Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Greener Journal of  Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3 (7), pp. 536-541, July 2013.

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 042313582

 

Insights on Oil Palm Production Variation and Trade Growths Rates in Nigeria

 

E.A. Antia-Obong^1*, O.W. Ibok², E.S. Udoh² and E.E. Daniel³

 

¹Department of Economics; ²Department of Agricultural Economics and Resource Management; ³Department of Political Science / Public Administration; Akwa Ibom State University, Obio-Akpa Campus, P.M.B 1167, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

 

*Correspondence Author: essienantiaobong @ yahoo.com,

Tel: +234(0)8156124630

Abstract:

This research was conducted to study various policy regimes in Nigeria with a focus on Oil palm production variations and trade growth rates from 1961-2007. Objectives of the study were; To determine the variations in oil palm production (yield, output and harvested area) overtime.; to test for differences in the variation of oil palm output and to estimate growth rates of palm oil trade (import/export) quantities. Data used for the study was obtained from FAOSTAT and covered area (hectare), yield (hg/ha), output (tonnes), import and export quantities (tonnes). The Coefficient of Variation (CV) was used to estimate the variations for each period. The Kruskal- Wallis test was employed to test for differences in the variation of oil palm output. While the Log-Linear regression model was used to estimate the growth rates. Findings show periods of general instability in oil palm output which accompanied decreasing export and increasing imports growth rates. The study recommends a sustained medium to long term agrifood policy that emphasizes productivity of all factors of production while also encouraging the industrial utilization of oil palm products to ensure rapid and sustained production.
 
Keywords: Coefficient of Variation (CV), Variability, Growth rates, Sub-periods, Palm oil.

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