Maize Production In Nigeria Research Articles

Food Security and Produce Storage, the Nexus: Attaining Sustainable Maize Production in Nigeria

Food Security and Produce Storage, the Nexus: Attaining Sustainable Maize Production in Nigeria

English

Maize (Zea mays) is an important food crop in Nigeria, and it is fast becoming the most widely cultivated crop. Several efforts have been made by the Nigeria Government to make the country self-sufficiency in maize production, but some biotic and abiotic factors are impeding this achievement. Among the biotic constraints militating against maize production in Nigeria, armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is most devastating in recent times.  The larvae of this insect pest are the culprits that caused damage to maize plants. They leave several feeding holes on the leaf lamina of the crop, giving maize tattered appearance. The infestation level by armyworm on the field experienced by maize growers in recent times calls for great concern in Nigeria. This outbreak is not out of mere coincidence, but a result of numerous factors which is chiefly driven by climate change. Climatic change over the years has altered temperature, moisture, relative humidity and CO2 concentration in our ecosystem. These changes seem to favour the proliferation of pests, even making secondary pests like armyworm to become a major pest of maize in Nigeria and Africa at large. In this paper, we reviewed the biology of armyworm, the influence of climate change on pest prevalence and some control measures for coping with armyworm infestation. Integrated pest management was advocated as the most sustainable management approach. Key words: Armyworm, temperature, rainfall, maize, integrated pest management.

Modelling energy use pattern for maize (Zea mays L.) production in Nigeria

Abstract The current mechanized system of crop production requires a considerable amount of energy. Finding the important factors that lead to improved crop yields is a necessary step towards reducing huge energy inputs and, subsequently, reducing environmental concerns and increasing agricultural sustainability. This research work explores the impact of energy resources and forms of energy on maize production in Nigeria was modeled using the Cobb-Douglas production function and validated by the Durbin-Watson procedure. The effect of input energy on maize yields was determined using partial regression coefficients and the Marginal Physical Product process. Data on agricultural inputs such as human labour, machinery, seed, fuel and agro-chemicals were obtained in 50 established farms, through interviews and using questionnaires. Data were transformed to energy suitable form using appropriate standard energy equations. Research results showed that maize production consumed 9803.78 ​MJ/ha of energy, 45.36% of which was fertilizer followed by fuel (35.90%), machinery (10.72%), herbicide (3.88%) seed (3.61%) and human labour (0.53%) respectively. The contributions of direct and indirect energy were 36.44% and 63.56%, while renewable and non-renewable energy were 4.42% and 95.58%, respectively. The energy ratio, specific energy and productivity value were 2.46, 0.2851 ​MJ/kg and 3.51 ​MJ/kg, respectively. The econometrics of the energy resources and out revealed that fertilizer, machinery and human labour energy resources with elasticity 12.98, 9.70 and 8.08, respectively, were the most significant energy resources that had a significant impact on output. The impact of fertilizer, seed fuel, and machinery was significant (p ​

Does agricultural cooperative membership impact technical efficiency of maize production in Nigeria: An analysis correcting for biases from observed and unobserved attributes.

The formation of agricultural cooperatives has been widely promoted as an agricultural development policy initiative to help smallholder farmers cope with multiple production and marketing challenges. Using a nationally representative survey dataset of smallholder maize producers from rural Nigeria, this study assesses the impact of agricultural cooperative membership on technical efficiency (TE). We based our estimation approach on the combination of a newly developed sample selection stochastic production frontier model with propensity score matching to control for possible selectivity biases from both observables and unobservables. We estimate stochastic meta-frontiers to examine TE differences between cooperative members and non-members. Our results reveal that TE levels of members are consistently higher than that of non-members. This calls for continued policy incentives targeted at encouraging farmers to form as well as participate in agricultural cooperatives.

Profitability of Small-Scale Maize Production in Nigeria: A Case Study of Bichi Local Government, Kano State-Nigeria

This paper examined the profitability of small-scale maize production in the Bichi community using the multistage sampling procedure. Gross margin, OLS Multiple regression analysis, and Descriptive statistics were employed as analytical tools. A higher percentage of males (90%) as against females (10%) were revealed from the analytical results. The household size of the majority (70%) was less than 11 persons per family among family households (60%). A total of ₦395,355/ha was earned as gross income whilst the gross margin of ₦201,331/ha was estimated. Total variable cost and Total fixed cost estimated were ₦194,024/ha and ₦36,413/ha respectively. With an R-square of 0.807, six explanatory variables positively explained the response variables according to the double log function. Farm size and labor had positive coefficients of 0.479 and 0.352 respectively which were significant at 1% and 5% level of significance respectively. Inadequate resources, pests and diseases, high labor costs, transport, insufficient storage facilities, and insufficient government support were problems affecting small maize producers in the study area.

Sustaining the beneficial effects of maize production in Nigeria: Does adoption of short season maize varieties matter?

AbstractIn order to ensure sustainability of maize production in short-season environments of Nigeria, the Sudan savanna taskforce of Kano–Katsina–Maradi (KKM) Pilot Learning Site promoted short-season maize varieties in 2008 via Innovation Platforms (IPs). In the light of the promoted varieties, we evaluated the adoption and net benefits (productivity and income) of the maize varieties. We used cross-sectional household data elicited from 600 sampled households, double-hurdle model and propensity score matching. There was a remarkable increase in the adoption of short-season maize varieties in 2014 compared to what was obtained in a baseline conducted in 2008. Our empirical findings revealed that the adoption of the short-season maize varieties promoted through the IPs had significant productivity and income increasing effects. This implies that policy interventions to ensure sustainable maize intensification in the face of environmental limitations, such as early and late season drought, should intensify the promotion of short-season varieties in Sudan savannas. This will require well-concerted agricultural extension that can leverage IPs in view of its potentials.

What impact does the adoption of drought-tolerant maize for Africa have on the yield and poverty status of farmers in the arid region of Nigeria?

Maize production in Nigeria has not been able to meet the needs of people owing to drought, low productivity and lack of access to improved varieties by the farmers. Increased agricultural yield is a potential means for increasing household income, which tends to lower the poverty status of small-holder farmers. This study assessed the impact of Drought-Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) on the yield and poverty status of farmers in the northwestern region of Nigeria. The study used the dataset from Adoption of DTMA Survey by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, with 293 respondents from northwestern Nigeria (90 adopters and 203 non-adopters of DTMA). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, binary regression and propensity score matching methods. Results showed that small-holder farmers were more likely to adopt DTMA than bigger farms. Adopters had an increase in DTMA yield of 9,262.77kg/ha while the counterfactual non-adopters had an increase of 3,807.74kg/ha. The adoption of DTMA reduced the probability of being poor by 60 percent for the treatment group while poverty incidence was reduced by 35% among the non-adopters. The general conclusion is that DTMA adoption program improved maize yield and reduced poverty incidence among rural households.

Stochastic production function and technical efficiency of maize farms in southern agricultural zone of Nasarawa State Nigeria

Maize production in Nigeria, particularly in the Southern part of Nasarawa Sate is characterized by low yield often attributed to poor farm-resource productivity and inefficiency in resource utilization. Any policy attempt at meeting the ever growing domestic demand for maize as food and raw material, must be anchored on the sound knowledge of output-inputs relationship and efficiency in farm-resource management. Therefore, this study is designed to estimate technical relationship between inputs-output in maize production and determine technical efficiency of maize farms in Southern Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State. Multi- stage sampling technique was employed to select 120 maize farmers. Data collected were based on 2016 cropping season. Descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier functions were employed for the analysis. The results show that variables significantly influencing maize output in the study area were farm size, labour, herbicide and fertilizer. Majority of the farmers operated at 85% efficiency level. The determinants of technical efficiency among maize farmers were level of education and years of farming (farming experience). Thus, on the average, maize farmers require 15% efficiency enhancing technology to attain the status of the most efficient farmer. It is recommended that for greater output of maize, farm size, herbicide, labour and fertilizer use should be increased at least by 1%; since farms in the area were operating at increasing return to scale. Similarly, to ensure improvement in the efficiency of on-farm resource management, effort should be intensified in the provision of education to farmers; since education of the farmers tend to reduce significantly the inefficiency in maize farms.

Is increasing inorganic fertilizer use for maize production in SSA a profitable proposition? Evidence from Nigeria

Inorganic fertilizer use across Sub-Saharan Africa is generally considered to be low. Yet, the notion that fertilizer use is too low is predicated on the assumption that it is profitable to use rates higher than currently observed. There is, however, limited empirical evidence to support this. Using a nationally representative panel dataset, this paper empirically estimates the profitability of fertilizer use for maize production in Nigeria. We find that fertilizer use in Nigeria is not as low as conventional wisdom suggests. Low marginal physical product and high transportation costs significantly reduce the profitability of fertilizer use. Apart from reduced transportation costs, other constraints such as soil quality, timely access to the product, and availability of complementary inputs such as improved seeds, irrigation and credit, as well as good management practices are also necessary for sustained agricultural productivity improvements.

Economic Effects of Climate Change on Maize Production and Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies in Nigeria: A Ricardian Approach

Increasing threat of climate change is aggravating the problem of declining agricultural productivity in the face of rapid population growth. This implies that rural sustainance and food security is under threat and stress. Given that crops differ in climate requirements and economic importance, analysis of the attendant effect of climate change on specific crop remains to be adequately explored. This study uses Ricardian approach to examine the effects of climate change on maize production in Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed for the study. Data were collected on 346 maize-based farming households in three different agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Average age of the farmers and household size were 45years and 8 persons respectively. Average years of farming experience and years of schooling were 25.6 and 6.5 years respectively. The empirical results showed that maize net revenue is sensitive to climate change. Seasonal marginal impact analysis showed that increase in rainfall during rainy season increased Maize Net Revenue (MNR) in rainforest, guinea and montane savanna respectively. Marginal increase in rainfall during the dry season increased MNR in rainforest while it decreased MNR in guinea and montane savanna respectively. However, marginal increase in temperature during dry season has positive impacts on MNR in all AEZs. The predicted results using a range of climate scenarios confirm that climate change will have negative impact on maize net revenue in the future. Maize Farmers have taken adaptive measures against climate change which are changing the planting dates, changed land-use practices, mixed cropping and mixed farming. The major barriers to adaptation are inadequate credit or saving and inadequate knowledge of appropriate adaptation strategies suited for the local climate conditions.

Technical Efficiency of Maize Production in Nigeria: Parametric and Non-Parametric Approach

The study was carried out to provide empirical evidence on technical efficiency of maize production in Nigeria using parametric and non-parametric approaches. The study employed annual secondary data on maize production in Nigeria from 1971 to 2010.Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) were used to estimate the technical efficiency of maize production. The results revealed that, the mean technical efficiency scores were 64.1%, 77.8% and 87.7% for technical efficiency under stochastic frontier analysis, technical efficiency of DEA constant return to scale and technical efficiency of DEA variable return to scale assumptions, respectively. These showed that the efficiency scores obtained from DEA are higher than those obtained from SFA. The results implied that, the country can expand its scope of output production by 35.5%, 22.2% and 12.3% for technical efficiency under stochastic frontier analysis, data envelopment analysis constant return to scale and variable return to scale, respectively. It is concluded that under the two methods used farmers can still expand their scope of output production through appropriate combination and use of production inputs at the given technology.

EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE GROWTH RATE OF MAIZE PRODUCTION IN THE PRE - SAP, SAP AND POST - SAP PERIODS IN NIGERIA

This study was carried out to provide empirical evidence on the growth rates of maize production in three sub periods in Nigeria namely pre Structural Adjustment Programme period, Structural Adjustment Program period and post Structural Adjustment Programme period. Secondary data on maize production in Nigeria during the Pre Structural Adjustment Programme period (1970 to 1985), Structural Adjustment period (1986 to 1994) and post Structural Adjustment Programme period (1995 to 2007) were employed in this study. A growth rate model was used to estimate the growth rates of maize in the three sub periods. The results of the analysis showed that the instantaneous growth rates of maize production are 0.1%, 5.7% and 2.4 % and the compound rates of growth of maize production are 0.001%, 0.059% and 0.024% for the pre Structural Adjustment Programme, Structural Adjustment Programme and post Structural Adjustment Programme periods respectively. The higher compound growth rate of maize production in the Structural Adjustment Programme period implies that the policy reforms in the period was more effective in ensuring increased growth of maize production over that of other periods in Nigeria. Therefore, despite the myriads of problems associated with the programme in Nigeria, it was beneficial to maize production in Nigeria.

Comparative Evaluation of Water Deficit Tolerance Capacity of Extra-early and Early Maize Genotypes under Controlled Conditions

Maize is an important staple food crop in Tropical Africa including Nigeria. However, the production of the crop is constrained by inadequate soil moisture resulting from erratic rainfall distribution. There is therefore the need to breed and select for drought tolerant genotypes for production especially in the southern Guinea savannah ecology responsible for over 60% of maize production in Nigeria. Controlled experiments using potted plants were therefore conducted during the dry periods between November 2007 and April 2008. The study evaluated moisture deficit tolerance capacity of two maize maturity groups, consisting of 15 extra-early and 12 early genotypes along with two local checks, subjected to two moisture levels 25% (stressed) and 100% (unstressed) soil available moisture) determined gravimetrically. Crop establishment parameters (% germination and mean germination time (MGT), morphological growth parameters (number and area of leaves, plant height, flowering characteristics), physiological growth indices (leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and leaf area ratio) were measured during growth. Yield components (harvest index, shelling percentage and number of kernels per cob) and grain yield were determined at harvest. The data were analyzed using the general model of ANOVA and significant means were separated by the Least Significance Difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. The results showed that there were no appreciable differences between the two maturity groups for most measured parameters. However, across the two groups, crop establishment parameters, morpho-physiological growth parameters, yield components and grain yield were significantly reduced by soil moisture deficit, while flowering characteristics were significantly delayed by soil moisture stress with significant variable genotypic responses. Grain yield reduction due to water stress was significantly related to drought susceptibility index (DSI) of the genotypes in the two maturity groups. Conclusively, whereas extra-early genotypes showed good yield potentials but poor drought tolerance which suggested poor yield stability and therefore may not be suitable for the southern Guinea savanna (SGS) ecology in the event of severe stress. However, early genotypes, though showed lower yield potential, had good yield stability and hence are promising genotypes for the SGS ecology.

Effects of fertilizer liberalization on maize production in Nigeria

The paper studies the effects of the liberalization of the Nigerian fertilizer sector, vis-a-vis the sustenance of the present dual fertilizer distribution arrangement, on maize production in Nigeria. Time series data was collected for the period 1990-2006. A multiple regression model was specified with aggregate fertilizer use, maize hectarage and a dummy variable designed to capture the effects of the changes induced by fertilizer liberalization measure, as explanatory variables. Aggregate maize output was the dependent variable. Results of this study indicate that a significant decrease in aggregate maize production followed the Federal Government’s liberalization of the fertilizer sector in 1997. The statistically significant decrease in Maize production is attributable to the statistically significant decrease in fertilizer use during the fertilizer liberalization period. The paper concluded that the sustenance of the present dual fertilizer distribution arrangement has a negative effect on maize production in Nigeria.

Effect of different split applications of npk fertilizer on growthand yield of maize, and economic returns.

Declining inherent soil nutrient, poor grain yield of maize, delayed supply and high cost of inorganic fertilizer, call for proper timing of application, to optimize the use of this scarce resource in maize production in Nigeria. A field experiment was carried out in the 2007 and 2008 cropping seasons in the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to investigate the effect of different split applications of NPK fertilizer 20:10:10 on growth and yield of maize. Six treatments laid out in Randomized complete Block Design (RCBD) consisted of 600 kg/ha of NPK 20:10:10 in 2007 and 300 kg/ha in 2008, applied at 2 and 6 WAP (Week after planting), 2 and 8 WAP, 4 and 6 WAP, 4 and 8 WAP, 6 and 8 WAP and no fertilizer (control). Plant height, grain yield, cob length, cob girth, hundred grain weight were all significantly affected (p Keywords: Fertilizer, split application, maize

Market liberalization and maize production in Nigeria

This study examined the impact of market liberalization on maize production in Nigeria. Time series data for a 29-year period (1970 - 1998) were collected. Zellner’s seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model was used as the estimation technique. Output of maize was found to be more during liberalization. Fertilizer price and hectarage planted to maize were the significant variables affecting maize output. Fertilizer consumption was found to be affected by hectarage planted to maize and crop loan. Retail price of fertilizer was determined by the factory gate and world prices of fertilizer. For hectarage planed to maize, crop loan, government expenditure, and the relative price of maize to millet, were the significant explanatory variables. For output of maize and hectarage planted to maize, the dummy variable (0, for pre-liberalization and 1 for liberalized period) were significant. This means that market liberalization did affect these variables. However for fertilizer consumption and fertilizer price, the dummy variables were non-significant and this implied that market liberalization had no impact on fertilizer consumption and fertilizer price. Conclusion is that market liberalization if properly implemented had a positive impact on maize production in the country. Key words: Market liberalization, maize production, Nigeria.

Resource-Use Efficiency Of Small Scale Maize Farmers In Lavun Local Government, Niger State, Nigeria

The study examined resource-use efficiencies of maize production in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Maize is the most important staple food of great socio-economic importance in Nigeria, however price fluctuation, disease and pest, poor storage facilities and efficiency of resource utilization have been identified as reasons for low maize production in Nigeria. An improvement in the understanding of the levels of resource-use efficiency and its relationship with a host of farm level factors can greatly aid policy makers in creating efficiency, enhancing policies as well as in judging the efficiency of present and past reforms. The primary data used for the study were obtained using structured questionnaires administered to 100 randomly selected farmers. Descriptive statistics, gross margin and production functions analysis and resource-useefficiencies were used for the analysis of data. The result showed that maize production is profitable in the area. Farm size and seed input were significant factors influencing output level of maize in the area. Estimatedefficiency-ratio (r) shows that the resources used were not efficiently utilized. The study recommended that farm inputs especially improved seeds and agrochemicals for the controlling of pest and disease should be supplied to farmers at the right time and at cost that is within their reach. Also good roads must be constructed to aid the easy movement of their farm products to the point of consumption