Determinants of Change in Work Values in Rural Nigeria: Evidence from Ondo State

The study analysed the determinants of change in work values among rural dwellers in Ondo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to ascertain the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents in the study area; identify the prominent work values among the respondents in the study area; and determine the key factors influencing the change in work values among the respondents in the study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed for data collection in this study. Primary data which were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and personal interview were used and a total of 120 respondents were sampled and interviewed for the study. Descriptive Statistics and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to analyse data collected in the study. The study revealed that the average age was about 57 years. The majority of the respondents were males and were married, with an average household size of 7 persons. Educational level was low in the study area. Farming was the dominant occupation practiced in the study area, with a low monthly average household income of N16, 888. The study concluded that commitment and dedication to work were the most prominent work values as identified by respondents in the study area......

Effects of National Fadama III Programme on the Scope and Scale of Beneficiaries’ Farming Activities in South West, Nigeria

This paper examined the effects of National Fadama III programme on the scale and scope of beneficiaries farming activities in the study area. The objective of the study was to ascertain if the activities of the beneficiaries has increased in scope and scale. Two hundred randomly selected beneficiaries were used. Data were collected with the aid of structured interview schedule and analyzed by the use of frequency and percentages and mean statistics. Results revealed that beneficiaries scope of crop production increased by 12% for maize, 19.29% for cassava, 22.22% for yam, 60% for plantain and 231% for agro processing. Scope of livestock production also increased by 233% for goatry, 138% for fisheries, 280% for poultry, 175% for fish processing and a decrease of 27.27 for piggery. The scale of crop production also revealed an increase by 33.73% for cassava production, 35.27% for maize, 5.97% for yam and 16.67% for plantain. For Livestock production, the mean population of poultry rose by 165% for poultry, goatry by 187.5%, fisheries by 99% and piggery by 128%. The income of beneficiaries also rose by 58%. The study recommended that Federal government should sustain the Fadama programme even if the World Bank withdraws from the programme funding. Key words: Fadama III, Beneficiaries, Farm Scale and Scope, Â

Effects of National Fadama III Programme on the Scope and Scale of Beneficiaries’ Farming Activities in South West, Nigeria

This paper examined the effects of National Fadama III programme on the scale and scope of beneficiaries farming activities in the study area. The objective of the study was to ascertain if the activities of the beneficiaries has increased in scope and scale. Two hundred randomly selected beneficiaries were used. Data were collected with the aid of structured interview schedule and analyzed by the use of frequency and percentages and mean statistics. Results revealed that beneficiaries scope of crop production increased by 12% for maize, 19.29% for cassava, 22.22% for yam, 60% for plantain and 231% for agro processing. Scope of livestock production also increased by 233% for goatry, 138% for fisheries, 280% for poultry, 175% for fish processing and a decrease of 27.27 for piggery. The scale of crop production also revealed an increase by 33.73% for cassava production, 35.27% for maize, 5.97% for yam and 16.67% for plantain. For Livestock production, the mean population of poultry rose by 165% for poultry, goatry by 187.5%, fisheries by 99% and piggery by 128%. The income of beneficiaries also rose by 58%. The study recommended that Federal government should sustain the Fadama programme even if the World Bank withdraws from the programme funding. Key words: Fadama III, Beneficiaries, Farm Scale and Scope, Â

Extension Implications of Skill Gaps among Cassava farmers in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The study evaluated the skill gap among cassava farmers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to obtain data from 270 farmers using structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean score, Chi square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The study revealed that there were more male (55.9%) cassava farmers in the study area with farmer’s mean age approximately 48 years and majority (75.2%) were educated.  Mean farming experience was 24 years and mean farm size 1.8 hectares. Skill gap analysis indicated 16 areas including Packaging of cassava products (MWDS = 7.61), Soil Management strategies (MWDS = 6.70) and Chemical application (MWDS =3.93) among others. The Chi square test shows that there is a significant relationship between training needs and the marital status (c2 = 18.46, p < 0.05) and the variety of cassava planted (c2= 6.397, p < 0.05) by respondents. The Pearson Products Moment Correlation also revealed that Age (r = 0.181), Farm experience (r = 0.199) and Household size (r = 0.125) had significant relationship with farmers training needs. The study concluded that there are obvious skill and competency gaps among the cassava farmers in the region who are mainly small scale. It recommended that for improved productivity, farmers training should concentrate on the critically expressed areas of skill and competency gaps and that periodic training needs assessment be done to ensure that efforts and training resources are appropriately channeled

Extension Implications of Skill Gaps among Cassava farmers in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The study evaluated the skill gap among cassava farmers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to obtain data from 270 farmers using structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean score, Chi square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The study revealed that there were more male (55.9%) cassava farmers in the study area with farmer’s mean age approximately 48 years and majority (75.2%) were educated.  Mean farming experience was 24 years and mean farm size 1.8 hectares. Skill gap analysis indicated 16 areas including Packaging of cassava products (MWDS = 7.61), Soil Management strategies (MWDS = 6.70) and Chemical application (MWDS =3.93) among others. The Chi square test shows that there is a significant relationship between training needs and the marital status (c2 = 18.46, p < 0.05) and the variety of cassava planted (c2= 6.397, p < 0.05) by respondents. The Pearson Products Moment Correlation also revealed that Age (r = 0.181), Farm experience (r = 0.199) and Household size (r = 0.125) had significant relationship with farmers training needs. The study concluded that there are obvious skill and competency gaps among the cassava farmers in the region who are mainly small scale. It recommended that for improved productivity, farmers training should concentrate on the critically expressed areas of skill and competency gaps and that periodic training needs assessment be done to ensure that efforts and training resources are appropriately channeled