EFFECTS OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE AGRICULTURAL CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME FUND ON CASH CROPS

Abstract As part contribution to an on-goin

Gender Participation in Forestry and Agro-Forestry Practices in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

This study examined the level of gender participation in forestry practices in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the gender distribution of operators among various economic activities in forestry practices and gender differences in income. Data were collected on the marital status, age, educational qualification, number of years of experience in forestry/agroforestry practices, income and challenges encountered from 91 respondents drawn by simple random sampling technique. The data were collected by using copies of a structured questionnaire and were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings, among others, were that: though there was significant difference in gender distribution by occupation within the subsector, there was no significant gender disparity in gender involvement in terms of number; there was no significant gender difference in the educational qualifications of the operators. Furthermore, that a sizeable proportion of single again women depend on forest resources for their livelihood; that a good proportion of the female in the subsector had no alternative opportunity, finally that there was no significant gender difference in income. We conclude that the forestry economy has high potential for the pursuit of gender equality and for poverty alleviation and recommend that policies and programmes directed towards poverty alleviation in the subsector should, however, be gender sensitive

Entrepreneurial Traits and the Distribution of Poultry Farm Entrepreneurs in Delta State, Nigeria

The authors attempted to ascertain the entrepreneurial potential of poultry farmers in Delta State using farmers’ scores in six entrepreneurial traits measured on a five-point Likert scale. The study covered the population of 275 poultry farmers in the State. The objectives were to ascertain the level of entrepreneurial traits of Poultry farmers and to determine the distribution of poultry farm entrepreneurs by category, namely; low, average and high potential, across the three agricultural zones. The hypotheses tested were that entrepreneurial traits of poultry farmers were not above average and that there was no significant variation in poultry farmers’ entrepreneurial potentials across the three agricultural zones. Primary data were collected using copies of a structured questionnaire. By using analysis of variance and test of differences between a test value of 3.4, major findings were that poultry farmers were above average in three entrepreneurial traits but with significant variation across the zones; that entrepreneurial potential was generally below average, finally, that the three categories of poultry farm entrepreneurs were randomly distributed across the zones. The authors concluded that while there may not be any inherent biases in drawing sample of poultry farmers across the State for development projects purposes, there may be differences in cost implications for farmers’ entrepreneurial development