Access To Extension And Poverty Alleviating Strategies of Farm Families In Adamawa State, Nigeria

The strategies employed by farm families in alleviating poverty in the face of their level of access to extension information are thefocus of this study. Data were collectedfrom 120householdheads offarmfamiliesfrom Adamawa state. Results showed that 60percent of the household heads have low access to extension information, with the most common sources being the VEAs (73%) and i/formal organizations (66%). The deregulation of the economy has affected expenditure on extension and thus reduced the number ofextension agents. The results revealed that thepoverty alleviating strategies employedby the respondents include cultivating several crops, trading, brewing oflocal drinks, leasing out offarmland andcraft making. Resultsfurther showedno significant relationship between respondents’ membership of informal organizations and the poverty alleviating strategies they employed while a significant relationship exist between respondents’ access to extension and the poverty alleviating strategies they employed (X2 = 3.68;p =0.04). This indicated a linkage between respondents’ access to extension atid the poverty alleviating strategies they employed. There is therefore the need to improve the farmfamilies’ access to extension in effort at assisting them alleviatepoverty

Access To Extension And Poverty Alleviating Strategies of Farm Families In Adamawa State, Nigeria

The strategies employed by farm families in alleviating poverty in the face of their level of access to extension information are thefocus of this study. Data were collectedfrom 120householdheads offarmfamiliesfrom Adamawa state. Results showed that 60percent of the household heads have low access to extension information, with the most common sources being the VEAs (73%) and i/formal organizations (66%). The deregulation of the economy has affected expenditure on extension and thus reduced the number ofextension agents. The results revealed that thepoverty alleviating strategies employedby the respondents include cultivating several crops, trading, brewing oflocal drinks, leasing out offarmland andcraft making. Resultsfurther showedno significant relationship between respondents’ membership of informal organizations and the poverty alleviating strategies they employed while a significant relationship exist between respondents’ access to extension and the poverty alleviating strategies they employed (X2 = 3.68;p =0.04). This indicated a linkage between respondents’ access to extension atid the poverty alleviating strategies they employed. There is therefore the need to improve the farmfamilies’ access to extension in effort at assisting them alleviatepoverty

Comparison of use of Information and Communication Technologies between Agricultural Researchers and Extension Personnel in Nigeria

The study compared the use of ICTs between researchers and extension personnel. Agricultural researchers and extension personnel constituted the study population. Multistage random sampling was adopted to select the respondents. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select three, two and two of the research stations in the South-West, Central and North-West agricultural zones respectively while the only research stations in each of South-East and North-East zones were selected. Ten percent of the researchers at the selected stations were randomly sampled. Then, 10% of the extension personnel in the 6 state ADPs, where the research stations are located were randomly selected. Structured questionnaire was used to collect information from the respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the variables of the study at p=0.05.  Most researchers (75.3%) and few extension personnel (34.1%) had high ICT knowledge score. Mean ICT use score was 33.0±15.8 for researchers and 25.8±15.0 for extension personnel. The log likelihood of researchers’ use of ICTs was significantly reduced by grade level (β=-0.729), increased by access to ICTs (β=1.807) and increased by perception of use of ICTs (β=0.303). The log likelihood of extension personnel’s use was significantly increased by available ICT facilities (β=0.343), access to ICTs (β=1.410), and constraint assessment (β=0.182). The disparity in ICT availability to agricultural researchers and extension personnel presents a serious challenge to agricultural information management in Nigeria. Hence, availability and accessibility were the major determinants of Information and Communication Technologies used by researchers and extension personnel

Comparison of use of Information and Communication Technologies between Agricultural Researchers and Extension Personnel in Nigeria

The study compared the use of ICTs between researchers and extension personnel. Agricultural researchers and extension personnel constituted the study population. Multistage random sampling was adopted to select the respondents. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select three, two and two of the research stations in the South-West, Central and North-West agricultural zones respectively while the only research stations in each of South-East and North-East zones were selected. Ten percent of the researchers at the selected stations were randomly sampled. Then, 10% of the extension personnel in the 6 state ADPs, where the research stations are located were randomly selected. Structured questionnaire was used to collect information from the respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the variables of the study at p=0.05.  Most researchers (75.3%) and few extension personnel (34.1%) had high ICT knowledge score. Mean ICT use score was 33.0±15.8 for researchers and 25.8±15.0 for extension personnel. The log likelihood of researchers’ use of ICTs was significantly reduced by grade level (β=-0.729), increased by access to ICTs (β=1.807) and increased by perception of use of ICTs (β=0.303). The log likelihood of extension personnel’s use was significantly increased by available ICT facilities (β=0.343), access to ICTs (β=1.410), and constraint assessment (β=0.182). The disparity in ICT availability to agricultural researchers and extension personnel presents a serious challenge to agricultural information management in Nigeria. Hence, availability and accessibility were the major determinants of Information and Communication Technologies used by researchers and extension personnel

Wellbeing of Beneficiaries of the University Based Agricultural Extension System in Ogun State, Nigeria

The study assessed the wellbeing of farmers under the University-Based Agricultural Extension System in selected communities in Ogun State. Multistage sampling procedure was deployed in sampling 60 each of UBAES and ADP beneficiaries. Interview schedule was used to gather data which was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics at P=0.05. UBAES beneficiaries mainly accessed training on harnessing farmers groups for increased production (x=2.72), family welfare and food nutrition programme ( x =2.67) while their  ADP counterparts had capacity building on financing agricultural production ( x =2.65) and training on harnessing farmers group for increased production ( x =2.37).Increased access to agricultural credit (x =1.67) and enhanced production skill ( x =1.53) were benefits derived by ADP beneficiaries while UBAES beneficiaries had improved level of living ( x =1.88) and increase in crop production ( x =1.87) as benefits derived. UBAES beneficiaries were better off in material (81.7%), social (76.7%) and psychological (83.3%) wellbeing, while ADP beneficiaries were better off in economic (65.0%) wellbeing. Significant relationship existed between the estimated monthly income (r=0.249), frequency of service accessed (r= 0.0314) and wellbeing under UBAES. Significant difference (p= 0.000) was established between the wellbeing of UBAES and ADP beneficiaries. UBAES is considered a more potent platform for enhancing farmers’ wellbeing

Wellbeing of Beneficiaries of the University Based Agricultural Extension System in Ogun State, Nigeria

The study assessed the wellbeing of farmers under the University-Based Agricultural Extension System in selected communities in Ogun State. Multistage sampling procedure was deployed in sampling 60 each of UBAES and ADP beneficiaries. Interview schedule was used to gather data which was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics at P=0.05. UBAES beneficiaries mainly accessed training on harnessing farmers groups for increased production (x=2.72), family welfare and food nutrition programme ( x =2.67) while their  ADP counterparts had capacity building on financing agricultural production ( x =2.65) and training on harnessing farmers group for increased production ( x =2.37).Increased access to agricultural credit (x =1.67) and enhanced production skill ( x =1.53) were benefits derived by ADP beneficiaries while UBAES beneficiaries had improved level of living ( x =1.88) and increase in crop production ( x =1.87) as benefits derived. UBAES beneficiaries were better off in material (81.7%), social (76.7%) and psychological (83.3%) wellbeing, while ADP beneficiaries were better off in economic (65.0%) wellbeing. Significant relationship existed between the estimated monthly income (r=0.249), frequency of service accessed (r= 0.0314) and wellbeing under UBAES. Significant difference (p= 0.000) was established between the wellbeing of UBAES and ADP beneficiaries. UBAES is considered a more potent platform for enhancing farmers’ wellbeing

Post-Conflict Livelihood Change of Farmers in Ife-Modakeke Communities of Osun State, Nigeria

Livelihood Change (LC) is often the foremost priority of the individual victims, affected communities, governments and non-governmental organisations after conflicts. This study therefore assessed the post-conflict livelihood change of farmers in Ife-Modakeke communities of Osun State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to select 153 respondents for this study and interview schedule was used to elicit information on respondents’ accessibility to rehabilitation support programme, livelihood outcome [during Conflict De-escalation (CD) and Post-Conflict (PC)] and livelihood change. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequencies and mean. Few farmers (19.3%) had access to rehabilitation support programme and majority (81.7%) of them at low level while, farmers ranked provision of building materials as the most important rehabilitation support item to them. Livestock production and material possession among farmers were high (72.1% and 64.7%, respectively) during post-conflict. However, crop output of farmers was low (73.7%) during post-conflict. The livelihood change was low (7.1%) as majority (57.3%) of the farmers had low livelihood change, 14.7% recorded negative change while, only 28.0% had high livelihood change. It is therefore recommended that further support and assistance in form of provision of farm inputs and credit by Osun State Government, affected Local Governments and NGOs should be rendered to farmers in the conflict areas in order to enhance post-conflict livelihoods of farmers

Gender analysis of sustainable fishing practices by fisherfolks in Lagos State, Nigeria

Fishing practices lie at the heart of the sustainable use and management of resources. The essence of this study is the analysis of the gender roles in use of sustainable fishing practices in Lagos State. A multi-stage sampling method was used in selecting zones, blocks, cells and fisherfolks. An interview guide was designed to obtain data from 215 fisherfolks and stratified into 169 male and 46 female fisherfolks. The results revealed that fifteen (15) sustainable fishing practices were identified by fisherfolks in the study area. Both male and female fisherfolks engage in fishing inputs net mending, sales establishment, fabrication and construction of traps and pots as well as slanding and warehousing facilities. The results also showed that the level of fishing tasks performed by both male and female was very high. Fisherfolks attitude towards use of sustainable fishing practices showed that the attitude scores range from 20-100. Most of the respondents fell between the ranges of 45 – 78. Majority of the male and female had favourable attitude towards use of sustainable fishing practices. In comparing male and female in terms of constraints to use of sustainable fishing practices, the difference was not as significant. Although in the case of lack of construction of simple gears women were at disadvantaged. T-test analysis indicated that male fisherfolks employed more use of sustainable fishing practices than female fisherfolks. The policy implication of this study for extension is that, there is a need to intensify extension efforts to integrate sustainable fishing practices which will enhance the reduction of constraints. Keywords: Gender analysis, fisherfolks, sustainable, Fishing practices, Lagos African Journal of Livestock Extension Vol. 4 2005: pp. 9-1

Department of Agric Extension and Rural Development University of Ibadan, Ibadan

The need to reduce the import bill on fish through improved fish farming in order to meet its increasing demand led to enhancement of local production. This is through improving capacity of fish farmers with the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). In determining the use of ICTs among fish farmers in Oyo State, one hundred and twenty respondents were interviewed for the study. These were selected from Ibadan/Ibarapa zone of Oyo State ADP using simple random sampling technique. The relationship between use of ICTs and income level was determined using PPMC. Results show that 89.2 percent of the respondents were married and 84.2 percent were educated with mean age of 46 years. The registered farmers updated their knowledge often from different sources, most especially from extension agents. The use of ICTs by respondents indicated a significant relationship with their income level (r = 0.264, p=0.004). The study concluded that fish farmers’ behaviour to information is not poor but they do not have enough knowledge of ICTs, especially the modern ones which will make them exploit the potentials embedded in the use. Therefore there should be enough sensitization of fish farmers on the importance and advantages of the use of ICTs