Determinants of Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties among Resource-Poor Households in Kano and Katsina States, Nigeria

The study examined the factors influencing the adoption of improved maize varieties introduced under the Katsina-Kano-Maradi Pilot Learning Site (KKMPLS) of the IITA Sudan Savannah Taskforce. Using stratified sampling technique 160 farmers spread across five farming communities within Katsina and Kano States Nigeria were randomly selected. Data obtained were analyzed using probit regression model. Eleven variables were hypothesized to influence the probability of farmers’ adoption of improved maize varieties out of which four were found to be significantly influencing adoption of improved maize varieties in the study area. Household size and marital status of the farmers were found to be significant at 5% each; however, the former was negative while the later was positively related to adoption. Adoption of improved maize varieties was positively influenced by both participation in promotional activities and educational level of household head at 1% and 10% levels of significance respectively. It is, therefore, recommended that participatory approach should be encouraged in disseminating improved agricultural technologies like this because, participation is the most important factor influencing adoption of improved maize technologies in the study area

Determinants of Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties among Resource-Poor Households in Kano and Katsina States, Nigeria

The study examined the factors influencing the adoption of improved maize varieties introduced under the Katsina-Kano-Maradi Pilot Learning Site (KKMPLS) of the IITA Sudan Savannah Taskforce. Using stratified sampling technique 160 farmers spread across five farming communities within Katsina and Kano States Nigeria were randomly selected. Data obtained were analyzed using probit regression model. Eleven variables were hypothesized to influence the probability of farmers’ adoption of improved maize varieties out of which four were found to be significantly influencing adoption of improved maize varieties in the study area. Household size and marital status of the farmers were found to be significant at 5% each; however, the former was negative while the later was positively related to adoption. Adoption of improved maize varieties was positively influenced by both participation in promotional activities and educational level of household head at 1% and 10% levels of significance respectively. It is, therefore, recommended that participatory approach should be encouraged in disseminating improved agricultural technologies like this because, participation is the most important factor influencing adoption of improved maize technologies in the study area

Adoption of improved soybean and gender differential productivity and revenue impacts: evidence from Nigeria

Open Access Journal; Published online: 06 May 2022Despite the considerable soybean varietal improvement and dissemination efforts in Nigeria and other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, empirical evidence on farm-level yield and revenue impacts of improved soybean varieties (ISVs) from a gender perspective are limited. In this paper, we analyze the impact of the adoption of ISVs on soybean yield and net revenue, and the associated gender differential effects in northern Nigeria. We use the endogenous and exogenous switching treatment effects regression frameworks to estimate the impacts. We find that the adoption of ISVs significantly increased soybean yield and net revenue of the soybean-producing households by 26% and 32%, respectively. In addition, we find that the gender gap in yield between male and female-headed soybean-producing households was small, with a yield gap of about 1%. However, we find a substantial gender gap in soybean net revenue, as the net revenue of female-headed households was lower by about 20%, as compared to male-headed households. Overall, our findings show that policymakers and their development partners can leverage varietal improvement to boost the yields of both male- and female-headed households. However, closing the gender gap in crop income necessitates reducing the disparity in market linkages so that the female farmers can equally have better market access

Gender differentiation on the determinants and intensity of adoption of Purdue improved cowpea storage (PICS) bags in Northern Nigeria

Open Access JournalPostharvest and storage of agricultural produce such as cowpea remains a significant challenge in sub-Sahara Africa. This study assessed gender differentiation on the determinants and intensity of adoption of Purdue-improved cowpea storage (PICS) bags in northern Nigeria. Primary data was collected via a well-questionnaire from Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, and the Niger States. Each State was purposively selected based on the concentration and availability of female PICS bag users. From the sampling frame 2989, 20% of male and female small-scale cowpea farmers were randomly selected, totalling 598 cowpea farmers. Descriptive and double-hurdle regression models were used. The result of the socioeconomic analysis indicated that farmers’ mean age was 42 years, with an average of 8 persons per household and a dependency ratio of 1.19. Years of schooling were 10 with a farming experience of 25 years and 2.17 ha as the average farm size. Results of the Logit model in males were significant for (extension contact, PICS information from other farmers and radio sources, and cowpea income, bags non-available) and for females (age, awareness, extension contact, PICS information from other farmers and radio source, bags non-available). The truncated regression model was significant in males (cowpea income) and females (education, output, and bags non-available). Adopting PICS bag technology by cowpea farming households enhanced female farmers’ adoption. Therefore, policymakers should implement methods to motivate female farmers to adopt this technology further

The global retinoblastoma outcome study : a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

DATA SHARING : The study data will become available online once all analyses are complete.BACKGROUND : Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. METHODS : We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. FINDINGS : The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23·2 months (IQR 11·0–36·5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0·8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5·4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19·7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42·9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enucleation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98·8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99·5% (95% CI 98·8–100·0) for children from high-income countries, 91·2% (89·5–93·0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80·3% (78·3–82·3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57·3% (52·1-63·0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16·67; 95% CI 4·76–50·00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8·98; 4·44–18·18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1·38 per year; 1·23–1·56). For children aged 3–7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0·0104 for the change in slope). INTERPRETATION : This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes.The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the Wellcome Trust.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/homeam2023Paediatrics and Child Healt

Determinants of Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties among Resource-Poor Households in Kano and Katsina States, Nigeria

The study examined the factors influencing the adoption of improved maize varieties introduced under the Katsina-Kano-Maradi Pilot Learning Site (KKM-PLS) of the IITA Sudan Savannah Taskforce. Using stratified sampling technique 160 farmers spread across five farming communities within Katsina and Kano States Nigeria were randomly selected. Data obtained were analyzed using probit regression model. Eleven variables were hypothesized to influence the probability of farmers’ adoption of improved maize varieties out of which four were found to be significantly influencing adoption of improved maize varieties in the study area. Household size and marital status of the farmers were found to be significant at 5% each; however, the former was negative while the later was positively related to adoption. Adoption of improved maize varieties was positively influenced by both participation in promotional activities and educational level of household head at 1% and 10% levels of significance respectively. It is, therefore, recommended that participatory approach should be encouraged in disseminating improved agricultural technologies like this because, participation is the most important factor influencing adoption of improved maize technologies in the study area.Keywords: adoption, household, improved maize, participation

The Global Retinoblastoma Outcome Study: a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival

The Global Retinoblastoma Outcome Study: a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

Background Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. Methods We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1,2017, and Dec 31,2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. Findings The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23.2 months (IQR 11.0-36.5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0.8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5.4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19. 7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42.9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enudeation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98.8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99.5% (95% CI 98.8-100.0) for children from high-income countries, 91.2% (89.5-93.0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80.3% (78.3-82.3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57.3% (524-63-0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16.67; 95% CI 4.76-50.00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8.98; 4.44-18.18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1.38 per year; 1.23-1.56). For children aged 3-7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0.0104 for the change in slope). Interpretation This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Y