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An interview-based questionnaire survey of randomly selected 90 respondents who were involved in maize production was carried out from two different sites of dang district i.e. Lamahi municipality and Tulsipur submetro Politian city to find the economic production of maize during 2080 B.S. The broad objective was to observe the return and profit margin per unit area of maize in the aforementioned areas. The specific objectives were finding profit margin, and benefit: cost ratio, finding out the problems of farmers and determining factors affecting maize yield. Data about total variable cost, profitability, return of maize farming, and factors affecting maize production were collected. Overall, the research revealed that the average cost of maize cultivation per hectare was NRs 40213.85 and the average return per hectare was NRs 72676.04 with average profit per hectare was found NRs. 32462.19. The average benefit-cost ratio was 1.80. The maize farm was distinguished into three categories as Small-sized farms (<10 Katha), Medium-sized farms (10-40 Katha) and Large-sized farms (>40 Katha). The cost of cultivation was found higher in the case of Small-sized farms. Mechanization cost covers 30.32% of the total cost of production. An increase in the age of the farmer by 1 year increases the yield by 2% this is seen at 1% level of significance. Also, Analysis showed that the Age of the farmer, Farm size, use of manure and use of mechanization for tillage are statistically significant to the gross return of Maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates whether the historical inverse relationship (IR) between land (farm and plot) size and productivity holds for Ethiopia farms. The study uses plot-level and household-level data from the three waves of the Ethiopia Socioeconomic Survey. The main finding, which confirms previous studies, is that the plot-size IR holds when productivity measurement is based on self-reported yields. However, the effects were reversed when we used crop-cut yields. Including labor inputs significantly reduces the magnitude of the coefficients on land size but not the sign. Finally, the quantile regression reveals interesting findings. These are: (1) a strong positive effect of farm (and plot) size on productivity; (2) the magnitude of the effect decreases monotonically with quantile; (3) farm size displays a robust negative impact on gross revenue and the magnitude of the effect increases (in absolute terms) monotonically with quantiles; (4) the effect of farm (and plot) size on productivity decreases in magnitude when we control for labor input; (5) the IR between farm (and plot) size and total and family labor was negative and significant and the effect increases (in absolute terms) monotonically with quantiles.

Subject and purpose of work: The study aims to assess the nature, extent and sources of debt and the measures of the burden of debt on farmers.

The paper analyzes the concept of labour freedom in the agricultural sector empowering with the ownership rights, legal approvals and autonomy of choices involving policy changes in the rural development thereby giving more opportunities and choices to the rural labour. Institutional reform redistributes the ownership rights of landholding among the small, marginal and landless labourer. The reform has provided partial possession rights to tenants’ and amended land rental agreements improving the bargaining capacity of the renters and made them capable to extract the lease while making contracts with the landlords. The paper focuses on the requisites of rural development policy to explore the farm-jobs and off-farm job opportunities thereby enhances labour freedom, rural wages and employment rate affecting the labour mobility. In the developing countries, rural development programme has responded to implement employment policy increasing rural employment with off-farm jobs to jobless workers in the local rural area. Labour freedom in the agricultural sector has implications on the economic development perspective as the concept of freedom is grounded upon the principle of equity and efficiency, subsequent to that institutional reform has provided equal freedom and opportunities to the rural labourer that has boosted up the growth and efficiency of the agricultural sector. The paper has suggests the policy makers to emphasize more on the rural development to reduce migration of labour for job, family education, health and better infrastructure. The provision of labour freedom establishes to build up capabilities among the rural labourer, farmers and migrant workers thereby raises living standards through reducing the rural poverty level and leading to the transforming of the rural sector.

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Among the four pillars of 'food security' (i.e., 'food availability', 'food accessibility', 'food stability' and 'food utilization'), 'food availability (FA)' underpins the core concept because if food is not available, then the remaining three pillars become weak. This chapter examines the level of food availability at the farm level derived from multiple food crop production by a selected sample of 400 farm households from Ebonyi and Anambra States of South-Eastern Nigeria. FA in this study refers to Partial Food Availability (PFA) because it excludes procurement of food from other sources, e.g., purchase from the market and/or borrow/exchange from others. The chapter also examines farm-size and PFA relationships as well as modern technology adoption and PFA relationships and provides a detailed account of constraints faced by farmers in producing food from farming operations. Results show that the sample is dominated by small-scale farmers (81% of the total sample) owning land <1.00 ha. The average farm size is also small, estimated at 1.27 ha. Sixty-eight percent of the surveyed farmers grew more than one of the three food crops (i.e., cassava, yam and rice) considered in this study. The level of modern technology adoption in food farming is low and mixed. Only 29.00% of the farmers adopted both HYV seeds and fertilizers as a package to produce the major food crops. The average PFA is estimated at 4492.78 Kcals/capita/day produced from one ha of land area, and the households only have surplus PFA for the three winter months (November, December and January) in a year. About 38.09% of the food produced is set aside for own consumption. Among the food crops, 40.70% of cassava output is set aside for home consumption while yam and rice are mainly destined for the market. Inverse farm size-PFA relationship exists amongst the sampled farmers. The relationship between modern technology adoption and PFA is inconclusive. PFA is generally higher for farmers who did not adopt any modern technology. Farmers identified lack of agricultural extension agents, farm inputs and basic infrastructures as the main constraints adversely affecting food production at the farm-level. Policy implications include investments targeted to improve cassava production, extension services, supply of farm inputs and other infrastructure to increase food availability at the farm-level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the four pillars of ‘food security’ (i.e., ‘food availability’, ‘food accessibility’, ‘food stability’ and ‘food utilization’), ‘food availability (FA)’ underpins the core concept because at the micro-level it is strongly related to the overall availability of food, which is determined by domestic food production, food imports and food aid. This paper examines the level of food energy availability (FEA) at the farm level, relationships between farm size and FEA and the determinants of FEA based on a survey of 400 households from Ebonyi and Anambra States of Southeastern Nigeria. FEA in this study refers to Partial Food Energy Availability (PFEA) because it excludes procurement of food from other sources, e.g., purchase from the market, borrow/exchange from others and/or receiving as food aid. Results show that the sample is dominated by small–scale farmers (81% of the total sample) owning land <1.00 ha. The average farm size is small (1.27 ha). Farmers grow multiple food crops. Sixty-eight percent of the farmers produced at least two food crops. Average PFEA is estimated at 4492.78 kcals/capita/day produced from one ha of land area. Approximately 30.92% of the total food produced is set aside for home consumption. Among the food crops, 40.70% of cassava output is set aside for home consumption while most of yam and rice are mainly destined for the market. Inverse farm size–PFEA relationship exists amongst the sampled farmers. The regression results reveal that subsistence pressure, profit motive and share of yam in total output significantly reduces PFEA whereas an increase in the share of cassava in total output significantly increases PFEA. A one percent increase in the share of cassava output will increase PFEA by 0.14%. A one percent increase in subsistence pressure will reduce PFEA by 0.98%. Farmers identified a lack of agricultural extension agents, farm inputs and basic infrastructures as the main constraints adversely affecting food production at the farm-level. Policy implications include investments targeted to improve cassava production and measure to reduce future family size by improved family planning to increase PFEA at the farm-level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the four pillars of ‘food security’ (i.e., ‘food availability’, ‘food accessibility’, ‘food stability’ and ‘food utilization’), ‘food availability (FA)’ underpins the core concept because at the micro-level it is strongly related to the overall availability of food, which is determined by domestic food production, food imports and food aid. This paper examines the level of food energy availability (FEA) at the farm level, relationships between farm size and FEA and the determinants of FEA based on a survey of 400 households from Ebonyi and Anambra States of Southeastern Nigeria. FEA in this study refers to Partial Food Energy Availability (PFEA) because it excludes procurement of food from other sources, e.g., purchase from the market, borrow/exchange from others and/or receiving as food aid. Results show that the sample is dominated by small–scale farmers (81% of the total sample) owning land

Rice, a staple food in Nigeria is experiencing decrease in yield over the years. This study evaluates the productive capacity of some selected rice farms in Kwara State, Nigeria, with a view to identify farm management practices that enhance sustainable production of rice in the study area. Primary data were obtained through the use interview schedule. Eighty copies of structured interview were purposively employed to obtain individual response of the farmers whose plots fall within the demarcated forty-sampled quadrats from both irrigated and non-irrigated farms. Information on socio- economic activities of the rice farmers, level of rice yield, agricultural practices for rice production and farm management techniques employed in the study area were observed. The study employed simple percentages to analyse the farmers' responses; while regression model established significant relationships between rice yield and farm management methods adopted in this area. Results were presented using charts and tables. The study revealed that; chemical fertilizers, manual weeding and shifting cultivation are essential for rice cultivation in the study area; the regression model established strong influence of farm-size at R-value of 0.64 on the yield of rice in this area; while estimated yields of 101.6tons and 57.9tons from irrigated and non-irrigated field respectively established higher yield from irrigation practice. The study concludes that irrigation system is a catalyst for appreciable rice yield in this area. However, proper application of fertilizer and expansion of existing farmland should be adopted among the rice farmers in the study area and other related environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]