Assessment of community factors influencing the effectiveness of improved cassava production technologies in Osun State, Nigeria.

This study investigated community factors and their influence on the effectiveness of improved cassava production technologies in Osun State. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select cassava farmers in the study. In the first stage, 40 percent of the LGAs in each of the 3 ADP agricultural zones were selected. In the second stage, two communities were purposively selected from each of the twelve LGAs giving a total of twenty-­‐four communities. The third stage involved the proportionate sampling of 25 percent of the population of registered ADP cassava farmers in each of the selected communities giving a total of three hundred and twelve cassava farmers. Data were summarized with frequency counts, percentages, mean and correlation coefficient. The results show that effectiveness of improved cassava production technologies was significantly and positively related to community participation (r = 0.128; p≤ 0.05) and infrastructural facilities (r = 0.157;p≤ 0.01). The results of the study reveal that leadership participation and infrastructural facilities have influence on the effectiveness of improved cassava production technologies. It is therefore recommended that infrastructural facilities such as access roads, electricity, cassava processing centers should be made available in the rural communities to facilitate the effectiveness and success of agricultural programmes. Also, farmers should be actively involved in the planning and execution of development programmes

Exploration of Bee keeping as a coping strategy in a deregulated economy

This study examined the inputs used in honey production; investigated number ofhives colonized and determined the viability ofhoney production in Oyo State. All eighty-seven registered members ofBeekeepers Association ofNigeria, Oyo State chapter were interviewed through the use of questionnaire. All beekeepers (100%) made use ofbeehive, bee smoker, bee suit, rubber boot, pail andhandgloves; majority ofthe beekeepers (52.5%) colonized between 11 and20 hives and most respondents (65%) collected between 350.7 and 525 liters of honey per season. Almost 98% of the respondents'perceived honey production as a viable venture. From theforegoing, it is recommended that unemployed youths and graduates should be trained on the necessary skills andknowledge requiredfor honey production to make them self-reliant

Exploration of Bee keeping as a coping strategy in a deregulated economy

This study examined the inputs used in honey production; investigated number ofhives colonized and determined the viability ofhoney production in Oyo State. All eighty-seven registered members ofBeekeepers Association ofNigeria, Oyo State chapter were interviewed through the use of questionnaire. All beekeepers (100%) made use ofbeehive, bee smoker, bee suit, rubber boot, pail andhandgloves; majority ofthe beekeepers (52.5%) colonized between 11 and20 hives and most respondents (65%) collected between 350.7 and 525 liters of honey per season. Almost 98% of the respondents'perceived honey production as a viable venture. From theforegoing, it is recommended that unemployed youths and graduates should be trained on the necessary skills andknowledge requiredfor honey production to make them self-reliant

FARMERS' PERCEIVED AND EXPECTED ROLE OF MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated farmers' perceived and expected role of media organizations in agricultural development of south -western Nigeria. One hundred completed interview schedule from farmers in five local government areas of Oyo State, Nigeria were analysed using statistical tools such as mean, standard deviation, frequency distribution, correlation coefficient and ANOVA. It was found that radio is readily available to all the farmers while newspapers and television are only available to 30% and 41% of the farmers, respectively. Farmers perceived media organizations as agent and agency of mobilization for government programmes and sources of information on marketing, credit/loan, fertilizer procurement and application and infommation on agriculture. Media organizations are expected to play other roles such as on- the -farm programme broadcast, organising agricultural show, exhibitions and seminars /conferences on agriculture; and reaching policy makers about the problems of farriers. It was found that media use potential is positively and significantly correlated with farriers' literacy (r level = 0.652). Also there is a significant difference between perceived and expected role of mediia organizations (F = 3.56

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: THE IMPACT OF EXTENSION SERVICES ON PESTICIDE PRODUCTIVITY AND DEMAND AMONG COCOA FARMERS IN IFE ZONE

This study examined the role played by the extension system in pesticide demand by cocoa farmers and the effect of extension information on pesticide productivity in cocoa agriculture. Date were obtained from a cross -section of cocoa farmers in Ife South and Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State. The farmers were divided into two groups on basis of farmers' contact with extension system: farmers visited by extension agents (FV) and those not visited (FNV). Production and pesticide demand analyses were carried out for each group.Production function analysis showed that extension service has no significant effect on pesticide productivity. Pesticide demand analysis showed that FV were more responsive to changes in economic environment than FNV. Demand for pesticides by FV is elastic with respect to farm size, unit price of chemical and product price while that of FNV is generally inelastic

An Overview of Production, Processing, Marketing and Utilisation of Okra in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 9 (2007): An Overview of Production, Processing, Marketing and Utilisation of Okra in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. Manuscript MES 07 002. Vol. IX. July, 2007

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: THE IMPACT OF EXTENSION SERVICES ON PESTICIDE PRODUCTIVITY AND DEMAND AMONG COCOA FARMERS IN IFE ZONE

This study examined the role played by the extension system in pesticide demand by cocoa farmers and the effect of extension information on pesticide productivity in cocoa agriculture. Date were obtained from a cross -section of cocoa farmers in Ife South and Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State. The farmers were divided into two groups on basis of farmers' contact with extension system: farmers visited by extension agents (FV) and those not visited (FNV). Production and pesticide demand analyses were carried out for each group.Production function analysis showed that extension service has no significant effect on pesticide productivity. Pesticide demand analysis showed that FV were more responsive to changes in economic environment than FNV. Demand for pesticides by FV is elastic with respect to farm size, unit price of chemical and product price while that of FNV is generally inelastic

FARMERS' PERCEIVED AND EXPECTED ROLE OF MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated farmers' perceived and expected role of media organizations in agricultural development of south -western Nigeria. One hundred completed interview schedule from farmers in five local government areas of Oyo State, Nigeria were analysed using statistical tools such as mean, standard deviation, frequency distribution, correlation coefficient and ANOVA. It was found that radio is readily available to all the farmers while newspapers and television are only available to 30% and 41% of the farmers, respectively. Farmers perceived media organizations as agent and agency of mobilization for government programmes and sources of information on marketing, credit/loan, fertilizer procurement and application and infommation on agriculture. Media organizations are expected to play other roles such as on- the -farm programme broadcast, organising agricultural show, exhibitions and seminars /conferences on agriculture; and reaching policy makers about the problems of farriers. It was found that media use potential is positively and significantly correlated with farriers' literacy (r level = 0.652). Also there is a significant difference between perceived and expected role of mediia organizations (F = 3.56

A Review of Postharvest Losses in Fruits and Vegetables in Nigeria: The Need for an Extension Strategy

The paper reviewed cases of postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables in Nigeria and identified an extension strategy to stem the losses. The paper highlighted some harvesting and handling methods that can be presented through the extension services to the farmers to stem postharvest losses. To reach the Nigerian farmers, the paper suggested the use of target system approach will? integrated mass inedia approach, group contact method, all in combination to educate farmers on how to reduce postharvest losses. It was also obsserved that cooperative and collaborative efforts of governments, non- governmental organizations, corporations, individuals and groups are highly necessary in solving the problem of postharvest losses in Nigeria

A Review of Postharvest Losses in Fruits and Vegetables in Nigeria: The Need for an Extension Strategy

The paper reviewed cases of postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables in Nigeria and identified an extension strategy to stem the losses. The paper highlighted some harvesting and handling methods that can be presented through the extension services to the farmers to stem postharvest losses. To reach the Nigerian farmers, the paper suggested the use of target system approach will? integrated mass inedia approach, group contact method, all in combination to educate farmers on how to reduce postharvest losses. It was also obsserved that cooperative and collaborative efforts of governments, non- governmental organizations, corporations, individuals and groups are highly necessary in solving the problem of postharvest losses in Nigeria