Suchergebnisse

Onumadu F.N. and Ikechuwku S.N. Department of Rural Sociology and ExtensionMichael Okpara University of Agriculture, UmudikeP.M.B 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, NigeriaE-mail: onumadufrancis@yahoo.comDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Abia State University,Umuahia Campus ABSTRACTThis paper examines the involvement of rural women in selected food-crops production inUmuahia North Local Government area, Abia State, Nigeria. Data were raised with pre-testedquestionnaire administered to 150 women farmers using multistage random sampling technique. Data generated were analyzed with descriptive (frequency count, percentages and means) and inferential (regression) statistical tools. The study revealed that 50.0% of the women farmers were within the age range of 41-50 years old; majority (68.0%) were married, 46.7% had basic education while 42.7% had household size of between 10-14 persons. Majority (60.0%) had over 10 years farming experience andover 90% had less than 3 hectares of farm-land. Specifically, they were small-scale farmers. The result also showed that majority of the women farmers cultivated selected food-crops (Cassava 98.7%; maize, 96.7% and cocoyam 80%). The farming activities the women were mostly involved in were processing, harvesting, weeding, storage, stumping, and planning. The women farmers were constrained with inadequate capital (98%); access to land (92.0%); inadequate extension services (88.)%); poor road network (72.0%); lack of storage facilities (66.0%) and incidence of pest and disease (60.0%). The result of the regression analysis shows household size, farm size and level of education were significantly related with the level of women involvement in food-crop production activities. It was recommended that provision of adequate capital, good road network, and farm land will increase women involvement in food-crop production.

The main objectives of the study were to: identify the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, assess factors influencing women's food production activities and identify measures for reducing rural-urban migration among women farmers in the study area. A sample size of 200 farmers was randomly selected for the study. Data were collected using a set of structured questionnaires and interview schedules. The result obtained showed that most of the farmers were between the ages of 51-60 years (50.0%). Farmers' levels of education were the non-formal level of education (45.0%), primary level of education (35.0%), and secondary level of education (15%). Farming was their major occupation (52.5%) and trading (40.0%). 8-10 household size was the highest which promotes labour within the family (40.0%), 11 and above (30.0%). Family labour was the main source of labour supply (75.0%), and exchange labour (22.5%). Factors influencing women's crop production activities were lack of fertile farmland, old age, active engagement in domestic activities, and high cost of farm inputs, which were 22.5, 17.5, 13.5, and 11.5%, respectively. The findings showed that mechanization can reduce migration among women farmers. The study recommended that government should mechanise agriculture, loans should be given to corporative farmers while land tenure system should be reviewed to favour farming which will also help to reduce rural-urban migration among women farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria.

Background / Issues: Food security high on the agenda of SGDs Agricultural land suitable for food crop cultivation limited and rather decreasing (land degradation through wind- and water erosion, sea level rise) Land use conflicts increasing Climate change-forced shifts in marginal agricultural land may also become crucial for achieving & maintaining food security Research question What are potential implications of marginal agricultural land shifts on food crop cultivation in Europe and what are options for mitigation? Results: - Increases in average air temperature and growth degree days across Europe lead to an increase of marginal agricultural land in the Mediterranean region and a decrease in northern regions - Changes in precipitation patterns may lead to increased probability of drought events in central Europe in spring and wetness conditions in autumn Discussion & Conclusions: - Food crop cultivation expected to become more challenging through climate change-forced marginal land shifts in many European regions, especially in the Mediterranean and central Europe - Winter-annual C3 crops more promising than summer annuals in central Europe in the future due to crucial shifts of precipitation patterns - C4 summer annual food crops like maize (Zea mays L.) becoming more interesting for northern regions, depending on the required vegetation period length and the type of use such as feed and biogas substrate - CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) crops which are partially edible such as prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill.) expected to become more important for food crop cultivation in the Mediterranean Funding: This research received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 727698

A risk assessment was conducted to determine the likelihood of certain health risks resulting from exposure to soils and food crops contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs). PCBs have contaminated soils, river sediments, and air in the past as a result of industrial activities at a capacitor plant located in the City of Serpukhov, Russian Federation. This risk assessment and suggestions for remediation are designed to aid in decision‐making efforts by a joint Russian–American research team developing a community, national, and international response to industrial contamination. Bobovnikova et al. (The Science of the Total Environment139/140, 357–364, [1993]) have reported that PCBs are elevated in soils and sediments, breast milk, and locally grown foods in the Serpukhov area. Data from these and other investigators have been used in this risk assessment to calculate a potential cancer risk resulting from exposure to PCBs. Our assessment indicates that members of the local population may be at increased risk of cancer, and possibly other adverse health effects, as a result of PCB contamination of their environment. Because previously unassessed environmental contamination is a common problem in the former Soviet Republics, as well as many other areas of the world, we believe this type of evaluation, using known methods, can serve as a model for assessment efforts in other parts of the globe and result in remediative efforts in regions constrained by faltering economies.