Farmers' involvement in agricultural problems identification and prioritization in Ogun State, Nigeria

The main objectives of the study were to determine the level of farmers involvement in their (farmers) agricultural problems identification and prioritization for research and extension intervention, the willingness of farmers to participate in their own agricultural problems identification and prioritization and to identify those constraints which prevent involvement of farmers in problems and need identification and prioritization. Using multistage random sampling, 240 farmers were selected. Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire and a structured interview schedule and analyzed through descriptive and regression analyses. The study concluded that the level of farmers' involvement in agricultural problems identification and prioritization was low, farmers were very willing to be involved in their agricultural problem identification and prioritization. Majority of the technologies disseminated were not based on farmers' identified problems and felt needs. Some of the constraints that might have militated against farmers' involvement were poor motivation and encouragement of farmers by researchers and extension officers, lack of adequate knowledge of research and extension processes, ineffective and inefficient linkages between researchers, extension agents and farmers and lack of formal education by farmers. The study recommended that the management of the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (Extension sub-programme), agricultural research stations and universities conducting agricultural researches in Ogun State, especially Yewa North, should initiate policies and processes that will mandate their personnel to involve farmers in participatory agricultural problem identification and prioritization and other stages of agricultural research and extension processes. Developmental policies should be implemented in a bottom-up approach rather than a purely top-down approach so that farmers' opinion would be known. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol.32 2003: 45-5

Women's participation in sustainable crop farming activities in Ogun State, Nigeria

This study examined the level of women's participation in sustainable crop farming activities in Ogun state. Determined various sustainable crop farming activities engaged in by women categorised them on the basis of their level of participation and identified various means of improving their level of participation in crop farming activities. A multi-stage sampling method was used in selecting 150 women farmers from two Agricultural Development Project zones. An interview schedule was designed to obtain data on the respondents' eleven identified sustainable crop-farming activities. Results show that most of the respondents had between 3-10 years of farming experience. Over half of them had an average farm size of 2-3 hectares while over one-third had no formal education. Crop farming activities such as processing, storage and planting had higher mean scores (x = 1.81; x = 1.79; x = 1.64 respectively) while ridging, fertilizer application and stumping had lower mean scores (x = 0.82; x = 0.91; x = 0.95 respectively). A significant relationship however, existed between the level of sustainable crop farming activities and respondents' age (r= 0.72; P = 0.03), educational level (χ²= 0.61, P = 0.04). marital status (χ²= 0.34, P = 0.01) and household size (r= 0.82, P = 0.04). T-test analysis also revealed that, there is no significant difference between the women farmers participation in sustainable crop farming activities in the two different ecological zones of the study area (t = 2.74, P = 0.81). Keywords: crop farming, participation, sustainable, women farmer Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 5(1) 2004: 67-7

Gender Analysis of Sustainable Agricultural Practices by Crop Farmers in Ondo State

Sustainable agricultural practices describe the effort of farmers at protecting and enhancing the environment to preserve it for further exploitation. Therefore both men and women have important roles to play in preserving their environment. This paper analyzed the gender roles in the use of sustainable agricultural practices by crop farmers in Ondo State. A multi stage sampling method was used in selecting zones, blocks, cells and farmers for the study. An interview guide was used to obtain data from 320 crop farmers and stratified into 252 male and 60 female farmers. The results showed that 20 sustainable agricultural practices were identified by crop farmers in the study area. Both male and female farmers engaged in bush burning, crop rotation, bush fallow, composting and mulching. The results also revealed that there was high level of farming tasks performed by both males and females. Farmers’ attitude scores range from 27 - 135. Most of the respondents’ scores fell between the range of 65 and 112. Most of the farmers (male and female) had favorable attitude towards the use of sustainable agricultural practices. There was significant difference between the constraints to the use of sustainable agricultural practices by male and female crop farmers T-test analysis indicated that there was significant difference between male and female farmers use of the sustainable agricultural practices in the area of study (t=5.65; p=0.03). The policy implication of these findings is that there is a need to intensify extension efforts in order to integrate sustainable agricultural practices in to their farming systems which will reduce environmental degradation and promote sustainable environmental management. Keywords: Gender analysis, Environmental, Sustainable, Agricultural Practices, Nigeri

Extent of use of sustainable land management practices by farmers in Ondo State

The study identify the Sustainable Land Management Practices (SLMP) used by the farmers, examined the extent of their use, determine the relationships between farmers' selected characteristics and the extent of use of SLMP in Ondo state. Data were collected from 320 crop farmers using multi-stage sampling techniques which involved selecting farmers from zones, blocks and cells of Ondo State Agricultural Development Programme (ODSAPEP) Data were collected from the farmers with the assistance of the Village Extension Agents through the use of interview schedule and Focus Group Discussion. Variables were subjected to face and content validity and reliability test (r = 0.82) using test-re-test method. Eighteen SLMP were identified in the study. The findings revealed that 35.94% with raw scores between (18-27) were poorly used, 52.80% with raw scores (28-37) were moderately used and 9.38% with (38-46) were highly used. Using correlation analysis variables such as age, number of children, number of wives, farm size were positively related to the use of sustainable land management practices (SLMP), while variables such as migrant status, years of farming experience, fertility of land and changes in land composition were not significantly related to SLMP at 0.05 level of significance.Keywords: extent of use, sustainable land management, multi-stage sampling technique Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 5(2) 2004: 180-18

Vascular permeability-increasing effect of the leaf essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum Linn as a mechanism for its wound healing property

Persistent microvascular hyperpermeability to plasma proteins is a characteristic feature of normal wound healing. Does the leaf essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum heal wounds by promoting this feature? Evan\'s blue dye (20mg/kg body weight) in normal saline was administered intravenously through marginal ear vein of experimental rabbits (n = 5). Each animal served as its own control. One hour after Evan\'s blue dye administration, 0.1ml each of Ocimum oil, histamine dihydrochloride (30µg/ml) and normal saline were randomly administered by intra-dermal injection at the prepared sites on each of the animals. Increase in vascular permeability was assessed by dye effusion test. Analysis of the differences in vascular permeability between treatment groups showed that, Ocimum oil, in intensity and duration, was significantly (p < 0.05) more effective in increasing cutaneous capillary permeability over a 24h period after treatment. The ability of Ocimum oil in increasing vascular permeability may be one of the factors that contribute to its wound healing property. Key words: Ocimum gratissimum, vascular permeability, mechanism of action Afr. J. Trad. Comp. Alt. Med. Vol.2(3) 2005: 253 - 25

Farmers’ Constraints to Increased Poultry Production in Ogun State

This study investigated constraints to the increased poultry production in Ogun State.A multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 poultry farmers for the study. Data was collected through the use of interview schedule and analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, means, chi-square and correlation analysis. The results showed that majority (76.67%) of the poultry farmers were male, with a mean age of 37years. Over half (61.66%) of the farmers were Christian. A large proportion (98.33%) had completed one form of formal education or the other. The mean farming experience and household size were 5years and 7persons respectively. The study revealed that over half (52.60%) of the respondents depended solely on personal savings as source of capital. Majority (65.63%) of the poultry farmers were operating at small scale. The respondents indicated high cost of equipment (89.00%), inaccessibility to credit (66.67%) and high cost of feeds (63.33%) as serious constraints to poultry production practices. Significant relationship existed between constraints to increased poultry production and sex (&#967;2 = 9.64, p =0.02), educational level (&#967;2=7.53; p = 0.03),management system(&#967;2 = 9.37; p = 0.04) ( age (r=0.81; p = 0.03), farming experience (r=0.74, p = 0.02)and household size(r=0.69,p=0.04) This study recommends that effort must be made to subsidize poultry feed ingredients and poultry equipment to reduce their cost

Male sexual dysfunction and HIV--a clinical perspective.

Sexual dysfunction in men with HIV is often overlooked by clinicians owing to many factors, including the taboo of sexuality. The improved life expectancy of patients with HIV requires physicians to consider their general wellbeing and sexual health with a renewed interest. However, data on sexual dysfunction in those with HIV are scarce. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common sexual dysfunction in men, with a prevalence of ∼30-50% and is frequent even in men <40 years of age. HIV infection itself is the strongest predictor of ED, and many factors related to the infection-fear of virus transmission, changes in body image, HIV-related comorbidities, infection stigma, obligatory condom use-all impair erectile function. The diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction is based on a multidisciplinary approach, which involves specialists in both infectious diseases and sexual medicine. Particular attention should be paid to the promotion of safer sex in these patients. This Review, describes the issues surrounding sexual dysfunction in men with HIV and aims to provide clinical advice for the physician treating these patients