Smallholder Rice Farmers Research Articles

Assessment of Climate Change on Living Standard: Evidence from Flood-Prone Smallholder Rice Farmers in South-East Nigeria

This study seeks to assess the effect of flood on farm household living standard among smallholder rice farmers in southeast, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the perceived climate hazard occurrence in the study area, analyzed the effect of flood on farm households’ living standards in the study area and described the flood control measures used among smallholder farmers in the study area. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select a total sample size of 480 smallholders. Primary data were collected using a well structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and OLS regression model were used to analyze the data. The result also showed that majority (90%) of the respondents experienced flooding as the major climate change hazard in the study area. The result of the regression showed that flood reduced rice yield/quantity, flood caused lost of revenue and farm proximity to river negatively significantly influenced the consumption expenditure among smallholder rice farmers at 5 % probability level in the study area. The result also showed that fitting of water inflated sandbags as flood barriers (M= 3.44), creation of drainage (M= 3.28), removal of sediment (M= 3.26), building of water gates (M= 3.22) and construction of flood barrier socks (M= 3.19) were the control measures they used during the incident of flood in the study area

Effects of using climate-smart agricultural practices on factor demand and input substitution among smallholder rice farmers in Nigeria

Effects of using climate-smart agricultural practices on factor demand and input substitution among smallholder rice farmers in Nigeria

Agricultural socialized services empowering smallholder rice producers to achieve high technical efficiency: empirical evidence from southern China

IntroductionThis study emphasizes the importance of agricultural efficiency for food security and income generation, especially among smallholder rice farmers in southern China. Limited access to essential agricultural services hinders productivity in this region. The study highlights the significant potential of agricultural socialized services (ASS) in improving the technical efficiency of smallholder rice production.MethodsTo analyze the impact of ASS on technical efficiency in rice production, we focused on tillage, transplanting, crop protection, and harvest operations. We employed stochastic frontier analysis and collected data from smallholder farmers in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces. By estimating the technical efficiency of rice production, we aimed to assess the relationship between ASS and smallholder farmers’ technical efficiency.Results and discussionThe results of our analysis revealed that ASS significantly enhance the technical efficiency of rice production among smallholder farmers by supporting agricultural practices such as transplanting, crop protection, and harvest operations. However, we found that the impact of ASS on tillage operations was not statistically significant. Participation in ASS enhances smallholders’ access to modern production techniques, resources, and knowledge, leading to improved technical efficiency. These services also empower smallholder rice producers to adopt sustainable farming practices, access credit, financing, and market information, and promote collective action and cooperation, ultimately influencing technical efficiency.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the potential of ASS in improving the technical efficiency of smallholder rice production in southern China. Policymakers and agricultural organizations can use these insights to design interventions that promote efficient practices, enhance productivity, support livelihoods, and ensure food security in the region.

Participation in village savings and lending associations and rice profitability in Tanzania: Application of propensity score matching and endogenous switching regression

We assess the contribution of participation in bundled service-bundled VSLAs on rice productivity and profit among smallholder rice farmers in Mvomero District, Tanzania. The study propensity score matching (PSM) and endogenous switching regression (ESR) models, and found that participation in VSLA has a positive and significant contribution to rice productivity and profit for smallholder rice farmers. Participation in VSLAs increases farmers' ability to regenerate income for investing in improving productivity and profitability and enhancing rice sector development. VSLAs prove as a tool for building financial capital through savings and easy access to credit in rural areas. This study improves on existing research and offers new insights into the effects of VSLA as one of the financial inclusion tools on the economic activities of agricultural households in Tanzania.

A cost benefits analysis of the adoption of system of rice intensification: Evidence from smallholder rice farmers within an innovation platform in Oluch irrigation scheme, Kenya.

In the wake of climate change and dwindling natural resources, system of rice intensification has been fronted as an approach to improve rice production in several countries. Besides the benefits such as improved rice productivity, reduced water usage that have widely been observed, there is need to quantify the economic benefits of system of rice intensification accrued to farmers, thereby promoting it as an innovation to improve livelihoods of rice farmers. This aim of this paper is to quantify the economic benefits of undertaking SRI among smallholder rice farmers. We introduced SRI among smallholder farmers in a rural setting in western Kenya, Oluch irrigation scheme, through an innovation platform approach. Over the period of four years (2016-2019), we quantify the benefits accrued to the uptake of the technology among adopters of the technology. Our comparisons are in reference to a baseline study conducted prior to the full-scale promotion of SRI in the study area. Our study findings reveal that the uptake of specific SRI practices increased by at least 30-80%, and acreage under rice farming increased by 50%. Besides, SRI required more production costs per acre (63% increase), although SRI had at least 28.6% higher return per shilling invested. Our findings underscore previous results in the literature that SRI is associated with not only productivity but also economic benefits justifying the need for scaling especially among smallholder farmers. Nonetheless, efficient approaches to scaling such promising technologies are necessary to enhance productivity and subsequently improve livelihoods.

Effect of Financial Inclusion on Agricultural Farm Performance in Rwanda: “ A case study of COMSS cooperative.”

Financial inclusion services are an important elements in agricultural farming operations. It makes it possible for producers to cover the cash requirements resulting from the agricultural industry’s unique production cycle, which typically occupies several months and generates very little cash income while necessitating spending money for materials, input purchases, and consumption. Access to financial services is one of several concerns that have an influence on smallholder farmers. Access to adequate, appropriate, and reasonably priced formal financial services for smallholder farmers, however, is a problem that frequently arises in Rwanda. Many rural residents continue to be practically cut off from the financial services required to maintain their survival and enhance agricultural farm performance . The general objective of the research was to find out how financial inclusion affected the performance of the agricultural farms in Muyumbu and Masaka sector . The study was additionally motivated by three specific objectives:to determine the effect of access of microcredit on the performance of the agricultural farm,to examine the effect of access of microsaving on the performance of the agricultural farm,to determine the effect of access of mobile money services on the performance agricultural farm . The target population was the smallholder rice farmers in Muyumbu and Masaka sector.To attain these objectives simple random sampling was employed .The information was given by 186 smallholder rice farmers in Muhazi and Masaka sector.A researcher employed quantitative method for data collection where structured questionnaires instrument was used, descriptive as well as correlative research design were used .Descriptive and inferencial statistics were applied for data analysis. Descriptive statistics employed were frequencies ,standard deviation, and mean. Correlation and multiple regression model were employed for inferencial statistics to show the link among variables ,and SPSS version 20 were also utilized for analysis of data.the findings were presented using tables. The results of this research demonstrated that there is a significant effect and positive contribution of access of microcredit ,microsaving and mobile money services on the performance of the agricultural farm in Rwanda as shown by the coefficient of.609*, which is regarded as a high and positive correlation according to the table’s Pearson correlation .The null hypotheses that financial inclusion has no significant effect on the agricultural farm performance was rejected. The study recommends that MFI should expand financial inclusion through access of microcredit, microsaving and mobile money services which significantly uplift agricultural farm performance. The researcher also suggests that different MFIs and government agencies should provide financial training as well as awareness programs for small-scale farmers on how to access microsavings, microcredit, and mobile money services, MFI should Explore the potential for linking microsavings programs with microcredit opportunities. This can create a holistic approach to financial inclusion, allowing farmers to not only save but also access credit when needed for investments in their agricultural activities.

Weather risks, crop losses, and risk proneness: An examination of evolving risk preferences of rice farmers in Bangladesh

Changing climate poses significant challenges for smallholder rice farmers. Weather-related deviations from longer-term patterns and crop losses due to abiotic hazards can affect farmer risk preferences and drive adaptive responses. In addition, farmers’ proneness to and past experiences with crop risks such as drought, submergence, and excess soil salinity can impact their baseline risk preferences and their response to changing risks. Using data for Bangladesh from two waves of the Rice Monitoring Survey, climate-related data (precipitation and temperature), farmer reports of crop losses, and measures of proneness to abiotic risks, this article estimates how weather deviations from longer-term trends, crop losses, and proneness to crop risks (submergence, drought, and soil salinity) affect elicited risk preferences over time. This research finds evidence in favor of the hypothesis that larger absolute seasonal deviations from past patterns of seasonal mean daily minimum temperature and seasonal total precipitation yield increased risk aversion. In addition, the research provides mixed evidence with respect to risk proneness and farmers’ change in risk preferences over time. Contrary to our original hypothesis, individuals with land more prone to soil salinity become more risk averse rather than less, but, consistent with our hypothesis, those with land more prone to crop submergence become more risk preferring over time. Because of differences in crop experiences and degrees of proneness to risk, risk preferences for farmers in different regions are predicted to evolve along different pathways. This article contributes to the literature on risk preference formation by considering the possibility that less significant deviations than shocks might also contribute to evolving risk preferences. In addition, the article emphasizes the regional heterogeneity of changing preferences. An ancillary finding of this work suggests that risk preferences are only weakly related over time, contrary to other findings in the literature on the stability of risk preferences. Of policy relevance, the differential experiences in weather variability at the regional and local levels yield important differences in changes in preferences and should give rise to careful, regional-level policies to support adaptation to changing weather.

DETERMINANTS OF AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIALIZATION AMONG SMALLHOLDER RICE FARMERS IN EKITI-STATE, NIGERIA.

The purpose of the paper is to examine the determinants of agricultural commercialization among smallholder rice farmers in Ekiti-state, Nigeria. Examining factors influencing agricultural commercialization among smallholder rice farmers is important for boosting rice production and making price of rice affordable. However, study focusing on factors influencing agricultural commercialization among smallholder rice farmers are very few. Hence the need for this study. The paper used cross sectional data obtained from a simple random sampling where a sample of 420 smallholder rice farmers was obtained. Descriptive statistics and double hurdle regression analysis were employed as analytical methods to obtain results on respondents’ socioeconomics characteristics and factors influencing agricultural commercialization. The findings indicate that men engaged more in rice production than women irrespective of their commercialization status and commercializing respondents produce more tonnes of rice than their non-commercializing counterparts. Some of the determinants of the decision to commercialize and intensify commercialization include: education, earning income from other crops, access to credit, being member of agricultural production group and reduced cost of transportation. Therefore, in order to boost rice production there is the need for government and NGOs to support rice farmers (particularly the young male) in terms of improving their level of education and access to credit via group lending which would promote group formation. Also, efforts in the direction of reduction of transaction costs via good road networks, subsidizing price of means of transport and as well as mobile phone and improving extension services delivery should be prioritized.

Understanding smallholder preferences for joint ventures in Ghana's rice sector: Improving market access through inclusive business models

Efforts to connect farmers with markets in an inclusive manner have gained prominence within organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Inclusive Business Models (IBMs) have emerged as a promising avenue for achieving this objective. Currently, the adoption of IBM structures remains limited, particularly in developing countries, resulting in a paucity of information on motivating factors behind farmer engagement. This study employs a discrete choice experiment to discern these preferences, focusing on a joint venture model within the rice sector in Ghana. Data from face-to-face surveys with smallholder rice farmers analysed with a latent class model revealed heterogeneity in preferences towards IBM attributes, with a majority (55 per cent) choosing alternatives that were consistent with a joint venture business model. These related to level of investment and decision making, quality standards, price, payment schedules and control. The study also identified demographic and experiential characteristics of farmers willing to engage with IBMs. Such farmers tended to be more educated, younger, possess greater experience in rice farming, manage smaller farms, have experience with contracts, invest in processing equipment, and infrequently adopt new production practices. These findings underscore the potential to enhance the quality of domestically produced rice through IBMs and advocate for government intervention to overcome barriers, especially in the context of investment. Additionally, the results suggest that targeting younger farmers with prior contract-selling experience could encourage participation in IBMs.

Impact of Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) on Smallholder Rice Farmers in Kebbi State, Nigeria

The study examined the impact of Anchor Borrowers Programme on smallholder rice farmers in Kebbi State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 500 beneficiary and non-beneficiary rice farmers each giving a sample size of 1000 farmers for the study. Data collected were analysed using Descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequency distribution, performance indices computation, t-test, Chow-test and production function analysis. The results of the analysis of the Chow F computation indicated that there is a significant difference in the production function of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries respectively since the computed Chow F value of 21.128 was greater than that of the critical F- value at the 0.01 probability level. This is an indication that the ABP performed well. The results further revealed that the two groups of rice farmers were not operating on the same production function. ABP significantly and positively affected output and income of the beneficiary farmers in the study area. It is recommended that Policies should be tailored towards inclusiveness of more farmers into the ABP. The programme should also be extended to cater for other sub-sectors of the Agricultural sectors such as Livestock and Aquaculture.

Migrant Labor and Farm technical Efficiency of Paddy Production in North Bihar

"It has long been known that migration and remittances contributed to the growth of agriculture. This study was conducted in East Champaran and West Champaran for paddy production. Multistage random sampling was applied to the study area. The study area was selected based on the annual production of Paddy in Bihar. Stochastic Frontier Analysis was applied to get an appropriate result for remittance on paddy farming. Our findings have important policy ramifications because they suggest that smallholder paddy production may become more technically efficient by using migrant labour’s remittances more frequently. By providing small-holder growers with continuously growing support from extension services, enough market access for selling their product, and farmer empowerment for women, the government may be able to increase the technical efficiency of smallholder rice farmers. Instructing farmers on correct weeding schedules, for instance, would be one way that effective extension services might enhance crop management practises."

Statistical Farm Records: Drivers and Challenges Among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Ndop Plain, Cameroon

The study seeks to analyze statistical farm records: drivers and challenges among smallholder rice farmers in Ndop Plain, Cameroon. Specifically, to determine the factors influencing smallholder rice farmers in Ndop Plain to keep statistical farm records and to analyze the challenges in the exercise. Methodologically, the study employed primary data collected from some 470 rice farmers using a well-structured questionnaire. Purposive sampling technique was applied to select respondents and a conventional Probit model used to estimate the result. It was observed that: male farmer, level of education, used of records, used of technology to manage statistical farm records, production of different types of rice, use of farm record for input and output analysis, had farm record training and Movement from manual to electronic record keeping are significantly influencing farmers’ statistical farm records practices in Ndop Plain. The challenges observed with record keeping are: fundamental error keeping, bulky records, inadequate finance, records misplacement and burdensome to keep farm records. Considering that only 34% of farmers are involved in records keeping and willing to move from manual way of keeping records to electronic, the study suggests that an online App is created for easy accessibility and inputting of these farm records. This will be a wise-step for the government to scale the process of farm output.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Off-Farm Income Generating Activities Among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Anambra State

The study examined the socio-determinants of off-farm income among small-holder rice farmers in Anambra State. Specifically, it described socio-economic characteristics, off-farm income generating activities, and level of participation in various off-farm income generating activities in the study area. Multistage sampling procedure involving purposive and random sampling methods were used to select two agricultural zones, four LGAs, eight communities, thirty smallholder rice farmers and two hundred and forty (240) respondents for the study. Primary data were collected by means of structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, frequency distribution, percentages, tables and mean ranking) and Simpson participation index. Findings showed that majority of the farmers are within the age limit of 41-50 years and majority had no access to credit due to bottleneck activities and collateral requirements in obtaining the loan from most financial institution. Result on off-farm income generating activities showed that many of the smallholder rice farmers are into trading (54.2%), handcraft (52.5%), repair (50.8%) and many others that help them to generate extra income in the study area. Result of level of off farm participation by smallholder rice farmers revealed that moderate level of off-farm income participation had a high percentage of 52.5% with mean value of 0.49. Thus, smallholder rice farmers participated in off-farm income generation activities moderately. Government should of necessity address the issue of fuel subsidy removal which has a gross effect on the movement of farmers and insufficient extension workers in the State should be addressed by relevant stake holders were recommended. Keywords: Determinants, off-farm, Income, rice farmers.

Effects of risk attitude on the technical efficiency of small-holder rice farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Effects of risk attitude on the technical efficiency of small-holder rice farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Determinants of Smallholder Rice Farmers’ Willingness-to-Pay for Private Extension Services in Liberia: The Case of Gibi District

Globally, many policymakers and extension professionals have advocated for the privatization of extension services in order to reduce the burden of funding faced by the state as well as to adequately respond to the low productivity problem of farmers as they endeavor to tackle productivity problems. This study assessed willingness-to-pay (WTP) for private extension services by farmers and identified the determinants of their WTP using Gibi District of Liberia as a case study. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 296 smallholder rice farmers in the district while the double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method was used to elicit maximum WTP value for farmers. Descriptive statistics were computed and the double-bounded logit model used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that 78.7% of the rice farmers were willing to pay for privatized extension services and on average, a farmer was willing to pay US$11.21 per farm visit, almost twice the average daily wage rate of a skilled worker in Liberia. The results from the model showed that WTP was significantly positively influenced by the household head’s age, years of schooling, household size, annual income, and distance to extension service provider. The study recommends that the Liberian government and its development partners should encourage the private sector to invest more in extension services to take advantage of the relatively high farmers’ WTP and effective demand. In addition, the government should design and implement programs that reduce transaction costs in addition to increasing farmers’ income in order to enhance their capacity to pay for privatized extension services.

Factors Influencing Loan Repayment Performance among Smallholder Rice Farmers under the Anchor Borrower Programme in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Factors Influencing Loan Repayment Performance among Smallholder Rice Farmers under the Anchor Borrower Programme in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Input credit scheme, farm productivity and food security nexus among smallholder rice farmers: evidence from North East Ghana

PurposeThis study examined the impact of the Input Credit Scheme (ICS) by the Integrated Water Management and Agriculture Development (IWAD) on the productivity and food security of smallholder rice farmers in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachCross-sectional data from 250 rice farming households in the Mamprugu Moagduri district of the North East Region obtained from a multi-stage sampling technique were used for the study. Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA), Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Kendall's coefficient of concordance were the methods of analysis employed.FindingsEmpirical results show that education, rice farming experience, dependency ratio, FBO membership, farm size and farm age were the significant factors influencing participation in the input credit scheme (ICS). Also, participants had an average rice productivity of 1,476.83 kg/ha, whereas non-participants had 1,131.81 kg/ha implying that participants increased their productivity by about 30%. In addition, the study revealed that participant households increased their household dietary diversity (HDDS) by 0.45 points amounting to about 8% diversity in their diets. High-interest rates associated with credit received, the short periods of credit repayment and the high cost of inputs provided under the scheme were the most challenging constraints associated with partaking in the ICS.Practical implicationsThe available literature on agricultural interventions have predominantly emphasized input credit as a key factor for improving cropt productivity and food security of smallholders. This study provides compelling evidence that participation in ICSs can result in substantial benefits for agricultural development, as evidenced by increased productivity leading to improved food security. The significance of these findings is highlighted by the fact that, through participation in input credit schemes, smallholder rice farmers in many developing countries see substantial improvement in their capacity to access productive resources, thereby improving their productivity, while simultaneously reducing food insecurity.Social implicationsLeveraging on the improved productivity of participants in the ICS, this study advocates that such input credit schemes should scale up to more food-insecure farming communities in Ghana.Originality/valueThe study uses a doubly robust econometric approach to evaluate the impact of ICS on smallholder rice farmers' productivity and food security in Ghana, making it the first of its kind. The findings offer a solid basis for future research and provide guidance for policymakers looking to boost agricultural development in Ghana.

Factors That Influence the Intention of Smallholder Rice Farmers to Adopt Cleaner Production Practices: An Empirical Study of Precision Agriculture Adoption.

Sustainable agriculture is crucial for achieving SDG2 and building a resilient climate-food system. This study provides a nuanced understanding of factors that influence the adoption of precision agriculture technology by Vietnamese smallholder rice farmers as a sustainable agricultural solution. The study's objectives are: (1) to provide a nuanced understanding of factors that influence adoption of precision agriculture technology by Vietnamese smallholder rice farmers; and (2) to identify factors associated with agricultural practice in Vietnam that may impact the adoption of precision agriculture technology. The study conducted 35 semi-structured interviews with smallholder rice farmers and agriculture experts. Data were analyzed using iterative thematic analysis. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model was used for empirical analysis. The UTAUT constructs of Performance expectancy, Effort expectancy, Government support, and Social influence were found to be determinants of adoption. Trialability and Observability impact Effort expectancy and Performance expectancy. We also discovered that the performance of agricultural cooperatives and support of lead firms play a crucial role in facilitating agricultural technology adoption by Vietnamese smallholder rice farmers. The results confirm the applicability of UTAUT in defining smallholders' behavioural intention and predicting agricultural technology adoption. The study also provides constructive feedback on the UTAUT model by highlighting the effect of agricultural cooperatives' performance as innovation intermediaries and of the support of lead firms.

Comparative analysis of the profitability of rice seed and grain production enterprise among smallholder farmers in Anambra state, Nigeria

This study examines the comparative analysis and profitability of rice seed and grain production among smallholder farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria. The researchers collected data from 400 smallholder rice farmers (200 seeds and 200-grain farmers) using a multi-stage sampling technique. The findings indicate that 56% of the grain farmers and 50% of the seed farmers are male. The average age of grain farmers is 44.14, while seed farmers have an average age of 37.08, suggesting that seed farmers tend to be younger. Additionally, a high percentage of both grain (87.0%) and seed (73.5%) farmers are married. In terms of production methods, 37.0% of grain farmers use broadcasting, while 51.5% of seed farmers practice direct seed sowing. The rest of the seed farmers (48.5%) use nursery and transplanting methods. The profitability index shows that seed production is more profitable than grain production, with indexes of 84.0% and 79.6%, respectively. The factors impeding rice farmers from maximizing their profits are classified into three categories: economic factors, institutional factors, and management factors. Economic factors include poor access to information and scarcity of labour during the farming season. Institutional factors involve high input costs and expensive machinery. The study also highlights cattle-related issues as a management factor that threatens rice farming in both enterprises. Based on the findings, the study recommends the development of a comprehensive agricultural policy to address the challenges identified, taking into account limited resources and the need for improved information access, affordable inputs, and effective management strategies.

Level of adoption of climate smart agriculture among smallholder rice farmers in Osun State: does financing matter?

Application of climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies being context-specific is premised on integrating agroclimatic and socioeconomic conditions, institutional structures, and most importantly, financing mechanisms vis-à-vis the adoption capacities of the farmers. This study examined financing adoption intensity of CSA technologies among sampled smallholder rice farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. The results of this study point to the fact that gender of household head, marital status, access to climate information, access to off-farm income, access to cooperative and access to credit were the determinants of level of adoption of CSA technology amongst the smallholder rice farmers in the study area. In view of the nexus between CSA adoption level and access to credit as revealed in this study, increasing awareness about how the credit market works and information on the provision of climate change can help farmers to better adapt to climate change. This significant impact of the credit accessibility on level of CSA adoption confirms the critical role that credit availability has in climate financing. Thus, agricultural policies to improve institutional support, such as involvement in farm-based cooperative, credit facility, and off-farm income activities, are crucial to upscale CSA adoption in the study area. The income from non-farm activities can be reinvested into farm operations to improve farmers’ adaptive capacity and subsequently increase productivity. It could also be recommended that policies enhancing and strengthening institutional support may also be valuable in augmenting the adaptation strategies of smallholder farmers.