Evaluation Of Loan Disbursement And Repayment Of Supervised Credit Scheme Of Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative And Rural Development Bank(Nacrbd) In Zaria And Kaduna North Local Government Areas Of Kaduna State, Nigeria

The study examined the activities of NACRBD with a view to determine the amount of loan disbursed compared to amount of loan applied for, the nature of loan repayment performance of beneficiaries of NACRDB credit loan, lapses associated with loan to disbursement and repayment schedules and impact of proper supervision on loan recovery. Data for the study were collected through questionnaires, a total number of fifty(50) beneficiaries of NACRDB credit scheme were selected randomly from the study areas . Data collected were analysed using simple descriptive statistical tools, such as mean, percentage and frequency table in order to achieve the stated objectives. From the evaluation of loan schemes, it was found that there were short fall when comparing the amount of loan applied for, to the actual amount disbursed to beneficiaries, loan were nottimely granted some sincere seekers were unable to benefit from credit scheme partially due to lack of adequate financing of NACRDB by the apex bank; the efficiency of methods employed by the bank as regard to loan supervision was scored low as a result of low rate of loan recovery, which will not augur well, if the bank’s contribution to the development agricultural sector of the economy was to be sustained. It was recommended that loans should be disbursed on time to farmers as at when due so that they can make use of it for agricultural production, NACRBD should employ better strategy to recover outstanding debts and reduce interest charge on loans

Socio-Economic Determinants of Insecticides Usage in Cowpea Production in Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study investigates the socio-economic determinants of Insecticides use among cowpea farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 150 cowpea farmers who used insecticides in controlling pest in cowpea production in the study area. Information collected includes those of socio-economic characteristics of the famers and the quantity of insecticides they used. A regression model was used to estimate the relationship between farmers’ socio-economic characteristics and the insecticides use level. The study showed that family size, farm size level of education and years of farming experience were the major socio-economic determinants of insecticides use level among the cowpea farmers in the studied area. It was recommended that training and efforts to get farmers educated are intensified while strategies that will prevent migration of educated youths away from active areas of farming be put in place.Keywords: Cowpea, farmers, socio-economic, determinant, insecticidesJournal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 201

Factors Influencing Participation Of Outgrowers In Certified Hybrid Maize Seed Production In Giwa Local Government Area Of Kaduna State And Its Policy Implication For Food Security

The study analyzed factors that influence farmer’s participation in hybrid maize seed production in the study area. A Logit analysis was used to analyze factors influencing farmer’s participation in hybrid maize seed production while T-test was used to analyze if there is difference in the mean yields of farmers growing hybrid seeds and those involved in local maize production. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from farmers based on the 2005 cropping season activities while on the spot observation data were also collected. Results of the Logit analysis has shown that age of farmers, educational qualification and expectation ofprompt payment by the contracting company were the factors that facilitate farmers’ participation in hybrid production in the area. Results have also shown that farmers that grow hybrid had yields that were significantly difference than those growing local varieties in the area. This is proof evidence that the hybrid maize technology with complementary packagesholds promise for helping in solving the problem of food insecurity in rural areas and the country at large if its production is supported and encouraged. There should therefore be a deliberate policy by government at all levels, non-governmental organizations and the international organization to support and encourage farmers to get involved in the production of hybrid maize as a better alternative to the local maize varieties

Perception of Women Knowledge on the Nutritive Value of Fish in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study investigated women knowledge on the nutritive value of fish in Kaduna North local government area of Kaduna State. One hundred and twenty (120) household wives were randomly selected for the study. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Date was analyzed using frequency distribution, percentages, means and logistic regression to determine the factors affecting fish consumption at the household level. The result shows that majority (91.8%) of the respondents were within the age range of between 20-40 years and majority (98.8%) posses formal education. Also a greater proportion (94.29%) of the respondents had moderate household size. Furthermore, majority (65%) belongs to one form of cooperative or the other and vast majority (79.2%) had been in marriage institution for more than 10 years. The respondents perceived the following sources of information about nutritive value of fish as important: home economics staff/extension agents; friends and relatives; books/leaflets; television; and radio. Also the following constraints were perceived as important: availability of fish; household size; method of processing; method of harvesting; and seasonality of fish supply. The following factors in the logistic regression were significant: major occupation of the respondents; years spent in marriage institution and number of years spent in formal education. It is recommended that home economics staff/extension agents and other concerned institutions should be encourage to intensify efforts in creating more awareness on the nutritive value of fish to encourage its consumption, so as to reduce the rate of mal-nutrition in the rural areas

Potentials of Information and Communication Technologies for Poverty Alleviation and Food Security

The paper examined the potentials and benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as a means of enhancing food security and alleviating poverty in Nigeria. Access to information and improved communication is a crucial requirement for sustainable development. The paper describes how ICTs could be utilized to enhance small holders production .This is done with a particular focus on the bourgeoning ICTs interface in Nigeria. The paper looked at the utility levels of ICT. The paper posit that ICT sector is cross-cutting and each sector has to find the best way of using ICTs to help meet the challenges in a globalize world. The paper concludes by ascertaining that much still need to be done to annex the communication for extension of agricultural messages in the rural areas. There is the need to pursue policy that would enhance usages of ICT to avoid being left in the digital world

Segregation pattern of pubescence, pigmentation and pod orientation genes in West African okra (Abelmoschus caillei [A. Chev.] stevels).

No Abstract.Nigerian Journal of Genetics Vol. 18 2003: pp. 11-1

Measurement Of Technical Efficiency In Irrigated Vegetable Production In Nasarawa State, Nigeria

This study measured technical efficiency and identified its determinants in irrigated vegetable production in Nasarawa State of Nigeria using a stochastic frontier model. A complete enumeration of 193 NADP-registered vegetable farmers was done. The predicted farm technical efficiency ranges from 25.94 to 96.24 per cent with average of 56.75, 52.13 and 68.92 per cent in Nasarawa south, Nasarawa north and Nasarawa west respectively. The wide variation in the technical efficiency suggests that there is tendency for increasing vegetable production and farmers' income through improvements in technical efficiency. Education, farming experience and farm size were found to be positively and significantly related to technical efficiency in the vegetable farming. Keywords: Stochastic frontier, technical efficiency, vegetable productionJournal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 33-3

Inheritance of pod and seed yield characters in West African okra (Abelmoschus caillei): Generation mean analysis

No Abstract.Nigerian Journal of Genetics Vol. 18 2003: pp. 1-

Assessment Of The Contribution Of Women To The Agricultural Production In A Developing Economy

Despite the significant contribution of women to agricultural production in developing countries, they have not been given the opportunity to realize their full economic potential in the agricultural sector. This is as a result oftraditional gender-based subordination and disparity between men and women in the size of landholdings and other agricultural resources. Women’s subordination has limited their access to and control over productive resources. Women are the key resources in farm production, but their productivity depends on the rate of their involvement in farm decision-making. In Nigeria, the decisions and responsibilities taken by women are related to the farm tasks they perform. Men take more of the decisions with regards to selection of enterprises, sizes of enterprises, buying and using of farm inputs. This is because they are economically able and have access to credit facilities more than women. Most of the agricultural development programmes of developing countries in the past failed because womenwere not adequately recognized and involved in the planning and executing of development programmes

Impact of mass media on adoption of agricultural innovations in Kaduna State, Nigeria

No Abstract. Journal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 6 (1) 2006: pp. 61-6