Adaptation Practices to Climate Change Among Rice Farmers in Anambra State of Nigeria

The study examined adaptation practices to climate change among rice farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 100 rice farmers by the combination of multistage, purposive and simple random sampling techniques, through the use of interview schedule. Percentage and mean statistics were used for data analysis. The results showed that majority (80.0%) of the respondents were aware of climate change and its adaptation measures in rice production included the use of improved varieties, growing flood and pest / disease resistant varieties, diversification in crop production, multiple cropping, adoption of minimum/zero tillage, adjusting the planting calendar and moderate use of agro-chemicals and fertilizers among others. The need for active collaboration among the rice farmers and other stakeholders to create more awareness and scale-up the identified adaptation measures and the development of new ones was recommended

Adaptation Practices to Climate Change Among Rice Farmers in Anambra State of Nigeria

The study examined adaptation practices to climate change among rice farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 100 rice farmers by the combination of multistage, purposive and simple random sampling techniques, through the use of interview schedule. Percentage and mean statistics were used for data analysis. The results showed that majority (80.0%) of the respondents were aware of climate change and its adaptation measures in rice production included the use of improved varieties, growing flood and pest / disease resistant varieties, diversification in crop production, multiple cropping, adoption of minimum/zero tillage, adjusting the planting calendar and moderate use of agro-chemicals and fertilizers among others. The need for active collaboration among the rice farmers and other stakeholders to create more awareness and scale-up the identified adaptation measures and the development of new ones was recommended

Adoption of Rice Technologies Introduced by the United States Agency for International Development in Anambra and Ebonyi States, Nigeria

The study determined the levels of adoption of improved rice technologies introduced by USAID MARKETS project phase one in Anambra and Ebonyi States, Nigeria. The population of the study included all project participant rice farmers of USAID MARKETS project in both Anambra and Ebonyi States. A total sample of 80 respondents (40 project farmers from each state) were selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. An interview schedule was used for data collection, while percentage and mean statistics were used to analyze data. The results of the study revealed that mean ages of the project farmers (PFs) was 46.56years while 86% of the PFs were literate and the mean rice farming experience was 22 years. The mean total rice farm land owned by PFs was 2.99 hectares mainly on rented basis, while majority got information on rice production and processing from the project. The project farmers highly adopted the following innovations; use of FARO 44 seed variety, carrying out a seed germination test before planting, carrying out appropriate land preparation using either manual or machinery (tractor), seed broadcasting on wet field and upland rice, use of herbicide and storage of paddy produce (packing bagged rice grains in cool dry, fumigated and aerated conditions)

Adoption of Rice Technologies Introduced by the United States Agency for International Development in Anambra and Ebonyi States, Nigeria

The study determined the levels of adoption of improved rice technologies introduced by USAID MARKETS project phase one in Anambra and Ebonyi States, Nigeria. The population of the study included all project participant rice farmers of USAID MARKETS project in both Anambra and Ebonyi States. A total sample of 80 respondents (40 project farmers from each state) were selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. An interview schedule was used for data collection, while percentage and mean statistics were used to analyze data. The results of the study revealed that mean ages of the project farmers (PFs) was 46.56years while 86% of the PFs were literate and the mean rice farming experience was 22 years. The mean total rice farm land owned by PFs was 2.99 hectares mainly on rented basis, while majority got information on rice production and processing from the project. The project farmers highly adopted the following innovations; use of FARO 44 seed variety, carrying out a seed germination test before planting, carrying out appropriate land preparation using either manual or machinery (tractor), seed broadcasting on wet field and upland rice, use of herbicide and storage of paddy produce (packing bagged rice grains in cool dry, fumigated and aerated conditions)

Comparative Assessment of N-Power Agro Programme on Youth Empowerment in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria

The study compared N-Power Agro programme implementation on youths’ empowerment in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria. Purposive and cluster random sampling techniques were used to select 180 samples for the study. Data were collected from primary source, while percentage standard deviation and mean statistic were used for data analysis. The findings showed that the beneficiaries had high level of participation in the programme’s activities in Delta and Edo states with grand mean of 3.66 and 3.52, respectively. The programme brought great changes in the beneficiaries’ livelihood in both States such as reduced their poverty, improved their working experience, increased their ICT proficiency, influenced their satisfaction of basic needs, provided adequate skills that made them to be employers of labour, and improved their income above their previous level. Delay in payment of stipend to participants, long distance to area of primary assignment, shortage of extension agents, mismanagement of funds, insufficient information about the programme, bribery and corruption among staff, overbearing hands of politicians in the programme, poor funding, and pattern of recruitment of the participants were the serious challenges to implementation of the programme in Delta and Edo States. It is recommended that government should increase the awareness campaign on importance of the programme as a solution to poverty, and also ensure prompt and timely payment of the stipends to beneficiaries of the programme

Comparative Assessment of N-Power Agro Programme on Youth Empowerment in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria

The study compared N-Power Agro programme implementation on youths’ empowerment in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria. Purposive and cluster random sampling techniques were used to select 180 samples for the study. Data were collected from primary source, while percentage standard deviation and mean statistic were used for data analysis. The findings showed that the beneficiaries had high level of participation in the programme’s activities in Delta and Edo states with grand mean of 3.66 and 3.52, respectively. The programme brought great changes in the beneficiaries’ livelihood in both States such as reduced their poverty, improved their working experience, increased their ICT proficiency, influenced their satisfaction of basic needs, provided adequate skills that made them to be employers of labour, and improved their income above their previous level. Delay in payment of stipend to participants, long distance to area of primary assignment, shortage of extension agents, mismanagement of funds, insufficient information about the programme, bribery and corruption among staff, overbearing hands of politicians in the programme, poor funding, and pattern of recruitment of the participants were the serious challenges to implementation of the programme in Delta and Edo States. It is recommended that government should increase the awareness campaign on importance of the programme as a solution to poverty, and also ensure prompt and timely payment of the stipends to beneficiaries of the programme

Gender Role in Sustainable Palm Oil Production in Imo State, Nigeria

The paper explored gender role in sustainable palm oil production in selected communities of Imo State. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 60 respondents for the study. Data were collected using interview schedule and analyzed using mean score and percentage. The estimated average monthly income of palm oil producers was ₦30,967.00. The respondents perceived improved palm oil production method as the only sustainable method ( χ=3.46). The wine press (χ =2.93) and hydraulic press (manual) ( χ=2.80) were the only palm oil production equipment accessible to palm oil producers. The respondents perceived that women played major role in sustainable palm oil production activities such as fruit steaming (86.7%) and oil drying (73.3%) while all gender (women, youths, men) played major role in second pressing (73.3%). There was no specific role performed majorly by men but youths performed major role only in harvesting of oil palm fruit (53.3%). Lack of finance ( χ=3.53) and ultra-modern palm oil production equipment ( χ=3.50) were perceived as the main constraints to sustainable palm oil production. The study concluded that although women played major role in palm oil production, all gender (women, youth and men) were increasingly getting involved in palm oil production.Keywords: Gender role, Palm oil, Production, Imo Stat