eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 3 12 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.03-12 1577-1 article Gilbert DAGUNGA Kamaru ABUBAKARI Joseph AGEBASE AWUNI Research background: The threat from climate change remains a major concern especially for developing economies like Ghana. Hence, agricultural practices that are environmentally friendly and improves soil health are very necessary for building resilience. Purpose of the article: The present study investigated the determinants of conservation agricultural practices in northern Ghana as well as the effect of these practices on soil health for sustainable production. Methods: Using cross-sectional data collected by the International food policy research institute from 1284 households, a multivariate probit model was first performed to identify the determinants of conservation agricultural practices while the inverse probability weighted regression adjustment was employed to establish the effect of conservation agricultural practices on soil health. Findings & value added: Results from the multivariate probit model showed that socioeconomic and institutional factors as well as different household-specific factors, influence farmer’s decisions to engage in various conservation agricultural practices. Crop rotation, fallowing, contour ploughing or pit planting and manure application were found to have a positive effect on soil health through improved resilience to soil erosion. The study concludes that conservation agricultural practices will be useful in Ghana’s quest of achieving zero hunger since the conservation agricultural practices ensure that food is produced for the present generations without compromising the soil health for further productions. Hence, the current Ghanaian government’s flagship programme dubbed ‘planting for food and jobs’ should include conservation agriculture as a priority module in its framework so that households could both increase their output while maintaining the quality of the soil. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Dagunga_et_al.pdf conservation agriculture inverse probability weighted regression adjustment multivariate probit soil health eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 13 20 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.13-20 1577-1 article Mercy Ebere NDUBUEZE-OGARAKU Olutola Ayodele ADEYOOLA Cecilia Akuchinyere NWIGWE Research background: Yam is rated as a principal tuber crop in the Nigeria economy, contributing to more than 200 dietary calories per capita daily in West Africa. It’s also an important source of income generation and trade. However, increase in yam production over the years is attributed more to the large area planted than to increase in farm level productivity. Purpose of the article: This study aimed at estimating the determinants of technical efficiency and inefficiency levels in small-holder yam farms in Nigeria. The research specifically determined farm level technical efficiency and estimated farmers’ socioeconomic variables that contributed to inefficiency level in yam production in Nigeria. Methods: Cross sectional data was collected from 80 yam farmers, randomly selected from the study area. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean and percentage) and Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier production function model were the analytical tools used. Findings & value added: Results indicated that the farmers were fairly educated and mainly males (75%) with a mean age of 36 years. Farmers level of education and their age showed negative influence on technical efficiency, while household size and farming experience showed positive influence on technical efficiency. MLE estimates indicated that coefficients of farm size and yam seedlings were significant at 5% while fertilizer and labour were not significant. Mean efficiency of yam farmers was 94.6%, indicating an allowance of 5.4% for improvement. The finding suggests that there is need to support yam farmers in the use of modern techniques in yam production, which would encourage older and educated farmers to remain in farming. High incidence of pest and diseases and high cost of farm labour were among other major challenges faced by the farmers. It is recommended that programmes that would help improve farmers’ access to input supplies at subsided rate should be put in place to enhance farm productivity. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Ndubueze_Ogaraku_et_al.pdf determinants technical efficiency small-holders yam farmers eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 21 26 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.21-26 1577-1 article Saleamlak Fentaw GETAHUN Sintayehu DEJENE Research background: The Horn of Africa is arguably the most vulnerable region for many shocks. Currently, the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is spreading fast in the region. The number of new cases and the mortality of this pandemic have increased dramatically. As lockdown and movement restrictions are the major strategies suggested to minimize the spread of the virus, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are not only limited to public health but also have a major impact on the economic aspects. Purpose of the article: This review paper aims to synthesize the consequences of COVID-19 on the digital economy in the Horn of Africa. We review and recommend adopting the digital economy could be the remedy to go through COVID-19 safely as the world sees digital companies boom during the pandemic. Methods: To achieve our purpose, we applied qualitative analysis and synthesis as a method, and recently published papers in the area (most suitable to our aim) are included as data sources. Findings & Value added: The Horn region is already feeling the economic impact of the virus and we discussed it in terms of monetary, fiscal, current account balance, and unemployment expected impacts. However, this pandemic is not just about adverse impacts; it is also about unanticipated business opportunities. In this perspective, the decline of the international oil price during this pandemic can be seen as a blessing in disguise since countries in the region are net importers of crude oil. Moreover, Ethiopia’s coffee export has increased rapidly at a level of record sales of about 665 million dollars from July 2019 to April 2020 (10 months’ export). The lion’s share of this upsurge has been achieved because of the rise in the coffee consumption from homes of the country’s Arabic coffee importers, such as Germany, the U.S, and Saudi Arabia due to the lockdown measures. The paper also covers the prospects of the virus by pinpointing various booming companies that are digital-based businesses. Therefore, we urge the Horn of African countries to internalize these opportunities by swiftly investing in the telecom sector to shift to the online way of doing business. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Getahun_Dejene.pdf COVID-19 economic impact digital economy Horn of Africa eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 27 36 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.27-36 1577-1 article Qijun JIANG Wojciech Jan FLORKOWSKI Research background: The motive behind intentional non-microbiological contamination or adulteration of foods is to limit costs, enhance competitiveness, and increase profits. Profits motivate entrepreneurs and costs caused by operating a quality assurance program that is not offset by revenue increases are resisted. Purpose of the article: To understand the constraints preventing companies from having quality assurance programs, this study examines differences in importance of various constraints in three food industry sub-sectors in Shanghai, China. Methods: The study applies the own survey data because there is a lack of readily available data on the selected topic. A total of 199 food company representatives completed a questionnaire during a workshop on food regulations between September and December, 2016. Descriptive statistics and the heteroskedasticity corrected regression technique are applied to identify statistically significant factors. Findings & Value added: Results show that perishable food sub-sector companies more often agreed that constraints were important in limiting quality assurance programs as compared to the non-perishable food sub-sector. A company anticipating a decrease in revenues in the three years following the survey (2017-2019), employing seasonal workers, and represented by a middle level manager was more likely to view constraints as barriers. Although Shanghai is a large commercially area, the study does not include companies from other provinces recognizing that some regional specificity may matter in implementing quality assurance program. The identified factors suggest the role for government agencies in facilitating such implementation by offsetting selected costs associated with the process of adopting a quality assurance program, while the society at large learns about factors motivating or hampering the implementation of quality assurance programs by food manufacturing companies. This study fills the void in the literature and provides insights about the constraints faced a company generating knowledge for regional and national regulators useful in choosing subsectors and specific aspects facilitating food quality program implementation. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Jiang_Florkowski.pdf food safety perishable food sector non-perishable food sector external constraint internal constraint eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 37 55 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.37-55 1577-1 article Robert Ouko GWADA Hillary Kiplangat BETT Kenneth Waluse SIBIKO Research background: In Kenya, maize production has been severely constrained by parasitic pests and weeds such as Striga, stem borer, and fall armyworm. The government of Kenya and its partners have developed, disseminated, and promoted the continual uptake of integrated pest management technologies such as Push-Pull technology (PPT) as a way of addressing these constraints. Understanding the effect of these technologies on smallholder livelihoods is crucial, however, it is largely ignored in the literature. Purpose of the article: This study evaluates the effect of continual uptake of PPT as an integrated pest management technology on livelihood outcomes of small-scale maize producers in Homa Bay County. Methods: A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 240 respondents. Cross-sectional data were gathered through face-to-face interviews using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire, and analysed using descriptive statistics and propensity score matching models. Findings & Value added: Findings were that age, education level, total land owned, perception on Striga weed, stem borer, and fall armyworm severity, and land tenure positively influenced continual uptake of PPT, whereas the distance to nearest administrative centre was negatively associated with it. Propensity score matching results revealed that continual uptake of PPT had a positive and significant effect on household consumption expenditure and household dietary diversity, with a negative impact on poverty. The study, therefore, recommended policies that will ensure efficiency, literacy development, extension training, and resource availability among PPT non-adopters and dis-adopters to the level of the PPT continuous users. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Gwada_et_al.pdf integrated pest management push-pull technology continual uptake livelihood outcomes propensity score matching eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 56 63 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.56-63 1577-1 article Damilare FADIJI Luke OKOJI Dare AKERELE Research background: Cocoa remains the Nigeria’s highest foreign exchange earner among all agricultural commodities, Contributed 12.5-14% of the national GDP. Currently, Nigeria is the fourth largest cocoa producing country in the world, produced approximately 328,652 tons annually. Occupational risk is a major factor reducing productivity of farm workers as it impairs physical capacity and increase vulnerability to ill health, diseases and injuries. Risk of agrochemical exposure has been attributed to work demand and unhealthy work environment. Purpose of the article: This study aimed to estimate life quality for agrochemical exposure risks of cocoa farm workers in Ondo state Nigeria. The study specifically estimates the amount an individual willingness to pay by respondents for occupational risk reduction. Methods: Multistage sampling technique that guaranteed cocoa farmers who could provide desired information on the basis of the objectives of the study was adopted for the study. Random selection of 180 cocoa farm workers from the study area. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean and percentage) and Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) approach that dovetailed into choice modelling and conditional logistic regression were the analytical tools used. Findings & Value added: the result revealed that 74% of the cocoa farm workers are on active age and mainly male with the mean age of 46 years. Most of the workers are illiterate that cannot read instructions on the agrochemical container. Average workers are willing to pay 830 Nigerian naira for personal protective equipment, 92 Nigerian naira for 15% wage discount as financial benefit of workplace injuries and 1024 Nigerian naira for training of workers in pesticide usage. The study concluded that better health conditions and appropriate use of personal protective equipment minimize the occupational risk. It was therefore recommended that educational programmes that will enhance farmer’s knowledge, skills and attitude to use safe methods (appropriate use of protective equipment) in pesticide usage should be adequately planned. Appropriate use of personal protective equipment to reduce exposure to agrochemicals and the risks involved in the misuse and abuse of agrochemicals should be adopted. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Fadiji_et_al.pdf quality of life cocoa farm workers choice experiment approach eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 64 75 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.64-75 1577-1 article Murad ALI Jema HAJI Belaineh LEGESSE Tinsae DEMISSE Research background: There is higher level of mistrust between vegetable farmers and intermediaries in vegetable market transaction in Eastern Ethiopia. This mistrust adversely affected farmers’ livelihood which largely depended on the agriculture sector. Hence understanding factors that affect trust of farmers for intermediaries is essential. Purpose of the article: The purpose of this study is to analyse the factors determining vegetable farmers trust for intermediaries using cross sectional data collected from vegetable farmers in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Multistage sampling was used to select 385 households for the study. The collected data were analysed using partial least square path modelling procedure. Findings and value added: The empirical results indicated that relational investment, collaborative communication, and flexibility positively influenced trust. Moreover, collaborative communication and flexibility also positively influenced relational satisfaction. However, relational investment negatively affected opportunism. Recommendation: Intermediaries should use effective communication to improve farmers trust and relational satisfaction. They should also engage in relational investment by giving assistance and advice as this could contribute to enhancement of trust and reduction of opportunism. Intermediaries need to also attract farmers by offering satisfactory price and demonstrating flexibility where it is necessary. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Ali_et_al.pdf determinants of trust Eastern Ethiopia farmer-intermediary relationships vegetables eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 76 87 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.76-87 1577-1 article Francis TSIBOE Paul ASEETE Justice G. DJOKOTO Research background: A combination of technology and efficiency gains will drive future intensification programs aimed at fostering food and nutrition security in the developing world. Specifically, the adoption of improved varieties and use of quality seed alongside good agronomic practices will be critical. Purpose of the article: Given the space-time availability of technology, this study investigates how production efficiency (technical efficiency, technology gap, and meta technical efficiency) has changed over time and assesses the possibility of heterogeneous technology adoption in Ghana. Methods: The study constructs a rich nationally representative dataset of dry beans and groundnut farmers that constitutes 15 production seasons in Ghana. Using a sample of 10,518 farmers from 10,051 households, a Meta Stochastic Frontier (MSF) approach is used to access changes and determinants efficiency and technology adoption. Findings & Value added: We find that farms are operating under heterogeneous technologies along ecological lines and that the technology gap has been reducing over time. Improvements in meta technical efficiency could be driven by the gains in the technology gap ratio. Technical efficiency levels across the two legumes averaged about 61% and did not significantly improve between 1987 to 2017. The key determinants for the observed trends were farmer education, mechanization, access to agricultural extension services, and land ownership. Holding ecological technologies constant, legume farmers generally performed poorly because of technical inefficiency, implying that a general improvement in farmer managerial skills could substantially improve farm output. The study recommends policies/programs be formulated on a case-by-case basis; to ensure specificity and wider impacts, if production is to improve. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Tsiboe_et_al.pdf efficiency Ghana dry bean groundnut technology gap eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 88 97 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.88-97 1577-1 article Benjamin Chiedozie OKPUKPARA Ikenna Charles UKWUABA Olusegun ADEBAYO Research Background: Although, insurance services are offered by the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation and other private companies in Nigeria; however, there has been a low level of involvement of farmers in the purchasing of insurance premiums in Kogi state. The empirical evidence on the factors accountable for the low patronage of the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Schemes (AIS) in Kogi State are not known. The identification of these factors inhibiting the access and use of AIS by farmers and the provision of appropriate and efficient solutions by the relevant stakeholders can mitigate the catastrophic effects of risks and uncertainties on the farmers. Purpose of the article: The research was carried out in order to ascertain the determinants of access and extent of use of AIS by farmers in the study area so as to of provide appropriate and efficient solutions capable of mitigating the catastrophic effects of risks and uncertainties inherent in agriculture on the farmers means of livelihood. This makes the analysis of the level of access and extent of use of and the factors influencing farmers' willingness to participate in the agricultural insurance scheme a compelling necessity. Methods: Data for the study was collected through the help of a well-structured questionnaire administered to 150 farmers whom were selected through a multi-stage random sampling technique. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and Heckman's two-stage model. Findings and value added: Farmers in the study area were males, literate, and experienced farmers. The determinants of access to AIS were awareness of AIS, age, income, and marital status, while age, awareness of AIS, and income significantly influenced the extent of use of AIS by the farmers in the study area. Farmers in the study area can access and use more of AIS through increased awareness of the insurance scheme as well as increasing farmers’ income level through affordable loan scheme or outright government grants. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Okpukpara_et_al.pdf insurance Heckman model risks small scale farmers Nigeria eng Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and the Association of Agricultural Economists in Slovakia Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics 1336-9261 2021-03-31 24 1 98 108 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.98-108 1577-1 article Adekemi OBISESAN David AWOLALA Research background: Strengthening agriculture and food systems have a critical role to play in achieving the sustainable development goals of eliminating hunger and poverty; and increasing resilience to climatic shocks. Crop diversification has been recognized as a way of increasing resilience and reducing agricultural risk. Closing the gender gap could boost agricultural productivity and enhance welfare. Effects of crop diversification in enhancing dietary diversity amidst gender gap in agricultural productivity among smallholders have not been well established in Nigeria. Purpose of the article: The study was conducted to provide empirical evidence on crop diversification, productivity and dietary diversity of male and female-headed farming households in Nigeria. This has policy implications on development of inclusive and efficient agrifood system towards achieving the SDGs of eradicating poverty, hunger and gender equality. Methods: Secondary data from the 2015/16 Living Standard Measurement Survey-Integrated Survey on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) was used for this study. Tobit regression model was employed to investigate the factors influencing crop diversification and dietary diversity while Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method was used to decompose gender differentials in agricultural productivity. Findings and value added: Crop diversification index of male farmers is 0.10 (P<0.05) higher than female farmers. The Tobit regression results showed that farm income, education, household size, farm size and use of inorganic fertilizer increased crop diversification (P< 0.01). However, household expenditure (p< 0.05), non-farm income (p< 0.1), age and credit access (P< 0.01) reduced crop diversification. Less than half (45.22%) of the rural households consumed at least nine out of the 12 food groups in the previous week of the survey period. Crop diversification among other factors has a positive (P<0.01) effect on households’ dietary diversity. The results of the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition showed a gender productivity gap of 10.87% in favour of male farmers. The structural and endowment disadvantages of female farmers in land size and credit access are key drivers of gender differentials in agricultural productivity. The study suggests improvement in land tenure system and female farmers’ access to financial services in order to ensure gender productivity equality, women empowerment and efficient agrifood system. https://roaae.org/wp-content/uploads/RAAE_1_2021_Obisesan_Awolala..pdf agrifood food security gender equality inclusive resilience