Determinants of farmers’ access to microcredit from cooperative societies in Ondo state, Nigeria

The study examined the determinants of farmers’ access to microcredit from cooperative societies in Ondo state. A multistage sampling technique was used to obtain data from 100 respondents. Primary data was collected for the purpose of the study. We used descriptive statistics and logit regression model to analyses the data collected. Result showed that the farmers were mostly male farmers (64%) while majority of the farmers had a mean age of 44.10 ± 14.70. It was also revealed that consumer cooperative society, producer cooperative society, marketing cooperative society, cooperative farming society and credit and thrift cooperative society were the major forms of cooperative used by the farmers. The result also shows that age, marital status, farm size, farming experience, credit from another source and number of years in the cooperative significantly influenced farmers’ access to microcredit from cooperative society. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 103-107, Dec 2021

A Simple Predictive Score to Distinguish between Disseminated Histoplasmosis and Tuberculosis in Patients with HIV

Disseminated histoplasmosis is a common differential diagnosis of tuberculosis in disease-endemic areas. We aimed to find a predictive score to orient clinicians towards disseminated histoplasmosis or tuberculosis when facing a non-specific infectious syndrome in patients with advanced HIV disease. We reanalyzed data from a retrospective study in Cayenne Hospital between January 1997–December 2008 comparing disseminated histoplasmosis and tuberculosis: 100 confirmed disseminated histoplasmosis cases and 88 confirmed tuberculosis cases were included. A simple logit regression model was constructed to predict whether a case was tuberculosis or disseminated histoplasmosis. From this model, a score may be obtained, where the natural logarithm of the probability of disseminated histoplasmosis/tuberculosis = +3.917962 × WHO performance score (1 if >2, 0 if ≤2) −1.624642 × Pulmonary presentation (1 yes, 0 no) +2.245819 × Adenopathies > 2 cm (1 yes, 0 no) −0.015898 × CD4 count − 0.001851 × ASAT − 0.000871 × Neutrophil count − 0.000018 × Platelet count + 6.053793. The area under the curve was 98.55%. The sensitivity of the model to distinguish between disseminated histoplasmosis and tuberculosis was 95% (95% CI = 88.7–98.3%), and the specificity was 93% (95% CI = 85.7.3–97.4%). In conclusion, we here present a clinical-biological predictive score, using simple variables available on admission, that seemed to perform very well to discriminate disseminated histoplasmosis from tuberculosis in French Guiana in well characterized patients.

Rethinking Westernization in Destination: Tourists’ Perception of a Touristic City

The impacts of westernization are increasing globally in the tourism entrepreneurship practices. Understanding it contributes to the growth and sustainability of the business even in local touristic cities. This paper aims to judge tourists’ perception of westernization about one of the most important touristic cities – Pokhara, Nepal. Purposive sampling was used to collect responses from 248 tourists in Pokhara, which included both open and closed-ended questionnaires. In order to understand the perception of tourists and check the determinants about the prevalence of westernization among tourists, the cross-sectional descriptive study has been used, and Logit Regression Model is applied. The study reveals that 78.22% of the respondents find westernization has influenced tourism entrepreneurship up to a certain extent in Pokhara. Similarly, a majority (89.11%) of tourists reveal that they expect and enjoy local culture than their own culture in tourism destinations, where 95.56% of the tourists suggest preserving the local culture for the sustainability of tourism business in Pokhara. Results from the Ordered Logistic model show that westernization, problems faced in destination, the similarity of destination as per their expectation and level of tourists’ existence at destination play significant roles in their preferences to visit touristic destinations. This study indicates that the first two reduce tourists’ preferences while the latter two stimulate their preferences to visit Pokhara, Nepal. Therefore, entrepreneurs in Pokhara should identify, conserve, encourage, and maintain local socio-cultural traditions to have long-term tourism prosperity and development.

Adoption of Modern Hive Beekeeping Technology: The Case of Kacha-Birra Woreda, Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Beekeeping is one of the livelihood options available to Ethiopian farmers. The objectives of this study were to analyze the level of adoption of modern hive technology by farmers and to identify the variables influencing the adoption of modern beekeeping hive technology in Kacha-Birra Woreda. Primary data were collected from 89 respondents chosen using a multistage sampling process, while qualitative data were collected through focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Data were analyzed using a binary logit regression model and descriptive statistics. According to the results of the model, several factors, such as the educational level of the respondents, the size of the land, the extension, the contact, and the access to financing and market, had a substantial impact on the adoption of modern hive beekeeping technology. It is suggested that the Livestock and Fish Resource Development office develops a strategy to help the community's illiterate members benefit more from the use of contemporary hive beekeeping technologies, develops a strategy to benefit farmers who have large land sizes with modern hive beekeeping technology, establishes extension contact with farmers before technology innovation leads to better adoption of technology, and strongly advises to link a strategy with micro-enterprises. Promotional activities focused on preventing the access to the market of respondents that must ensure their active participation in adoption.

Adoption and Profitability of the Purdue Improved Crop Storage Technology for Grain Storage in the South-Central Regions of Niger

Cowpea is a food security crop and a main source of income for farmers in Niger. However, postharvest storage remains a major challenge due to insect pest attacks. Since 2008, the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags were disseminated in Niger to reduce storage losses. This study was conducted to assess the adoption of the PICS technology in the Dosso, Maradi, and Zinder regions of Niger. We interviewed 600 households selected from villages that did and did not benefit from PICS extension activities. A logit regression model was used to assess the decision of farmers to adopt the PICS technology. The overall adoption of the PICS bags among farmers was 48.4%. PICS adoption was 69.7% in Dosso, 41.3% in Zinder, and 31.2% in Maradi. Farmers who attended PICS training were 5 times more likely to adopt the technology than those who did not. Variables that affected the adoption of the PICS technology included the region, participation in PICS training, and information source. Beyond cowpea, PICS bags were used to store a variety of crops including Bambara nuts, hibiscus seeds, peanuts, millet, and sorghum. Storing 100 kg of cowpea in a PICS bag generated a cash flow of $70.38 per respondent and a net return of $21.50. Revenues generated from sales of cowpea stored in PICS bags were mostly used for health expenditures and to purchase agricultural inputs. Results of this study demonstrate that pest management technologies such as PICS bags can also contribute to improving the livelihood of family farms.

Factors Affecting Farm Succession and Occupational Choices of Nominated Farm Successors in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Mountain farming communities in Pakistan are exhibiting an increased rate of rural-to-urban migration and a rapid growth in the non-farm sector, which has threatened the sustenance of agricultural activity. This study examined the determinants of farm succession using a logit regression model and employed a multinomial logit regression model to study the factors influencing the future occupational choices of the potential farm successors. The study was based on quantitative survey data obtained from 421 farm managers and 155 potential farm successors and qualitative data from 12 key informants from two different districts in Gilgit-Baltistan. The survey results show that around 67% of the farmers had a potential successor. Farm succession was mainly explained by farmer characteristics (e.g., farmer age, gender and education), farm characteristics (e.g., farm size, specialization in horticulture, etc.) and agricultural income. Regarding the occupational choices, part-time farming (66%) was the most commonly reported choice. The results indicate that it was mainly farm successors’ personal characteristics (such as age, education and marital status) and agricultural income that led to the choices “undecided” and “exit”, whilst farm characteristics (e.g., farm size) and the main farm operators’ non-farm activity were significantly associated with the choice “part-time”. Policies aimed at improving the local income situation and investments in skill-building and infrastructure development can assist in farm sustenance.

Business Model of Sustainable Robo-Advisors: Empirical Insights for Practical Implementation

The given research paper examines the characteristics of German private investors regarding the probability of using robo-advisory-services. The used data set was gathered for this purpose (N = 305) to address the research question by using a logistic regression approach. The presented logit regression model results indicate that the awareness of sustainable aspects make a significant difference in the probability of using a sustainable robo-service. Additionally, our findings show that being male and cost-aware are positively associated with the use of a sustainable robo-advisor. Furthermore, the probability of use is 1.53 times higher among young and experienced investors. The findings in this paper provide relevant research findings for banks, asset managers, FinTechs, policy makers and financial practitioners to increase the adoption rate of robo-advice by introducing a sustainable offering.

Déterminants de l’accès aux crédits agricole par les producteurs d’anacarde au nord-Bénin

Pour sécuriser les revenus agricoles des producteurs béninois, des mécanismes de financement sont mis en place dans la production d’anacarde. La présente étude identifie les déterminants de l’accès au financement par les producteurs d’anacarde. A cet elffet, des données socioéconomiques ont été collectées par enquête auprès de 160 producteurs de noix de cajou choisis aléatoirement dans deux communes du Nord-Bénin. La statistique descriptive a été utilisée pour caractériser les types de financement. Un modèle de régression Logit binaire a été estimé pour déterminer les variables influençant l’accès aux crédits par les producteurs d’anacarde. Les principaux résultats de cette étude indiquent trois types de financement sont obtenus par les producteurs d’anacarde et financés par divers acteurs. Le sexe, l'âge, l'appartenance à une organisation, les contacts avec les services de vulgarisation et la formation à la production d’anacarde déterminent l'accès au crédit agricole au nord du Bénin. Enfin, a promotion du financement agricole dans la zone d’étude permettra de réguler la capacité à introduire l’agroforesterie dans l’exploitation agricole dans le contexte d’amélioration des conditions de vie et la protection des sols. English title: Determinants of access to agricultural credits by casnacard growers in north Benin In order to secure the agricultural income of producers in Benin, agricultural financing mechanisms have been put in place in cashew production. This study aimed at identifying the determinants of access to finance by cashew producers. To this end, socioeconomic data was collected through a survey of 160 cashew producers chosen at random from two municipalities in North Benin. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the types of funding. A binary logit regression model was estimated to determine the variables influencing access to credit by cashew producers. The main results of this study indicate three types of financing obtained by cashew producers, which are financed by various actors. In addition, gender, age, membership of an organization, contacts with extension services and training in cashew production determine access to agricultural credit in northern Benin. Finally, the promotion of this financing in the study area will make it possible to regulate the capacity to introduce agroforestry on the farm, all of which contributes to the improvement of living conditions and soil protection.

Community participation in the Kampung KB Program in Jambi Province

Kampung Keluarga Berkualitas (Kampung KB) is one of the development programs to create quality families in Indonesia. Kampung KB is a village-level regional unit with integration and convergence in implementing empowerment and strengthening of family institutions in all its dimensions to improve the quality of human resources, families, and communities. The growth of Kampung KB in Jambi Province shows the high government's attention to this program to improve the quality of life of its people. However, the Kampung KB's success in improving the community's quality of life is largely determined by the level of community participation itself. This study analyzes the factors that influence community participation in the Kampung KB Program in Jambi Province. This study uses primary data obtained through target group respondents in Kampung KB in Jambi Province. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a binary logit regression model. The study results found that the overall level of community participation in the Kampung KB Program was moderate. The level of community participation was significantly related to education, length of stay at the location, and distance from house to the place of activity.

The Effect of Product Perception and Price Perception on Reference Book Purchase Decisions

The decision to purchase reference books is a form of a student's positive attitude in meeting learning needs. This study was conducted to analyze the effect of product and price perceptions on reference book purchasing decisions. This research was conducted on 80 students of the Jambi University Economic Education Study Program class of 2017. Data were obtained from the results of a survey using a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the logit regression model because the dependent variable data were categorical (buying and not buying). The results of the analysis show that product perception has a significant influence on purchasing decisions for reference books at an error rate (alpha) of 5 percent. Student perceptions of price also significantly influence the decision to purchase reference books at an error level (alpha) of 5 percent. Taken together, product perception and price significantly influence the purchasing decision of reference books. Thus, it is recommended for students to make the right decision by understanding the quality and usefulness of reference books to meet their learning needs and supported by adequate purchasing power.