Nigeria

Analysis of Factors Affecting Accessibility of Information Communication Technologies Among Cassava Farmers in Obubra Local Government Area Cross River State, Nigeria (Published)

This study investigates the factors influencing the accessibility of ICT tools among cassava farmers in Obubra Local Government Area, Cross River State. Specifically, it describes the socio-economic factors of the cassava farmers, identifies the available ICT tools to cassava farmers, determines the accessibility of the available ICT among farmers, examines how cassava farmers perceive the adoption of ICT tools and identify the challenges faced by cassava farmers in adopting ICT tools in cassava production. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were employed for data analysis. Results on socio-economic characteristics revealed a predominantly female (55.56%), literate (90%), and married (64.81%) group with an average age of 46, had an average of 27 years of cassava farming experience, engaged in small-scale farming (1.8 hectares), and had an average annual income of N484,000. Principal ICT tools included radio, mobile phones, television, computers, and the Internet. Mobile phones (94.44%), television (89.81%), and radio (77.78%) were reported as the most accessible tools. The rejection of the null hypothesis indicated farmers perceived ICT tool adoption as relevant. Challenges included high costs, inadequate knowledge, limited awareness, internet-related issues, power supply, low education levels, language barriers, and distrust of technology. Recommendations include targeted training, improved connectivity, and power supply.

 

 

 

 

 

Keywords: Cross River State, Information & Communication Technologies, Nigeria, Obubra, cassava farmers

Determinants of Saving Behaviour of Rural Cocoa Farmers in Ikom Agricultural Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria (Published)

The main concern of this study was to ascertain the determinants of saving behaviour of rural cocoa farmers in Ikom Agricultural Zone of Cross River State. The specific objectives of the study were to; ascertain the methods of saving used by rural cocoa farmers in the area; examine the effectiveness of the saving methods used and, ascertain the variables that determine rural cocoa farmers’ saving behaviour. The study adopted a survey design, the population of the study comprised all registered cocoa farmers in the area. Two extension blocks (Etung and Ikom) were purposively selected for the study, and from the blocks, six communities were selected from each blocks, and three (300) hundred respondents were randomly sampled for the study. The result of analysis revealed that, rural farmers save money using their homes, boxes, holes, clay pots, cooperative and keeping in bams and with relatives etc. it was also observed that investing in project, buying of assets, bams and cooperative etc. were the most effective saving methods used by the farmers. The study found that the saving behaviour of rural cocoa farmers was determined by their age, education, marital status and income among others. The study therefore, recommended among other things, robust rural banking reforms to improve rural farmers savings.

Keywords: Cross River State, Ikom agricultural zone, Nigeria, rural cocoa farmers, saving behaviour

Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Extension Workers’ Satisfaction With Job Condition in Kebbi State Agricultural And Rural Development Authority (Karda), Kebbi State – Nigeria (Published)

This study assessed the agricultural extension condition in Kebbi State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KARDA). Both the primary and secondary data were used for this study. The target population for this study is the extension workers and the farmers in Kebbi State Agricultural and rural development authority (KARDA). Multi-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 120 extension workers from 24 agricultural extension blocks (5 extension workers per block). The results of the study shows that majority (95.5%) of the extension workers were male and only 5.0% were female, were within the age group of 48 – 57 years, while only 1.7% were within the age group of 18 – 27 years, had Ordinary National Diploma (OND, had their household size ranging from 1 to 11 people, while 30.8% had household size ranging from 12 – 22 persons and had 21 to 30 years working experience, while 19.2% had 1 -10 years of working experience.  Regarding the most frequently used methods in communicating new ideas, majority of the extension workers (96.7%) frequently used farm, home and office visits. The study also reveals that majority of the respondent (45.8%) organized visits for the farmers every two weeks as a strategy for educating and communicating of information towards enhancing agricultural productivity and skills. It was found that of the six (6) variables included in the model, only socio-economic characteristics such as education (X4), household size (X5) and experience (X6) had a significant relationship with their job satisfaction. The most pressing constraints, as perceived by the respondents, is that their remuneration was inadequate. The study recommends that the Kebbi State Government should improve the level of job satisfaction of the extension agents in Kebbi State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KARDA) through provision of funds, equipment, mobility and housing accommodation and should enhance the skills and make the extension staff equips with the latest technologies training programme should be organized for extension agents.

Keywords: Karda, Kebbi State agricultural and rural development authority, Nigeria, Socio-Economic Factors, extension workers, job condition

Comparative Analysis of the Training Needs and Job Performance Constraints among Block Extension Supervisors in Abia and Akwaibom States, Nigeria (Published)

Comparative analysis of the training needs and job performance constraints among block extension supervisors in Abia and Akwa Ibom states was studied. Primary and secondary data  were collected with structured questionnaire  from 28 BESs drawn from Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means and t-test were employed in data analysis. Result shows that BESs in Abia and Akwa Ibom states had highest need for training in control of ecto-parasite (X= 3.93) and endo-parasite (X= 4.29) respectively. In fishery practices, Abia and Akwa Ibom states BESs had greatest need for training in fish pond construction (X = 3.71) and site selection for pond. In extension message delivery, Abia and Akwa Ibom states BESs had highest training needs in reporting farming/field problems, identification of new farmers (X=4.93) for each practice and coordination of farmers meeting (X=4.64) among others. In soil science, Abia and Akwa Ibom states BESs had highest training needs in fertilizer application methods (X= 4.93) and (X= 4.57). In Agroforestry, the BESs in Abia and Akwa Ibom states had highest need for training in establishment of snail farm (X= 4.21)  and (X= 3.93). In agronomic practices, Abia and Akwa Ibom states BESs had highest need for training in site selection for crops land preparation, planting technique and fertilizer application (X= 4.79) and (X= 4.64). The major problems facing the BESs were poor input backup, lack of tangible facility for movement on the field, irregular supply of OFAR and SPAT inputs e.tc for Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Recruitment of more EAs and constant in-service training were recommended among others. 

Keywords: Abia and Akwa Ibom States, Constraints, Job Performance, Nigeria, Training needs, extension agents

Determinants of Use of Electronic Wallet Scheme by Farmers In Imo State, Nigeria (Published)

The study investigated determinants of use of e-wallet scheme among farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. It specifically identified the farmers’ sources of information on e-wallet, determined the inputs supplied through e-wallet, ascertained the farmers’ perceived effects of e-wallet and determined constraints to the use of e-wallet. Data were collected from a sample of 240 farmers with the aid of structure questionnaire and were analyzed using mean statistic, percentages and bar chart. The hypothesis was tested using ordinary least square regression analysis. Results showed that radio (100%), mobile phones (100%) and newspapers (66.7%) were the major sources of information on e-wallet; inputs supplied through e-wallet included fertilizers (X = 2.9), maize seeds (X = 2.5), cassava cuttings (X = 2.3), fingerlings (X = 2.1) and agrochemicals (X = 2.0); perceived effects of use of e-wallet included increased income (90.00%), exposure to more agricultural enterprises (85.00%), increase productivity (85.42%) and timely access to inputs (64.56%). It was further revealed that high cost of inputs (89.58%), poor transportation network (87.50%) and bureaucratic bottlenecks were the major constraints facing the scheme. It was recommended that innovative strategies for financing agricultural projects be introduced so that farmers could afford required quantities of inputs. Also, the input distribution system should be decentralized to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Keywords: Agricultural Transformation Agenda, Determinants of Farmers Use, Electronic Wallet Scheme, Nigeria

Video Documentary Training in Agricultural Extension in the 21st Century: A Qualitative Assessment of Cassava Farmers in South-West Nigeria (Published)

Video documentaries are means of communication adopted by several sectors including agriculture to pass useful and required information to respective audiences. It has become one of the major tools utilized by extension agents as instructional materials for agricultural educational purposes in major parts of the world. In Nigeria, agricultural programmes are packaged by extension agents in collaboration with some media houses and broadcast at certain times which may not be convenient to watch, understand, and later referred to. This study therefore assessed the effectiveness of video documentary as training tool for farmers in south-west Nigeria.  Methodologically, the qualitative approach was adopted as farmers were trained with the aid of a video documentary as instructional material and were assessed before and after the trainings provided with structured interview guides to gather the data required. The findings showed that video documentaries are effective training tools that aid understanding and retention of information shared even after several weeks of the training. Conventional extension practice is enjoined to embrace video documentaries as instructional training tools to facilitate and enhance farmer’s agricultural learning.

Keywords: Agricultural Extension, Effectiveness, Nigeria, South-western States, Video documentary

Constraints to Participation in Women-in-Agriculture Programme in Aboh Mbaise local government area of Imo State, Nigeria (Published)

The study assessed the participation in women-in-agriculture programme in Aboh Mbaise local government area of Imo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 120 women. Data were collected with a set of structured questionnaire and were analyzed using mean and percentages. Results showed that all the WIA packages were available in the study area and the women participated in all of them. Major constraints to participation in WIA programme were inadequate capital (91.5%) and illiteracy (69.5%). It was recommended that the WIA programme should be sustained and upscaled and that credit facilities should be made available to the women.

 

Keywords: Constraints to participation, Nigeria, women-in-agriculture programme

A Review of Smallholder Farming In Nigeria: Need for Transformation (Published)

By international standards, a farm that is less than 10 hectares is classified as small scale. More than 80% of farmers in Nigeria are small holder farmers. Agriculture is a major contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and smallholder farmers play a dominant role in this contribution. A small scale farmer depends on his efficiency in the utilization of basic production resources available to him. He makes a significant and important contribution to the national product, about 99%of total crops output. The smallholder farmer is the main producer of 98% of the food consumed in Nigeria with the exception of wheat. Over the years, deliberate efforts have been made to improve agricultural production by Nigerian governments and some foreign bodies but these efforts have not yielded expected results. Much of the failure can be attributed to different constraints that militate against smallholder farming in Nigeria which include economic, political and financial constraints. The failure can also be attributed to the adapted transformation approach to agriculture which is characterized by the introduction of a wide variety of large scale farming and processing technologies. The emphasis is now from the big scale transformation approach to the small scale improvement strategy approach which is attuned to Nigerian age-long farm practice. This study reveals certain constraints militating against efficiency in smallholder farming in Nigeria and suggests many ways to transform the activities of farmers for enhanced productivity. The paper recommends that Nigerian governments should encourage the participation of private sector in supplying farm inputs to ensure steady and timely supply of such inputs, Nigerian Agricultural Extension System should be revamped by funding arrangement to provide mobility, training, incentives and institutional support so that it will increase its services to farmers for enhanced production, among others.

Keywords: Agricultural Production, Inefficiency, Nigeria, Smallholder Farmers, Transformation

THE DYNAMICS OF COMMUNICATION IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. THE CASE OF THE SOUTH-EASTERN STATES OF NIGERIA (Published)

The poor and deplorable condition of Agricultural development in the South Eastern Nigeria has become a regional concern, especially with the notion that agriculture is an occupation for the poor, illiterate and the old. The work investigated the role of the media in agricultural development as well as the level of audience awareness of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) agricultural development programme as strategies and effective tools for dissemination of agricultural development programme in the South Eastern Nigeria. Methodologically, the work adopted a survey method of data collection to elicit information needed. The findings revealed that most rural agriculturists do not have access to NTA stations and programmes. This is principally due to poverty and lack of infrastructural development. The subsistent farmers are found at the lowest rung of development, and so were cut off from modern information that can better their lots. The work stressed the need for upgrading the NTA to be responsive and grassroots oriented by using local content features like language, time, message and scene to transmit agricultural development programmes. The work is a clarion call on the government to be proactive in the development of infrastructural facilities like electricity in the villages, good road networks, as the establishment of weekend viewing centres for watching agricultural development news, commentaries and programmes transmitted in the form of drama and discussion. This will act as a panacea for development of agriculture at the grassroots

Keywords: Agricultural Development, Nigeria, South-Eastern States, communication

DETERMINANTS OF NET RETURNS TO AGROFORESTRY IN THE HUMID RAIN FOREST BELT OF NIGERIA (Published)

The study analyzed the determinants of net returns to agroforestry in the humid rainforest belt of Nigeria. The multi-stage random sampling technique was used in selecting the sample. The sample size comprised 120 agroforestry practitioners who were selected from the list provided by the staff of the Imo state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP). The results of the ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis showed that farm size, years of farming experience, tree crop density, educational attainment, extension contact, type of soil fertility replacement materials used, and farmers age are the major determinants of net returns to agroforestry practice in the state. It was suggested that co-operative farming and communal system of land use could significantly enhance participation in agroforestry in Imo State, Nigeria.

Keywords: Agroforestry, Determinants, Humid Rainforest, Net Returns, Nigeria