Coal mining and livelihood systems in a rural agrarian community: a study of Ankpa L.G.A. in Kogi State, Nigeria

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 36 2005: pp. 13-2

Harnessing the potentials of youth for rural household food security in Nigeria

The food security question calls for participatory approach by the major stakeholders in the rural household in agriculture Youth are veritable assets in the household because of their dynamism, adventure, ambition and innovativeness. These potentials could be harnessed for rural household food security. This paper discusses the place of the Nigerian youth and how his potentials could be functionally and maximally utilised for food security of the rural household. The policy recommendations included the re-definition of the household to incorporate the three major stakeholders namely adult male, adult female and the youth, building partnership between the youth and rural development agencies, institutional and organizational reforms, provision of infra-structural facilities in the rural areas and re-orientation campaign to re-position the status of agriculture for meaningful youth identification. Keywords: youth, rural household, food security, Nigeria Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 1(2) 2005: 104-11

Adoption of Bee Keeping Technologies by Farmers in Imo State

The study assessed the adoption of Beekeeping technology in Imo state. Structured questionnaire was used in collecting data from thirty (30) beekeepers purposively selected from the sturdy area. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The findings revealed that the average age, average household size, and average annual income of the respondents was 36yrs, 5 persons, and N470, 666.6 respectively. The socio–economic characteristics of the respondent like their annual income, access to credit, and extention contact had position effects on the rate of adoption with an average adoption score of 5.067, the age of the respondents had negative effect on adoption. The study recommends support for beekeeping, and beekeepers through training, funding and public enlightenment

Effect of Partial Replacement of Chromolaena Odorata for Soybean on the Hematological and Serum Chemistry of Laying Birds

Sixty point-of-lay pullets were used in a 56-day feeding trial to assess the effect of varying dietary inclusion levels of Chromolaena odorata leaf meal (COLM) on the hematology and serum biochemistry of laying birds. The birds (Nira black layer stain), were shared into four groups of 15 each and each group fed a diet containing 0, 5, 10 or 15% COLM respectively and replicated thrice in a completely randomized design. Feeding and watering were ad libitum. Results showed that most hematological and serum biochemistry indices were influenced by varying levels of COLM indicating significant differences (p<0.05) between treatment means. However, serum albumin (23.03, 23.46, 23.26, 23.36 g/dl) of birds fed 0, 5, 10 and 15% COLM did not show any regular trend. Therefore the variations could not be attributed to diet effects. Other parameters increased in values with increasing levels of COLM. There were no observable deleterious effects on the hematological and biochemical indices hence, no mortality was recorded. Keywords: Poultry, Chromolaena odorata, soybean, hematology, serum, layer bird

Determinants Of Adoption Of Improved Cassava Production Technologies Among Farmers In Enugu State Of Nigeria

The broad objective of this study was to isolate the determinants of improved cassava production Technologies in Enugu State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample of 250 farmers from 10 local government Areas of Enugu State. Data were collected by personal interviews using questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the field data The identified cassava production technologies at different stages of adoption by the respondents are use of improved cassava cuttings, use of herbicides/pesticides, Alternate row/crop geometry in a cassava /maize/yam intercrop, planting distance, use of fertilize, machinery, weeding interval, harvesting time, improved storage and processing and planting angle. The overall mean adoption score and index was 0.96 and 0.191 respectively. The low level of adoption was attributed to cost of the technologies, its inappropriateness, scarcity or non-availability of the extension agents in the study area. The results also showed that level of Education, age of farmers, farm size, farm income and extension visits were the major determinants of cassava production technologies at 5% level of significance. Keywords: Adoption, improved cassava production technologiesGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 2 (1) 2006: pp. 37-4