Potentials Of Agro-Tourism For Rural Development In Nigeria

This paper highlights the potentials of agro-tourism for rural development in Nigeria and made policy recommendations for agro-tourism to flourish. The potentials include the promotion of entrepreneurship and industrialization, economic advancement, education and good health of the citizen. It was recommended that for effective operation of agro-tourism, the national policy on tourism should be reviewed to be trendy with modern tenets. Also, private initiative and involvement in tourism should be encouraged. Nominal compilation of actual and potential agro-tourism sites in the nation should be undertaken in addition to launching extension education campaign on agro-tourism. Key words: Agro tourism, rural development Journal Of Agriculture And Social Research Vol. 5 (1) 2005: 96-10

Adoption of improved poultry production practices by rural women in Imo State

The Adoption of improved poultry production practices by rural women in Imo state was studied with the objectives of analyzing the socio-economic determinants of the adoption and making policy recommendations. Data were generated from 258 randomly sampled rural women from the three agricultural zones of the state with the aid of interview schedule and structured questionnaire. The analyses were with the aid of simple percentage, frequency table and ordinary least square regression technique at 0.05 level of significance. The results indicated varied rates of adoption of the practices with watering ranking 1 st with 83.7 percent, artificial brooding/heating 77.5 percent, 2nd and supplementary feed/feeding 3rd with 39.9 percent. The variables; education (x 2), income (x 5), farm size (x 6) and extension contact (x 6) were the determinants of adoption of the practices. Significant relationship was established between the socio-economic variables and the adoption of improved poultry production practices. It was recommended that extension education campaign should be intensified to avail rural women of new practices in poultry. Deployment of appropriate number of properly trained extension agents for adequate coverage of the state as well as research and extension agencies being guided by the socio-economic characteristics of the target population as well as bio-physical environmental considerations are needed. Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 1(1) 2005: 39-4

Adoption of proven soil management practices by rural women in Imo state, Nigeria

The adoption of proven soil management practices by rural women in Imo State was assessed. The objectives of the study included to determine the soil management practices adopted by the women and to analyse the relationship between the adoption and the rural women's socio-economic characteristics. One hypothesis guided the study: The socio-economic variables of the rural women do not have significant relationship with their adoption of the proven soil management practices. Data for the study were generated with the aid of structured questionnaire, interview schedule and transect walk across the farm sites of 344 randomly sampled rural women from the three agricultural zones of the state. These were analysed using simple percentage counts and multiple regression technique using the four functional models at 0.05 level of significance. Results indicated varied rates of adoption of nine soil management practices with erosion control measures ranking 1st, mulching 2nd and application of manure 3rd. The socio-economic variables of age, education, family size, extension contact, income and credit opportunity were significantly related with the adoption of proven soil management practices. It was however recommended that rural women's socio-economic characteristics should be considered alongside the bio –physical factors in technologies design and dissemination. Also, extension education campaign, using multi-media should be mounted to sensitize and ensure adoption of proven soil management practices. Keywords: Soil management; agriculture; erosion control; rural women; Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 262-26

Strategies for overcoming economic marginalization among rural women in Imo state, Nigeria

This study investigated the effects of various gender sensitive campaigns on women's assets and access to resources, the coping strategies utilized and the determinants of use of the coping strategies by rural women in Imo state, Nigeria. A total of 300 randomly sampled rural women in the state provided the data through interview schedules and structured questionnaires. These were analyzed with the aid of simple percentages, frequency tables, means and Ordinary Least Square Multiple Regression Technique at 0.05 level of significance. The results indicated that the gender sensitive campaigns brought about improvement in women's access to extension, contribution to decision making and increased the realization that women have potentials. The women among others utilized mixed farming, mixed cropping, engaged in thrifts/Isusu groups and food vending. The women's marital status, income, number of sources of information, education, family size and farming experience were related with the utilization of the coping strategies. It was however recommended that institutional and organizational reforms should be undertaken to accommodate the interest of women as well as enlightenment campaign to sensitize them on alternative coping strategies. International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2(1) 2006: 1-

Rural Women\'s Response To Selected Crop Production Technologies In Imo State, Nigeria

The study centered on rural women's response to selected crop production technologies in Imo State with a view to making policy recommendations. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule were administered through the assistance of extension agents to 258 randomly sampled rural women farmers from the three agricultural zones of the state. The data were analyzed with simple percentage counts, frequency table and Ordinary Least Square Multiple Regression Analysis. The results showed varied rates of adoption with timeliness of planting ranking first, improved cassava varieties, second and use of fertilizer, third. Significant relationships were established between age, education, farming experience, household size and extension contact with the adoption of the selected technologies. It was however recommended that education campaign should be intensified and more extension personnel deployed with adequate incentives and back-up training based on sound curricula. Extension services providers should consider age, education, farming experience and household size of rural women for effective adoption of technologies. Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol.1(1) 2005: 47-5

Utilization of improved cassava production technologies by urban farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

The study centred on the utilization of improved cassava production technologies by urban farmers in Imo state with a view to making policy recommendations. The objectives of the study were to identify the cassava production technologies utilized by the farmers and to analyse the relationship between the utilization and the urban farmers' socio-economic characteristics. Data were collected from 240 randomly sampled urban cassava farmers from the three agricultural zones of the state with the aid of structured questionnaire and interview schedule. These were analysed with frequency table, simple percentage and Ordinary Least Square Multiple Regression Analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The results show the utilization of herbicide/manual weeding (87 %), improved cassava varieties (58.3%), fertilizer (50%), timely planting (41.6%), etc by the farmers. The utilization of the technologies was determined by age, education, farming experience, household size, information sources and farmland ownership status of the farmers. It was however recommended that extension education campaign be intensified on the technologies using multi-media. These therefore should guide development practitioners in their design of intervention strategies. Government should also include urban farming in its urban poverty alleviation program with back-up design that allows urban farmers access to undeveloped land areas. Keywords: cassava, urban farming, production technologies, NigeriaInternational Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 1(1) 2005: 10-1

Harnessing the potentials of youth for rural household food security in Nigeria

The food security question calls for participatory approach by the major stakeholders in the rural household in agriculture Youth are veritable assets in the household because of their dynamism, adventure, ambition and innovativeness. These potentials could be harnessed for rural household food security. This paper discusses the place of the Nigerian youth and how his potentials could be functionally and maximally utilised for food security of the rural household. The policy recommendations included the re-definition of the household to incorporate the three major stakeholders namely adult male, adult female and the youth, building partnership between the youth and rural development agencies, institutional and organizational reforms, provision of infra-structural facilities in the rural areas and re-orientation campaign to re-position the status of agriculture for meaningful youth identification. Keywords: youth, rural household, food security, Nigeria Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 1(2) 2005: 104-11

Urban Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Dry Season Vegetable Production Technologies in in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the adoption of improved vegetable production technologies among urban farmers in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to ascertain the technologies adopted in dry season urban vegetable production, reasons for participation in the production, sources of information to the farmers, constraints to adoption of the technologies, and the socio-economic determinants of adoption of the technologies by the farmers. Data were collected from 125 randomly sampled urban farmers with the aid of semi-structured and validated questionnaire. The data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Multiple Regression analysis. The result showed that the production technologies adopted were use of improved crop varieties (69.5%), use of fertilizers (95.6%), irrigation (88.7%), mulching (62.6%) and seed treatment before planting (59.1%). It was also revealed that the reasons for participation in dry season urban vegetable farming included increased access to vegetable for household consumption (Mean = 2.92), income generation ( mean = 3.42), and employment creation (Mean = 3.11). The major sources of information on dry season vegetable production were informal interaction with neighbours/friends (35.7%), Extension Agents (EAs)(14.8%), the radio (12.5%)and the television (11.3%). The constraints included land scarcity (88.7%), lack of water for irrigation (70.5%) and poor awareness on dry season farming (50.6%). The socio-economic determinants of participation in dry season urban farming included major occupation, income level, length of time lived in the city, and access to land. The study concluded that dry season vegetable farming in Owerri Municipal was very useful for ensuring households’ access to vegetables, increased income generation and alternative means of employment.Key words: Dry season, vegetable production, Urban, Farmer