INFORMATION NEEDS OF FARMERS IN RABBIT PRODUCTION IN SAGAMU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE

This study determined the information needs of farmers involved in rabbit production in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State. Sixty respondents involved in rabbit production were purposively selected, sampled and interviewed through a well structured interview schedule. The data obtained were analysed with the aid of frequency courts, percentages and cumulative percentages while Chi-square analysis was used for testing the research hypothesis. The various area where information is needed by the farmers involved in rabbit production include: identification of various rabbit diseases, factors causing pests and diseases in rabbits, methods of eliminating ecto-parasites, appropriate number of rabbits per cage, housing pattern, sources of suitable rabbit breeds, types of feed available for rabbits and weaning age for fryers. The findings revealed the demographic characteristics of the farmers involved in rabbit production and also revealed the different sources of information available to the respondents. Statistically, it was revealed that there was significant relationship between respondents’ level of education, contact with extension agents and number of rabbits kept and their information needs with the chi-square calculated values greater than the chi-square tabulated values in each factor

The Participation of Rice Farmers In Capacity Building Programmes of Agricultural Development Programme in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract: This s tudy was carried out to examine the participation of rice farmers in capacity building training programmes organized by Agricultural Development Programme in collaboration with other bodies such as Olam, USAID and First Bank in Kwara State, Nigeria.A sample of 180 contract farmers from two Local Government Areas of Kwara State who participated in the training were randomly selected and interviewed. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were employed in data analyses which include the use of frequency count, mean, pie-chart, bar chart, percentages and regression analysis. The findings revealed the level of participation of rice farmers in the two major rice producing Local Government Areas (Edu and Patigi ). The results revealed that the farmers’participation level was high in Patigi Local Government Area with participation mean of 6.189, and low in Edu LGA with participation mean of 3.267.Regression analysis showed that there were positive relationships between participation levels of farmers in capacity building programmes and age , educational levels, household size, years of experience, secondary occupation,farm size and land ownership.It is recommended that the venue of the training should be decentralized for the farmers to have access to the place of training. Keywords:Capacity building, levels, participation, trainin

Indigenous and Modern Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change among Cocoa Farmers in Southwest Nigeria.

The study examined the capability for the use of indigenous and modern adaptation strategies to climate change among cocoa farmers in Southwest, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 300 respondents from Southwest, Nigeria. An interview schedule was used to collect the data. Data collected were analysed using percentage and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The result reveals that 90% were aware of climate change in the study area. The indigenous adaptation strategies used were prayer (100%), respect and humility to gods (99%), mulching (92%), mixed cropping (90%), weeding (88%), shade and shelter (85%) and cutting of branches (81%). Also, modern adaptation strategies used were fungicide spray (99%), insecticide spray(90%), agro forestry (80%), bush burning restriction (80%), planting drought resistant varieties (50%), fertilizer application (48%), weather forecasts (20%), irrigation (20%), and farm agricultural insurance policy (10%) The major constraints were the inadequate funds and lack of knowledge of modern adaptation strategies to climate change. The use of indigenous strategies was positively correlated with age (r=0.351, p=0.05),while the use of modern adaptation strategies had a negative correlation with age (r=-0.759, p= 0.01). It is concluded from the study that despite farmers’ awareness of climate change, the use of modern adaptation strategies was low due to inadequate knowledge and fund. The study therefore recommended training in the use of modern adaptation strategies to climate chang

Assessment of Veterinary Extension Services Rendered to Poultry Farmers by the Agricultural Development Project, Kwara State, Nigeria

The study assessed the veterinary extension services rendered by the Kwara State Agricultural Development Project (KWADP) to poultry farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. A two stage sampling procedure produced the sample size of 110 from five villages in the study area. A well structured interview schedule was administered to the respondents to produce data which was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study revealed that majority of the poultry farmers in the study area were male (73.3%), aged between 31 and 50 (70.9%) and had over 10 years experience in poultry farming (74.5%). Only 17.3% of the farmers had secondary school education. Almost all the respondents (97.35%) were aware of the veterinary services of the (KWADP). The frequency of extension contact was monthly for 59.1% of the respondents. The t-test at 1% level of significance revealed significant differences in the means of meat yield and egg yield before and after extension contact. The study concluded that though there was strong level of awareness of the veterinary services of the KWADP and there was evidence of positive impact of the extension contact on productivity, the extension service was not meeting the needs of the farmers in some aspects of poultry production such as facilitating credit facilities for expansion. The study recommended that the frequency of extension contact be improved upon. Lastly, the study suggested that farmers should be encouraged to form or join cooperative societies to brighten their chances of securing rural credit

EFFECT OF CRIME ON RURAL FAMILY LIVELIHOOD IN OGBOMOSO AGRICULTURAL ZONE, OYO STATE

The cost of rural crime is at its highest since return to democracy in Nigeria. However, the picture is not quite the same in every part of the rural areas. This study was, therefore conducted to find out the effects of crimes in rural family livelihoods in Ogbomoso Agricultural zone of Oyo State. In conducting this study, 90 rural families were selected from the zone through a multistage sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using both descriptive (frequency count, percentage and mean) and inferential (Pearson Product Moment Correlation) statistics using SPSS version 22. The result showed that prevalence crimes include: stealing /theft of all forms, invasion of farm by herdsmen, barn breaking, illegal hunting and arson/bush burning. The study also found out that crime posed major effects on rural family livelihoods which included loss of stored products, loss of resources, loss of soil fertility, loss of yield of crop, crop destruction and loss of work time. The frequency of occurrence of various crime was found to be positive and significantly related to the effects of crime on rural family livelihoods. The outcome of this study revealed that the effects of crime were massive on rural family livelihoods. The study recommended an urgent need to implement security framework at farm level to curtail the menace of crime/criminality in order to enhance rural family livelihoods

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