Capability of Poultry Association of Nigeria for Extension Services Delivery to Poultry Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

The findings revealed that 63.7% of the respondents were males within the age bracket of 40-50 years and were literate. Extension services delivery to poultry farmers by Kwara State Agricultural Development Project, government extension agency, was grossly inadequate to meet knowledge and skills required for cost-effective poultry production on account of high extension agent/farmers ratio. PAN in Kwara State has a meeting hall that is suitable for training and a chapter in 9 out of the existing 16 local government areas (LGAs.) of the State. About 20% of the respondents possessed university degree in livestock husbandry/veterinary sciences. Majority (72%) preferred keeping of layers to any other class of poultry. Similarly, 87.1% and 69.2% of the respondents accessed information on Poultry management techniques and marketing during in-house trainings and farm visits sponsored by PAN. The association financed the trainings through the annual dues and levies paid by members which showed the level of preparedness of members to pay for extension services. It was concluded that PAN has optimum human and material resources for extension services delivery to its members. The number of trainings and farm visits organized by the association could be improved upon if PAN accesses other sources of funding

Capability of Poultry Association of Nigeria for Extension Services Delivery to Poultry Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

The findings revealed that 63.7% of the respondents were males within the age bracket of 40-50 years and were literate. Extension services delivery to poultry farmers by Kwara State Agricultural Development Project, government extension agency, was grossly inadequate to meet knowledge and skills required for cost-effective poultry production on account of high extension agent/farmers ratio. PAN in Kwara State has a meeting hall that is suitable for training and a chapter in 9 out of the existing 16 local government areas (LGAs.) of the State. About 20% of the respondents possessed university degree in livestock husbandry/veterinary sciences. Majority (72%) preferred keeping of layers to any other class of poultry. Similarly, 87.1% and 69.2% of the respondents accessed information on Poultry management techniques and marketing during in-house trainings and farm visits sponsored by PAN. The association financed the trainings through the annual dues and levies paid by members which showed the level of preparedness of members to pay for extension services. It was concluded that PAN has optimum human and material resources for extension services delivery to its members. The number of trainings and farm visits organized by the association could be improved upon if PAN accesses other sources of funding

EFFECTS OF THE SPECIAL RICE PROJECT ON QUALITY OF INPUTS USED FOR RICE PRODUCTION IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out in Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas of Kwara State. Through a two stage random sampling technique, 70 participants in Special Rice Project (SRP) were selected from 6 circles in Patigi Local Government Area (LGA) and another 32 participants were similarly selected from 3 extension circles in Edu LGA, making a total of 102 respondents. Data collected by means of interview schedule were subjected to descriptive, t-test and Pearson Correlation Statistics. The result of the study indicated that 86.7%, 91.3%, 90.3% of the participating farmers in SRP rated seed, her- bicide and fertilizer respectively, provided by SRP, to be of very good quality while 19.6%, 49% and 58.8% of them rated seed, herbicide and fertilizer used before they joined SRP to be of very good quality. Furthermore, the highest proportion of participants 90 (88.3%) produced 3 - 4 tonnes of paddy rice per hectare as opposed to 19 .6% of them who were able to produce 3-4 tonnes before SRP was implemented. Participants also recorded an average annual income of N338,700.00 (US$2,419.29) / annum, that is, US$6.63/day, as against N129,410.00 (US$9,24.4)/annum earned by them before SRP was implemented. Thus, participants earned about US$6.63/day, which is higher than poverty income level of US$2/day. The result of the t-test analysis indicated that a significant difference exists between the rice yield of participants before and after the introduction of SRP (t=4.537, p≤0.05). Also Pearson Correlation analysis shows positive, linear and significant relationship between quality of farm inputs used and yield of rice (r = 0.562, p≤ 0.05). Based on the evidence from the study, Special Rice Project has the potential to serve as a good channel of accessing quality farm inputs, increase farm yield and income of farmers and contribute to Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty level by 2015. It is, therefore, recommended that the activities of SRP are expanded to reach all categories of farmers in the country

PIPELINE VANDALISATION AND FARMERS’ SITUATION: EXPOSITION FROM OBAFEMI OWODE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed the effects of pipeline vandalisation on the socio-economic life and activities of farmers in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 80 farmers from the affected villages in the Local Govern- ment Area. Primary data were obtained with interview guide. Chi-Square was used to analyze the data collected. The mean age of the farmers was 43.37 years and 78.7% were male. Majority (76.3%) were married while 61.2% were Christians. More than half (57.5%) had no formal education and they cultivated an average of 4.94 hectares of land. Most (92.0%) of the farmers operated on full time basis. Nearly all the farmers (97.5%) were aware of the incidents of pipeline vandalisation in their area. Efforts of the farmers at reducing the menace included warning messages through town criers, reporting cases to the law enforcement agents, threat of killing the vandals and the use of “charms†to scare the vandals. Majority (52.5%) claimed that the efforts made by the farmers and the government had no effect on the incident of pipeline vandalisation. Farmers’ perceived effect of pipeline vandalisa- tion on their activities and livelihood included non-availability of labor due to the youths’ involvement in the practice (82.5%), destruction of farmlands (76.25%) and pollution of rivers and atmosphere (65.0%). Farmers were constrained by corrupt law enforcement agents in charge of surveillance, un- cooperative attitude of fellow farmers, non-challant attitude of the government and lack of fund to or- ganize campaigns against pipeline vandalisation. Chi-square analysis showed a significant association between pipeline vandalisation and farmers’ agricultural production. It was concluded that pipeline vandalisation was a regular occurrence in the study area and that it constituted a health hazard and posed a problem to the environment as well as the agricultural activities of the farmers.Â

ANALYSIS OF MULTIMEDIA CHANNELS OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO FISH FARMERS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Fish farmers in Nigeria lack adequate information and their production capacity is low. The study ana- lyzed the multimedia channels of information available to fish farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. Multi- stage sampling techniques was used to select 120 fish farmers in the study area. Primary data were obtained with interview schedule. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Most of the farmers (97.5%) were male and married. Many (43.3%) had primary education while 30.9% had no formal education. Majority (76.1%) had radio sets while 45.3% and 28.3% had television and phone respectively. Farmers’ accessibility to information was high in radio (79.2%) and extension agents (73.3%) but low in television, flyers, trainings, phone, internet and fellow farmers. Most of the farmers (85.0%) preferred extension agents, radio (71.6%) and television (68.3%) as their source of information on fish farming. Majority (80.0%) preferred Yoruba as the language of broadcast and pub- lications, 16.7% preferred English while 3.3% preferred Igbo. Most (83.3%) of the farmers regarded lack of electricity as the foremost constraint to their access to information on media. Other constraints identified were non-relevance of information to farmers’ felt needs (73.3%), feedback problem (60.0%), inadequate fund (40.8%) and illiteracy (23.3%). Chi-square analysis showed a significant association 2 at p ≤ 0.05 between farmers’ choice of information channels and age (π=19.60), educational level 2 2 2 2 (π=39.82), years of farming (π = 20.48), income (π = 34.03), and media related constraints (π = 6.92). The study established that age, educational level, years of farming, annual income and con- straints experienced by the farmers played significant roles in their choice and use of information channels, and that, farmers have more access to extension agents as channel of information. It was recommended that more information on fish farming should be provided through the multimedia and be based on farmers’ felt needs. More extension workers should be employed and trained while phone-in radio and television programmes should be regularly aired and viewing centres and radio groups established in strategic locations

Analysis of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) in NIFFR and the Challenge of Skilled Fishery Extension Manpower Development in Nigeria

The study examined Student’s Industrial Work Experience Scheme carried out in NIFFR visa-a-vise the challenge of skilled manpower development for fishery extension. Secondary data collected from NIFFR library and report of 2007 SIWES period was analysed descriptively. Out of 617 students from 36 schools that visited NIFFR, 282 (46%) were for IT from 16 tertiary institutions in the six geo-political zones. Over 80% of the IT students were University students in the department of fisheries dominated by institutions in the South West and North Central zones. SIWES students spend 2-32 weeks to acquire skills and practical knowledge in different aspects of fisheries like artisanal, aquaculture & biotechnology, fish technology, environmental studies, and socioeconomic/ extension. High influx of students in the department of fisheries is an indication that NIFFR adds value to graduates of fisheries. However, it is appalling to note that students of agricultural extension never utilize opportunities existing at NIFFR for industrial training like their counterparts in fisheries department. This is a pointer to a large extent that the challenge of training skilled and competent professionals for fishery agricultural extension is still a mirage rather than a reality. To reverse the ugly trend, students of agricultural extension in various tertiary institutions should be compelled to spend at least two weeks of their IT period at NIFFR for practical experience. This development will be seen as a step in the right direction towards skill development and changing student’s perception to seek livelihood in fishery particularly in aquaculture to create jobs and reduce unemployment as well as building competency and confidence

Analysis of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) in NIFFR and the Challenge of Skilled Fishery Extension Manpower Development in Nigeria

The study examined Student’s Industrial Work Experience Scheme carried out in NIFFR visa-a-vise the challenge of skilled manpower development for fishery extension. Secondary data collected from NIFFR library and report of 2007 SIWES period was analysed descriptively. Out of 617 students from 36 schools that visited NIFFR, 282 (46%) were for IT from 16 tertiary institutions in the six geo-political zones. Over 80% of the IT students were University students in the department of fisheries dominated by institutions in the South West and North Central zones. SIWES students spend 2-32 weeks to acquire skills and practical knowledge in different aspects of fisheries like artisanal, aquaculture & biotechnology, fish technology, environmental studies, and socioeconomic/ extension. High influx of students in the department of fisheries is an indication that NIFFR adds value to graduates of fisheries. However, it is appalling to note that students of agricultural extension never utilize opportunities existing at NIFFR for industrial training like their counterparts in fisheries department. This is a pointer to a large extent that the challenge of training skilled and competent professionals for fishery agricultural extension is still a mirage rather than a reality. To reverse the ugly trend, students of agricultural extension in various tertiary institutions should be compelled to spend at least two weeks of their IT period at NIFFR for practical experience. This development will be seen as a step in the right direction towards skill development and changing student’s perception to seek livelihood in fishery particularly in aquaculture to create jobs and reduce unemployment as well as building competency and confidence

Mitigating the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Crop Farming: A Nanotechnological Approach

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease that resulted in a global pandemic that has affected every stage and sector of life. Although it is mainly seen as a health issue, its impacts and ripple effects also resonated in the education, technology, agriculture, and research fields, creating socio-economic disruptions across the globe. In a bid to curb the wide spread of the disease, diverse sudden restriction measures were adopted, which had implications on food security and food availability via supply shortages and agricultural disruptions. Scientific studies such as those regarding nanotechnological developments, which had been underway for improving food quality and crop improvement, were also slowed down due to the complexities of the pandemic and global restrictions. Nanotechnology is a developing and promising field for further development of crop productivity by enhancing the proficiency of agricultural resources, thereby increasing food yield and food security. The application of nanotechnology crop farming involves the use of nano-scale materials that can be formulated into nano-emulsion, nano-capsule, nano-fertilizer, nano-pesticide, and nano-biosensor applications for improved agricultural productivity. In as much as the challenges of nanotoxicity could raise health and environmental concerns, advances in the biosynthesis of nanomaterials potentially allay such fears and concerns. Furthermore, these ideas will help in bridging the gap created by the pandemic on food availability, food security, and agriculture. This review focuses on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on nanotechnological applications for improved crop productivity and nanotechnological mitigation strategies on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, risk assessment, and regulatory issues surrounding nano-crop farming, and this study provides an insight into future research directions for nanotechnological improvements in crop farming and the sustainable development of nano-enabled agriculture

Nigeria Anopheles vector database: an overview of 100 years' research.

Anopheles mosquitoes are important vectors of malaria and lymphatic filariasis (LF), which are major public health diseases in Nigeria. Malaria is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium and LF by the parasitic worm Wuchereria bancrofti. Updating our knowledge of the Anopheles species is vital in planning and implementing evidence based vector control programs. To present a comprehensive report on the spatial distribution and composition of these vectors, all published data available were collated into a database. Details recorded for each source were the locality, latitude/longitude, time/period of study, species, abundance, sampling/collection methods, morphological and molecular species identification methods, insecticide resistance status, including evidence of the kdr allele, and P. falciparum sporozoite rate and W. bancrofti microfilaria prevalence. This collation resulted in a total of 110 publications, encompassing 484,747 Anopheles mosquitoes in 632 spatially unique descriptions at 142 georeferenced locations being identified across Nigeria from 1900 to 2010. Overall, the highest number of vector species reported included An. gambiae complex (65.2%), An. funestus complex (17.3%), An. gambiae s.s. (6.5%). An. arabiensis (5.0%) and An. funestus s.s. (2.5%), with the molecular forms An. gambiae M and S identified at 120 locations. A variety of sampling/collection and species identification methods were used with an increase in molecular techniques in recent decades. Insecticide resistance to pyrethroids and organochlorines was found in the main Anopheles species across 45 locations. Presence of P. falciparum and W. bancrofti varied between species with the highest sporozoite rates found in An. gambiae s.s, An. funestus s.s. and An. moucheti, and the highest microfilaria prevalence in An. gambiae s.l., An. arabiensis, and An. gambiae s.s. This comprehensive geo-referenced database provides an essential baseline on Anopheles vectors and will be an important resource for malaria and LF vector control programmes in Nigeria