Empowering Small-Scale Farmers through Improved Technology Adoption: A case study of Soybean Farmers in Borno State, Nigeria

The study examined factors that influenced the adoption of improved soybean seed as production technology in Borno State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 360 small-scale farmers spread across nine farming communities in three local government areas. Respondents were selected through multi-stage sampling technique while the data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentage and rank while correlation coefficient was used to establish relationship between variables. Results of the study showed that 74.99% of the respondents were below 51 years of age; 52.51% attained at least the Junior Secondary School level of education; 32.50% of the respondents had income between N 400,000.00k - N 1,600,000.00k from the sales of soybean during the period under study. This led to the empowerment of the respondents mainly in catering for their household needs, expanding their agricultural production and purchase of landed property. Socioeconomic characteristics such as age (-0.78), level of education (0.68), and farm size (0.62) had significant influence on the adoption of soybean production technology. The main constraints faced by the respondents in the adoption of improved soybean production technologies included the complex technicality of agronomic practices and limited access to extension services. It was therefore recommended that government should put in place definitive policy to encourage young people to venture into agriculture/farming and small-scale farmers should be given more agricultural extension educational opportunitie

Empowering Small-Scale Farmers through Improved Technology Adoption: A case study of Soybean Farmers in Borno State, Nigeria

The study examined factors that influenced the adoption of improved soybean seed as production technology in Borno State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 360 small-scale farmers spread across nine farming communities in three local government areas. Respondents were selected through multi-stage sampling technique while the data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentage and rank while correlation coefficient was used to establish relationship between variables. Results of the study showed that 74.99% of the respondents were below 51 years of age; 52.51% attained at least the Junior Secondary School level of education; 32.50% of the respondents had income between N 400,000.00k - N 1,600,000.00k from the sales of soybean during the period under study. This led to the empowerment of the respondents mainly in catering for their household needs, expanding their agricultural production and purchase of landed property. Socioeconomic characteristics such as age (-0.78), level of education (0.68), and farm size (0.62) had significant influence on the adoption of soybean production technology. The main constraints faced by the respondents in the adoption of improved soybean production technologies included the complex technicality of agronomic practices and limited access to extension services. It was therefore recommended that government should put in place definitive policy to encourage young people to venture into agriculture/farming and small-scale farmers should be given more agricultural extension educational opportunitie

Analysis of Farmers’ Access to and Perception of Extension Service Delivery in Borno State, Nigeria

This study analysed access to and perception of private extension delivery by farmers in Borno state. Primary data were collected from 128 farmers selected using multi-stage sampling technique. A five point Likert type scale was developed and used to elicit information on respondents’ attitude toward private extension service delivery. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical techniques such as frequency counts and percentages. Result indicated that majority (63.3%) of the respondents were between the ages 36 and 50 years with high proportion (70%) cultivating not more than 4 hectares of land. The study further revealed that majority (84%) had access to public extension service with only 43% having access to private extension. Most of the respondents expressed positive attitude towards privatization of extension services. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that rural areas should be provided with social and economic infrastructure and private extension services be encouraged in rural areas

Assessment of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme: Focus on Faculty of Agriculture Students, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

The study assessed Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), using students of the Faculty of Agriculture, University ofMaiduguri as respondents. Structured questionnaire was used to collect datafrom randomly selected sixty students who participated in SIWES programme during 2003/2004 session. Data were analyzed using percentages, correlation analysis and ranking order methods. The majorfindings were that 61% of the respondents were male while 38.3% were females; 48.3% were members of Agricultural societies during their secondary school education. Crop Production techniques (AGF 401) was ranked by 53.3% of the respondents as the most preferred course, while the least preferred course was Workshop Practice (AGF 410) as indicatedby only 0.2% of the respondents. Inadequate practical facilities, transportation and funds were the major problems encountered in the implementation of the SIWES programme. It is therefore, recommended that policy should be formulated to ensure adequate provision of the requisite logistics to successfully implement the programme

Analysis of Farmers’ Access to and Perception of Extension Service Delivery in Borno State, Nigeria

This study analysed access to and perception of private extension delivery by farmers in Borno state. Primary data were collected from 128 farmers selected using multi-stage sampling technique. A five point Likert type scale was developed and used to elicit information on respondents’ attitude toward private extension service delivery. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical techniques such as frequency counts and percentages. Result indicated that majority (63.3%) of the respondents were between the ages 36 and 50 years with high proportion (70%) cultivating not more than 4 hectares of land. The study further revealed that majority (84%) had access to public extension service with only 43% having access to private extension. Most of the respondents expressed positive attitude towards privatization of extension services. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that rural areas should be provided with social and economic infrastructure and private extension services be encouraged in rural areas

Assessment of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme: Focus on Faculty of Agriculture Students, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

The study assessed Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), using students of the Faculty of Agriculture, University ofMaiduguri as respondents. Structured questionnaire was used to collect datafrom randomly selected sixty students who participated in SIWES programme during 2003/2004 session. Data were analyzed using percentages, correlation analysis and ranking order methods. The majorfindings were that 61% of the respondents were male while 38.3% were females; 48.3% were members of Agricultural societies during their secondary school education. Crop Production techniques (AGF 401) was ranked by 53.3% of the respondents as the most preferred course, while the least preferred course was Workshop Practice (AGF 410) as indicatedby only 0.2% of the respondents. Inadequate practical facilities, transportation and funds were the major problems encountered in the implementation of the SIWES programme. It is therefore, recommended that policy should be formulated to ensure adequate provision of the requisite logistics to successfully implement the programme

Profile and Challenges to Women’s participation in Agricultural Co-operative in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria.

This study analyzed the profile and challenges of women participating in agricultural co-operative activities in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Structured interview schedules were used to collect data from women participating in co-operative activities in the study area. One hundred and fifty women co-operative members were purposively selected for the study. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study revealed that 70.66% of the respondents were within the age range of 26 years to 45 years. More than half (63.80%) of the respondents were married with 51.86% of the respondents having educational qualification not beyond primary school level. The study also revealed that more than half (53.14%) of the respondents were earning at least N76, 000.00K per annum. The study also found that cooperative activities reduced the number of low income earners by 25.71% while it has increased the number of high income earners by 25.69%. The major challenges to participation of women in co-operative activities in the study area were the low level of education and cultural barriers. Chi-Square analysis revealed that family size (χ2 Tab 9.49; χ2 Cal 11.12; Ï =0.05), level of education (χ2 Tab 13.28; χ2 Cal 18.75; Ï = 0.01) and income (χ2 Tab 9.49; χ2 Cal 14.58; Ï =0.05) were significant in explaining participation of women in cooperative activities in the study area. Pearson correlation also showed that there was significant relationship between the income of respondents and their participation in cooperative activities (r= 0.864; Ï=.01). There was also a significant relationship between the level of education of respondents and their participation in cooperative activities (r= 0 842; Ï= 0.01). It was recommended that co-operative societies should engage in educational programmes in order to reduce the level of illiteracy among women in the study area. It was also recommended that cooperative societies should focus on enterpreneual training among their members with a view of strategizing how to reduce poverty among women

EVALUATION OF EXTENSION MANPOWER TRAINING PROGRAMME BY JIGAWA AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The paper is in two parts. The first part provides background information on manpower development. In the second part, we discussed the manpower development opportunities provided by the Jigawa Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (JARDA). Although the Agricultural Development Programme places premium on manpower development by sponsoring different training programmes for different categories of staff, much efforts still need to be put in place, particularly for the village extension agent

Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among Extension Workers in Borno State, Nigeria

The study examined the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by agricultural extension workers in Borno State. Data were collected from 138 extension workers spread across the three Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) Zones in the state. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The results revealed that 54% of the respondents were 40 years of age or younger, with virtually all (98%) having at least the Ordinary National Diploma (OND). Radio was the most popular ICT facility accessed by the respondents while the Internet was the least. However, in terms of information for extension purposes, it was perceived that the Internet was the most important ICT facility. This was followed by radio, while telephone was the least in importance. The level of education of the respondents was the most important factor that significantly influenced utilization of ICTs for extension purposes (ƒà . 0.01). Age of the respondents (ƒà . -0.05) and working experience (ƒà . 0.05) also significantly influenced utilization of ICTs for extension purposes. The major constraints to the utilization of ICTs for extension purposes were poor infrastructure, as reported by 78.67% of the respondents and non availability of ICT facilities, as reported by 62.00% of the respondents. It was therefore recommended that rural areas should be provided with basic infrastructure such as electricity; and extension workers should be encouraged to upgrade their educational levels as well as their competencies in the use of ICTs

Profile and Challenges to Women’s participation in Agricultural Co-operative in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria.

This study analyzed the profile and challenges of women participating in agricultural co-operative activities in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Structured interview schedules were used to collect data from women participating in co-operative activities in the study area. One hundred and fifty women co-operative members were purposively selected for the study. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study revealed that 70.66% of the respondents were within the age range of 26 years to 45 years. More than half (63.80%) of the respondents were married with 51.86% of the respondents having educational qualification not beyond primary school level. The study also revealed that more than half (53.14%) of the respondents were earning at least N76, 000.00K per annum. The study also found that cooperative activities reduced the number of low income earners by 25.71% while it has increased the number of high income earners by 25.69%. The major challenges to participation of women in co-operative activities in the study area were the low level of education and cultural barriers. Chi-Square analysis revealed that family size (χ2 Tab 9.49; χ2 Cal 11.12; Ï =0.05), level of education (χ2 Tab 13.28; χ2 Cal 18.75; Ï = 0.01) and income (χ2 Tab 9.49; χ2 Cal 14.58; Ï =0.05) were significant in explaining participation of women in cooperative activities in the study area. Pearson correlation also showed that there was significant relationship between the income of respondents and their participation in cooperative activities (r= 0.864; Ï=.01). There was also a significant relationship between the level of education of respondents and their participation in cooperative activities (r= 0 842; Ï= 0.01). It was recommended that co-operative societies should engage in educational programmes in order to reduce the level of illiteracy among women in the study area. It was also recommended that cooperative societies should focus on enterpreneual training among their members with a view of strategizing how to reduce poverty among women