Economic Impact Assessment for Technology: The Case of Improved Soybean Varieties in Southwest Nigeria

The Study on economic impact assessment for the production of improved soybean varieties in Nigeria was carried out in Nigeria using the agronomic data on yield of the nationally coordinated soybean research from two major zones namely the southwest and the middle belt.The study assesses the economic returns due to improved soybean varieties. Primary data were collected with the use of structured and validated questionnaires. A sample of 288 respondents was drawn from four states namely Oyo, Ogun, Kwara and Niger State at 72 respondents per state.Secondary data were collected from Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, (IAR & T), National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Central Bank of Nigeria CBN and Federal Office of Statistics (FOS).An internal rate of return (IRR) of 38 percent was estimated from the stream of netted real social gains at 1985 constant.The return to investment in soybean production technology is attractive and justifies the investments made on the technologies. The policy implication is that there is underinvestment in soybean production research

Sustainablility of Agricultural Transformation Agenda: The Place of Rice Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Self-sufficiency in rice production and processing has eluded Nigeria for a long time despite continuous efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria towards its realization. Chains of activities in the Nigerian rice production and processing industry are largely executed manually and on small scale level. Thus, the issues of value chain aspects that would have improved the profitability of the rice industry have only just been taken into consideration as part of the Presidential Initiative – Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).This study examines the prospect of Agricultural Transformation Agenda amongst rice farmers in Ogun State where rice production is a growing industry in attempt to achieve food sustainability in line with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Well-structured and validated questionnaires are used to survey and report the activities and processes carried out by the rice farmers in target area. However, part of the result of the survey indicated that the level of awareness of Agricultural Transformation Agenda is still very low in the study area. There is need for a conscious and concerted effort to be made by relative Government Agencies to create greater awareness about ATA for the rice farmers and others involved in empowering the growth of the rice industry, otherwise the vision and motives of Agricultural Transformation Agenda may remain just an academic exercise. Other Government Agricultural Policy, for example the Fadama and/or Ogun State Agricultural Development (OGADEP )  were well accepted and their impact is greatly significant in the study area which is a clear indication that ATA strategies like the above-named policies would be well adopted by the rice farmers as well as those related participants like the processing and marketing aspects of the industry if the gospel of Agricultural Transformation Agenda is effectively preached to the rice farmers in the study area.   Key words: Rice industry, Small holder farms, Family labour, Agricultural Transformation Agenda, Government Agricultural Policy, Ogun State, Nigeria

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES Assessment of extension media use among youth farmers in Oyo and Ondo states, Nigeria

ABSTRACT The study on assessment of extension media among youth farmers was carried out in Oyo and Ondo States of Nigeria . Data were obtained from 48 youth farmers and 24 extension agents from one zone of the ADP per state. The youth farmers were purposively sampled for having participated in extension media training at one time or the other, or their parent being contact farmers. Structured and validated questionnaires were used to elicit necessary information coupled with personal interview. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages and correlation co-efficient. The respondents were 30 years and below with the modal group being 16 -20years. The respondents were educated only 25percent were without formal education. Majority of them (67.5%) got innovation disseminated through television. Over 80 percent were aware of extension media in the study areas while only 20percent were not aware. Technologies disseminated include agricultural mechanization, improved seed production, mixed farming, and fertilizer application among others. The channels that were popular among the respondents include: radio and personal contact (53.7%) each. While demonstration was popular among the extension agents. There was negative correlation between age of respondents and diffusion of innovation. All the variables fitted were significant with exception of farm size. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were proffered: Government should make provisions for creating extension service departments in agricultural establishment where they do not exist