Global Approaches to Extension Practice: A Journal of Agricultural Extension

Strategies adopted by women associations in community development activities in sagbama local government area of Bayelsa state, Nigeria

ON Nwaogwugwu — 2015-07-13

The study analyzed the strategies adopted by rural women associations in community development activities in Sagbama Local Government Area of the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained through a structured and validated interview schedule administered to a sample size of 60 respondents from 15 women associations randomly selected from 26 registered women associations in the study area. Data were analyzed with the aid of frequency, percentage and mean. The result showed that majority of the respondents (about 33.3%) are within the age range of 40-49 years, about 53.3% of them have a household size of 10 and above persons, while 53.3% of them attained secondary education level. The community development activities rural women associations in the study area participate in include: provision of community boreholes (mean = 3.17), construction of community market stalls (mean = 3.17), building of community town halls (mean = 3.03), provision of rental services (mean = 2.50), among others. Among the strategies adopted by rural women associations in community development, mobilization of available community resources to support development projects, advising intervention agencies on priority areas of need, donation of resources for welfare services, provision of credit and loan to members were ranked high. It was therefore recommended that women associations should be drawn into the mainstream of rural development project planning and implementation processes.

Keywords: Strategies, Rural women Associations, Community Development Activities.

Alternative entrepreneurial options: a policy mitigation strategy against climate change in Abia state, Nigeria

FO Onwukwe — 2015-07-13

This study focused on alternative entrepreneurial options as a mitigation strategy against climate change among part-time farmers in Abia state Nigeria. Some farmers abandoned farming in the face of reoccurring adverse weather conditions to other livelihood sustaining activities. The objectives were to examine the entrepreneurial options, identify factors influencing the entrepreneurs alternating entrepreneurial activities and compare the output of operators with respect to entrepreneurial options. The respondents are leather product based business men in Ariaria market by profession and secondly part-time entrepreneurs engaging in farming. One hundred part-time entrepreneurs were analysed. Questionnaire was used for data collection. The technique of data analyses were descriptive statistics for all the objectives except objective one which was analysed by ranking. The result revealed that majority of the entrepreneurs (45%) were inexperienced in farming and there are more males than females, thus making entrepreneurship alternating easier. Majority (45%) of the entrepreneurs abandoned farming to selling of shoes while the least (8%) opted for the sales of leather accessories. The ranking of the prime factors inducing entrepreneurial alternative options conveyed that dry season longevity and rainfall inconsistency ranked first and second respectively. These factors are consequent upon climate change influences. Thus, this study recommends alternative entrepreneurial options strategies as a militating policy strategy against climate change variability threats in the study area

Key words: Entrepreneurial, Options, Mitigation, Strategy, Climate-Change

Attitude of farmers to the Training and Visit (T&V) extension management system in Abia and Akwa-Ibom states, Nigeria

SO Olatunji — 2015-07-13

The main concern of the Agricultural Extension Agent’s contact with farmers is the creation of favourable attitude toward specific production recommendations. Assessment of farmers’ attitude to an extension system will, more likely than not, provide an indication of how effective the system has been or is likely to be. The study investigated attitude of farmers towards the Training and Visit (T&V) extension management system in Abia and Akwa-Ibom States of Nigeria. The sample comprised 244 Representative Contact Farmers (RCFs) and Other Contact Farmers (OCFs) selected through multistage sampling procedure. A 24-item attitude to T&V system of managing extension interview schedule that adopted Likert-type scales was administered to the study sample. Data were subjected to descriptive and t-test statistics. The findings reveal that while 32.3% of sampled farmers exhibit negative attitude to the T&V extension management system, 67.7 % belong to the positive attitude category. This implies that most of farmers in Abia and Akwa-Ibom States still have positive attitude to the T&V system. The mean attitude to T&V ratings by RCFs was significantly higher than those of OCFs. Females exhibit a more negative attitude to T&V system than male farmers. Farmers in Abia State expressed significantly higher level of positive attitude to T&V system than their counterparts in Akwa-Ibom State. It is more likely than not, that these farmers who exhibit positive attitude to the extension system would be potential adopters of extension recommendations. It was recommended that the current status of extension services in Abia and Akwa-Ibom States be sustained and improved upon while putting intervention programmes in place to improve the attitude of the 32% of farmers whose attitude to the extension system is still at low ebbs.

Key Words: Attitude, Training and Visit Extension Management System, Contact Farmers, Extension Agents

Access to rural banking credit by agribusiness investors in Ahiazu Mbaise local government area of Imo state: Issues for extension and empowerment policies

SE Ogbe — 2015-07-13

This paper examines access to rural banking credit by agribusiness investors and issues for policies in Ahiazu Mbaise local government area of Imo state. The work is important because the existence of limited access of agribusiness investors to formal rural banking credit and extension services is provided by extension agents is a problem and needs solution. Random samples of 80 agribusiness investors were chosen for the study. A set of structured questionnaire and unstructured interview was used in collecting data from the respondents. Data were analyzed using simple statistical tools such as frequency distribution and percentages. Result shows that majority of agribusiness investors were married and had at least primary education. 68 percent had at least 11 years of agribusiness experience and are within the age range of 41-50 years.About 49 percent had personal income as a major source of agribusiness finance. 51 percent had savings and 58.75 percent had income between N5000-N3400 per annum. Sixty percent had household size of 4-6 persons. Twenty six percent had access to formal rural banking credit. Thirty eight percent of the respondents with access to formal rural banking credit were assisted by extension agents during credit processes. This paper therefore recommended that there be greater level of collaboration between formal rural financial sources of credit and extension agents. Extension policies that will facilitate the funding and training of extension agents should be intensified so as to redirect extension back to its traditional role of educating these investors for optimal agribusiness investment performance.

Keywords: Access, Rural banking, Agribusiness Investor, Empowerment

Comparative analysis of beef and fish consumption in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra state, Nigeria

SO Anyanwu — 2015-07-13

The study isolated and discussed the factors driving beef and fish consumption in Ekwusigo Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Anambra State, Nigeria. Cross sectional data generated from 120 households randomly selected from five villages in Ekwusigo L.G.A was used. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis was used in analyzing the data. Results showed that the major drivers of beef consumption were prices of beef and prices fish while age, household size as well as own price of fish and price of beef determined fish consumption in the L.G.A. Comparatively, more fish was consumed than beef among households in the L.G.A. Based on the findings of this study, it is therefore recommended that policies geared towards the production of more fish such as establishment of more fish ponds be put in place by the government. Furthermore, credit liberalization policies should be implemented to scale up the level of fish production to augment the protein needs of households in Nigeria generally.

Key Word: Comparative, beef, fish, consumption, Ekwusigo.

Adoption of recommended agricultural technologies of Anambra state agricultural development project by small scale farmers in Anambra state, Nigeria

BO Gbughemobi — 2015-07-13

The study was on the adoption of selected agricultural technologies of Anambra State Agricultural Development programme by small scale farmers in Anambra State. Data were collected from purposively sampled 120 farmers in the state using structured interview schedule. The data were analyzed using percentages and chi-square analysis. The result indicated that the farmers rate of adoption is low. Only two technologies, cassava/maize/vegetable and sole improved cassava variety had the highest adoption rate of 70.8% and 70% respectively. The result of chi-square analysis indicated that there was a significant relationship between adoption and income at 1% level of significance. It was recommended that agricultural centers should be established in various towns in the study area to make agricultural inputs and packages accessible to farmers.

Keywords: Adoption, Technology and Communication

Utilisation of family planning techniques among women: an experience of rural area of Lagos state

IO Ewebiyi — 2015-07-13

Utilisation of family planning by women will promote sustainable development and general wellbeing of women at the rural community. The study assessed utilization of family planning techniques among women in the rural area of Lagos state. Sixty respondents were randomly selected for the study. Structured interview schedule was used to obtain information on respondents’ personal characteristics, sources of information on family planning, constraints to the use of family planning and family planning techniques used by women. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The respondents were within the age bracket of 31-50 (61.7%), 83.7% of respondents were educated and 70.0% had between 5-8 household size. Only 28.3% of respondents used radio as the main source of information on family planning technique usage. The most critical constraint (81.7%) was ignorance of the importance of family planning. Also 78.3%, 65.0% of respondents did not use birth pill control and contraceptive injection respectively. Constraint was significantly related to utilization of family planning techniques (Cal.χ2=26.475, Tab. χ2=15.507, p=0.05). Utilization of family planning techniques were low among women, therefore training about the benefits of family planning will improve its utilization for the wellbeing of rural women.

Key words: Utilisation, Family planning technique, Rural community, Women

Effect of adoption of improved cassava varieties on the livelihoods of the rural farmers in Nsukka local government area of Enugu state, Nigeria

IE Nwosu — 2015-07-13

Over the years, the use of local varieties of cassava by farmers especially in the study area had not appreciably improved the livelihood status of the farmers. This study, therefore, examined the effects of adoption of improved cassava varieties on the livelihoods of the rural farmers in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State in Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 110 respondents with the aid of structured questionnaire, using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data for the study were analyzed with descriptive stat collected were subsequently analyzed with the use of simple descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The result showed that 65% of farmers were between age ranges of 26 - 55 years. The results further revealed that 91.8% of the farmers had farming experience of between 6 and 26 years and 90% aware of the improved varieties. The correlation analysis revealed that there were strong positive correlations between adoption of improved cassava varieties and increased productivity of farmers, enhanced farm income, household hunger reduction and improved nutrition. The farmers identified lack of farm inputs, inadequate funds and high cost of labour as major problems of cassava production. Policies aimed at encouraging farmers to form cooperatives, access to credit and subsidy on farm inputs were advocated for increased adoption of cassava varieties.

Keywords: Adoption, Livelihoods and Rural Farmers.

Adoption of improved oil palm processing technology in Umuahia north local government area of Abia state, Nigeria

SO Olatunji — 2015-07-13

The significant roles played by oil palm production in the economy of Nigeria in the years prior to the advent of crude oil cannot be over-emphasized. The study assessed farm families' adoption of oil palm processing technologies in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The sample comprised 120 farm families selected through stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected with structured interview schedule and analyses done with descriptive statistics (especially percentage, mean and ranking). It was found that a large percentage of the respondents were aware of the 5 improved oil palm processing technologies with friends and relatives as major source of information. Adoption was significant for 3 out of 5 technologies under study. The major constraints to improved oil palm processing technologies were high cost of equipment and maintenance, products' low quality and inadequate power supply. It was recommended that the cost of the equipment be subsidized by Government and credit facilities made more accessible to farmers. Research should develop semi-mechanized oil palm processing technologies that does not require power supply while farmers should form cooperatives with a view to pulling resources together to take advantage of these technology.

Key words: Processing, technology, oil palm, adoption, palm oil.

Constraints to livelihood diversification among rural households in Southwestern Nigeria

IO Ewebiyi — 2015-07-13

Low farm productivity due to environmental degradation had made rural dwellers in Nigeria to diversify into other business besides agricultural production so as to liberate them from poverty. However, there are various challenges to livelihood diversification among the rural dwellers. This study therefore, identifies constraints to livelihood diversification among rural households in southwestern Nigeria with a view of improving their livelihood activities.
Following data collection through structured interview schedule and Focus Group Discussion on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, livelihood activities, reasons for diversification, and constraints to diversification and data analysis by using frequency counts, percentage, means, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation, and binomial regression at p = 0.05.
Constraints to livelihood diversification were lack of infrastructural facilities (91.9%), inadequate livelihood assets (82.0%) and poor transportation system (66.9%). Respondents’ level of livelihood diversification was significantly increased by primary occupation (β=0.64), income from farming (β = 0.16), length of stay (β = 0.28) and income from non-farm activities (β = 0.13). Significant relationship existed between constraints (r=-0.130) and level of livelihood diversification. However, frequency of visits to urban centres (β = -0.25) significantly reduced respondents’ level of livelihood diversification.
Level of constraints to livelihood diversification of rural households was high, hence, for achieving sustainable rural livelihood, Government and NGOs should give more support to the development of formal and informal capacity building at the local level to enhance human assets of rural households and make them adopt more non-farm activities.

Keywords: Constraints; Livelihood Diversification; Rural Households.