Contribution of Mushroom Production to Rural Income Generation in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examined the economics of mushroom production in Oyo State. Data for the study were obtained from Ido, Surulere Local Government Area and Akinyele Local Government Area. A total of 202 respondents were selected for the study area. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and costs-returns analysis. The result shows that majority (71.7%) of mushroom farmers are within 31 - 50 years of age. Majority (67%) of the farmers was male and married (79.2%). Furthermore, about all (95.0%) of the farmers had <1-5 years of experience in mushroom production. The costs-returns analysis revealed that mushroom production is a profitable venture. Profitability indices indicate that for every N1 of sales made, 32kobo profit is realized (ROS). RRI values shows that every N1 invested in mushroom production yields 49kobo in returns and every N1 spent on variable cost leads to 79kobo gain for the farmer. These results clearly show that mushroom production is profitable in all ramifications and should therefore be encouraged and financially supported for large scale production. The study therefore recommends articulation of sound policy by government to cater for financial inclusion and export oriented markets for mushroom. This will drive employment creation, poverty alleviation and increase in foreign earnings for the country

Contribution of Agroforestry to Farmers Wellbeing in Forest Enclave, Edo State, Nigeria

Agroforestry has recently been experiencing a surge in interest as a cost-effective means to enhance food security and well-being. Thus there is a need to assess its contribution of to farmer’s wellbeing. Primary data needed for the study were collected through the administration of  questionnaires to agroforestry farmers. Purposive random sampling technique was used to select three forest enclaves in Edo state. A simple random sampling technic was used in the selection of respondents and a total number of 120 copies of questionnaires were administered. Datawere analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages and inferential statistics such as Chi-square, Pearson Product Moment correlations (PPMC). The study revealed that the mean age of the farmers in the area was 45.6years. Majorities (85.8 %) were male and 78.3% were married. with 54.2% having household size of between 4 - 6 persons. Majority (84.2%) had formal education. Also, 65.8% engage in agroforestry farming as their primary occupation. The results showed that there was positive and significant relationship between farmers’involvement in agroforestry and their economic wellbeing (χ2 = 76.27, P ≤ 0.001), material wellbeing (χ2 = 93.77, P ≤ 0.001), social wellbeing (χ2 = 73.00, P ≤ 0.001) and psychological wellbeing (χ2 = 132.63, P ≤ 0.001), respectively. It is therefore recommended that farmers should be encouraged to increase their farm holding and also organized themselves into association for them to have access to mechanized equipment  Keyword: Contribution, Agroforestry, Wellbeing, Farmer

Perception of Forestry as a Career among Senior Secondary School Students in Oyo-State, Nigeria

Forestry education in many universities and colleges in Nigeria is currently suffering from serious drawbacks as there is a decline in enrolment into forestry related courses across the tertiary institutions. The importance of forestry education at the tertiary level as a medium for producing professional foresters cannot be over emphasized, hence the need for this study. This study assessed the level of awareness of forestry as a career among senior secondary students in Oyo state, Nigeria. A total of two hundred and forty questionnaire were randomly administered to respondents in the study area. The study reveals that 89.9% and 95.5% of the students in government and private schools respectively were aware of forestry as a course of study while61.3% and 59.9% of both government and private schools’ students got aware through their teachers. Career preference by the students show that medicine was ranked first while forestry was ranked nineteenth with 24.6% and 0.8% respectively. The level of awareness of forestry among the respondents is high with 69.7% and 57.9% in government and private schools respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) result reveals a significant interaction between perception of forestry and type of school in the study area. A set of concrete  recommendation for stakeholders involved in the development of forestry education is presented