Climate Change Adaptation Among Cassava Farmers in Okigwe Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria

Climate change, which exposes farmers to low productivity, crop failure and worsens food insecurity in developing nations has become a core challenge in Nigeria. These extremes have increased the vulnerability of several arable crop farmers due to inadequate mitigation strategies and restricted access to capital. This study analyzed climate change adaptation among cassava farmers in Okigwe agricultural zone of Imo State, Nigeria.  Perception of cassava farmers towards climate change, their adaptation strategies and challenges to climate change adaptation and determinant of farmers’ adaptation to climate change were the main objectives. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used in selecting one hundred and twenty respondents for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed with percentages, mean and Chi square. Results showed that the mean age of the respondents was 47 years while 78.30% of them had formal education.  The main adaptation strategies included planting on mounds (20%), diversification to non-farm activities (15%) and planting of improved varieties (14%). Cassava farmers in the study area perceived climate change as increase in heat waves (x̅=2.26), rainfall (x̅=2.76) and drought (x̅=2.35). The major challenges to adaptation were unsatisfactory weather reports (89.5%), lack of funds (82.4%) and inadequate extension contact (81.2%). Extension contacts and access to credit were the most significant determinants of utilization of climate change adaptation strategies. The study concludes that respondents are aware of climate change with diverse adaptation strategies and recommends that government and agricultural development agencies should integrate the determinant of climate change adaptation and mitigation into policies and programs relating to climate change resilience.  It also recommends that the availability of climate change information in real time, mobilization of more extension workers and provision of funds to improve the capacity of cassava farmers for climate change resilience should be prioritize

Adoption of Bio-fortified Pro-Vitamin-A Cassava and Health Outcome of Farming Households in Abia and Anambra States Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between the adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties and farming households’ health outcomes using cross sectional data obtained from 318 cassava farmers in southeast Nigeria. The data was analysed using binary logistic regression, propensity score matching of treatment effects and percentages. The study found that number of children under five, household size, education of head of household, extension service, ownership of television, radio, mobile phone and tricycle, membership of cooperative societies, and access to credit were the significant predictors of adoption of pro-vitamin-A bio-fortified cassava varieties in the States. The study also found that the main constraints militating against adoption of pro-vitamin-A bio-fortified cassava include decaying of roots immediately after maturation, high cost of cassava stem, and high moisture content. The estimate of the effect of the adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties on incidence of vitamin-A deficiency related diseases was significant with an average treatment effect on the adopters of -0.463. The adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties has substantial effect on the reduction of vitamin-A deficiency related health outcomes. There is need for wider awareness and dissemination of the varieties among cassava farmers, while interventions should target the promotion of both production and consumption of such cassava varieties

Adoption of Bio-fortified Pro-Vitamin-A Cassava and Health Outcome of Farming Households in Abia and Anambra States Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between the adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties and farming households’ health outcomes using cross sectional data obtained from 318 cassava farmers in southeast Nigeria. The data was analysed using binary logistic regression, propensity score matching of treatment effects and percentages. The study found that number of children under five, household size, education of head of household, extension service, ownership of television, radio, mobile phone and tricycle, membership of cooperative societies, and access to credit were the significant predictors of adoption of pro-vitamin-A bio-fortified cassava varieties in the States. The study also found that the main constraints militating against adoption of pro-vitamin-A bio-fortified cassava include decaying of roots immediately after maturation, high cost of cassava stem, and high moisture content. The estimate of the effect of the adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties on incidence of vitamin-A deficiency related diseases was significant with an average treatment effect on the adopters of -0.463. The adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties has substantial effect on the reduction of vitamin-A deficiency related health outcomes. There is need for wider awareness and dissemination of the varieties among cassava farmers, while interventions should target the promotion of both production and consumption of such cassava varieties

Demand Analysis of Rice in Nigeria: Application of Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System Model

The paper analyzed the demand for imported rice, local rice, maize, and other cereals in Nigeria. Using the second wave data of the Nigerian Living Standard Measurements Survey - Integrated Survey on Agriculture, it employed the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System model for empirical analysis. The result indicates that the imported and local rice are proved to be normal goods. However, imported rice is a luxury item while local rice is a necessity. The compensated and uncompensated own-price elasticities for imported and local rice are negative, indicating that an increase in own-price will decrease its own-demand in line with the law of demand. The estimates of uncompensated cross-price elasticity show that imported rice and local rice are complements in Nigeria. Finally, the study represents an effort to disaggregate food demand analysis to obtain useful information on price and other factors determining the demand for specific foods