Analysis of Farm Inputs Distribution and Information Linkages among Farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. (Published)
The study assessed the needs for farm inputs distribution to the farming households of Ekiti State, Nigeria. A simple random sampling of three hundred farmers were undertaken. Descriptive statistics was employed to analyze the obtained data. Result of the socio-economic attributes of the respondents revealed that 46 years was found to be the mean age of the respondents interviewed. It was also revealed that 73% of the respondents were married while 42% of the respondents had secondary education. Majority (46%) of them indicated 6-10 years as farming experience while 40.7% cultivated 1-2 hectares of land. According to the respondents, their major sources of farm inputs are reserve from previous harvest, friends/ relation, open market. Challenges encountered in accessing farm inputs as reported in multiple responses form, are; high cost of farm inputs (67.00%), extension education needs (66.00%), climate change problem (63.00%), limited access to modern agricultural technology (62.33%)
Keywords: Descriptive Statistics, Farm Inputs, information linkages
Government’s Strategic Responses On Management Of The Challenges Facing Small Scale Famers In Kenya. A Survey of Potato Farmers in Nyeri County (Published)
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the strategic responses by the government on the management of the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in the county. The study employed the survey research design. Descriptive research was used. All the farmers in this area were targeted. The researcher used questionnaires and face-to-face interview to collect data. Data was analysed SPSS. On the provision of technical skills, affordable farm inputs, business information services, accessibility to credit and the management of the marketing challenges, the government had done very little about them
Keywords: Business Information, Challenges, Farm Inputs, Marketing, Technical Expertise
Effects of Special Rice Project on Rice Production in Kwara State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was carried out to evaluate the impact of the Special Rice Project (SRP) on rice production in Kwara state, Nigeria. Specifically, Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas of Kwara State were purposively selected because of the predominance of rice farming activities in the two local governments in the study area. A stratified random sampling technique of 204 rice farmers was used, where 140 farmers were selected from 6 circles in Patigi LGA comprising 70 participating SRP farmers and another 70 non-participating SRP. Also in Edu LGA, another 64 rice farmers were similarly selected from three extension circle comprising 32 SRP participating farmers and 32 non-participating SRP farmers. The data analyses reveals that SRP participating farmers accessed major rice production inputs at a relatively subsidized price while; non-participating SRP farmers accessed these inputs at higher prices. The result also shows that participating farmers in SRP cultivated on the average, more farm size, recorded higher yields/hectare and had higher average income/annnum than non-participating SRP farmers. The result of t-test analysis indicates a significant difference in the cost of farm inputs used by participating and non-participating farmers in SRP (t=4.537, p<0.05). Also Pearson Correlation result shows significant relationship between farm inputs used and socio-economic status of rice farmers (r=0.223, P<0.05). This study concludes that SRP significantly reduced the cost of farm operation, increased the yield and income of participating farmers. It subsequently recommends the expansion of SRP to cover all categories of rice farmers in the study area.
Keywords: Farm Inputs, Production, Rice Farmers