Correlates of Ill Health Conditions and Farmers’ Productivity in Ilorin East Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

The study examines the ill health conditions experienced and farmers’ productivity in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Primary data were duly obtained using well-structured questionnaire which was administered on eighty farmers. Descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) analyses were employed. Results however revealed that majority 100%, 85%, 77.5% and 56.25% of respondents have experienced malaria, typhoid fever, diarrhea and stomach ache respectively. Results further indicated that majority 97.5% and 67.5% of respondents who have experienced malaria and typhoid fever patronize modern medical services but 62.5% and 37.5% who have experienced diarrhea and stomach ache access traditional medicine for healing. PPMC analyses showed the ill health experienced by respondent were significant related to their farm size. Results also showed that health care services available for farmers were not significant related to their productivity. The study therefore concludes that malaria and many others diseases and illnesses are ill-health conditions facing farmers in the study area. The study suggests the need for quick health care delivery that will meet the health care need of farmers in the study area, most especially preventive measures to control mosquito. Keywords: Ill-health: farmers: productivity: Ilorin East LGA: Kwara State

Tomato farmers adoption level of postharvest value addition technology and its constraints in Surulere Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examined tomato farmers’ adoption level of postharvest value addition technology and its constraints in Surulere Area of Oyo state. 160 tomato farmers were randomly selected and interviewed through structured interview schedule. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed prevalent causes of tomato postharvest losses to include; unreliable means of transportation, lack of adequate storage facilities, limited alternative uses of produce, diseases/pest infestation and non-accessibility to improved varieties and quality seeds. Furthermore, postharvest value addition technologies at adoption level indicated by majority were ranked as follows; sun drying and peeled tomato preserves (88.1%) ranked first, fresh refrigerated (67.5%) ranked third, pureed and sealed with oil in jars (50.6%) ranked fourth, boiled, sealed and packed sealed (50.0%) ranked fifth, cold water bath (46.9%) ranked sixth. Only (3.1%) evaluated pickling, 0.6% trialled irradiation, 2.5% trialled pulping. Constraints faced by majority include; inadequate technological knowledge about value addition, inadequate of electricity supply, lack of cold storage facilities and lack of awareness about value addition technologies. Regression analysis shows significant relation between preventive initiatives adopted by tomato farmers and their level of education, agricultural cooperative membership and availability of electricity and extension agents’ visit. In the view of the findings, the study concludes that tomato farmers have adopted several preventive initiatives for tomato postharvest losses and were still with faced with challenges. It is therefore important improve educational knowledge of tomato farmers in the study area on improved skills to further minimise post-harvest losses.Keywords: tomato, postharvest losses, value addition, constraint

Job Incentives For Rural Women In Nigeria: An Appraisal Of The Shea-Butter Extraction Option

This study examined the viability of women livelihoods that is dependent on Shea butter extraction activities in Nigeria, using Kwara State as a case study. Specifically, the study examined Shea- butter extraction practices and facilities, costs and returns structure to Shea- butter extraction, factors affecting Shea- butter extraction and determinants of investments in Shea- butter extraction activities. For the study One hundred and twenty women households involved in Shea-butter processing were surveyed across the study area, Kwara State. Data collected was analysed using the descriptive statistics, partial budget analysis and regression Analyses. Results revealed that most women involved in Shea butter extraction activities were married and agile youths. Some of the women undertook Shea butter extraction activities as a minor occupation while about half of them undertook the activities as their major occupation.most of them were also members of cooperatives in their localities. Cost and returns analysis showed that the average gross revenue recorded in the study area is N776.58 per kilogram of processed Shea-nut. Total cost is N521.50 while the net income is N255.08. Returns to labour and management (RLM) is N86.18). Labour used, years of involvement in extraction and the quantity of Shea fruits processed were revealed as contributors to Shea butter output while years of formal education was shown to be an insignificant contributors. Constraints limiting Shea butter activities were shown to include inadequate capital, poor packaging and market, low domestic consumption/patronage of Shea-butter products, insufficient supply of water as well as high cost of equipment maintenance. The study therefore calls for sourcing of better market, provision of crucial social amenities including banks and micro-finance and the need for women to mobilise and collate rural funds via cooperatives. Key Words: viability, average gross revenue, Returns to labour and management (RLM), Total cos

Iinformation accessibility and farmers manageriability of guinea worm disease intervention package in Kwara and Niger states, Nigeria

The study examined the farmers’ access to information and their manageriability of the intervention programme in the study area. To achieve the objective, there was need to determine farmers’ information accessibility and manageriability of guinea worm intervention package; then determine farmers satisfaction with the intervention package.Data were collected from three hundred and twenty (320) farmers randomly from those areas that have been affected by guinea worm disease before. Four (4) Local Government Areas each of Kwara and Niger States notable for endemic experience of guinea worm were selected. The information collected was through the use of descriptive statistics, means scores and correlation coefficient analysis. Findings revealed that the famers’ major access to information on guinea worm intervention package was through friend s and neighbours. This is so because friends and neighbours were the closest to the farmers and for much trust they have in each other. Other information access includes guinea worm officers, town criers, radio messages cooperatives, farm service centre and demonstration plots. More than half (54.4%) of the farmers have been able to manage their time spent on the farm efficiently after guinea worm intervention; while 59.5% of the farmers increased their man-hours on the farm. The inputs used, the farming methods and practices have all also increased. Labour after the introduction of intervention package has been categorized as “very satisfactory”, while income, manhours and crop yield were found categorized “satisfactory”. A significant relationship exist between information accessibility and satisfaction of the farmers’ intervention package (rr = .282 at P < .05). With farmers access to intervention information, they managed their farms efficiently and were satisfied on the job.Key words: Information accessibility, farmers, guinea worm diseas

Effects of improved fish production technology on the output of fish farmers in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

The study examined the effects of improved fish production technology on the output of fish farmers in Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 125 respondents were selected. Primary data was collected with the use of structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for the study. Mean age of respondents was 39.8 years. Also majority were male (83.2%), had tertiary education (84.0%) and kept Catfish (90.4%). The mean income earned was N 1,012,320.00. Commonly used/ adopted improved fish technologies were floating feeds (84.8%), standard feeding regimes (84.0%), improved breeds of fingerlings (80.0%) and provision of inlet and outlet devices in pond (78.4). Farmers’ perceptions were that the use of improved fish production technology saves time (mean=1.34), increases profit/improved income (mean=1.12) and conserves fish farmers’ energy (mean=1.08). This study found average increase in output: input ratio as 0.77 kg of harvest per fish fingerlings stocked due to improved fish technology when compared to that before adoption of improved technology. Most indicated constraints faced by fish farmers were inadequate capital (88.0%), high cost of feed (79.2%) and high cost of fingerlings (71.2%). Profit increase/improved income of catfish farmers via higher yield/harvest due to adoption of new technology was found to be positively correlated with age (p<0.01), gender(p<0.05), and experience (p<0.05). The study concluded that the use of fish improved technology had positively influenced harvest of catfish farmers in the study area. The study recommends the need for training, workshops and seminars for catfish farmers on how they could have easy access to land, feeds at an affordable rate and sources of fund at minimal interest rate

ASSESSMENT OF THE PROFITABILITY TRENDS OF CASSAVA PRODUCTION ENTERPRISES IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out to examine the trends in the profitability of cassava production enterprises between 2008 and 2010 in Osun State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select 120 farmers from 60 communities in 6 LGAs in the 3 agricultural zones of the State. Structured interview schedule was used as instrument to collect primary data from respondents on their socio-economic characteristics, cost of production and revenue generated from sales of cassava roots and stem cuttings. Data collected was subjected to descriptive statistics, while profitability was computed using Gross Margin analysis. The result showed that majority (33.3%) of the farmers were between 41-50 years with mean age of 38 years, 56.7 percent were males with 75 percent married, while 43.3 percent had primary education. Majority (43.3%) had household sizes of between 7-9 members and 41.7 percent sourced their funds for production from personal savings. Cassava productions in the study area are profitable but with low gross margins. The Gross Margins for cassava production per hectare for the 3 years (2008-2010) were respectively N151,812, N148,492, and N198,400, with their respective cost benefit ratios as 2.56, 2.43, and 2.70.The ‘very severe’ constraints to cassava production in the study area are Lack of funds (credit), High transport cost and poor prices for products. The study recommended measures to increase root yield and scale of operation of farmers. To mitigate the constraints, the Government should provide micro credit at low interest rates as well as put in place a buy-back policy that would guarantee price stabilizatio

An assessment of health practises among small-scale farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Objective. The study examines the personal health practices of small scale farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods. Primary data were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire which was distributed to 120 small scale farmers. Descriptive statistical techniques such as frequency count, percentages were used, as well as Pearson Product Moment correlation and analysis for empirical analysis. Results. Results revealed that more than half (55%) smoke cigarettes, about 48% drink alcohol to a very great extent, while the majority (64.5%) indicated they have not been screened to know their HIV status. On a positive note, the results further show that the majority 70%, 53.3%, 80% and 73.3% indicated that they eat a balance diet, engage in physical activity, practice safer sex, and regularly visit a health care centre, respectively. It also revealed that 77% have not attended any training on healthy living. The results of PPMC showed that the health knowledge of respondents had significant (p<0.01) influence on practices like cigarette smoking, eating a balance diet and regular visits to a health care centre. Conclusion. It was concluded that health threatening practices such as cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol among the majority of the respondents, coupled with their lack of health knowledge from health professionals, contributes to the poor health status of respondents which eventually negatively influences the labour efficiency of farmers. It is recommended that farmers should endeavour to make use of health literacy programmes introduced to them at local government level, and that the government should provide more of these health literacy programmes

ADOPTION OF SMOKING CHOKOR FOR FISH PROCESSING IN KWARA STATE

This research investigated the adoption of smoking chokor among fish processors in Kwara state, Nigeria. The study made use of structured questionnaire along with interview schedule to a sample size of one hundred and seventy (170) processors randomly selected through a two-stage random sampling technique. The data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics and the Regression Analysis. The results obtained through the analysis revealed that 43.7% of the respondents adopted the improved technology (smoking chokor). A higher percentage of respondents preferred the improved technology for the golden brown colour, fine texture, good smell and delicacy in the taste. The significant determinants of adoption include sex (female), income from fish processing activities (p<0.05) and the trust worthiness of the source of the technology (p<0.1). Perceived benefits associated with technology adoption include wastage reduction, employment generation and the reduction of smoke, while the technicalities associated with the use constitute a major constraint limiting its adoption. The study concludes that fish processors prefer the smoking chokor but its adoption is marred with various constraints. It therefore recommends the need for creating more awareness of the smoking chokor as well as reducing the perceived constraints limiting its adoption by training extension agents and other verifiable sources to educate farmers as they disseminate the technology

GRASSROOT MECHANIZED FARMING: THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROVIDER

The paper focused on the role of extension service providers in ensuring that mechanization is adopted at the grassroot level among farmers. Information dissemination, farmers’ education and awareness creation in motivating the smallholder farmers to utilizing these farm machineries optimally plats a major role in actualizing mechanized farming among these farmers. It further highlights the various challenges hampering the operational use of these farm machines by farmers such as cultural barriers, high cost of machines, low access to credit facilities, high cost of rental, lack of technical expertise among others. It offers practical guide to solving these barriers for optimum use of these farm machines by grassroot farmers through the assistance of extension personnel in creating awareness, and educating the farmers into embracing farm mechanization, sustaining their interest as regards introduction of one technology per time, need specification, technical know- how, action and satisfaction. All of these will help in improving mechanization effectively at the grassroot level with the assistance of extension personnel