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Purpose: After a long observation of the high rate of rice importation and low productivity in Côte d'Ivoire, the certified rice seed was introduced and encouraged to be used by the local farmers. This study evaluates the profitability of rice production and the impact of certified seed usage on the yield and income of farmers in Côte d'Ivoire. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 265 rice farmers. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the challenges faced in using certified seeds. Profitability analysis was used to examine the profitability of rice production. To eliminate bias due to the counterfactuals, the endogenous switching regression was employed to investigate the impact of the certified seeds on income and yield. Findings: The difficulties faced by the rice farmers in the procurement of certified seeds were the unavailability of seeds, the high cost of seeds and poor credit access. Furthermore, rice farmers using certified seeds get a higher net income (USD 263.74/ha) than those using farmers' seeds (USD 212.31/ha). The average treatment on the treated was 1.61 for the yield and 574.75 for the income. The average treatment on the untreated was 1.20 for the yield and 422.59 for the income. These indicate a higher yield and income among adopters of certified rice seed. Research limitations/implications: Certified rice seed usage is profitable and enhances the output and income of rice farmers. The study advocates the creation of a stronger relationship between the farmers and the extension agents to encourage the use of certified seeds and increase the profit of the farmers. Originality/value: There is scant information on the profitability of certified rice seed usage and how it affect yield and income. Therefore, this study serves as empirical evidence for policymakers to develop strategies that are required to enhance certified seed usage, boost rice productivity and achieve food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vulnerable group is susceptible to various economic and social challenges. Understanding their livelihood is a prerequisite to addressing these menaces. Therefore, this study assessed the livelihoods of the vulnerable group and the factors responsible for their diversification in rural southwest Nigeria. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, the Simpson index, and the Tobit regression model. Results revealed that food crop production, cash crop production, livestock and fishing, forest and forest products, artisanship, remittances, wages and salaries from non-agriculture, and trading were the different means of livelihood among the rural vulnerable group. All the vulnerable groups derived income from farming. Cash crops, food crops, and livestock and fishing contributed 26.1%, 22.7% and 17.9% to household income, respectively. Thus, agriculture contributed the most (66.7%) to their total household income. This is followed by wages and salaries from non-agriculture (12.1%), trading (9.3%), artisanship (8.1%), remittance (2.2%) and forest and forest products (2.0%). The vulnerable group had a low level of livelihood diversification. Educational level, farming experience, total income, access to credit, age, and distance to the market were responsible for their level of livelihood diversification. This calls for government and non-governmental intervention to support the vulnerable group by providing financial assistance (credit or grants), farming inputs, and education to improve their livelihood and enhance their livelihood diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Works of the Faculty of Forestry University of Sarajevo is the property of Faculty of Forestry University of Sarajevo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of University of Jordan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aims: The growing level of food insecurity and poverty in developing nations, especially among rural households, requires more effort and measures to curb it. Engaging in vegetable production by rural households can play a significant role in alleviating poverty, improving their nutritional status and livelihood. This study, therefore, investigates the effect of vegetable production on rural farmers’ income and households’ livelihood in Nigeria. Methods and Results: Data collected from 400 vegetable farming households were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The results revealed that vegetable farming is a femaledominated venture (89.4% females). The regression results revealed that vegetable output had a positive and significant effect on rural households’ income. Other factors that influenced farmers’ income were household size, access to credit and farm size. Furthermore, vegetable production had positive effects on rural households’ livelihood by providing employment, income, basic needs, food, paying for school fees, improving their nutritional status and standard of living. Pests and diseases, poor storage facilities, postharvest loss, inadequate credit facilities, high cost of inputs, poor knowledge of irrigation, poor transportation and poor extension services were the severe constraints faced in vegetable production. Conclusions: It can be inferred that vegetable production contributed immensely to rural households’ economic status, livelihood and wellbeing. Although, the venture was faced with some challenges. Therefore, the provision of accessible and affordable credit facilities by banks, government and non-governmental organizations to the farmers is important as this would encourage them, curb most of the constraints and increase their income. Significance and Impact of the Study: Understanding the effects of vegetable production on the income and livelihoods of rural dwellers will enhance participation. Therefore, the outcome of this study would allow policymakers to intervene in its production in view to lower poverty and malnutrition, and improve rural households’ wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty is a global challenge highly concentrated among rural women; thus, women are poorer than their male counterparts. This fact disposes them to a high level of food insecurity, low purchasing power and poor well-being. Understanding the socio-economic factors responsible for the income level of rural women is a prerequisite to boosting their economic status and, in turn, lowering the poverty rate among them. Therefore, this study describes the rural women income and identifies the factors influencing their level of income. Data were collected primarily from 120 rural women and analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The study reveals that rural women face a low annual income (USD 626.25) which could dispose them to a high poverty level. Agriculture (practised on a small scale) remains the primary source of income for rural women as it had the largest share (78.8%) of their annual income. Cooperative membership, access to credit facilities and education are the identified socio-economic factors enhancing the yearly income of rural women. At the same time, rural women age and their household size are the inhibiting factors affecting their annual income. To achieve the first Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations, there is a need to support rural women through financial assistance and adult education centres. This would enhance their productivity and income and improve their food security status and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technical inefficiencies of crop production system in terms of large-scale irrigation schemes are major problems attributed to the underperformance of crop farms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate and compare farm-level technical efficiencies of four major crop productions system including, pepper, okra, garden egg, and tomato under the large-scale Kampe-Omi irrigation scheme, Nigeria. The data development analysis (DEA) approach was used to study the hypothesized determinants affecting the efficiencies of crop farms using an ordinary least squares regression model. The results showed that the selected pepper, okra, garden egg, and tomato crop farms were fully efficient at 20, 10, 16.92, and 40% under constant return to scale (CRS), and at 13.33, 30, 10.77, and 25.71% under variable return to scale (VRS), respectively. DEA revealed a considerable variation in technical inefficiency among the selected crop farms under the irrigation scheme. The significant determinants of technical efficiencies of the four crop farms include farmers' age, family size, experience, alternative income, education, credit accessibility, and contact with extension agents. The outcomes of this study are useful for improving production efficiencies while serving as a convenient guide for both farmers and irrigation scheme managers of selected crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]