The effects of policies on farming households' decisions: economic evidence and environmental implications in northern Nigeria

    Freeman, H A and Roe, T L and Smith, J (1997) The effects of policies on farming households' decisions: economic evidence and environmental implications in northern Nigeria. Environment and Development Economics, 2 (3). pp. 307-321. ISSN 1749-6632

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    Abstract

    There is increasing concern that the intensification of cereal production in northern Nigeria is threatening the sustainability of the agricultural environment. This article describes the effects of trade restrictions on grain imports and of fertilizer subsidy on households' decisions, and draws implications for degradation of the agricultural environment. It develops social accounting matrices (SAMs) for two household types as the basis for capturing the structure of resource allocation, cropping choices, and input use, and then uses the SAM to simulate household responses to changes in relative grain prices and fertilizer prices. Both simulations, but particularly the fertilizer price change, favour the shift from cereals to legumes. A third simulation reflecting technical change in legumes results in the largest shifts from cereals to legumes. It is concluded that appropriate policy reforms complemented by technical change will increase diversification of the cropping system and reduce inefficient fertilizer use. The cumulative effects of these changes will improve soil nitrogen and organic matter and help break the pest and disease complex, thereby improving the agricultural environment

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Subjects: Others > Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
    Depositing User: Ms K Syamalamba
    Date Deposited: 16 May 2013 08:20
    Last Modified: 16 May 2013 08:20
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/6798
    Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1355770X97000053
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: UNSPECIFIED
    Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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