Key Issues In Livelihoods Security Of Migrant Fulani Pastoralists: Empirical Evidence From Southwest Nigeria

The study presents empirical evidence on issues related to the security of pastoralists’ livelihoods in southwest Nigeria, with an understanding that their migrant status will affect secured access to basic natural resources required for survival of their herds and as well livelihoods sustenance.  Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 120 Fulani pastoralists from three States (Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti) on livelihoods, perceived sources of vulnerability and indicators of livelihood security. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in the Fulanis settlements using a semi-structured checklist while quantitative data were collected using interview guide. The assessment of livelihoods assets’ security was based on Macqueen’s asset enumeration method. The asset assessment shows that Fulanis have unsecured livelihoods due to unsecured access to grazing resources. A scoring of identified indicators shows that peaceful coexistence with Yoruba host communities (z = 1.7) and collective action (z = 0.6) have higher probability of being selected as livelihood security indicators. Poor access to land for grazing and water inadequacy were perceived as major sources of livelihood vulnerability. Reduction of Fulanis’ vulnerability through secured rights on land, enhancement in the efficiency of existing livelihoods, improvement in livelihoods asset are imperative for livelihoods security.     &nbsp

Determinants of competence in soybean processing among secondary school students in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Competence in the processing of soybean is constrained by many factors which directly influence the consumption pattern in Nigeria. Youth involvement in soybean processing is a strategy to successfully incorporate soybean utilization in households across Southwest Nigeria. The study identified factors that influence competence in soybean processing among secondary school students in Ibadan metropolis of Oyo state. The study is an offshoot of a training activity embarked by Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, (IAR&T) Ibadan to improve the knowledge of soybean processing among secondary students. Thus, study purposively selected three secondary schools adopted by the Institute and all the senior secondary students formed the study population. However, 30% of the senior students were randomly sampled which gave a total of 203 respondents. Independent variables such as personal characteristics of students, knowledge of benefit of soybean and competence in the processing of soybean were collected using validated questionnaire. Competence was measured in a four-point scale of high competence, average competence, low competence and no competence. Data were described using percentage and mean, and were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Chi square, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), and multiple regression analysis. Findings revealed that the mean age of respondents was 15.9 years and majority (57.6%) was female. Highest education attained by mothers (57.1%) was secondary education and majority (62.6%) of mothers was involved in trading. The knowledge of benefit of soybean was high among majority (64.1%) but majority (62.0%) also had low competence in soybean processing. Data analysis revealed a significant relationship (p<0.05) between gender (χ 2=17.7), class of students  (χ 2=20.3) and competence in soybean processing. Level of mothers’ education (65%) and knowledge of benefits of soybean (42%), respectively had positive effect on students’ competence. The study concludes that competence in soybean processing among secondary students is limited to some few products such as soymilk and it is associated with many factors like knowledge of its benefit and mothers’ education

Spatial distribution of agro-input centers and their accessibility to farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

socio-economic characteristics of respondents were described using frequency counts and percentages. Inferential statistics such as chi-square was used to test the hypotheses. Geographic Information System (GIS) software (ArcView 9.3) was used to map locations and analyse distances and multiple buffers were developed around input centers to determine farmers' accessibility. Results from the study show that inputs like fertilizer (65%), agro-chemicals (94.38%), and planting materials like seeds and stems (90.63%) were majorly procured from private input centers. Majority (74.37%) of the farmers interviewed travel more than 15 km to procure input from government established input centers. Chi-square results showed significant relationship between sex (χ2=29.51, P=0.05), marital status (χ2=10.97, P=0.00), income (χ2=32.55, P=0.00) and farm size (χ2=14.73, P=0.00). Improvement in agricultural output will depend to some extent on farmers’ access to agro-input centers. The government should establish agro-input input centers closer to farmers and make inputs available at subsidized rates; this will make them affordable to farmers and increase agricultural production

Serospositivity of Hepatitis B and C among Blood Donors in Private Laboratories in Lagos Nigeria

Background:. Difficulties in meeting demand of blood transfusion by government hospitals have dictated the need for patronizing laboratories by both government and private hospitals.Objective: The study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence HBsAg and hepatitis C Virus of blood donors in private laboratories in Lagos Nigeria.Result: A total of 315 participants were used for this work 298 were male (94.6%) Seventeen (17) 5.4%were females.  4.8% tested positive for HBsAg. Male constitute 80% prevalence of the positive group. Analysis of gender related prevalence of HBsAg showed that prevalence was higher in females (17.3%) than males (4%).prevalence of 1.5%.was Hepatitis C (HVC Ab).positive participants are in the age range of 21-30.Conclusion:  The result revealed a decline in prevalence of viral hepatitis among voluntary blood donors in Lagos Nigeria. Key words: hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, blood donor

Location and distance of farmers to agricultural extension service: implication for agricultural development in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study investigated the location and distance covered by farmers to agricultural extension service/unit among farmers in Oyo state. Furthermore, it tried to look at the implication on farmers’ agricultural production. A multistage random sampling procedure was used to select 320 farmers from four agricultural zones (Ibadan/Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Saki) of Oyo State Agricultural Development programme (OYSADEP). Farmers were selected from 8 local government areas and from 124 villages. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the results from the study. Findings revealed that agricultural extension agents were within the reach of farmers as 79.1% of the farmers indicated that agricultural extension agents were the major source of agricultural information and also provided advisory service (77.8%). The mean distance covered by farmers to extension units was 17.8km but bad road network (77.5%) and low extension-farmer ratio (64.1%) were some of the major constraints identified by farmers as affecting extension service delivery. Regression analysis between distance of farmers to extension and other production incentives show a positive relationship (p<0.00) on income alone. Therefore, it is recommended that the government improve road conditions and also invest funds to support the Agricultural development Programme (ADP) system.Keywords: Location, distance, extension service/unit, agricultural productio

The use of radio and television as sources of agricultural information among poultry farmers in Egbeda local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria

This study examined the use of radio and television as sources of agricultural information among poultry farmers in Egbeda Local Government area of Oyo State. Sixty farmers from 4 villages namely: Egbeda, Erunmu, Olode and Owobale were selected for this study. Primary data were collected from the respondents by interview and a 5 point rating scale was used to determine the level of use of radio and television as sources of agricultural information among the respondents based on 4 programmes on radio and television stations covering the area. The findings show that the respondents' level of use of these media was on the average. Also, the various use of information obtained from these media ranged from acquiring new skills and knowledge to getting information on input. The average age and years of formal education of the respondents were 38.7 years and 10.8 years respectively. Also thirty seven percent had a very high level of cosmopoliteness and 51.7% had production size of less than 500 birds. A significant relationship was also established between respondents' level of production and their level of use of radio and television at 5 percent confidence interval. With increased agricultural programmes and increased information on poultry management on the existing programmes, there is a high tendency of increased use of radio and television for overall development of agriculture and national food security. Key Words: Radio; television; agricultural information; poultry Moor J. Agric. Res. Vol.4(1) 2003: 164-16

Determinants of seasonal arable crop production among selected farmers in Ogun State

The study, was conducted with a view to identify factors influencing the choice of crop production and seasonal cropping activities of the farm households. A multistage random sampling procedure was used to select 200 arable crop farmers across the four operational zones, comprising Abeokuta, Ilaro, Ikenne and Ijebu, in Ogun State. Information on crop production and factors determining the seasonal cropping activities of the farmers was obtained through the use of interview schedule and focus group discussion. It was found that, factor such as the onset and duration of rainfall distribution, farming experience, available farm labour and funds determine the timing of seasonal cropping activities of the farmers. Other factors such as the need for household consumption, high market value and suitability of the agroclimate influence the choice of arable crops produced by the farmers. Although, the farmers realised a low average yield of 1.7metric tonnes of Maize per hectare and 10 metric tonnes of cassava per hectare, they can still have their productivity improved, by adopting good farm management practices.Keywords: determinant factors, arable crops; seasonal crop production, crop yield Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 5(1) 2004: 49-5

Cassava Processors’ Awareness Of Occupational And Environmental Hazards Associated With Cassava Processing In South-Western Nigeria

The processing of this popular root tuber into different products (gari, fufu, pupuru) is not without hazards both to the environment, the processors, and even the consumers. This study, therefore, investigated cassava processors’ awareness of occupational and environmental hazards associated with and factors affecting cassava processing in three states - Oyo, Ogun and Ondo in South-western Nigeria. A total of 380 cassava processors were purposively and randomly selected from the three states. Data were collected through the use of structured interview guide using the participatory and focus group approach with the assistance of experienced enumerators. The data were analysed using frequency counts and percentages. Results from the study showed that majority (68.9%) of the respondents involved in cassava processing were females, 65.7% are between the ages of 31-50 years which means that they were still in their active age, 48% have between 4-6 persons as household size, 64.2% had one form of education or another which is a good indicator of their level of understanding especially where a technology involves a little technicality. Another 55.5% of the respondents took cassava processing and marketing as their primary occupation. A larger percentage (74.5%) of the respondents indicated that the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) is their source of information. The result also showed that processor’s awareness of occupational hazards associated with the different stages of cassava processing vary because their involvement in these stages also varies. They were also aware of environmental hazards associated with cassava processing. Majority (97.7%) of the respondents combined conventional and modern methods of cassava processing. Majority of the respondents also complained of lack of water (78.4%), lack of effective channel for cassava effluent (64.5%), lack of labour (80.3%) and unstable price of cassava products (70.3%) as major factors affecting cassava processing in the study area. It is, therefore, recommended that for proper channeling be made for cassava effluent, cassava peels should be sun-dried and used as livestock feed, government and the community should provide a borehole or a deep well as this will improve cleanliness of the environment cassava products. Key stakeholders can also participate in the design of processing site from inception so as to reduce the problems faced by cassava processors during processing

Women's knowledge of the nutritional benefits and perceived constraints in soybean utilization in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study investigated women's knowledge of the nutritional benefits of soybean and its implication for the nutritional status of households in Oyo state. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 129 women for the study. Data were collected via interview schedule on the socio-economic characteristics of women, their knowledge of nutritional benefit of soybean, awareness of soybean by-products and perceived constraints in the utilisation of soybean. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (Chi-square) statistic. Results show that women have little knowledge of the nutritional benefits of soybean and majority do not know the by-products of soybean. Major constraints in the utilisation of soybean as identified by the women were high perishability of it products (92.2%), lack of knowledge of its processing (84.5%) and lack of market for its product (69%) among others. Significant relationship exists between education (x2=31.494, p=0.000), crops processed (x2=63.990, p=0.000) and knowledge of nutritional benefit of soybean. It is therefore recommended that awareness be increased on the nutritional benefit of soybean using different medium of information dissemination as this will help increase women's knowledge of the nutritional benefit of soybean and its products, prevent malnutrition, reduce infant mortality and increase the nutritional status of rural household

Ethno veterinary practices of small ruminant livestock farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

The paper investigated and documented some ethno veterinary practices of farmers in South western Nigeria. Data were collected from a total of 400 ruminant livestock farmers selected from Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo and Edo States of Nigeria using Multi-stage sampling technique. The data collected include the specific attributes of small ruminant livestock farmers in the area, ethno-veterinary practices of farmers in the treatment of major diseases/ailments of small ruminants and reasons for the use of ethno-veterinary methods. The results showed that farmers were able to diagnose the major diseases of sheep and goats and use a number of indigenous methods to treat diseases of small ruminants. The preparations were either given orally or topically. Farmers perceived the treatments as being effective for most of the preparations. Reasons for the use of ethno-veterinary methods by farmers include availability, low cost, effectiveness, cultural appropriateness, and the fact that they are easy to prepare and easily recognized by farmers. The need to harness indigenous knowledge as viable alternative treatment of small ruminant diseases is suggested. Scientists should however experiment on these practices in other to ascertain the efficacy, dosage, safety and active ingredients of the local preparations used by farmers.Keywords: Small ruminants, Ethno veterinary practices, Indigenous knowledge, Southwestern Nigeria