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The study explores the influence of gender discrimination on the agricultural economic efficiency gap between women and men farmers in Nigeria's Kano State, as part of the USAID MARKETS II initiative. A structured questionnaire supported by an interview schedule was utilized to extract cross-sectional data from 189 participants selected by a multi-stage sample technique using a simple cost-route strategy. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to the acquired data. Gender disparity has both an effect and an impact on the farm economic efficiency of women farmers, putting them at a disadvantage compared to their male counterparts, according to scientific research. Besides, the extension gap which affected the farm economic efficiency of the women farmers compared to the men is due to gender stereotype. Further, in isolating the impact of gender differential, it was observed that gaps of technical and cost efficiencies between the two genders owe majorly to gender discrimination. In addition, both gender discrimination and the endowment factor had an equal contribution to the yield gap between the two groups. However, the profit efficiency gap between the genders is due majorly to endowment effect. In general, it can be concluded that gender discrimination, i.e. gender inequality and gender stereotype, has slowed the active engagement of women beneficiaries in the program, hence impeding the continuation of their farm businesses. As a result, in order for the program to be sustainable, it should include a gender budget in its strategy, allowing women to break the curse of gender inequality, which has limited access to and control over productive resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research determined price volatility spillovers among major wheat markets in the world using time series data (1966-2018) of six major wheat producing countries in the world. The data were sourced from FAO and UNCTAD databanks and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, unit root test and GARCH models. The findings showed that there is low and high persistence in the wheat prices of Canada and USA; and, Australia and India, respectively. Thus, it was established that the prices in the former markets were characterized by short memory; the effect of shock is temporary as the prices return to the attractor level within a short period. However, bad news on the prices of the latter markets has pronounced effect and takes a longer period for the price series to normalize. On the other hand, French and Chinese market price series exhibited an explosive pattern; the price series have infinite memory and the effect of innovation is permanent as price series will not normalize. Therefore, it can be concluded that the future trade of wheat is useful in the market given the persistence behavior of the prices as their price trends are tailored towards a rational expectation rather than a naïve expectation. However, for the market prices that are explosive, the market participants should focus on rational market expectation as a trade barometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]