufedo Shaibu Mohammed Ibrahim
  The study analyzed farm households’ access and utilization of government health facilities in Kogi State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the socioeconomic characteristics of farm households, determined the level of accessibility to health facilities by farm h More

  The study analyzed farm households’ access and utilization of government health facilities in Kogi State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the socioeconomic characteristics of farm households, determined the level of accessibility to health facilities by farm households, and determined the factors that drive farm households’ utilization of government health facilities. A two staged random sampling technique was used to select one hundred (100) farm households and twenty (20) government-owned health care facilities from four Local Government Areas in the State. Data obtained through structured questionnaire and spot assessments were analyzed using descriptive statistics, indices of accessibility and binary logit regression model. The indices of accessibility revealed that there is unequal access to government health facilities (medical personnel and infrastructure) in the area. The binary logit model indicated that farming experience (p<0.01), distance to health centre (p<0.05), and cost of treatment (p<0.001) negatively influenced the utilization of government health facilities, while gender (p<0.05), education (p<0.05), and numbers of dependants (p<0.05) directly influenced government health care facilities utilization among farm households. It was suggested based on findings from the study that government needs to urgently engage and deploy more medical personnel and facilities to rural areas. Also, intervention programmes such as construction of good access will reduce travelling distance to health facilities. Manuscript profile
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  3 - Profitability Analysis and Constraints to Pepper (Capsicum Sp) Marketing in Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria
  Ufedo Shaibu Felix Oyibo Stephen Ibitoye
  The study analyzed the profitability and constraints to pepper marketing in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 75 pepper marketers from the list of registered pepper marketers with the pepper ma More

  The study analyzed the profitability and constraints to pepper marketing in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 75 pepper marketers from the list of registered pepper marketers with the pepper marketing association in the study area. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the required information. Descriptive statistics, Net profit and mean score were used to analyze the data collected. Results showed that the mean age of pepper marketers was 34 years and majority, (60%) of the marketers were married, well experience in marketing with a mean household size of 12 persons. Also, Atarodo (Capsicum annum) was the most common varieties of pepper which are marketed fresh in the area. The net return on pepper marketing in the study area was N1.05 which is an indication of profitability of the business. The study further revealed high cost of transportation (mean score= 2.92), lack of storage facilities (mean score= 2.80) and lack of processing facilities (mean score= 2.72) as the major problems facing pepper marketing enterprise in the area. The study recommends government should provide good feeder roads network to ease transportation of perishable agricultural produce like pepper in the area, storage and processing facilities should be made adequate to enhance marketing. Manuscript profile
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  4 - Identifying the Influence of Livelihood Indicators on Social Participation among Rural Farmers in Eastern Kogi State, Nigeria
  Mathew Edoka Ufedo Shaibu
  The study identified the influence of livelihood indicators on social participation among rural farmers in Eastern Kogi State, Nigeria. A total of 120 rural farmers were selected using a three-stage random sampling procedure. Questionnaire administration and structured More

  The study identified the influence of livelihood indicators on social participation among rural farmers in Eastern Kogi State, Nigeria. A total of 120 rural farmers were selected using a three-stage random sampling procedure. Questionnaire administration and structured interview schedule were used to collect primary data. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics – percentage and mean and inferential statistics - binary logit regression analysis. The findings from this study revealed that the majority of the rural farmers were males (93.3 %) within middle age (34 years), and possessed formal education (85%). The perceived indicators of rural livelihood were on-farm income (M= 3.7), level of savings (M= 3.4), assets owned (M= 3.3), membership of organizations (M= 3.2), level of education (M= 2.8), and occupational status (M= 2.7). At p <0.05, the probability of social participation among rural farmers in the area was positively influenced by education (β=2.559), occupational status (β=2.894), access to loan (β=5.064), assets owned (β=2.565), and membership of organization (β=5.107). The study recommends the formation of cooperative societies and easy access to loan facilities for economies of scale, own more assets and as well, participate in rural developmental efforts. Also, there should be increased access to education. Manuscript profile
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  5 - Input-Output Relationship in Cassava Production: Empirical Evidence among Cassava Farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria
  Thankgod Akoh Ufedo Shaibu Habibat Usman
  This study assessed the input and output relationship in cassava production in Kogi State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cassava farmers for the study. The survey instrument was a structured questionnaire. Data were collected on More

  This study assessed the input and output relationship in cassava production in Kogi State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cassava farmers for the study. The survey instrument was a structured questionnaire. Data were collected on farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, inputs used in cassava production, and other relevant data. The data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics and Cobb- Douglas stochastic frontier production function. The result of the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents showed that most of the farmers were female (64.2%). This study found an average age of 39.8 years among cassava farmers with a mean family size of 8 members and an average farm size of 3.7ha. Inputs identified in cassava production are; herbicide (65%), hired labour (50.8%), pesticide (21.7%), organic manure (38.3%), fertilizer (29.2%) and improved cassava cuttings (22.5%). The parameters of the production function were estimated by the maximum likelihood method using the computer program frontier. Results indicated that farm size (β = 75862.79), cassava cuttings (β = 63.4853), and labour (β = 409.4048) significantly influenced the output of cassava farmers at 5% level of significance. Furthermore, age (β = -.9921587), household size (β = -10.52704) and farming experience (β = 1.634783) significantly influenced inefficiency among cassava farmers in the area. Recommendations made to enhance the input-output relationship in cassava production include; provision of improved cassava cuttings to boost cassava production and there should be adequate farmland for cassava framers. Manuscript profile