Perceived Contribution of Agricultural Transformation Agenda to Rice Production of Farm Families in Southwestern Nigeria

Farm families’ perception of the contribution of agricultural programme to improving their farming activities affects sustainability of such programmes. Therefore, the perceived contribution of ATA to rice production of farm families in Southwestern Nigeria was determined.Interview schedule was used to collect data from 103 respondents in Ogun and Osun states. Data collected were described using descriptive statistical tools such as percentages, mean, frequency distribution and analysed using Chi-square, Spearman rho rank correlation, Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) and Regression at p = 0.05.Mean age of respondents was 46.9 years. Also, 54.4% of the respondents were male. More than half of the respondents (50.5%) indicated that credit access as a factor affects their perception of the contribution of ATA to improving production. Also, 55.6% had favourable perception of contribution of ATA to the improvement of their rice production. There was significant relationship between level of education (r=0.240) and perception of the contribution of ATA to the improvement of rice production. Membership of farmers’ association significantly affected respondents’ perception of the contribution of ATA to the improvement of their rice production (B=3.436). Farm families thus perceive that ATA contribute greatly to the improvement of their rice production. Efforts at ensuring easier access to inputs, credit and adequate technical support through ATA would enhance participation

Implications of Empowerment Status in Agricultural Production Capabilities of Rural Women in Selected States of Nigeria

Rural women across the globe possess great potentials for increasing agricultural productivity and development of any nation but they are often not empowered. Empowerment of rural women has been found to significantly impact livelihood of households, communities and the nation at large. This study assessed the empowerment status of rural women in Nigeria using five main indicators; decision-making, economic, social, political and time-use empowerment. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select four States from the six agricultural zones in Nigeria; Oyo, Edo, Benue and Sokoto States. From each state, 10% of Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected making a total of nine LGAs. Two communities were randomly selected from each LGA to give 18 rural communities. Rural women were systematically sampled proportionate to size of each community to give 261 respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics like PPMC and ANOVA.  The findings of the study revealed that 66.7% of the respondents were between the age range of 21-30 years, 43.7% had no formal education and 39.8% were crop farmers. Respondents that were traders engaged in small scale business and 11.5% had access to personal land for farming activities. Across the States, respondents had low decision-making ( =32.4), high economic ( = 83.1), high social ( = 7.6), low political ( = 11.7) and high time-use ( = 20.7) empowerment and a low empowerment status ( = 155.5) across States. ANOVA result shows that there was a significant difference (F=47.615) in the empowerment status of respondents across selected States with Oyo State having the highest (168.1±14.6) and Benue State having the lowest (138.4±19.4) empowerment status. The study concluded that respondents in Oyo state were more empowered than respondents in other three states in the five indicators used in this study. It was recommended that rural women should be empowered by organising seminars on self-help projects and giving them voice which will help them to contribute significantly to their family and also enable them have a sustainable farm community.   Keywords: Capabilities, empowerment status, enhancing, rural women, Oyo stat

Dietary Intake Adequacy of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Rural Communities of Imo State, Nigeria

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among rural dwellers depletes quality of agricultural labour, and reduces quality of life. Use of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has not significantly reduced consequences of infection, as the effort is being compromised by inadequate dietary intake. This study analysed the dietary intake of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in rural communities of Imo State, Nigeria. Data was collected from 114 PLWHA randomly selected from members of two rural support groups with high prevalence of HIV in Imo State using interview schedule. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product moment correlation, and t-test at α0.05. Mean involvement in agriculture was 12.7 and reduced to 7.0 after infection. Extent of involvement in agriculture significantly reduced after infection in Imo (t=8.1). Health status of 42.1% of PLWHA was perceived as poor. Diet diversity score (4.3±1.6) was low among majority (62.3%) of the PLWHA, with diet of 76.3% being inadequate. However, perceived health status had no significant correlation with dietary intake (r=0.09). The study concluded that diet of PLWHA in Imo State was inadequate, thus there is need for extension to collaborate with the health sector to develop nutritional guideline for PLWHA in rural communities

Competencies of Agricultural Development Programme Personnel in Extension Service Delivery in Oyo and Ogun States, Nigeria

The study assessed competencies of agricultural development programme personnel in extension service delivery in Oyo and Ogun states, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 84 extension officers from the study area of which 80 of them completed and returned their questionnaires for analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean) and inferential (chi-square, PPMC, multiple regression, t-test) statistics. The mean age of respondents was 46 years, and the majority (65.0%) were males, married (95.0%), had household size of 5-6 persons (53.8%) and had 9-16 years of job experience (40%). All the respondents had attained tertiary education with 47.5% of them at HND level. FNT/MTRM ( =1.91) was rated the most effective education strategy while job shadowing ( =0.73) was the least effective. The majority (57.3%) of the respondents attributed high level of importance to the selected competencies while professionalism ( =12.65) was considered the most important. Organisational management ( =19.70) was the most possessed competency, 51.2% of respondents possessed high level of competency and training need was identified in all the competency areas. The respondents level of competence was significantly related to age (r=0.221, p≤0.05), years of work experience (r=0.267, p≤0.05), and education strategies with short-term course/seminars (1-2 weeks) conducted at zonal level as the major predictor. Also, a significant difference existed between the competency levels of respondent in Oyo and Ogun states (t=2.061, p≤0.05). It was recommended that the ADPs should organise special annual in-service training programmes in order to help extension officers improve their level of competence

Dietary Intake Adequacy of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Rural Communities of Imo State, Nigeria

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among rural dwellers depletes quality of agricultural labour, and reduces quality of life. Use of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has not significantly reduced consequences of infection, as the effort is being compromised by inadequate dietary intake. This study analysed the dietary intake of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in rural communities of Imo State, Nigeria. Data was collected from 114 PLWHA randomly selected from members of two rural support groups with high prevalence of HIV in Imo State using interview schedule. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product moment correlation, and t-test at α0.05. Mean involvement in agriculture was 12.7 and reduced to 7.0 after infection. Extent of involvement in agriculture significantly reduced after infection in Imo (t=8.1). Health status of 42.1% of PLWHA was perceived as poor. Diet diversity score (4.3±1.6) was low among majority (62.3%) of the PLWHA, with diet of 76.3% being inadequate. However, perceived health status had no significant correlation with dietary intake (r=0.09). The study concluded that diet of PLWHA in Imo State was inadequate, thus there is need for extension to collaborate with the health sector to develop nutritional guideline for PLWHA in rural communities

Perceived Contribution of Agricultural Transformation Agenda to Rice Production of Farm Families in Southwestern Nigeria

Farm families’ perception of the contribution of agricultural programme to improving their farming activities affects sustainability of such programmes. Therefore, the perceived contribution of ATA to rice production of farm families in Southwestern Nigeria was determined.Interview schedule was used to collect data from 103 respondents in Ogun and Osun states. Data collected were described using descriptive statistical tools such as percentages, mean, frequency distribution and analysed using Chi-square, Spearman rho rank correlation, Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) and Regression at p = 0.05.Mean age of respondents was 46.9 years. Also, 54.4% of the respondents were male. More than half of the respondents (50.5%) indicated that credit access as a factor affects their perception of the contribution of ATA to improving production. Also, 55.6% had favourable perception of contribution of ATA to the improvement of their rice production. There was significant relationship between level of education (r=0.240) and perception of the contribution of ATA to the improvement of rice production. Membership of farmers’ association significantly affected respondents’ perception of the contribution of ATA to the improvement of their rice production (B=3.436). Farm families thus perceive that ATA contribute greatly to the improvement of their rice production. Efforts at ensuring easier access to inputs, credit and adequate technical support through ATA would enhance participation

Competencies of Agricultural Development Programme Personnel in Extension Service Delivery in Oyo and Ogun States, Nigeria

The study assessed competencies of agricultural development programme personnel in extension service delivery in Oyo and Ogun states, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 84 extension officers from the study area of which 80 of them completed and returned their questionnaires for analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean) and inferential (chi-square, PPMC, multiple regression, t-test) statistics. The mean age of respondents was 46 years, and the majority (65.0%) were males, married (95.0%), had household size of 5-6 persons (53.8%) and had 9-16 years of job experience (40%). All the respondents had attained tertiary education with 47.5% of them at HND level. FNT/MTRM ( =1.91) was rated the most effective education strategy while job shadowing ( =0.73) was the least effective. The majority (57.3%) of the respondents attributed high level of importance to the selected competencies while professionalism ( =12.65) was considered the most important. Organisational management ( =19.70) was the most possessed competency, 51.2% of respondents possessed high level of competency and training need was identified in all the competency areas. The respondents level of competence was significantly related to age (r=0.221, p≤0.05), years of work experience (r=0.267, p≤0.05), and education strategies with short-term course/seminars (1-2 weeks) conducted at zonal level as the major predictor. Also, a significant difference existed between the competency levels of respondent in Oyo and Ogun states (t=2.061, p≤0.05). It was recommended that the ADPs should organise special annual in-service training programmes in order to help extension officers improve their level of competence

Implications of Empowerment Status in Agricultural Production Capabilities of Rural Women in Selected States of Nigeria

Rural women across the globe possess great potentials for increasing agricultural productivity and development of any nation but they are often not empowered. Empowerment of rural women has been found to significantly impact livelihood of households, communities and the nation at large. This study assessed the empowerment status of rural women in Nigeria using five main indicators; decision-making, economic, social, political and time-use empowerment. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select four States from the six agricultural zones in Nigeria; Oyo, Edo, Benue and Sokoto States. From each state, 10% of Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected making a total of nine LGAs. Two communities were randomly selected from each LGA to give 18 rural communities. Rural women were systematically sampled proportionate to size of each community to give 261 respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics like PPMC and ANOVA.  The findings of the study revealed that 66.7% of the respondents were between the age range of 21-30 years, 43.7% had no formal education and 39.8% were crop farmers. Respondents that were traders engaged in small scale business and 11.5% had access to personal land for farming activities. Across the States, respondents had low decision-making ( =32.4), high economic ( = 83.1), high social ( = 7.6), low political ( = 11.7) and high time-use ( = 20.7) empowerment and a low empowerment status ( = 155.5) across States. ANOVA result shows that there was a significant difference (F=47.615) in the empowerment status of respondents across selected States with Oyo State having the highest (168.1±14.6) and Benue State having the lowest (138.4±19.4) empowerment status. The study concluded that respondents in Oyo state were more empowered than respondents in other three states in the five indicators used in this study. It was recommended that rural women should be empowered by organising seminars on self-help projects and giving them voice which will help them to contribute significantly to their family and also enable them have a sustainable farm community.   Keywords: Capabilities, empowerment status, enhancing, rural women, Oyo stat

Effect of Action Against Hunger intervention on crop farmers' production level in climate change affected areas of Kita, Kayes region of Mali

Cereal crop production in Kita, Kayes region of Mali is on a serious decline due to climate change effects. Hence, Action Against Hunger (AAH) intervention was launched towards addressing climate change effects in Kita in view of increasing level of agricultural production and standard of living of the local farmers. Therefore, the study examined the effect of AAH intervention on crop farmers' production. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 223 from 1,226 beneficiaries of AAH intervention in Kita circle while 101 non-beneficiaries were randomly selected from Bafoulabé circle where no similar projects were going on. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using frequency counts, mean, charts and percentages. Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used to determine relationships between relevant variables. T-test was used to determine significant difference between beneficiaries' level of production before and after intervention and between beneficiaries' and non-beneficiaries' level of production after intervention. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine significant contribution of the independent variables to dependant variable. Attitude towards AAH intervention (r=0.198, p<0.05) had significant relationship with change in beneficiaries' production. Significant difference existed between level of production of beneficiaries before - =2138.6748 and after =2445.6098 intervention (t=11.929, p<0.01) but the level of change was low (65.0%). Difference also exists between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries level of production. Major determinants of change in level of production were monthly income (β= 0.499, p<0.01) and farm size (β=0.374, p<0.01)

Perceived Effect of Climate Change on Forest Dependent Livelihoods in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study investigated the perceived effect of climate change on forest dependent rural livelihoods in Oyo State, Nigeria with the view of identifying possible adaptation strategies. A total of 208 respondents were randomly sampled from Olokemeji and Onigambari forest reserves in Oluyole and Ibarapa East LGA, respectively. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency distribution, percentages and inferential statistical tools such as Chi square and PPMC. Result shows that most farmers were males (68.3%), married (85.6%), had primary education (63.0%), Christians (68.3%), had farm size less than 5ha (98.6%), while 45.7% earned up to 20,000 monthly. Major livelihood activity was farming (100.0%) and trading of forest products (92.8%). Respondents were vulnerable to climate change effects with respect to undefined season (90.4%), shortage of food production (84.1%), reduction in crop yield (80.8%), pest and disease outbreak (77.9%) which affects their livelihood activities. Respondents’ perception of climate change effects was high (74.8%) and the level of adaptation strategies utilized is more than average (53.6%). Major adaptation strategies utilized were soil protection through tree planting (88.5%), planting of different varieties of NTFPs and TFPs (87.0%), practicing shifting cultivation (81.8%) and use of organic fertilizer (81.7%). Respondents indicate that change in rainfall pattern (61.1%), storm (49.0), flooding (48.1%) and landslide (45.7%) had serious effect on their livelihood activities. Significant relationship existed between farm size (r=-0.257; p<0.01), monthly income (r=-0.319; p<0.01) and perceived effect of climate change. Adaptation strategies (r=0.309; p<0.05) used was significantly related with perceived effect of climate change. Afforestation should be encouraged among forest dependent farmers in addition to adaptation strategies utilised against climate change. Keywords: Climate change, livelihood activities, forest product