Trends in Development Activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Anambra State, Nigeria

The study examined trends in development activities of the Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development between 1991 and 2013. The study identified the trends in policy and programme initiation, staff recruitment and development, and funding, in the ministry. It employed secondary data through records, documents and annual reports. Results show variation in the percentages of programme initiated and implemented within each year between 1991 and 2013. The ministry did not participate in formulating policies in 46% of the programmes implemented in the state. However, 46% of all the programmes initiated had been concluded, while 54% of all the programmes initiated in the state are still active. The results showed that a total of 403 staff were recruited within the period into the various departments, with the highest number of recruitment (252) occurring between 1991-and 1995 and the least (22) took place from 2006 to 2010. The majority (91) of staff recruited had the ordinary national diploma (OND) and only 30 and 3 persons had the bachelor of science and doctor of philosophy, respectively. The trend in the funding pattern dwindled over time. Out of the five listed human capacity building programmes, staff trainings were organised only between 1991-1995 and 1996-2000). There is need for a change in government commitment to agriculture in the area of funding, human resource and policy as these are key drivers of development. Government should increase the proportion of manpower and create adequate opportunity for training and development of staff of the ministry

Trends in Development Activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Anambra State, Nigeria

The study examined trends in development activities of the Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development between 1991 and 2013. The study identified the trends in policy and programme initiation, staff recruitment and development, and funding, in the ministry. It employed secondary data through records, documents and annual reports. Results show variation in the percentages of programme initiated and implemented within each year between 1991 and 2013. The ministry did not participate in formulating policies in 46% of the programmes implemented in the state. However, 46% of all the programmes initiated had been concluded, while 54% of all the programmes initiated in the state are still active. The results showed that a total of 403 staff were recruited within the period into the various departments, with the highest number of recruitment (252) occurring between 1991-and 1995 and the least (22) took place from 2006 to 2010. The majority (91) of staff recruited had the ordinary national diploma (OND) and only 30 and 3 persons had the bachelor of science and doctor of philosophy, respectively. The trend in the funding pattern dwindled over time. Out of the five listed human capacity building programmes, staff trainings were organised only between 1991-1995 and 1996-2000). There is need for a change in government commitment to agriculture in the area of funding, human resource and policy as these are key drivers of development. Government should increase the proportion of manpower and create adequate opportunity for training and development of staff of the ministry

Barriers to climate change adaptation among farming households of southern Nigeria

Abstract Climate change is perhaps the most serious environmental threat to the fight against hunger, malnutrition, disease and poverty in Africa, essentially because of its impact on agricultural productivity. The objective of this paper was to identify the major barriers to climate change adaptation among smallholder farmers of Southern Nigeria. The paper was based on primary data collected within the framework of the Development Partnership for Higher Education (DelPHE) Project from 360 farming households selected randomly from the region. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The result of the analysis show that majority of the farmers were men (70%), relatively educated (average of 9 years in school) and practiced mixed farming (61%). The major factors constraining farmers from adapting to climate change impacts were – (a) land constraints which manifested itself in limited availability, high costs and poor ownership systems (tenure); (b) poor climate change information and agricultural extension service delivery; (c) high cost of farm inputs and processing facilities; (d) high cost of irrigation facilities and government irresponsiveness to climate change risk management, (e) credit constraints, (f) labour constraints, and (g) income constraints. The paper concludes with a recommendation that farmers need to be supported in order for them to effectively adapt to the climate change impacts that are already affecting their production and hence reduce hunger and poverty. These supports could come from governments, non-governmental organizations and even farmers’ unions themselves

Provisions for Climate Change Technological Capability in the Agricultural Policies, Acts and Initiatives in Nigeria

Technological capabilities are the skills (technical, managerial or organisational) that enable farm or actors to efficiently use equipment and information and improve technology. The paper reviewed the climate change technological capability provisions in agricultural policies, acts and initiatives in Nigeria. The technological capabilities examined were production, investment, minor change, linkage and strategic marketing, major change and learning capabilities. Climate Change Policy for Nigeria is still in the draft stage. Agricultural polices reviewed except the National Fadama III Project had no provision for climate change. Minor and major change capabilities were very prominent in the climate change initiatives. Acts and initiatives also showed that learning and linkage capabilities by which firms enhance their technological competence were strongly represented. Production, strategic marketing and investment capabilities however, were overtly deficient in the acts and initiatives. It recommended that the existing policies, acts and initiatives should be upgraded/reviewed to incorporate strategic marketing which fills the gap between market demands and what the firm/farm offers. Investment capabilities which showcase investment in machinery (equipment) or human resource should also be incorporated into the policies, acts and initiatives

Provisions for Climate Change Technological Capability in the Agricultural Policies, Acts and Initiatives in Nigeria

Technological capabilities are the skills (technical, managerial or organisational) that enable farm or actors to efficiently use equipment and information and improve technology. The paper reviewed the climate change technological capability provisions in agricultural policies, acts and initiatives in Nigeria. The technological capabilities examined were production, investment, minor change, linkage and strategic marketing, major change and learning capabilities. Climate Change Policy for Nigeria is still in the draft stage. Agricultural polices reviewed except the National Fadama III Project had no provision for climate change. Minor and major change capabilities were very prominent in the climate change initiatives. Acts and initiatives also showed that learning and linkage capabilities by which firms enhance their technological competence were strongly represented. Production, strategic marketing and investment capabilities however, were overtly deficient in the acts and initiatives. It recommended that the existing policies, acts and initiatives should be upgraded/reviewed to incorporate strategic marketing which fills the gap between market demands and what the firm/farm offers. Investment capabilities which showcase investment in machinery (equipment) or human resource should also be incorporated into the policies, acts and initiatives

A review of policy acts and initiatives in plantain and banana innovation system in Nigeria

Plantain and banana are among the most important staple food crops in humid forest zone of West and Central Africa. These has made the crop one of the key research mandates of International and national research institutes, both of which has developed many technologies aimed at improving the production of the crop and removing constraints posed by pest and diseases, marketing opportunities and perishability. Despite these efforts and research breakthrough the production of the crops has been on consistent downward trend in recent years. A ten years (1996 - 2005) production figure of the crops showed that land under plantain and banana production increased by 24.6% while yield reduction of 21.8% was recorded during the same period (FAOSTAT, 2006). This abysmal trend prompted a 40 years (1967 - 2006) review of policy acts and initiatives on the crops, with an examination of various efforts in the areas of research, dissemination, utilization, production and marketing. Seven gaps of critical implications to production and commercialization were identified; these include government non intervention, marketing and constraints to production, weakfragile links among stakeholders, research farmers dichotomy, project sustainability, lack of documentation and funding. Linkages among stakeholders were generally weak and without cohesion, objectives were at variance and unhealthy.The study concluded that stakeholder’s cohesion and coordination of efforts is needed for increased production and commercialization. Also governmental intervention is needed in the areas of policyinitiatives and acts that will go beyond the ad-hoc response which are usually triggered by natural disaster such as pest and diseases as is the case with black Sigatoka outbreak in mid 80’s which wasthe only period government really intervened in plantain and banana production in Nigeria