Information Needs, Information Sources and Information Seeking Behaviour of Agricultural Extension Workers in Osogbo Zone of Osun State, Nigeria

The study investigated information needs, information sources, and information seeking behaviour of agricultural extension workers in Osogbo zone of Osun State, Nigeria. It also focused on the factors influencing the choice of information sources and problems encountered when sourcing for information. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 54 respondents in the study area out of which 50 (98.6%) responded and were used for the analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data using percentage and tables. Findings showed that personal collections, colleagues, radio and television programmes were the most used sources of information by extension workers in the study area. Furthermore, the ability of information sources to meet the information needs and reliability of the information sources were the major factor influencing the choice of information sources. The study discovered that non-availability of relevant information and inadequate current information sources were seen as main problems confronting the extension workers. Thus, accessibility of agricultural database, the establishment of agricultural information centres, making information sources attractive, and that extension workers should liaise with agricultural research centres for acquiring more knowledge were the suggestions made for improving the information needs, sources and seeking behaviour of extension workers in the course of this study

Unlocking the Potential of Agribusiness in Africa through Youth Participation: An Impact Evaluation of N-Power Agro Empowerment Program in Nigeria

In a country of about 200 million people, the government has over the years constituted various initiatives to address the issue of unemployment, food security, and youth involvement in agriculture. However, the impact of these initiatives has been minimal due to the inconsistency in government policies, changes in government, inadequate implementation mechanism amongst others. This study, therefore, evaluated the impact of the N-power Agro Program on youth employment and income generation through agribusiness in Nigeria. Six hundred and forty-five respondents were randomly selected from the database of N-Power. Structured questionnaires were used in obtaining the data. The statistical analysis of collected data applied descriptive methods, logistic regression model, and regression discontinuity design. The value of ATE of the regression discontinuity design of the income of the participants of N-Power Agro is greater by N30,191.46 than for the nonparticipants. The result of the logistic regression model shows that age, level of education, years of agribusiness experience, and employment status significantly influenced the choice of creating employment through agribusiness and of participating in the N-Power Agro program. The impact of the N-Power Agro program for Nigeria’s young men and women on employment and income generation for participants was shown to be effective and positive with the RDD recording an increase in the beneficiaries’ income and a discontinuity in the design. Upscaling this program and wider implementation in other countries in collaborations with youth, rural communities and private sectors will ensure that the government can bridge the skills deficit in Africa’s youth, develop their capacities for entrepreneurship, and hence, increase jobs creation

FOOD AS MEDICINE: FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AND REPORTED ILLNESSES AMONG HOUSEHOLDS

Rapid changes in climate and urban growth, changing demographics and heterogeneity of urban lifestyles are resulting in a shift in food consumption patterns, with a preference for foods with minimal processing time, quality and taste in Nigeria; but does there exist any relationship between food consumption pattern and reported illnesses among households? For better understanding, this study uses cross-sectional primary data, to thus, examine the relationship between food consumption patterns and the reported illnesses among households in Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling procedure, 250 households in two different local government areas were randomly selected. The study revealed that male household head consumed more plant-based whole food (0.6064) and therefore reported a lower incidence of illnesses (2.18) as compared to the female head whose consumption is lower (0.5644) with higher reported illnesses (3.13). The study further revealed that household members (41-50 years) are most aware of a plant-based whole food (54.17%) with lower reported illness (2.18), whereas members (61-80 years) have the highest reported illness (2.62) because they are the least aware (0.6189). Results also showed that people in the urban areas are prone to more sickness (2.04) than rural areas (1.79) because they are exposed to more choices of processed foods as compared to fresh farm foods available in the rural areas. Households’ consumption patterns were influenced by household head sex, income, location, level of awareness of plant-based whole food, and total food expenditure. Therefore, while the existence of rural-urban food linkages will ensure wider households’ access to quality whole foods needed to reduce reported illnesses; increasing households’ income will enhance diet diversity and reduction in Nigeria’s food insecurity. Also, more attention should be given to educating the people especially through media channels on the benefits of consuming plant-based whole food

Information Needs, Information Sources and Information Seeking Behaviour of Agricultural Extension Workers in Osogbo Zone of Osun State, Nigeria

The study investigated information needs, information sources, and information seeking behaviour of agricultural extension workers in Osogbo zone of Osun State, Nigeria. It also focused on the factors influencing the choice of information sources and problems encountered when sourcing for information. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 54 respondents in the study area out of which 50 (98.6%) responded and were used for the analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data using percentage and tables. Findings showed that personal collections, colleagues, radio and television programmes were the most used sources of information by extension workers in the study area. Furthermore, the ability of information sources to meet the information needs and reliability of the information sources were the major factor influencing the choice of information sources. The study discovered that non-availability of relevant information and inadequate current information sources were seen as main problems confronting the extension workers. Thus, accessibility of agricultural database, the establishment of agricultural information centres, making information sources attractive, and that extension workers should liaise with agricultural research centres for acquiring more knowledge were the suggestions made for improving the information needs, sources and seeking behaviour of extension workers in the course of this study

Farmers' willingness to pay towards the sustainability of plant clinics: Evidence from Bangladesh, Rwanda and Zambia

Fee-based agricultural extension programmes have been proposed in response to the constraints of funding public extension services. This has piqued researchers' interest in determining farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for extension services in recent decades. The current study examines farmers' WTP to ensure the sustainability of plant clinics. Smallholder farmers in over 30 countries benefit from this demand-driven extension method, which delivers plant health diagnostic and consulting services. External funders are now paying the plant clinic operations, which raises worries about their long-term viability if the funding stops. We used survey data from 602, 637, and 837 households in Bangladesh, Rwanda, and Zambia. We discovered that roughly 64% of the sample farmers were willing to pay an amount sufficient to cover the operational costs of an established plant clinic using the iterative bidding technique of eliciting WTP. Farmers in Bangladesh, Rwanda, and Zambia were willing to spend an average of 0.27USD, 0.85USD, and 2.25USD per visit to plant clinics. According to our findings, farmers appear to value the plant clinic extension method and are eager to contribute to its long-term viability. Therefore, piloting fee-paying plant clinic services to determine farmers' actual WTP and preferred payment options would be beneficial

African agri-entrepreneurship in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background The African continent is known for high entrepreneurial activity, especially in the agricultural sector. Despite this, the continent's economic development is below expectations, due to numerous factors constraining the growth and sustainability of agricultural SMEs. These constraints have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to understand the pathways through which the pandemic affected agri-SMEs, with specific focus on assessing the differentiated effects arising from the size of the agri-SME and the gender of the owner-manager. Methods Data was collected from over 100 agri-SMEs, ranging in size from sole proprietorships with one employee to agri-SMEs employing up to 100 people, in six African countries. Mixed methods were used to analyse the data with changes in business operations arising from changing market access, regimented health and safety guidelines and constrained labour supply assessed using visualisations and descriptive statistics. Logistic regression modelling was employed to determine the set of variables contributing to agri-SME business downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results All surveyed agri-SMEs were negatively affected by COVID-19-associated restrictions with the size of the firm and gender of the owner-managers resulting in differentiated impacts. The smallest agri-SMEs, mainly owner-managed by women, were more likely to experience disruptions in marketing their goods and maintaining their labour supply. Larger agri-SMEs made changes to their business operations to comply with government guidelines during the pandemic and made investments to manage their labour supply, thus sustaining their business operations. In addition, logistic regression modelling results show that financing prior to the pandemic, engaging in primary agricultural production, and being further from urban centres significantly influenced the likelihood of a firm incurring business losses. Conclusions These findings necessitate engendered multi-faceted agri-SME support packages that are tailored for smaller-sized agri-SMEs. Any such support package should include support for agri-SMEs to develop sustainable marketing strategies and help them secure flexible financing that considers payment deferrals and debt moratorium during bona fide market shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic