Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is an alternative cultivation technique to the conventional Transplanted Rice (TPR). In this method, seeds are directly sown to the field without the necessity of nursery raising and transplanting. DSR can generally be divided into dry-DSR (sowing dry seeds in dry soil), wet-DSR (sowing pre-germinated seeds in moist soil) and water-seeding (sowing dry or pre-germinated seeds in standing water). This helps in saving water alongside the labour and results in early harvest due to quick crop establishment. DSR is proved to be sustainable and eco-friendly since it emits less methane than in TPR. However, there are few constraints associated with DSR such as weed infestation, crop lodging and nutrient loss. If these major issues are fixed, DSR can result in greater economic returns as compared to TPR. In absence of puddling, the soil structure can be maintained which leads to greater yields of succeeding crops. This technique has been successfully practiced in many countries like Srilanka, Malaysia and USA. In developing nations like Nepal, irrigation and labour constraints can be tackled by adopting direct-seeding for rice cultivation.

The level of yield among sweet potato farmers is on a decline; low output and yield differences was observed, indicating the existence of inefficiency in production systems and variations in input utilization. Efficiency in resource use must be sustained in order to improve productivity and maximize farm output. This study therefore analyzed the technical efficiency of sweet potato production. Multi-stage sampling techniques were adopted in selecting 94 respondents for this study. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. The socioeconomic variables of the respondents affected their farm efficiency and level of farm output. The estimated ratio of the L/R test was 0.579; indicating a goodness of fit of the frontier model and thus a rejection of the null hypothesis. The coefficients of sweet potato seeds (vines) (0.362) and labour (0.439) were positive and statistically significant at 5% level of probability, while the coefficients of farm size (-1.333), fertilizer (-0.452) and herbicides (-0.766) were negative but statistically significant at 5% level of probability. The inefficiency model revealed that the coefficient of farm capital (-0.172), education (-2.281), access to credit (-0.472), farming experience (-0.639), extension contact (-0.733) and membership of cooperatives (-0.396) were negative and statistically significant at 5% level of probability. The mean technical efficiency was 0.62 (62%) implying that the sweet potato farmers in the study area were not producing at optimal capacity. The constraints identified significantly affected sweet potato production in the study area. Subsidizing input costs; sensitizing farmers on appropriate farming practices, cooperative formation and efficiency in resource utilization; improving access to agricultural inputs, technology, farm capital, credit and extension services, market linkages, farm labour supply and the development of indigenous technologies in sweet potato production are strongly recommended.

This study analysed the socio-economic constraints facing small ruminants’ production in West Bank Palestine. Therefore, it investigated the sites of Al-thaheryia and Facuoa and included. From primary data collected from different sources, 170 small ruminants’ rearers have been randomly selected. Additionally, two workshops have been implemented to gather both quantitative and qualitative data through discussion and brainstorming. Descriptive statistics; frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test and T-test are used to shape the socioeconomic constraints facing by small ruminants rearers. The findings revealed a need for extension system to enhance small ruminants’ productivity.

The study aimed to evaluate the economic viability and profitability of cultivating improved tomato varieties in Akure North and Ifedore Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire, with a sample size of 150 farmers selected using snowball sampling through a multi-stage procedure. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, farm budgeting techniques, and multiple regression. Findings revealed that 36.7% of farmers were within their active working age. Most farmers (71.3%) were female, and 73.3% were married, with an average household size of seven. Around 40.7% of the farmers had higher education (HND/B.Sc.), and 68.7% were members of farming associations. Economic analysis indicated a total cost of N208,374.04 and a net income of N601,625.96, yielding a return on investment (ROI) of 3.89, meaning N2.89 profit for every N1 invested. The study also highlighted that farm size, farming experience, educational level, and agrochemical applications significantly influenced tomato production. Challenges identified included unfavorable climate, theft, price instability, poor seed supply, and inadequate capital. The study recommended government support in providing subsidies and resources for farm expansion and better extension services to ensure a steady supply of improved tomato varieties.

Broiler production supplements income of smallholder farm households. Profitability and productivity and analysis are important considerations in measuring efficiency or performance of a farm business; hence, improved output and income are not only a function of increase in the scale of production, but also how efficiently the resources are being utilized. This study therefore estimates the profitability and level of productivity among broiler farmers in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select respondents for this study. Primary data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting model and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) analysis. The study revealed that the net farm income of broiler production was ₦96,900/flock size; suggesting a relatively profitable venture with prospects for improved economic potentials. The estimated percentage profit margin was 45.6%; indicative of the percentage net margin accruable to the farmer from the estimated gross margin and benefit-cost ratio was 0.84. Furthermore, most (54.3%) of broiler farmers were sub-optimally productive as their TFP indices were below the optimal scale; attributable to sub-efficient input mix and cost of production inputs. In addition, constraints of broiler production in the study area included the following; high cost of feeds (92.9); high cost of chicks (85.7%); financial constraints (80%); high cost of poultry equipment (55.7%); high cost of medication (35.7); disease outbreak (28.6%) and inefficient market system (21.4%). Improving access to and subsidy of poultry feeds, chicks, production inputs and credit, extension, medical services and cooperative formation for market linkages are strongly recommended.

Broiler production supplements income of smallholder farm households. Profitability and productivity and analysis are important considerations in measuring efficiency or performance of a farm business; hence, improved output and income are not only a function of increase in the scale of production, but also how efficiently the resources are being utilized. This study therefore estimates the profitability and level of productivity among broiler farmers in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select respondents for this study. Primary data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting model and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) analysis. The study revealed that the net farm income of broiler production was ₦96,900/flock size; suggesting a relatively profitable venture with prospects for improved economic potentials. The estimated percentage profit margin was 45.6%; indicative of the percentage net margin accruable to the farmer from the estimated gross margin and benefit-cost ratio was 0.84. Furthermore, most (54.3%) of broiler farmers were sub-optimally productive as their TFP indices were below the optimal scale; attributable to sub-efficient input mix and cost of production inputs. In addition, constraints of broiler production in the study area included the following; high cost of feeds (92.9); high cost of chicks (85.7%); financial constraints (80%); high cost of poultry equipment (55.7%); high cost of medication (35.7); disease outbreak (28.6%) and inefficient market system (21.4%). Improving access to and subsidy of poultry feeds, chicks, production inputs and credit, extension, medical services and cooperative formation for market linkages are strongly recommended.

The level of yield among sweet potato farmers is on a decline; low output and yield differences was observed, indicating the existence of inefficiency in production systems and variations in input utilization. Efficiency in resource use must be sustained in order to improve productivity and maximize farm output. This study therefore analyzed the technical efficiency of sweet potato production. Multi-stage sampling techniques were adopted in selecting 94 respondents for this study. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. The socioeconomic variables of the respondents affected their farm efficiency and level of farm output. The estimated ratio of the L/R test was 0.579; indicating a goodness of fit of the frontier model and thus a rejection of the null hypothesis. The coefficients of sweet potato seeds (vines) (0.362) and labour (0.439) were positive and statistically significant at 5% level of probability, while the coefficients of farm size (-1.333), fertilizer (-0.452) and herbicides (-0.766) were negative but statistically significant at 5% level of probability. The inefficiency model revealed that the coefficient of farm capital (-0.172), education (-2.281), access to credit (-0.472), farming experience (-0.639), extension contact (-0.733) and membership of cooperatives (-0.396) were negative and statistically significant at 5% level of probability. The mean technical efficiency was 0.62 (62%) implying that the sweet potato farmers in the study area were not producing at optimal capacity. The constraints identified significantly affected sweet potato production in the study area. Subsidizing input costs; sensitizing farmers on appropriate farming practices, cooperative formation and efficiency in resource utilization; improving access to agricultural inputs, technology, farm capital, credit and extension services, market linkages, farm labour supply and the development of indigenous technologies in sweet potato production are strongly recommended.

The study aimed to evaluate the economic viability and profitability of cultivating improved tomato varieties in Akure North and Ifedore Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire, with a sample size of 150 farmers selected using snowball sampling through a multi-stage procedure. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, farm budgeting techniques, and multiple regression. Findings revealed that 36.7% of farmers were within their active working age. Most farmers (71.3%) were female, and 73.3% were married, with an average household size of seven. Around 40.7% of the farmers had higher education (HND/B.Sc.), and 68.7% were members of farming associations. Economic analysis indicated a total cost of N208,374.04 and a net income of N601,625.96, yielding a return on investment (ROI) of 3.89, meaning N2.89 profit for every N1 invested. The study also highlighted that farm size, farming experience, educational level, and agrochemical applications significantly influenced tomato production. Challenges identified included unfavorable climate, theft, price instability, poor seed supply, and inadequate capital. The study recommended government support in providing subsidies and resources for farm expansion and better extension services to ensure a steady supply of improved tomato varieties.

The study examined the constraints of access to the use of agricultural insurance schemes (AIS) by small-scale farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Sustainable agricultural enterprise in most developing countries like Nigeria can be achieved through adequate financing especially in the area of agricultural insurance. Despite the existence of insurance services by the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation and other private firms in Nigeria, there has been a low level of participation of farmers buying insurance premium; thus, there is a need to examine the hindrances in accessing the scheme. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economics characteristic of small- scale farmers, examine the types of agricultural insurance and evaluate the constraints in accessing AIS in the study area. Primary data were collected from 150 farmers with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that farmers in the study area were dominated by the married (68%), literates (81.33) and males (73.33%) with the mean age and farming experience of 47 and 19 years respectively. Crop insurance (56%) and farm implement insurance (46%) were the major types of agricultural insurance used by the farmers. Rigorous procedures in claim settlement (3.266), poor government attention (3.106) poor repayment (3.080) and non-coverage of all the crops (3.093) were among the major challenges in accessing AIS) in the study area. The study recommended that the government through the ministry of Agriculture or Bank of Agriculture should eliminate the bureaucratic processes and bottlenecks encountered by the farmers in accessing AIS.

The study examined the constraints of access to the use of agricultural insurance schemes (AIS) by small-scale farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Sustainable agricultural enterprise in most developing countries like Nigeria can be achieved through adequate financing especially in the area of agricultural insurance. Despite the existence of insurance services by the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation and other private firms in Nigeria, there has been a low level of participation of farmers buying insurance premium; thus, there is a need to examine the hindrances in accessing the scheme. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economics characteristic of small- scale farmers, examine the types of agricultural insurance and evaluate the constraints in accessing AIS in the study area. Primary data were collected from 150 farmers with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that farmers in the study area were dominated by the married (68%), literates (81.33) and males (73.33%) with the mean age and farming experience of 47 and 19 years respectively. Crop insurance (56%) and farm implement insurance (46%) were the major types of agricultural insurance used by the farmers. Rigorous procedures in claim settlement (3.266), poor government attention (3.106) poor repayment (3.080) and non-coverage of all the crops (3.093) were among the major challenges in accessing AIS) in the study area. The study recommended that the government through the ministry of Agriculture or Bank of Agriculture should eliminate the bureaucratic processes and bottlenecks encountered by the farmers in accessing AIS.