Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde

@unilorin.edu.ng

Professor, Faculty of Agriculture
Professor, Faculty of Agriculture
University of Ilorin

Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde


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Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, University of Ilorin. He has over 20 years of University administrative, teaching and research for development experience. He has served as Head of Department and members of several other University committees. He is the Chairman of the Faculty of Agriculture committee on Quality Assurance. His areas of research include development economics and rural development policy; poverty, food security, nutrition and health economics; impact evaluation and sustainable food systems and climate change, adaptation and resilience. He has supervised 30 Master and 8 Doctoral students. He has published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed outlets and has won several research grants. He was formerly Visiting Research Fellow and scholar at the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; University of Pavia, Italy; Nordic Africa Institute (NAI), Uppsala, Sweden; African Studies Centre (ASC),

EDUCATION

Education and Academic Degrees

2005–2009 Ph.D. Agricultural Economics (magna cum laude), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
Dissertation Title: Off-farm Income Diversification among Rural Households in Nigeria: Impact on Income, Food Security and Nutrition (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim)

2000–2004 M. Sc. Agricultural Economics (Distinction), University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Specialization: Agricultural Production Economics

1992–1998 B. Agric., Agricultural Economics (First class honours), University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Specialization: Agricultural Marketing

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Economics and Econometrics, Economics, Econometrics and Finance, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
16

Scopus Publications

Scopus Publications

  • Biomass-based value webs and food security in Africa: The case of maize value web in Nigeria
    O.A. Oyedeji, R.O. Babatunde, O.E. Ayinde, A.H. Adenuga
    World Development Sustainability, 2025
  • The role of wild baobab in addressing food insecurity among indigenous people in Northwestern Nigeria
    Mercy Funke Salami, Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde, Kehinde Kikelomo Osasona, Matthew Durojaiye Ayeni, Abebe Derbie Aragaw, et al.
    Discover Sustainability, 2025
  • Assessment of the Effects of Climate-related Shocks on Farming Households’ Food Security in Niger State, Nigeria
    Adedayo Olufemi Adekunle, Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde, Sheu-usman Oladipo Akanbi, Matthew Durojaiye Ayenı, Oyeyode Tohib Obalola
    Yuzuncu Yil University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2025
    This research uses data from a recent survey in Niger State, Nigeria to look at how risk management techniques and climatic shocks affect the welfare of farming households. A logistic regression model was used to investigate the effects of various strategies on household food security, while an OLS model was used to investigate the effects of climate shocks on farming households' food availability. Drought-tolerant crops (62.8%), dry-season agricultural production (41.3%), buffer stock (54.6%), and diversification of agricultural activities (60.8%) are the most commonly used mitigation methods. According to the findings, approximately 52% of households were food secure. Floods were a significant factor affecting farming households' food security. Food security was also negatively linked to marital status and household size. Education, gender, farm size, agricultural structure, revenue, and food security were found to have positive and substantial relationships. According to the logit regression results, dry season rice farming has a significant positive relationship with household food security. The research shows that most farmers engage in dry season rice production and cultivate drought-tolerant crops. Governments should allocate more funds to restore irrigation facilities and conduct research on and develop drought-tolerant crops to enhance food security, while ensuring household resilience.
  • Prevalence and exposure to ergonomic risk factors among crop farmers in Nigeria
    Toyin Samuel Olowogbon, Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde, Edward Asiedu, Aaron Moses Yoder
    Applied Sciences Switzerland, 2021
    This study examined the prevalence and exposure to ergonomic risks factors among crop farmers in selected states in Nigeria. We used cross-sectional data to provide this evidence. Data were collected with the aid of a standardized questionnaire administered to farmers. A total of 480 smallholder cassava farmers selected across 24 farming communities in Kogi and Kwara states, Nigeria, were engaged in the study. Descriptive statistics and binary regression were used for analysis. About 96% of the respondents reported shoulder pain, 85% reported lower back pain, 82% reported upper back pain, 64% reported neck pain, and 53% reported elbow pain during farming operations. We found that the age of farmers (OR = 2.01) and daily duration of daily chemical spray (OR = 1.17) were risk factors, while previous training on the safe use and application of farm chemicals was found to be a protective factor (α = 0.05). The study identified affordability of farm safety measures and poor access to relevant safety information as top constraints to farmers’ adoption of safe farm practices. We concluded there is a high prevalence of ergonomic risks during cassava operations among respondents. A crop-specific co-designed ergonomic intervention targeted at Nigerian farmers to reduce exposure to ergonomic risks is recommended.
  • Agrochemical Health Risks Exposure and Its Determinants: Empirical Evidence among Cassava Farmers in Nigeria
    Toyin S Olowogbon, Raphael O Babatunde, Edward Asiedu, Aaron M Yoder
    Journal of Agromedicine, 2021
    Background: Over the years there has been a change in the dimensions of agricultural health risk exposure among crop farmers in Nigeria due to innovation adoption. This study assessed agrochemical health risk exposures and its determinants among cassava farmers in Nigeria. Method: The study engaged the baseline of a longitudinal study conducted using a standardized questionnaire. Randomly selected and interviewed for the study were 480 small-scale cassava farmers across 24 farming communities in Kogi and Kwara States, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, binary regression model, and Likert scale were used for analysis. Results: Most of the farmers were exposed to agrochemical health risks in cassava operations. The frequently used chemicals belong to WHO class II and III. There was poor knowledge of safe farm practices among cassava farmers. About 77% of farmers reported not using complete protective equipment while handling farm chemicals. Several risk factors were associated with farm chemical health risks exposure, including inappropriate time of spray (Odd ratio [OR] = 1.21), frequency of spray (OR = 1.06), long hours of daily chemical spray (OR = 1.10), and non-usage of chemical labels (OR = 2.31). Conclusion:The study concluded cassava farmers in some selected communities in Kogi and Kwara States, North-Central Nigeria engage in unsafe farm practices via the use of farm chemicals that expose them to health risks. There is, therefore, a need for efficiently delivered agricultural health education as an intervention tool to alleviate Nigerian crop farmers from being exposed to such health risks.
  • Insure them and improve their welfare: Effect of Hygeia Community Health Insurance on households’ welfare in Kwara State, Nigeria
    Raphael BABATUNDE, Adeyemi OMONIWA, Oluwafemi OYEDEJI
    Acta Agriculturae Slovenica, 2019
    The Hygeia Community Health Plan was designed such that agriculture-based households can have access to affordable healthcare services. It is also aimed at providing financial risk protection against catastrophic healthcare costs which if persistent, could possibly drive them into poverty. This paper used a well-structured questionnaire to solicit responses on the effect of the Hygeia Community Health Plan on the welfare of farming households in Kwara State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was used to sample 175 farming households comprising of 115 beneficiaries and 60 non-beneficiaries from Shonga, Bacita and Lafiagi districts of Edu local government area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The ordinary least square and logit model were used in the analysis of the data for this study. The results of the analysis showed that the Hygeia community health plan was positively and statistically significant in influencing the per capita income, per capita calorie intake and the food security status of farming households in the area. Therefore, it was recommended that the government should create an enabling environment or partner with private insurance organizations. This will help them work out a plan to help rural households in other parts of the country access affordable healthcare services easily. This will help in the attainment of the universal access to health services in Kwara State and country Nigeria at large.
  • Extent and financial cost of cassava postharvest loss along the cassava value chain in Kwara State, Nigeria
    Samuel Temitope DANILOLA, Raphael BABATUNDE, Jubril ANIMASHAUN
    Acta Agriculturae Slovenica, 2019
    <p>Cassava has been identified as Africa’s second most important staple food after maize, in terms of calories consumed, with Nigeria as the World leading producer. This study estimated postharvest loss of cassava along the cassava value chain in Kwara State. It estimated the size of postharvest loss of cassava; analysed the factors responsible and the financial implications of loss; and identified the strategies employed in the mitigation of loss in the study area. A three-stage random sampling technique was used to select 117 cassava farmers whom were administered structured questionnaire to elicit data analysed by the study. Descriptive statistics, Shannon’s diversity index and Tobit regression model were the analytical techniques utilised. The results show that 68 % of the loss occurred at the harvesting. The loss was estimated to be about 3.8 t ha<sup>-1</sup>. The financial implication was valued at $ 300 ha<sup>-1</sup>. Analysis of the factors responsible for cassava postharvest loss showed that the quantity expected at harvesting, household size and age of the farmer were significant factors affecting cassava postharvest loss. The result also revealed that farmers mitigate these losses by processing the roots and reburying unused roots into the soil. Steps needed to reduce loss have to take these factors into consideration to improve the economic status of cassava farmers-processors.</p>
  • Gender inequality in schooling among children and the implications for livelihood of farming households in Kwara State, Nigeria
    Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde, Adeyemi Esther Omoniwa, Miriam Ukemenam
    Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 2018
  • Does off-farm diversification enhance financial inclusion of agricultural households? Empirical evidence among peri-urban small-scale farmers in Nigeria
    Tropical Agriculture, 2015
  • Analysis of the Behaviour of prices of major staple foods in West Africa: A case study of Nigeria
    O. E. Ayinde, T. E. Ilori, K. Ayinde, R. O. Babatunde, and
    Agris on Line Papers in Economics and Informatics, 2015
    The study analyzed the price behavior of major staple foods in West Africa taking Nigeria as a case study (1966 – 2011). It described the trend of the major staple food prices and examined the linear relationship and interdependence of the major staple food prices in Nigeria. Secondary data were used for this study. The sources were; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). These data were transformed from their nominal value to real value and analyzed using descriptive statistics, unit root test, Pearson correlation coefficient, granger-causality test and structural equation model. The study revealed that the prices of most of the major staple foods were at the maximum value between 1991 and 1993 while their prices were at the minimum value between 1978 and 1983. The study observed that the price of cowpea is most volatile seconded by maize. The results of the unit root test showed that all the variables studied were stationary. The prices of the major staple foods were linearly correlated; some were positively correlated while some were negatively correlated. Granger-causality test on the major staple foods prices showed that the prices of most staple foods were unidirectional while only few were bi-directional. The study further revealed that the prices of staple foods were interdependent. The study recommends political stability in the country as the major staple food prices reached maximum level during the period of 1993 presidential election crisis.
  • Impact of off-farm income on food security and nutrition in Nigeria
    Raphael O. Babatunde, Matin Qaim
    Food Policy, 2010
  • Patterns of income diversification in rural Nigeria: Determinants and impacts
    Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, 2009
  • Empirical analysis of the impact of income on dietary calorie intake in Nigeria
    European Journal of Social Sciences, 2008
  • Gender differences in resources allocation among rural households in Nigeria: Implication for food security and living standard
    European Journal of Social Sciences, 2008
  • Determinants of vulnerability to food insecurity: A gender-based analysis of farming households in Nigeria
    Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2008
  • Socio-economics characteristics and food security status of farming households in Kwara State, north-central Nigeria
    R.O. Babatunde ., O.A. Omotesho ., O.S. Sholotan .
    Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 2007