A note on the elasticity of farmer response to price

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Periodical article

Title:	A note on the elasticity of farmer response to price
Author:	Abalu, G.O.I.
Year:	1976
Periodical:	Odù: Journal of Yoruba and Related Studies
Issue:	14
Pages:	108-116
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Northern Nigeria
Subjects:	prices groundnuts
Abstract:	This paper assesses the manner in which price changes are likely to produce their intended effect on the rate of growth of output with particular reference to groundnut production. The results of many studies done so far in Nigeria have frequently suggested that farmers respond very little to prices. This paper contends that the frequent incorrect identification of the price that farmers actually respond to is responsible for the low elasticities of supply estimate for agricultural products in Nigeria. Supply of groundnuts to the Northern States Marketing Board is used as a proxy for market supply because this seems the most reasonable approximation within the limits prescribed by the conditions of production and marketing and the availability of data. The data used covers the period between 1949/50 to 1965/66. Three models representing hypotheses as to how groundnut farmers in Northern Nigeria respond to producer prices are postulated. Notes, ref, table.