Socioeconomic Impact of SG 2000 Quality Protein Maize (QPM) Technology Delivery on Beneficiaries in Bauchi and Gombe States

The study assessed the impact of SG – 2000 QPM technology adoption on beneficiaries in Bauchi and Gombe States, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to determine the socioeconomic characteristics of the beneficiaries, identify beneficiaries sources of information on maize production, assess beneficiaries’ perception of the project, assess the impact of QPM technology adoption on the socioeconomic life of beneficiaries and identify constraints encountered by the beneficiaries in technology adoption. Purposive sampling was used in sampling 90 beneficiaries and 90 non- beneficiaries’ farmers to give a total of 180 from 10 Local Government Areas where maize is cultivated. The instrument for data collection was a structured interview schedule developed on a 3 – point Likert – type scales. Mean, percentage, t – test and factor analysis were used for data analysis. The study show that the project made a significant (P ≤ 0.05) impact on the project participants in the following socioeconomic possessions: number of milling machine (t = 11.331), quantity of maize harvested (t = 2.794), number of motorcycle owned (t = 4.040), number of wrist watch owned (t = 3.861), number of associations/clubs belonged (t = 3.038) and the number poultry birds owned (t = 2.071) in Gombe State. While, in Bauchi State, the project made significant (P ≤ 0.05) impact on number of ceiling/fans owned (t = 2.783), number of radios owned (t = 1.08), number of television owned (t = 1.457) and the number of cattle owned (t = 2.493). The major challenges encountered by the beneficiaries in technology adoption were socioeconomic, farm inputs, poor policy support and production related constraints. The study recommended that SG – 2000 QPM technology delivery should ensure timely distribution of inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides and subsidies on farm inputs. In addition, modern farm implements such as tractor should be made available to the beneficiaries to reduce drudgery associated with simple farm tools and to increase farm size per farmer

Characteristics of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Value Chain Development Programme in Bauchi State, Nigeria

The study characterized Bauchi State sesame value chain development programme that started in April 2008 aimed at maximizing agricultural revenue through the production of sesame. Ninety respondents purposively and proportionately selected constituted the population for the study. The study revealed that the respondents on average produced 6.49 90kg/bag of sesame and realized about N86,000 annually. The respondents perceived that the agencies have played most of the roles expected of them especially in supervising day to day activities of the demonstration farms (M=3.64) and in establishment of demonstration farms (M=3.55). Major constraints to the implementation of the programme as perceived by the respondents were marketing problems (M = 2.52) and lack of access to credit facility (M = 2.40). The study recommended that effort should be made to ensure that farmers get money for all seed produced and prevent exploitation of farmers by middle men

Characteristics of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Value Chain Development Programme in Bauchi State, Nigeria

The study characterized Bauchi State sesame value chain development programme that started in April 2008 aimed at maximizing agricultural revenue through the production of sesame. Ninety respondents purposively and proportionately selected constituted the population for the study. The study revealed that the respondents on average produced 6.49 90kg/bag of sesame and realized about N86,000 annually. The respondents perceived that the agencies have played most of the roles expected of them especially in supervising day to day activities of the demonstration farms (M=3.64) and in establishment of demonstration farms (M=3.55). Major constraints to the implementation of the programme as perceived by the respondents were marketing problems (M = 2.52) and lack of access to credit facility (M = 2.40). The study recommended that effort should be made to ensure that farmers get money for all seed produced and prevent exploitation of farmers by middle men

Design of Digital Agricultural Extension Tools: Perspectives from Extension Agents in Nigeria

Given the marked heterogeneous conditions in smallholder agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a growing policy interest in site-specific extension advice and the use of digital extension tools to provide site-specific information. Empirical ex-ante studies on the design of digital extension tools and their use are rare. Using data from a choice experiment in Nigeria, we elicit and analyze the preferences of extension agents for major design features of ICT-enabled decision support tools (DSTs) aimed at site-specific nutrient management extension advice. We estimate different models, including mixed logit, latent class and attribute non-attendance models. We find that extension agents are generally willing to use such DSTs and prefer a DST with a more user-friendly interface that requires less time to generate results. We also find that preferences are heterogeneous: some extension agents care more about the effectiveness-related features of DSTs, such as information accuracy and level of detail, while others prioritise practical features, such as tool platform, language and interface ease-of-use. Recognising and accommodating such preference differences may facilitate the adoption of DSTs by extension agents and thus enhance the scope for such tools to impact the agricultural production decisions of farmers.status: publishe