Farmers’ perception of the activities of lower Niger Basin Authority in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

Owing to the huge amount of naira invested into the irrigation sub-sector by the Nigerian government, the study assessed the perception of farmers on the activities of Lower Nigeria River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) in Ilorin East local government area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Primary data were used for the study and the data were collected by means of a well-structured questionnaire coupled with interview schedule. A two stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and six (106) respondents from the list of registered farmers who had participated in the scheme. Descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used in analyzing the data. Findings of the study indicated that 98.1% of the famers had a positive perception on the effectiveness of the scheme. Also, 92.5% of the respondents reported flexibility in the payment schedule in participating in the LNRBDA irrigation scheme while 81.1% of the respondents paid for irrigation services install mentally. It was also found that 99.1% of the respondents experienced increased production output as a result of the use of irrigation facilities. There is a significant relationship between age, farm size and the perception of farmers on some of the activities in the scheme (pvalue < critical p-value of 0.05). The study concludes that farmers’ participation and perception in LNRBDA irrigation scheme in the study area is highly encouraging and there is association between age, farm size and the perception of farmers on effectiveness some of the activities of LNRBDA in the study area. It is therefore recommended that government should continue to enhance and strengthens the performance of LNRBDA in the study area.Keywords: Perception, Lower Niger Basin Authority, farmers, Irrigation, Scheme, Productio

Assessment of pests control methods and its perceived effect on agricultural production among farmers in Kwara state, Nigeria

The study examined the usage of chemical and biological pests control methods among the farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. A three-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents. A well structure questionnaire was used to collect the data for the study. Descriptive statistics and partial correlation were used in analyzing the data. The study revealed that all the farmers were aware of the cultural pest control method, while 73.3 and 17.5% were aware of chemical and biological methods, respectively. Also, it revealed that 44.2% of the respondents use the chemical method of pest control, 7.5% use the biological method while all use the cultural method of pest control. Television remains the major means of accessing information by the respondents. The perceived effect of pest control methods on shelf life, marketability, productivity and profitability of the agricultural product ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th most ranked effect with weighted mean score of 4.26, 3.44, 3.39 and 3.20, respectively while perceived effect on pollution, loss of soil fertility and ecosystem imbalance were ranked 7th, 8th and 9th, respectively. There is a significant (p < 0.05) relationship between age, educational level, household size, farm size and the perceived effect of both chemical and biological pest control methods. The study therefore concludes that majority of the respondents have adopted the use of chemical method over biological method of pest control and that farmers have been using integrated pest control management. The pest control methods used were believed to have a positive effect on shelf life, marketability and productivity of their agricultural products. The study recommends the need to sensitize famers on the use and benefits of biological pest control methods as well as the adverse effect that might result from the excessive usage of chemical pest control method given the growing rate of its adoption. Key words: cultural, chemical, biological, integrated management, shelf life, marketabilit

An analysis of activities of bee hunters and beekeepers in Oyo State, Nigeria.

The study compared the socio-economic characteristics of bee hunters and beekeepers. It also compared the bee sting prevention techniques and problems the two categories of bee farmers encountered in bee farming. The population for the study is made up of both bee hunters and beekeepers. A snowball technique was used to select the bee hunters as there was no official record while the list of beekeepers was obtained from beekeepers association. A total of fifty respondents were selected for the study consisting of 20 bee hunters and 30 beekeepers. An interview schedule was used in collecting data from the bee hunters since it was assumed that majority of them might not be able to read and write, while a questionnaire was used in gathering information from the beekeepers since it was believed that they were literates. The finding of the study showed that 76.7% of beekeepers are below 51 years of age, while 30% of the bee hunters’ fall within this age category, majority (90%) of the two categories of bee farmers was male. The beekeepers have higher education than bee hunters. About 75.0% of bee hunters used no prevention methods against bee sting while 100.0% of the beekeepers used bees dress/suit. About 60% of the bee hunters cited sting as problem they encountered while 46.7% of the beekeepers cited inadequate working space. Also, the keepers had better yields and made more income than the bee hunters. Since majority of bee hunters did not make use of bee sting prevention methods while beekeepers made use of bee dress, bee hunters should be trained of the importance of using bee sting prevention methods and should also be encouraged to have their own farms and move from being a bee hunter to beekeeper.KEY WORDS: Bee hunters, Beekeepers, Hives, Honey

Factors motivating incentives of farm ers in rice Production training programmes (A case study of Olam/USAID/ADP/First Bank Programme)

The study examined motivating incentives of farmers in rice production training of OLAM/USAID/ADP/FIRST BANK in Kwara State. Data were obtained randomly from Patigi and Edu Local Government Areas , with the use of questionnaires from 180 respondents. The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The results showed that respondents were predominantly male, married, educated, with mean age of 43 years. The result indicated that farmers in the study received incenti ves ranging from loan to farm inputs, nevertheless, farmers still desire other incentives namely; tractor services, irrigation facilities, planters, sprayers and storage facilities . Moreover, the findings showed that the mean ratings of the motivational f actors scored friendship factor first with mean of (2.711) and standard deviation of (1.351) followed by self recognition, followed by market availability, equipment acquisition and profitability. Additional test using Pearson Correlation matrix revealed that , improving the standard of living of farmers , adding to their knowledge , profitability of their farming activities, meeting their personal needs , market availability for their produce, giving them loans, and providing them equipment were the m ost important and s ignificant factors when organizing training for farmers. It is recommended that programme planner and trainer should recognize the importance of all these factors during planning of programme. Finally , regression analysis showed that t he farmers farm size, farmer ownership status, levels of awareness among farmers , extension a gent contact with farmers and their sources of information may affect the motivation levels of farmer. Key words : participation, motivation, training, programme incentives , rice productio

Effects of childbearing on rural women agricultural activities in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to analyze the effect of child bearing on the activities of the rural women agricultural activities in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The study was to determine socio-economic characteristics of childbearing women involved in agricultural activities, identify agricultural activities practised by childbearing women, identify the agricultural activities that are affected by  childbearing and determine the effect of childbearing on women farmers’ income. A total of one hundred and twenty respondents were sampled from four randomly  selected wards out of the ten wards in the study area. Interview schedule was used to collect data. The study revealed that majority (76.7%) of respondents were  between the age of 36-45 years, 80.5% were married and 72.8% were literate and had farming experience above 10 years. Ninety-five percent of the respondents were engaged in agricultural activities as their primary and secondary occupations. The study revealed that most of the agricultural activities practised by the respondents were affected during childbearing. However majority of the respondents (72.0%)  were participating in informal saving and credit group, 63.8 % of the respondent  contributes below N200 and 36.2% contribute N450 and above. The study revealed that childbearing affects 42.4% of the respondent income while 57.6 % are not  affected by childbearing, since respondent has different source of generating  income. The hypothesis showed that there is no significant relationship between selected socio economic characteristics of childbearing women and number of activities they are involved in. The study therefore recommends that Women  involved in agricultural activities should be given appropriate types of technology to cater for the labour intensive agricultural activities. Childbearing women are  encouraged to join or form cooperative society in order to source funds from  government, NGOs as well as access credit facilities from financial institutions to boost their involvement in agricultural activities.Keywords: Childbearing, Rural women, Agricultural activities

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

TECHNOLOGICAL TRAINING NEEDS OF SMALL SCALE OIL- PALM PROCESSORS IN NIGERIA

The study assessed the technological training needs of small scale oil palm processors in Osun State, Nigeria. A well-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 140 oil palm processors. The data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, ranking and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test the hypothesis. The study revealed that, 98.6% of the respondents use both modern and traditional method of processing and majority of the oil palm processors (87.1%) store their oil palm in rubber containers. Water related challenges, inadequate fund, unstable pricing of products and lack of government support and in appropriate government policy are very severe constraints to their production. The result also revealed that oil palm processors require training for stripping (8.01), digestion (8.71), mixing (7.88), skimming (7.43), and clarification (7.56) during oil palm processing. Accessing loans and grants, marketing information, appropriate policy for price control amongst others are the most important needs area for extension advice in the study area. The test of hypothesis of the study revealed that a significant relationship exist between age, educational level and experience and the extension needs of the respondents(P= 0.020, 0.012:<0.05, 0.002:0.01 ), while no significant relationship exist between the household size and the extension needs of oil palm processors(P=0.842). The study therefore concludes that, oil palm processors require training as well as advice and technical assistance in a number of areas in order to increase their efficiency. It was thus recommended that Extension Programme should be focused on the need areas of oil palm processor