Constraints to use of mobile telephony for agricultural production in Ondo State, Nigeria

This study identifies the factors affecting the use of mobile telephony by small-scale farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study describes the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the farmers, examines their access to telecommunications services, determines their frequency of using mobile telephony for agricultural activities as well as the factors affecting the use of the technology by the farmers. The study made use of 170 randomly selected farmers across the state. Descriptive statistics, likert scale and multivariate logit model were the analytical tools adopted for the study. The findings revealed that non-membership of agricultural society, inadequate extension services, fluctuating telecommunication services, inadequate access to mobile services and lack of electric power supply are the constraints to the use of mobile telephone services by the farmers. Therefore, the study calls for provision of stable services by mobile telecommunications service providers, regular electric power supply, training of the farmers by extension agents and agricultural development agencies as well as formation of agricultural societies by the farmers

Awareness and effects of climate change on cocoa production in Ondo State, Nigeria

According to estimates, the contribution of cocoa, which is the Nigeria’s highest foreign exchange earner among all agricultural commodities, has dropped from 308,000 tonnes in the 70’s to an average of 215,000 tonnes in recent years. This, according to reports, resulted from climate failure, among other factors. In the light of this, this study examined awareness and effects of climate change on cocoa production in Ondo State, the Nigeria’s leading cocoa producing state. Specifically, the study decribed socio-­‐economic characteristics of cocoa farmers in the study area, investigated the awareness and perceived effects of climate change on cocoa production by the farmers and identified the adaptation strategies practised by the farmers. Primary data obtained through a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques of 120 farming households from the six Local Government Areas noted for cocoa production in the state were used for the study. Descriptive statistics involving frequency distribution tables, mean, mode and percentages were used for the analysis. The results revealed that 80.8% of the respondents were aware of climate change. The general effects of climate change experienced by the farmers were excessive rainfall (23.3%), less rainfall (12.5%), irregular rainfall pattern (59.2%), delayed onset of rainfall (5.0%), high temperature (37.5%), drought (5.0%) and variation in sunshine hours (28.3%). The visible effects of climate failure on the farmer cocoa production were pest attack (35.8%), disease attack (44.2%), late ripening of cocoa pod (20.8%), reduced weight of cocoa bean (53.3%) and contaminated cocoa bean (45.0%). This is unfavourable to farmers and the Nigerian economy in general. Therefore, this study calls for dissemination of timely information on sound adaptation strategies to effects of climate change by agricultural development agencies and provision of training by relevant stakeholders to improve the technical knowledge and skills of the farmers on measures to mitigate effects of climate change on cocoa production

Performance of Wild Fruit Marketing in Nigeria: A Case Study of African Star Apple (Chrysophllum Albidum) in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined marketing of wild fruits in Nigeria using African Star Apple as a case study. The study stemmed from the need to satisfy the nutritional requirements of the populace through efficient marketing of wild fruits. Specifically, the study examined the socio-economic characteristics of African Star Apple marketers in the study area, determined the marketing margins among the intermediaries involved in marketing of the crop, and identified the factors militating against efficient marketing of the commodity in the study area. Descriptive statistics, marketing margin and marketing efficiency analyses were the analytical tools adopted for the study. The findings revealed that marketing of African Star Apple was profitable and efficient in the study area. Majority of the intermediaries were not members of any cooperative society. The study also reveals inadequate credit facilities, seasonal variation in price, high transportation cost and poor storage system as the major problem facing marketing of the commodity in the study area. This is unfavourable to producers, marketers as well as consumers and the economy as a whole. The study therefore calls for formation of cooperative societies by marketers of wild fruits, provision of good roads, development of efficient storage system, credit facilities and market stalls.Key words: nutritional requirements, wild fruits, intermediaries, efficientt marketin

Assessment of Risks and Uncertainties in Poultry Farming in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study was designed to assess the risks and uncertainties encountered by poultry farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study describes the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, identify the risks and uncertainties encountered by the farmers, determines the level of severity of the risks and uncertainties, and identifies the coping strategies employed by the farmers. Primary data obtained from 99 registered poultry farmers selected through multistage sampling technique were used for the study. These were complemented with data from published and grey literature. Descriptive statistics and 3-point Likert scale were used to analyze the data. The study shows that poultry farming in the study area is practiced mainly by young, small-scale farmers, who are married, with high level of formal education but had little access to extension services. The major sources of risks encountered by the farmers were severe weather fluctuation, lack of veterinary services, disease outbreak, transportation problems, parasites and severe price fluctuation of birds. The study further revealed that the severe risks encountered by the farmers were disease outbreak, poor parent stock, accumulation of dung, severe weather fluctuation, lack of veterinary services and transportation problems. The study therefore calls for improved extension services, good transportation facilities, adequate veterinary services, market information by government and relevant stakeholders as well as formation of cooperative socities by the farmers

A MODELLING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK SATISFACTION AND FACULTY PERFORMANCE IN THE NIGERIAN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

Given the pivotal role that academics play in determining the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of educational sector of the economy, coupled with the constant mobility of these highly skilled persons from one University to another, it is important to understand what motivates them, and the extent to which the University environment and other contextual variables affect their performances. Thus, the paper utilizes survey data collected from 558 faculties of selected private Universities in the Southwest Nigeria to find out the factors that will determine the work satisfaction of faculties and their impact on academic excellence, whether faculties leave based on their dissatisfaction with these factors. Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships between the dependent and the independent variables. The results showed close association between the tested variables. The study stood as an eye opener to the management to ensure that existing benefits for academic staff are fairly, justly and competitively allocated to them as this affect their level of commitment and overall performance. Thus, we concluded that salary, package, organizational policies, work condition, social context of the job, as it relates to academic autonomy, relationship with academic colleagues, participation in decision making, promotional opportunities, etc will have positive effects on faculty’s commitment to their academic activities and subsequently impact on their performances

Effects of Credit Utilization on Youth Farmers’ Rice Output in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

The study examined the effects of credit utilization on the output of the youth rice farmers in Nigeria. It also examined the sources of information on credit available to the farmers; the use of the credit and the problems encountered by the farmers in having access to credit. Primary data was used for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected for the study. Results of the findings showed that “past experience" is the major source of information on credit used by the farmers, though the farmers prefer cooperative societies to every other source of credit information. Banks, cooperative societies and Esusu/saving groups are the major sources of credit to the farmers. The mean amount of credit obtained by the farmers is N132, 301. The most of the farmers spent their credits on fertilizers, seeds and farmland expansion. The major problems faced by the farmers in accessing credit are: insufficient amount, lack of collateral and high interest rates. However, the general effect of credit utilization by the farmers is increased output. It is therefore recommended that banks are situated in the study area and they should disburse sufficient loans to the farmers at affordable interest rates. The farmers should also form cooperative and savings groups in order to enjoy economies of scale in accessing credit facilities

Compensation packages: a strategic tool for employees’ performance and retention

The rate at which employees in private universities in Nigeria jump from one university to the other is becoming more disturbing and this could be as a result of compensation packages of different universities to attract competent employees. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of compensation packages on employees’ job performance and retention in a selected private University in Ogun State, South-West Nigeria. A model was developed and tested using one hundred and eleven valid questionnaires which were completed by academics and non-academic staff of the university. The collected data were carefully analyzed using simple percentage supported by structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses and relationships that may exist among the variables under consideration. The results showed strong relationship between compensation packages and employees’ performance and retention. The summary of the findings indicates that there is strong correlation between the tested dependent and independent variables (salary, bonus, incentives, allowances, and fringe benefits). However, management and decision makers should endeavour to review compensation packages at various levels in order to earn employees’ satisfaction and prevention of high labour turnover among the members of staff

Evaluation and Comparison of Metrics for XML Schema Languages

The importance of XML (eXtensible Markup Language) can’t be understated; their usefulness may range from data sharing to data transport in software systems. Schema languages describe the structure of an XML document and the common schemas languages are Document Definition Type (DTD), W3C XML Schema and RelaxNG. Applications depend heavily on XML documents to be free of error and this makes it imperative to determine the quality of such schema document. Schema metrics is used to achieve this, and several of them have been proposed in recent years. In this paper we present the existing schema metrics and to make comparative studies on all schema metrics, figuring out the features, advantages and limitations of each metrics

Effect of PH on Geotechnical Properties of Laterite Soil Used in Highway Pavement Construction

Laterite is one of the major materials used in highway pavement construction in Nigeria. Its properties are affected by some environmental factors which may make it unsuitable for highway pavement construction. This research was aimed of investigating the effect of pH on geotechnical properties of Laterite soil used in highway construction. Laterite soil sample was collected from a burrow pit at LAUTECH and it was sun dried for about 24 hours and then soaked in different pH solutions (pH =3.0, pH=5.0, pH = 7.0 and pH= 9.0) using diluted tetraoxosulphate (vi) acid (H2SO4) and ammonia. The container was perforated at the bottom in order simulate the actual field condition. The soil samples were taken from soaked sample at 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days for sun drying and subsequent laboratory tests. The original and treated samples were subjected to the following laboratory tests: Sieve analysis, Liquid and Plastic limits, Plasticity index, British standard compaction and California bearing ratio. The results showed that the pH of the solution has strong influence on the geotechnical characteristics of the Laterite soil when compared with the original soil sample. This influence caused reduction on the strength properties of the soil and thereby rending it unsuitable for highway construction. Keywords: Laterite, pH, consistency limits, California bearing ratio

Effects of managerial skills required in entrepreneurship among undergraduates in Oyo State, Nigeria

Nigeria must pay attention to the growth of entrepreneurship in order to move out of the disturbingly high level of unemployment and poverty. Therefore, entrepreneurship education is one of the most promising strategies for rescuing the country from the burden of poverty and youth unemployment. Taking cognizance of this fact, this study examined the effects of the managerial skills among university undergraduates of Agriculture in Oyo State, Nigeria. Following a survey research design, data was collected from a sample of 120 respondents. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings were that there is no significant difference in the mean responses of males and females on the managerial skills required for entrepreneurship. It is recommended that government changes the way it perceives entrepreneurial activities; reduces the administrative burden on entrepreneurs; and provides adequate funds to Universities to enable them to establish and equip entrepreneurial development centres.Keywords: BTVET; Agriculture; Curriculum innovatio