Determinants of farm productivity among fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F) farmers in Ikenne local government area, Ogun state, Nigeria

Telfairia is widely cultivated for its palatable and nutritious leaves which are used mainly asvegetable. This study examined determinants of farm productivity among fluted pumpkinfarmers in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun state, Nigeria. Two-stage sampling methodwas employed for this study. Data was analysed using Descriptive statistics, Total factorproductivity and Ordinary least squares regression analysis. Results showed that mean age offarmer and farming experience were 40.1± 1.1years and 6.5 ± 2.3 years respectively. Theregression result showed that cost of labour used, educational status, cost of fertilizer used,frequency of extension visits and farmers’ experience siginificantly affected pumpkin farmersproductivity. The study recommends the enhancement of farmers’ access to education and the encouragement of the use of fertilizer and labour saving technologies in the fluted pumpkinfarms.Key Words: Farm productivity, Two-stage sampling, Access, Fluted pumpki

Technical Efficiency Among Cassava Farmers im Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Cassava has played and continues to play a remarkable role on the agricultural stage of Nigeria. The inability of the country meeting existing demand has been traced to resource use efficiency of the farmers.  The study evaluates the technical efficiency among cassava farmers in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary data employed in the study were obtained from 155 cassava farmers selected through a 2-Stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier model. Results showed that the return to scale was 1.814. Cassava stem cuttings (0.484), quantity of fertilizer used (0.614) and the farm size (0.427) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected cassava production. Age and farming experience contributed to technical inefficiency while cassava stem cuttings, quantity of fertilizer used and the farm size enhanced technical efficiency. Efficiency of cassava growers ranged between 35.1 and 97.0 with a mean of 68.5. It was concluded that cassava production was highly profitable and farmers operated with maximum efficiency given the current technology. The study recommends increased area under cultivation and improved cassava varieties coupled with other inputs to boost to productivity of farmers.Key Words: Technical efficiency, Cassava farmers, Demand, Farm size, Profitabl

Impact of Community Driven Development Project: A Case of Fadama II Project in Oyo State, Nigeria

This paper evaluates impact of Community Driven Development programme on infrastructure under National Fadama II Project in Oyo State Nigeria. Data were collected from two hundred and sixty-four farmers using multistage sampling procedures. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and infrastructure index. The result shows that average infrastructural index in the area was 0.42. Forty-four villages were classified as infrastructural developed villages (IDV) while the remaining were infrastructural under-developed villages (IUV). The study therefore calls for the involvement of both private and public organization in construction and rehabilitation of rural infrastructure, processing services centers and researches on labour saving devices for agriculture in the study area.Key words: Community Driven, Infrastructural index, Private organization, Multi-stage sampling, FadamaII project, Oyo stat

A comparative study of approaches towards energy efficiency and renewable energy use at higher education institutions

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd The potential for energy efficiency and for the deployment of renewable energy at universities is substantial, and they represent promising ways to meet an institution's energy needs on the one hand, without a large climate burden on the other. However, in order to achieve successful investment and results, it is imperative to understand the level of current commitment to energy actions. Therefore, this paper investigates the level of engagement in energy efficiency measures of a sample of 50 higher education institutions from round the world, and identifies which types of renewable energy are being used to date. Results show that in more than half of the universities only a small portion of energy consumption comes from renewable sources (1%–20%) and solar/photovoltaics is the most used source (70%). Investment in energy efficiency is more common in the sample, with 54% of the universities reporting higher levels of engagement, mainly in buildings (78%) and equipment/machineries (56%). Departing from the assumption that sustainable energy use is a pre-condition for campuses to pursue sustainability, the paper identifies current deficiencies and discusses improvements in this key area, with experiences which may be replicable elsewhere

Effect of Group Participation on Access to Micro-Credit among Rural Women in Osun and Oyo States, Nigeria

Various reports have it that poverty is more prevalent among people in rural communities with women being the most vulnerable group. Globally, improved access to micro credit is promoted as an important strategy in the struggle against poverty in developing economies. Using a sample of 104 rural women selected through multi-stage sampling technique, this study examined group participation and access to micro credit among women in rural communities of Osun and Oyo States, Nigeria. The results showed that about 85.6% of rural women belonged to micro credit groups notably religious and traders associations through which 42.3% were able to source credit. Rural women were only able to meet 40.3% of the capital need through micro-credit offered by the groups. Cooperative societies granted higher volume of credit than the local groups while women farmers had access to greater volume of credit than women traders; however, micro credit was yet to have significant impact on poverty status of the women. Keywords: micro-credit, rural women, povert

Determinants of market participation in non-timber forest products among the rural households of rain forest in Ondo State, Nigeria

Market participation by the rural household on Non-Timber forest products has been found to be important as a means of breaking from the traditional semi-subsistence to fully commercialised production. This study examined the determinants of market participation in Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP)s among the rural households in rain forest zone of Ondo state, Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of well structured questionnaire from one hundred and twenty-two households using multistage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis, probit and tobit regressions analysis. The result showed that household size, income from other occupation, labour cost and durable input cost significantly affected the decision and level of participation in extraction and marketing of NTFPs in the area of study. It was also revealed from the study that kolanut and bitter kola were more profitable and efficient out of the seven NTFPs examined. It is recommended that forest management strategies and intervention design should be aimed at those people who settle inside or at the edge of the forest, because they are in a better position to continuously assess the existing situation of the forest and forest resources.Keywords: Traditional semi-subsistence, Fully commercialised, Forest management, Budgetary analysis, Profitabl