Perceived Factors Limiting Rice Production in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

The study examined the perceived factors limiting rice production in five selected villages in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The study area was purposively selected based on their known potentials for rice production. One Hundred and Ten (110) rice farmers were selected for the study. An interviewed scheduled was used to obtain information from the farmers. Frequency counts, percentage and means were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that 87% of the respondents fall between 41 – 50 years age category, about 82% were married, about 81% were Muslim, about 92% had farming as there main occupation and 32% had no formal education. The perceived limiting factors in rice production include lack of rice processing machines 59.1%, financial constraints 42.7%, illiteracy 30.0%, poor access to input 22.7%, pest and disease 21.0%, poor transportation 11.8%, fluctuation in climate 11.8%, lack of extension service 10.9% and lack of storage facilities 10.9% respectively. It is recommended that government should assist the rice farmers with the provision of rice processing machines (such as threashers and destoners) and credit facilities so as to improve the quality and quantity of rice produced in the study area

Effects of Credit Utilization on Youth Farmers’ Rice Output in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

The study examined the effects of credit utilization on the output of the youth rice farmers in Nigeria. It also examined the sources of information on credit available to the farmers; the use of the credit and the problems encountered by the farmers in having access to credit. Primary data was used for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected for the study. Results of the findings showed that “past experience" is the major source of information on credit used by the farmers, though the farmers prefer cooperative societies to every other source of credit information. Banks, cooperative societies and Esusu/saving groups are the major sources of credit to the farmers. The mean amount of credit obtained by the farmers is N132, 301. The most of the farmers spent their credits on fertilizers, seeds and farmland expansion. The major problems faced by the farmers in accessing credit are: insufficient amount, lack of collateral and high interest rates. However, the general effect of credit utilization by the farmers is increased output. It is therefore recommended that banks are situated in the study area and they should disburse sufficient loans to the farmers at affordable interest rates. The farmers should also form cooperative and savings groups in order to enjoy economies of scale in accessing credit facilities

Assessment of Usage of Upgraded Indigenous Shea Butter Processing Technology by Women Processors in Kwara State, Nigeria

The study was carried out in Agbaku-Eji in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, to assess the usage of upgraded indigenous Shea Butter Processing Technology by Women processors. All the 61 members of the Shea Butter Cooperative Society was used for the study. An interview schedule was used to obtain information from the respondents. Statistical analysis such as frequency counts and percentages were used to analyse the data. Chi-square was used to test the stated hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study showed that the mean age of the respondents was 45 years, they were all married .and 77% of the respondents have had no formal education, 54.1% had over 15 years of experience in Shea butter processing and 95% earned over N50,000.00 as their annual income from Shea butter. About 91.8% engaged in Shea butter processing as the main source of livelihood. The study further showed no significant relationship between level of usage of Shea butter upgraded technology and socio-economic characteristics of women processors. However, there was significant relationship between Shea butter processing and usage of upgraded technology. Despite the constraints experienced by the women processors, the study revealed that they preferred the use of the new technology that is, upgraded technology to the indigenous method they were used to. The study recommends the promotion of upgraded technology by Raw Material Research and Development Council, the Federal and State Governments and Private Sector Investment to all Women Shea Butter Processors in Nigeria.Key words: Upgraded Technology, Women Processors, Shea Butter Processing

Attitude of Programme Presenters towards Broadcasting of Agricultural Programmes on Electronic Media in Kwara State, Nigeria

The study assessed the attitude of programme presenters towards broadcasting of agricultural programme on electronic media in Kwara state. A two-stage sampling technique was used in selecting a total of 120 respondents from the broadcasting stations in Kwara state. Frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviation, Spearman Rank correlation and chi-square were used in analysing the data. Findings revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 34.1% , while majority (55.2%) were male, 75.0% were married and 68.1% have up to HND/BSc degree. Furthermore, most of the respondents (26.7%) studied mass communication, 61.2% were Muslims and 66.4% were permanent staff of the stations. Mean years of working experience as presenters was 7.50 years, most of the respondents (69.0%) resides in urban areas and 31.9% mainly presententertainment programmes. Results of the inferential statistics; spearman rank correlation revealed that there was significant relationship between; educational level (r = 0.261, p<0.01), Marital status (r = 0.631, p<0.01), professional responsibility (r = 0.381, p<0.01) and work experience (r = 0.817, p<0.01) and the respondents’ attitude towards broadcasting of agricultural programmes. Result also showed a significant relationship between the respondents’ knowledge level on agriculture (X2 = 21.586, p <0.01) and their attitude towards broadcasting of agricultural programmes. The study concluded that greater proportion of the respondents have a positive attitude to agricultural programme broadcasting and may take to presenting agricultural programmes if an enabling environment is provided. It was therefore recommended that training of agricultural communicators should receive appropriate attention in tertiary institutions; so as to ensure that personnel who are adequately trained in agriculture and communication are readily available for the broadcasting stations and that research findings from agricultural institution and universities should be made readily available to the broadcasters.Keywords: Attitude, programme presenters, broadcasting, electronic medi

Perceived Benefits of National Fadama Development Project III among Rural Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to appraise the perceived benefits of third national fadama development project III among rural farmers in Kwara state, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed in selecting 225 Fadama III users as respondents. Data were collected by well trained fadama community facilitators through the use of structured questionnaire and was analyzed through the use of descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The result of the findings indicates that majority (36.9%) of the respondents were aged between 46-55 years. Also 63.6% were males, 87.1% were married and only 16.9% had no formal education. Results further showed that maize and Cassava crops were the common crops grown. Advisory services (31%), assets acquisition (32%) and capacity building (25%) were the major were perceived benefits by respondents. Over 33% of respondents, who benefitted directly from Fadama III Project supported activities, have increased their average annual income ranging from N201, 000.00 to N250, 000.00 representing about 62.5% achievement. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) revealed that there is a significant positive correlation at 2-tailed level (p<0.01 and p<0.05) between age, education and the benefit derived from fadama III project. Serious problems to project were poor leadership/management of FCAs/FUGs officers and late release of government counterpart contribution fund. Majority (43.6%) indicated that adequate funding and prompt payment of counterpart fund by government are way out of the problems facing them.Keywords: Fadama III project, Fadama Community Association, Users Group, Kwara Stat

Awareness of climate change and indigenous coping strategies of women crop farmers in Kogi state, Nigeria

The study assessed the awareness and indigenous coping mechanism employed by women crop farmers to cope with climate change in Kogi State, Nigeria. Respondents’ socioeconomic characteristic, level of awareness about climate change, and indigenous coping strategies to climate change as well as activities of women crop farmers that contributed to climate change were investigated. Four-stage sampling techniques were employed in selecting 200 women crop farmers used in the study. Analytical tools used include frequency counts, Percentage and Pearson Product moment correlation. Findings showed that crop rotation practices, planting of early maturing seed, reduced use of chemical fertilizers and changing of crop varieties as indicated by more than 60% were the indigenous coping strategies commonly used among the respondents. Also, some of the major activities of respondents that contributed to climate change as indicated by more than 50% of the respondents includes: bush burning, deforestation, continuous cropping, and complete tillage. Person Product Moment Correlation analysis result revealed that; educational level and farm size have significant (p<0.05) influence on the level of awareness and sources of information. It was concluded that greater number of women crop farmers in the study area use indigenous coping method to mitigate the effect of climate change. Therefore, future policy should focus on awareness creation on climate change through different sources such as mass media and extension, encouraging informal social net-works, facilitating the availability of credit, enhancing research on the use of new crop varieties that are more tolerant to changing climate.Keywords: Awareness, climate change, indigenous, coping strategies, women farmers

Relationship between Students Variables and their Attitudes to Taking Career in Agriculture: A Case Study of the Faculty of Agriculture of University of Ilorin, Nigeria

A positive attitude to life or profession has been identified as a means of rapid development. It is a force that compels an individual to go extra mile in any discipline or career of his choice. The purpose of this study is to examine the attitude of undergraduate students in taking a career in Agriculture. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select one hundred and ten respondents across all levels, which made up of 11.8% of the total population of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agriculture of University of Ilorin at that time. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire. Attitude was measured with a 5-point Likert type scale, while the data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson moment correlation coefficient statistics. The findings showed that more than half of the respondents (63 %) were male, majority (76.4%) were in their twenties. A significant percentage (83.6%) offered agricultural science in their secondary schools, but only few (15.5%) preferred to study agriculture in the university, however, later majority (69.1%) preferred agriculture as a discipline, while 71.8% had no intention of changing to other faculties, because they have developed interest in their course of study. The prevalence factors that influence respondents in studying agriculture were: wide job opportunity in the carrier, room for carrier development, intellectual ability. Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant relationship between attitude and age(r= 0.23, p <0.05); gender (r= 0.21, p <0.05); level of respondents (r= 0.31, p <0.05) and knowledge of existing Agricultural organization (r= 0.23, p <0.05). Most students did not want to study agriculture initially but later find it interesting. It is therefore recommended that enlightenment programme should be embarked upon to expose undergraduates to the prospect and dynamism of agriculture.Key words: Attitude, Undergraduate Students, Career, Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultur

Relationship between Students Variables and their Attitudes to Taking Career in Agriculture: A Case Study of the Faculty of Agriculture of University of Ilorin, Nigeria

A positive attitude to life or profession has been identified as a means of rapid development. It is a force that compels an individual to go extra mile in any discipline or career of his choice. The purpose of this study is to examine the attitude of undergraduate students in taking a career in Agriculture. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select one hundred and ten respondents across all levels, which made up of 11.8% of the total population of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Agriculture of University of Ilorin at that time. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire. Attitude was measured with a 5-point Likert type scale, while the data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson moment correlation coefficient statistics. The findings showed that more than half of the respondents (63 %) were male, majority (76.4%) were in their twenties. A significant percentage (83.6%) offered agricultural science in their secondary schools, but only few (15.5%) preferred to study agriculture in the university, however, later majority (69.1%) preferred agriculture as a discipline, while 71.8% had no intention of changing to other faculties, because they have developed interest in their course of study. The prevalence factors that influence respondents in studying agriculture were: wide job opportunity in the carrier, room for carrier development, intellectual ability. Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant relationship between attitude and age(r= 0.23, p <0.05); gender (r= 0.21, p <0.05); level of respondents (r= 0.31, p <0.05) and knowledge of existing Agricultural organization (r= 0.23, p <0.05). Most students did not want to study agriculture initially but later find it interesting. It is therefore recommended that enlightenment programme should be embarked upon to expose undergraduates to the prospect and dynamism of agriculture