Effects of Climate Change on Fluted Pumpkin Production and Adaptaton Measures Used Among Farmers in Rivers State

The importance of fluted pumpkin crop in rural household economy cannot be over emphasized. Farmers in the South South Nigeria depend greatly on fluted pumpkin for its many uses. The production however is beset with a myriad of constraints of which climate change is one of the most outstanding. The study assessed the effects of climate change and adaptation measures used by fluted pumpkin farmers in Ikwerre Local Government Area(LGA) of Rivers State, Southsouth Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Out of the twelve communities that make up Ikwerre LGA, six communities were randomly chosen from which one hundred and eighty fluted pumpkin farmers were proportionately selected. Interview schedule and focus group discussion were used to elicit in depth information from respondents. Data were analyzed using percentage, frequency count and mean. Tables and charts were used in presentation of data. The result of the study showed that 51 percent of the respondents were female, majority were married (77 percent) and were full time farmers (79 percent). Relatively large proportion had no formal education (42 percent) and indicated both consumption and sale (79 percent) as the major aim of production. The respondents perceived that unpredictable climate condition, changes in rainfall pattern, changes in rainfall distribution, reduced yield of fluted pumpkin and reduction of family income were the major effects of climate change on fluted pumpkin production. A combination of fluted pumpkin production with other income generating activities was shown to be the most widely used adaptation strategy by respondents. Based on the results of the study it was recommended that improved extension services that can provide the needed farming inputs (fluted pumpkin seedlings, fertilizers e.t.c) as well as useful and relevant information on climate change and adaptation strategies should be made available to the people

Effects of Climate Change on Fluted Pumpkin Production and Adaptaton Measures Used Among Farmers in Rivers State

The importance of fluted pumpkin crop in rural household economy cannot be over emphasized. Farmers in the South South Nigeria depend greatly on fluted pumpkin for its many uses. The production however is beset with a myriad of constraints of which climate change is one of the most outstanding. The study assessed the effects of climate change and adaptation measures used by fluted pumpkin farmers in Ikwerre Local Government Area(LGA) of Rivers State, Southsouth Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Out of the twelve communities that make up Ikwerre LGA, six communities were randomly chosen from which one hundred and eighty fluted pumpkin farmers were proportionately selected. Interview schedule and focus group discussion were used to elicit in depth information from respondents. Data were analyzed using percentage, frequency count and mean. Tables and charts were used in presentation of data. The result of the study showed that 51 percent of the respondents were female, majority were married (77 percent) and were full time farmers (79 percent). Relatively large proportion had no formal education (42 percent) and indicated both consumption and sale (79 percent) as the major aim of production. The respondents perceived that unpredictable climate condition, changes in rainfall pattern, changes in rainfall distribution, reduced yield of fluted pumpkin and reduction of family income were the major effects of climate change on fluted pumpkin production. A combination of fluted pumpkin production with other income generating activities was shown to be the most widely used adaptation strategy by respondents. Based on the results of the study it was recommended that improved extension services that can provide the needed farming inputs (fluted pumpkin seedlings, fertilizers e.t.c) as well as useful and relevant information on climate change and adaptation strategies should be made available to the people

INDIGENOUS CASSAVA PLANT PROTECTION PRACTICES AMONG FARMERS IN OWERRI AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF IMO STATE NIGERIA

The study was designed to determine the indigenous knowledge system (IKS) in cassava plant protection in Imo State, Nigeria. Data collected were on socio- economic characteristics of respondents, ab characteristics of cassava and the plant protection extension parameters, perceptions and attitudes of fanners towards cassava plant protection among others. Data collection was done with the use of a modified ESCAPP survey protocol structured questionnaire as well as observation and interviews. Simple descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. A total of 90 farmers randomly sampled from Owerri Zone of the three agricultural zones in Imo State participated In the study. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the study

Analysis of Farmland Value Systems and Productivity of Cassava in Ecologically Vulnerable Areas of Imo State, Nigeria

This study analyzed farmland value systems and productivity of cassava in ecologically vulnerable areas of Imo State, Nigeria. The study estimated productivity of farmland systems and factors affecting them, and farmland suitability. Data were collected with questionnaire from 360 randomly selected cassava farmers and analyzed using descriptive statistics, suitability model, productivity model, and multiple regression techniques. Farmland suitability index ranges from 0.107 to 0.712 with a mean of 0.493. Majority (62.4%) of the cassava farmers cultivate on non-suitable farmlands, 33.7% of them cultivate on marginally suitable farmlands, while 3.9% of them cultivate on suitable farmlands. Productivity of farmland were 1.38, 2.00 and 3.16 for non-suitable, marginally suitable and suitable value systems respectively, indicating that marginally suitable and suitable farmlands were higher in productivity than non-suitable farmlands. Land rent, quantity of fertilizer, and household size have significant and negative effect on non-suitable farmland productivity. Farm size, land rent, fertilizer applied, education and extension have significant effect on marginally suitable farmlands productivity. Farm size, fertilizer, farming experience and household size significantly affect suitable farmland productivity. Farmers cultivating suitable farmlands should increase their cassava output and improve their farm income through allocation of more production resources to cassava production in an optimal manner

INDIGENOUS CASSAVA PLANT PROTECTION PRACTICES AMONG FARMERS IN OWERRI AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF IMO STATE NIGERIA

The study was designed to determine the indigenous knowledge system (IKS) in cassava plant protection in Imo State, Nigeria. Data collected were on socio- economic characteristics of respondents, ab characteristics of cassava and the plant protection extension parameters, perceptions and attitudes of fanners towards cassava plant protection among others. Data collection was done with the use of a modified ESCAPP survey protocol structured questionnaire as well as observation and interviews. Simple descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. A total of 90 farmers randomly sampled from Owerri Zone of the three agricultural zones in Imo State participated In the study. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the study

Awarensss and utilization of information technology among agricultural scientists in Nigeria

The paper examines the awareness and utilization of Information Technologies among Agricultural scientists in Nigeria. Data were collected from 170 respondents with the aid of structured questionnaire and analysed using frequency, percentage, mean and Ordinary Least Square multiple regression. This study found that awareness of Information Technology was high in electronic mail (e-mail), browsing the web, chat room, and electronic workshop (e-workshop). However, utilization of Information Technologies was high in electronic mail (e-mail) and browsing and low in electronic workshop and chat room. Findings of the study revealed that experience, frequency of visit to cybercafe, gender, institution, marital status, academic qualification significantly influenced awareness of Information Technology. On the other hand, duration of using Information Technologies, marital status, training were significant factors that influenced utilization of Information Technologies. The Information Technologist Vol. 2(2) 2005: 1-

Extension agents' technical knowledge requirements for effective extension work

Technical knowledge requirements of extension agents were investigated in this study. Data for the study was collected with the aid of structured questionnaire administered to the 78 respondents. It was found that respondents were mainly males, were married, were in the middle age category, had BSc/HND, made between 1 and 3 contacts with clienteles a week, and had between 1 and 5 years working experience. Respondents indicated that training had been received through conferences, seminars, workshops and short courses. Reasons given for the training include building confidence, promotion, increase in allowance, networking with others and exposure. The study revealed that respondents required technical knowledge in areas such as Information Technology, Public relations, Management, Practical agriculture, Research techniques, and Communication skills. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(1) 2006: 121-12

Role of Women Organizations in Community Development: A Case Study of Orlu Agricultural Zone, Imo State

The paper analysed the role of women organizations in the development of rural communities in Orlu Agricultural zone of Imo state. Six communities were purposively selected from three Local Government Areas of the Zone for the study. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 120 randomly selected women from the chosen communities from July to August 2005. Data analyses were achieved using simple descriptive statistics as percentages, frequency tables and ranking. Result of the study shows that women organizations/associations for the purpose of community development in the study area are formed at different levels (community, village, and kindred) and along different ties (religious, family and social). There was a remarkable high involvement rate of women organizations in the provision of infrastructural amenities as renovation/ furnishing of town halls (80%), renovation/equipment of village schools (81.7%), and churches (82.5%), and provision of communal environmental sanitation services (88.3%). Other development programmes include those aimed at economic and educational empowerment of women and community youths such as; provision of grants/loans for enterprise development of women (81.7%), award of scholarships to children of the community (77.5%), awareness creation on HIV/AIDS (94.2%), family health and child care programmes (81.7%), and other general health matters (60.0%). It was recommended among others that existing women organizations in the rural communities should be encouraged by way of adequate recognition, training and funding by the State and Local Government authorities. Keywords: Women\'s organizations, rural community development, Imo state. International Journal of Agriculture and Development Vol. 9 2007: pp. 85-9

Agriculture Lecturers’ Perception of the Benefits of Professional Meetings in Nigeria

The study assessed Agriculture lecturer’s perception of the benefits of professional meetings in Nigeria. The study was conducted in Southeast and southsouth geo political zone of Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select eighty agriculture lecturers for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analysed using frequency counts, percentages and mean. Of the eighty agriculture lecturers used for the study, 59% were male, 81% married and 55% had their doctorate degree. The mean age and working experience were 43yrs and 11yrs respectively. Majority (98.8%) had attended national professional meetings in the past five years while only 32.5% had attended international professional meetings in the past five years. Also, 77% attend at most two professional meetings in a year. Of the five professional meetings (conferences, workshop, trainings, symposiums and seminar) examined in this study, result show that agriculture lecturers attach so much value to conferences (M =3.78). It was also shown that agriculture lecturers strongly perceive the benefits of professional meetings to be: connects one to relevant networking team (M = 3.86), exposes one to new arrears in agriculture (M = 3.82) and gives one the opportunity to contribute his/her quota to knowledge. Based on the results of the study, it was recommended the need to support agriculture lecturer’s attendance to international conferences and other international professional meetings to enable them expand their networking and collaboration activities. This is by offering sponsorships and other incentives to lecturers whose papers are accepted for presentation in such meetings

Agriculture Lecturers’ Perception of the Benefits of Professional Meetings in Nigeria

The study assessed Agriculture lecturer’s perception of the benefits of professional meetings in Nigeria. The study was conducted in Southeast and southsouth geo political zone of Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select eighty agriculture lecturers for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analysed using frequency counts, percentages and mean. Of the eighty agriculture lecturers used for the study, 59% were male, 81% married and 55% had their doctorate degree. The mean age and working experience were 43yrs and 11yrs respectively. Majority (98.8%) had attended national professional meetings in the past five years while only 32.5% had attended international professional meetings in the past five years. Also, 77% attend at most two professional meetings in a year. Of the five professional meetings (conferences, workshop, trainings, symposiums and seminar) examined in this study, result show that agriculture lecturers attach so much value to conferences (M =3.78). It was also shown that agriculture lecturers strongly perceive the benefits of professional meetings to be: connects one to relevant networking team (M = 3.86), exposes one to new arrears in agriculture (M = 3.82) and gives one the opportunity to contribute his/her quota to knowledge. Based on the results of the study, it was recommended the need to support agriculture lecturer’s attendance to international conferences and other international professional meetings to enable them expand their networking and collaboration activities. This is by offering sponsorships and other incentives to lecturers whose papers are accepted for presentation in such meetings