Information- Seeking Behavior and Utilization among Snail Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria: Implications for Sustainable Animal Production

The authors of this study examined the information-seeking behavior and utilization among snail farmers in Oyo State with the view of improving animal production to achieve food and nutritional security.Simple random sampling was used to select one hundred and twenty respondents out ofthree hundred and sixty-five registered members in Oyo state. Interview schedule was administered to elicit information relating to socio-economic characteristics, information-seeking behaviour and utilization among snail farmers and the constraints faced by the snail farmers. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, mean, percentages, and correlation. Most of the respondents were literates. This factor increased their capacities for seeking and utilizing agricultural information. Lack of credit facilities and inadequate information from extension agents were the major constraints identified by the farmers. There was a significant relationship between the sources of information and information-seeking behavior of these farmers as well as the utilization of such information (r = -0.261; pv = \u3e0.05). Significant relationship also existed between constraints faced by the farmers and information-seeking behavior and utilization by these farmers (r = -0.23, pv = 0.01). Most of the respondents had high information-seeking behavior and utilization, which impliesthat farmers are willing to seek information that will improve their productivity.Efforts should therefore be made to promote the information utilization of farmers through the extension services of agricultural development projects in order to facilitate the transfer of technology. This will enhance the productivity and income of snail farmers and subsequently improve their standard of living

Determinants of Food Security among Rural Livestock Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

This study examined the extent to which livestock production has contributed to food security of the rural households in Southwestern Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Fifty percent of the states in Southwestern Nigeria and 30% of rural households in the selected local government areas were randomly selected resulting in a sample size of 306 respondents. Household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), food insecurity scale was used to assess the food insecurity of the respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while binomial regression was used to determine the determinants of food security at p = 0.05. Most respondents (76.1%) were males and married (83.7%), while about half (46.0%) of them completed secondary education. Mean age, household size and monthly income from livestock enterprises were 48.8 ± 12.8 years, 6.6 ± 3.2 and N45,068 ± 97,077, respectively. A large proportion (71.9%) practiced extensive system of livestock production. Sources of information (β = 5.304), income (β = 7.453) and constraints to livestock enterprises (β = 2.807) increased the odds of their food security. Policies that encouraged that promote diversification of income sources should be promoted to increase entrepreneurs’ income in order to improve food security situation of rural households

Determinants of Food Security among Rural Livestock Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

This study examined the extent to which livestock production has contributed to food security of the rural households in Southwestern Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Fifty percent of the states in Southwestern Nigeria and 30% of rural households in the selected local government areas were randomly selected resulting in a sample size of 306 respondents. Household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), food insecurity scale was used to assess the food insecurity of the respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while binomial regression was used to determine the determinants of food security at p = 0.05. Most respondents (76.1%) were males and married (83.7%), while about half (46.0%) of them completed secondary education. Mean age, household size and monthly income from livestock enterprises were 48.8 ± 12.8 years, 6.6 ± 3.2 and N45,068 ± 97,077, respectively. A large proportion (71.9%) practiced extensive system of livestock production. Sources of information (β = 5.304), income (β = 7.453) and constraints to livestock enterprises (β = 2.807) increased the odds of their food security. Policies that encouraged that promote diversification of income sources should be promoted to increase entrepreneurs’ income in order to improve food security situation of rural households

Biochemical and microbiological quality of honey from mangrove agro-ecological zone of Nigeria

In the present study, the biochemical and microbiological quality of honey from mangrove agro-ecological zone of Nigeria were investigated. There is paucity of information on the biochemical characteristics of honey produced from the mangrove zone of Nigeria, hence the need to provide a database on the characterization of honey produced in this zone. A total of eighteen honey samples collected from this zone were analyzed for their chemical properties including moisture, ash, pH, glucose and fructose content, while the microbial population including total plate count (TPC), total coliform and the levels of spore-forming bacteria and fungi were determined. Dat

Gender dimension in livestock production in Oyo State, Nigeria

Gender is a social construct rather than a biological condition Multi stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample size of 190 livestock farmers. The result revealed that 63.2% of the respondents were males and 36.8% were females. The married males were 56.0% and 27.0% were females. At all the levels of education (primary, secondary and tertiary) males were more than females. Males who depended on livestock production as only source of income were 28.4% while the females were 7.3%. However, females who considered other livelihood sources before their livestock production activities were 19% while males were 9%. Males who were engaged in sheep, goat and cattle production were 3.7%, 23.0% and 37.0% respectively and females were 5.0%, 30.0% and 2.1% respectively. Males who self-sponsored their livestock production were 47.0% and females were 3.0.0%. Males who used intensive system of management and sourced their labour were 12.0% and 30.0% respectively while the females were 3.7% and5.3% respectively. Livestock production as a source of income was identified by 62.1% males and 36.0% females. All the livestock activities were carried out by both genders. However, Males participated more in herding (83.2%), milking (38.3%), hoof trimming (88.1%), ear notching (92.1%), tagging (78.5%), branding (81.1%), castrating (60.0%), silage and hay making (30.0%), dehorning (86.3%), dipping (82.1%), breeding (43.3%), and medication (81.0%) while females were more engaged in feeding (29.4%) and cleaning (60.0%). Chi-square test revealed that the sex of farmers influenced livestock routine management practices. Both males and females are engaged in livestock production; however some activities are gender specific. Livestock producers will increase production if given opportunities for credit facilities