Suchergebnisse

Abstract Cultured fish represents a good percentage of fresh fish consumed in Nigeria. Fish consumption is relatively high in the southern part of the country, unlike the northern part, where there is low consumption of cultured fish. This may be attributed to many factors including but not limited to availability, distribution and information on the nutritive value of cultured fish. This study investigated the awareness of nutritive value of cultured fish among inhabitants of selected peri-urban local government areas in Katsina State, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty (120) copies of structured questionnaires were administered out of which 108 representing 90% were retrieved and analysed using descriptive statistics and logistics regression. The majority of the respondents were males (88.9%), with the age range of 40 - 49 years. Among the sampled population, 46.3% had a tertiary education with civil service being the dominant occupation (25.9%), while over 50% earned a monthly income of less than ? 30,000. The majority (95.4%) of the respondents consumed cultured fish but the larger percentage (55.4%) consumed it occasionally, although 67.6% of the population was aware of the nutritive value of cultured fish. The regression analysis showed that sex had a coefficient of -1.117, odds value of 0.327 and Z-score of 4.142, which was significant at 5% level, while age and income were significant at 10% level. Despite the fact that the awareness of the nutritive value of cultured fish in the study area was on the high side, consumption was still low and mainly occasional. Sex, age and income were observed to be factors determining the awareness level of the nutritive value of cultured fish in periurban areas of Katsina State, Nigeria.

Abstract Aquaculture has been identified as the major mean of balancing the huge import deficit resulting from the need to meet national fish protein consumption requirements and reducing pressure on already over fished captured environment. The growth in Nigeria aquaculture is however far less than the expected potential. Therefore, to properly understand the factor impinging on the aquaculture growth dynamics in Nigeria various factors influencing aquaculture outputs need to be well studied. This paper, investigated the determinants of output of small-scale fish farmers in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State. Ikorodu Local Government was purposively selected because of the presence of fish farming estate hosting 250 fish farmers which serves as the sampling frame. From the 250 fish farmers, 101 fish farms where randomly selected using structured questionnaire and scheduled interviews. Data obtained from the respondents include socioeconomic characteristics, type and quantity of fish stocked, quantity harvested and sold, cost of production, profit realized among others. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis, Gini Coefficient and production function analysis. Majority of the fish farmers are male (65.3%), married (54.5%) and have tertiary education (69.3%). The mean age, household size, pond size, years of farming experience are 36.44±10.28 years, 4.03±1.98, 39.78±0.98ha and 2.67±2.13years, respectively. There is wide variation as measured by Gini Coefficient in the output of fish farmers with about 88.5% disparity in their output. Mean profit made per fish sold in the study area is N186.24*. Factors that positively determine the output of fish farmers are quantity of feed used (p-value 0.001), number of fingerlings stocked (p-value 0.005), years of experience in fish farming (p-value 0.001) and volume of credit obtained (p-value 0.001) Fish farming, in the study area is a profitable business with varying degree of output. In order to improve the output of fish farmers, government and relevant stakeholders in the aquaculture sub-sector should ensure that fish farmers do not only have access to credit facilities but in required amount. In addition, feed is an important determinant of output of fish production, therefore fish feed of high quality should be made available and affordable to fish farmers

Ayanda, I. F., J. A. Akangbe, Fakoya, E. O.Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture,Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, e-mail: iayanda@yahoo.comABSTRACTThe study was undertaken in Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kwara State tocharacterize activities of Special Rice Project (SRP), socio economic characteristics of the participantsin SRP, determine participants' perception of relevance of SRP activities and identified changes in yieldof rice due to SRP activities. Through a two - stage random sampling technique, 102 participants in SRPwere randomly selected and data collected by means of structured interview schedule. Some of the SRPactivities include technology demonstration, inputs supply, financial assistance and provision ofinformation on land preparation. The study showed that 41.1% of the participants were in the agebracket of 31-40 years while 66.7% of them possessed one form of formal education. Participants in SRPcultivated an average farm size of 2.6 hectares and recorded average yield of 3.34 tonnes/hectare. Asignificant difference exists between average rice yield of participants before and after the introductionof SRP (3.843, P < 0.05). Participants recorded income of N338, 700.00 per annum or N28, 225.00 permonth. Based on the empirical evidence of this study, the Special Rice Project activities increased therice yield of the beneficiaries; therefore, scope of SRP should be expanded to cut across all rice farmersin the country.

Ojo M.A., Olaleye R.S., Ojo A.O., Tsado J.H., and Ogaji A.Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Technology,Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, NigeriaCorresponding author e-mail: akinmikky@yahoo.co.uk AbstractThe study examined gender analysis of allocative efficiency in small scale maize production in Kogi State, Nigeria. The primary data for the study were obtained using structured questionnaire administered to one hundred randomly sampled male and female maize farmers from two Local Government Areas. Descriptive statistics, gross margin, net farm income, gross ratio, operation ratio, return on capital investment and production function using the regression model were used to analyze the data. The study showed that female farmers were more profitable and efficient in maize production than their male counterpart with operating ratio, gross ratio return on capital investment of 0.23. 0.30 and 3.36 respectively. The result from the production function analysis revealed that the R2 value for men were 54.9% while that of women were 57.1%. Variable inputs such as farm size, seed and fertilizer were found to be significant at 1%, 5% and 5% level of probability respectively for male farmers while seed,fertilizer and agrochemical were found to be significant at 5% and labour at 10% level of probability for female farmers. Elasticity of production (return to scale)for both male and female farmers showed an increasing return to scale and that maize production was in stage I of the production region in the study area. Estimated efficiency ratio(r) shows that the resources used were not efficiently utilized. It is recommended that the present level of allocative efficiency of maize production in the study area shouldbe increased by using more of these productive resources. Farmers should also be encouraged to take into the advice of the adequately trained extension advisers on improved techniques of maize production such that there will be increase in yield per hectare.

Omoregbee, F.E and Koyenikan, M.J. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension ServicesFaculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeriae-mail: egbenayabuwa.omoregbee@uniben.edu ABSTRACTThe study examined training needs of youth leaders in Ikpoba-Okha, Egor and Oredo Local Government Areas of Edo State. One Hundred and twenty youth leaders randomly drawn from selected youth organizations were used as study respondents. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to obtain data on respondents' personal characteristics, participation in and retraining in leadership skills. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) at p= 0.05. Findings show that most of the youth leaders were males (56.7%), singles (68.3%) while 31.7% were within the age bracket 18 -25 years and holders of OND/NCE (30.0%). Training needs were expressed as highly required in motivating other youths ( x=3.25), promotion of community service ( x=3.05) and discussion of current issues ( x=3.18). Youths leadership training needs showed significant positive relationship with family size(r=0.23) and educational level (r=0.29). Capacity building for the youth leaders in identified areas should be done by relevant government youth development agencies. The need to develop youth leadership in income generating activities, agriculture and home management was also recommended

Kezi, D.M.1, Ajala, M. K.2, Musa, M.W.3, Ayuba, N.A.4 Correspondent Address: Email: dmkezi@gmail.com1 West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP), Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria,PMB 5026, Wuse - Abuja.2 National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1096, Shika –Zaria.3 Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu BelloUniversity, Zaria.4 Keystone Bank, Kano. ABSTRACTThe study was carried out to determine income generation among small ruminant farmers in Kaduna State. The data for the study was obtained through use of structured questionnaires administered to 141 small ruminant farmers in Kudan, Ikara and Giwa local government areas of Kaduna State. The Local Government Areas were purposively selected due to their involvement in small ruminants' production. Socio-economic characteristics of the small ruminants farmers were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the result showed that about 68% of the farmers were male with a mean age of 41 years and mean income of N33,534. Radio, television and mobile phone were the ICTs mostly used by farmers to source information. Regression analysis reveals that the factors which contributed significantly to income were household size and years of keeping small ruminants, while radio contributed negatively to the farmers' income. It is recommended that extension workers should intensify information dissemination on rabbit's production techniques to encourage farmers intoproduction and marketing of rabbits. Funds should be provided for extension agencies to enable them air more radio and television programmes. Collaboration between agricultural extension agencies and education extension services should be established to promote adult education and computer education.

Akin-Olagunju O. Asimiyu and B. T. Omonona Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria ?Corresponding author: E-mail: hashimakinolag@gmail.com Abstract Fertiliser subsidy is one of the policy instruments that the Nigerian government is using to makefertiliser available and affordable to farmers. However, in spite of the huge resources committed to the programme over the years, the desired results have not been achieved. This paper examines the efforts ofthe stakeholders and the challenges encountered. The review established that policy inconsistency, lack of political will on the part of implementers of the programme and restricted role of the private sector are the major factors responsible for the near-failure of the programme. The on-going GrowthEnhancement Support Scheme (GESS) of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) presents some hope in the light of the pilot scheme outcomes. It is thus recommended that government should adopt hands-off approach and allow the private sector to take over the procurement and distribution offertilisers so that government can face its facilitating roles of infrastructural development, programme supervision and quality control. It should also create the right policy environment for sustainable private sector participation

Oni O. A., Ojobe O. E. and Fashogbon A. E.Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria AbstractLimited health budget is a major challenge confronting provision of improved health care services in Nigeria and some other developing countries. This requires alternative innovative ways of raising fund to provide health care services in rural communities. In this regard a user fee approach is proposed for Ido local government area of Oyo state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was adopted to select 150 rural households from where one person per household was selected to constitute 150 respondents for the study. Data were collected through administration of structured questionnaire. This work further employed attribute-based choice valuation technique using six improved health care attributes; price, ambulance, medical doctor, night duty, drug and ownership. Result from the analysis using conditional logit revealed that individual members of the community were willing to pay for improved health careservices per consultation. The mean Willingness to Pay (WTP) was estimated at N808.86. The paper suggests that adoption of users' fee is a good policy option for primary healthcare service in the rural communities.

Nwaobiala, C. U. and Odoemelam, L. E. Department of Rural Sociology and ExtensionMichael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, NigeriaE Mail:cunwaobiala@gmail.com AbstractThe study analyzed constraints to cocoa farmers' participation in Farmer Field School approach in the three cocoa producing Local Government Areas of Abia State namely; Bende, Ikwuano and Umuahia North. Purposive and multistage random sampling techniques were used to select 120 cocoa farmers that participated in the programme. Instrument for data collection was through a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics like frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Results indicate that farmers were actively involved in the training of cocoa technologies in agrochemical application ( x=3.77), pruning techniques ( x=3.75), fertilizer application ( x=3.60), cocoa marketing ( x=3.58), plantation establishment ( x=3.50), cocoa bean storage ( x=3.40), nursery establishment, and nursery establishment and cocoa bean processing ( x=3.20) respectively. Bad road network ( x=3.59), price fluctuation of dried cocoa beans ( x=3.47), inadequate land ( x=3.31), inadequate incentives ( x=3.22) and location of school ( x=3.13), were identified constraints to farmers participation in the programme. Policies aimed at providing rural infrastructures, subsidy on farm inputs, easy access to schools and group formation were advocated for effective farmers' participation and increased cocoa production.

Salman, K. K. and Akinbosoye, O. O. Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan NigeriaE-Mail: kksalmann@gmail.com AbstractEnabling policy environment that encourages farmers' cooperative groups towards enhancing their standard of living is not fully in place. Empirical evidence that could sensitise policy makers as well as farmers in this direction is therefore crucial. In comparative terms, food insecurity status of farming households who were members of cooperative society and those who were not was examined in this study. Using a well-structured questionnaire and 2-stage sampling techniques, primary data on household socio-economic and demographic characteristics as well as the quantity consumed per week of locally available food groups were collected from 55 cooperative farming households and 53 non cooperative farming households in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, food security index, and probit model. Using food security index measured based on daily energy level of 2450kcalories, the food security line (Z) for all the farming households surveyed, co-operator and non-co-operators, was estimated at ?141.0308 per day per adult equivalent (equivalent to ?4,231.14 per month per adult). While 76.4% of the sampled cooperative farming households were food secure, only 56.6% of the non-cooperative farming households were food secure. Whereas age and household size were common significant determinants of food security among both cooperative and non cooperative farming households, education (0.0034) and monthly income (0.0043) were only significant for the co-operators. It is concluded that respondents belonging to cooperatives were relatively more food secured than non co-operators. It is therefore recommended that farmers beencouraged to form and join cooperative society and that cooperative activities should be assisted especially at their formative stage as this can serve as a hub to meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of a well-informed society, reducing poverty by half and ending hunger

Adebisi G. L.,Oyebode L. A. and Balogun O. T.Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Federal College of Animal Health andProduction Technology, Oyo state.College of Agriculture Food Science and Technology, Wesley University of Science and Technology,Ondo, Ondo state.Department Of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan.abiodunoyebode @gmail.com. AbstractThis study examined perception of rural dwellers on girl-child education in Saki East local government area of Oyo state. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the respondents, resulting in a total number of 120 household heads used for this study. Primary data on the perception of rural dwellers on girl-child education was collected using interview schedule and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results reveal that majority (75.8%) of the respondents were male, within 41-50 years of age and were aware of girl-child education through the use of the radio (81.7%). Further results show that majority (85.0%) of the respondents had favorable perception of girl-child education. Chi-square analysis of the result shows that there was a significant relationship between the level of education of the respondents (?2= 4.379, p = 0.002), awareness on girl-child education (?2 =5.441, p = 0.020) and their perception of girl-child education. Further results of correlation analysisrevealed that there existed a correlation between income (r = -0.592, p= 0.000), the constraints facing rural dwellers on girls' education (r = -0.465, p = 0.000) and their perception on girl-child education. Based on these findings, the study recommended that adult literacy should be encouraged and the cost of acquiring formal education should be subsidized.

Tijani S. A., O. P. Fawole and A. E. AdekoyaDepartment of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development,University of Ibadan, Nigeria.E-mail: vichenfel2@yahoo.com ABSTRACTThe Agricultural Development Project (ADP) has been saddled with agricultural extension services since its inception in Oyo State in 1989. This has been through financial and technical assistance from the World Bank. However, with the withdrawal of funding assistance by the World Bank finally, in 1999, the burden of financing agricultural extension services became the responsibility of the state government. This study analyzed the trend of extension activities of the Women-in-agriculture (WIA) programme ofthe ADP from 1989 to 1999. Areas focused were crop, livestock, and fishery production. There was a downward trend of all the activities on crop right from inception of funding (excluding 1991) which was not helped by the funding withdrawal of the World Bank. The picture presented was a gloomy future for WIA in agricultural extension delivery. Also, significant differences existed in the activities (t-value of 2.504 and a p-value of 0.031) between when funding was active (1989-1995) and period of withdrawaland after (1995-2001). The study thus substantiated the importance of funding for agricultural extension activities especially as they are development-oriented. It also suggested the need for governments to specifically pay attention to women farmers through intensifying funding for the WIA programmes.

Amao J.O., Adedapo K.D., Akinboye O.A. and Oladeebo J.O.Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension. Ladoke Akintola University ofTechnology, Oghomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. ABSTRACTThis study analyzed the resource use efficiency of cassava production in Ogo-Oluwa localgovernment area of Oyo state, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from a total of 80 cassava farmersusing multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected on input-output activities for 2003 cassavafarming season. The data were analyses using regression analysis. The study revealed that, land andhired labour were the significant factors influencing the output of cassava. Out of all the inputs ofproduction only land was over utilized

M. T. Ajayi , T. O. A. Banmeke and O. Solomon Department of Agricultural Administration University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. E-mails: akinwumi5253@yahoo.com, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University ofAgriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. E-mail: tajudeenbanms@yahoo.comExtension Division, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research NIFOR), Benin City,Nigeria. E-mail: segunsolomon05@yahoo.com ABSTRACTThe study assessed the information needs of oil palm farmers in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Through the use of structured interview schedule, 90 randomly selected oil palm farmers were surveyed. Findings showed that 73.3 percent of the respondents were males, 80 percent were between 31 and 50 years old, 73.3 percent were married, 70 percent had both primary and secondary education, 68.9 percent had farming experience of 11 years and above and 93.4 percent hadbetween1 and 4 ha of farm size. Respondents obtained information mostly from radio ( x = 2.60) and fellow farmers ( x = 2.57). Perceived areas of information need include nursery practices ( x =4.86), improved processing methods ( x = 4.84), improved varieties ( x= 4.67) and fertilizer application ( x= 4.36). Perceived effects of lack of information on respondents' production were low income ( x = 4.88), low yield ( x = 4.86), continuous use of local technologies ( x = 4.82), and non-awareness of improvedprocessing methods ( x = 4.67). Respondents' sex ( 2= 8.489: P < 0.05) and educational background (2=-10.460: P<0.05) had significant association with their perception of information needs. The need for new strategies for information dissemination, use of mass media and farmer training were recommended.

Olaleye, R.S., Odufala, J.O.,Ojo, M.A., Umar, I.S. and Ndanitsa, M.A.Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension TechnologyFederal University of Technology, Minna. Niger State, Nigeriae-mail address: olaleyerotimidavid@yahoo.comABSTRACTThis study investigated the effectiveness the conflict resolution methods to improve farmer-pastoralist relationship in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 5 villages that were prone to farmer-pastoralist conflicts. Random sampling technique was used to select 75 farmers and 75 pastoralists from the sampled villages to give a sample size of 150 respondents. Primary data were collected using Interview Schedule. Crops damage (100%) and competition for land/water (96.7%) were the predominant factors causing farmer-herder conflict in the study area. The various conflict resolution methods include intervention of traditional leaders, payment of compensation to affected persons, dialogue, court judgment, establishment of grazing routes and Miyetti Allah breeders' association intervention. Intervention by traditional leaders (52.7%) and payment of compensations (44.7%) were perceived very effective. Age, education and experience of the respondents had significant relationships with the perceived effectiveness of farmer-pastoralist conflict resolution methods. It is recommended that the local institutions and judiciary should be strengthened especially, the political empowerment of local leaders.