Adoption of Recommended Crop Protection Practices By Sesame Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to investigate fanners practices and adoption of improved sesame crop protection practices in Benue state, Nigeria. Using survey research, a pre-tested structured interview schedule was used to elicit informationfrom 120 sesamefanners that were randomly selectedfrom ten villages in two agricultural blocks in the northern zone from a samplingframe of sesamefanners. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Low adoption level was observed for all the crop protection practices , namely herbicide use (2.9%), disease control (2.0%) insect control(2.0%) and seed dressing (2.9%). Only 1%of the respondents hadfull package adoption, 5%hadpartial adoption while 94%didnot adopt any of the cropprotectionpractices. The study further revealed a significant relationship between adoption and the following variables: awareness (r=0.21;p<0.05), household size involvedinfarming (r=0.248;p<0.01), andyears offarming experience (r = 0.370; p<0.01). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that years of farming experience was a critical variable in the adoption of crop protection practices by sesame farmers and accountedfor 17% of the determinants of adoption. Based on this study it is recommended that efforts should be geared towards increasing the awareness of all crop protection practices in order to increase their adoption using a multimedia approach. These crop protection practices shouldfocus mainly on integrated approaches with little or no chemical and more ofpractices that are compatible with thefarmerspractices

Adoption of Recommended Crop Protection Practices By Sesame Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to investigate fanners practices and adoption of improved sesame crop protection practices in Benue state, Nigeria. Using survey research, a pre-tested structured interview schedule was used to elicit informationfrom 120 sesamefanners that were randomly selectedfrom ten villages in two agricultural blocks in the northern zone from a samplingframe of sesamefanners. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Low adoption level was observed for all the crop protection practices , namely herbicide use (2.9%), disease control (2.0%) insect control(2.0%) and seed dressing (2.9%). Only 1%of the respondents hadfull package adoption, 5%hadpartial adoption while 94%didnot adopt any of the cropprotectionpractices. The study further revealed a significant relationship between adoption and the following variables: awareness (r=0.21;p<0.05), household size involvedinfarming (r=0.248;p<0.01), andyears offarming experience (r = 0.370; p<0.01). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that years of farming experience was a critical variable in the adoption of crop protection practices by sesame farmers and accountedfor 17% of the determinants of adoption. Based on this study it is recommended that efforts should be geared towards increasing the awareness of all crop protection practices in order to increase their adoption using a multimedia approach. These crop protection practices shouldfocus mainly on integrated approaches with little or no chemical and more ofpractices that are compatible with thefarmerspractices

Farmers’ Perception of the Effects of Climate Change and Coping Strategies in Three Agro-Ecological Zones of Nigeria

The study assessed farmers perception of the effects of climate change and coping strategies in three agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Three agro-ecological zones namely Middle-Belt, North-Central and North–East were purposively selected and one LGA where NAERLS extension model village is located was purposively selected from each of the 3 agro-ecological zones. One village was randomly selected in addition to the NAERLS model village. Twenty five farmers were randomly selected from each village. One hundred and fifty (150) validated structured questionnaires were used to elicit information from respondents. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Farmers were fully aware of the effect of climate change and possible coping strategies such as the need for agricultural insurance, planting of drought and flood tolerant varieties and reduction of water loss through practices such as mulching and rearing of heat tolerant livestock. General perception was that climate change increases the rate of sickness/infection, reduces family income and that frequency of flood and that drought has increased. Chi-square analysis indicated a positive and significant relationship between perception of climate change and agro-ecology (X2 =23.52;

Farmers’ Perception of the Effects of Climate Change and Coping Strategies in Three Agro-Ecological Zones of Nigeria

The study assessed farmers perception of the effects of climate change and coping strategies in three agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Three agro-ecological zones namely Middle-Belt, North-Central and North–East were purposively selected and one LGA where NAERLS extension model village is located was purposively selected from each of the 3 agro-ecological zones. One village was randomly selected in addition to the NAERLS model village. Twenty five farmers were randomly selected from each village. One hundred and fifty (150) validated structured questionnaires were used to elicit information from respondents. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Farmers were fully aware of the effect of climate change and possible coping strategies such as the need for agricultural insurance, planting of drought and flood tolerant varieties and reduction of water loss through practices such as mulching and rearing of heat tolerant livestock. General perception was that climate change increases the rate of sickness/infection, reduces family income and that frequency of flood and that drought has increased. Chi-square analysis indicated a positive and significant relationship between perception of climate change and agro-ecology (X2 =23.52;

Assessment of Climate Change Adaptive Strategies in Small Ruminant Production in Rural Nigeria

Animals are intrinsically dependent on the environment, and any fluctuations in weather and climate can affect them through water and land changes, such as desertification, feed and water availability. Climate change will not only impact the health and welfare of animals, but also the more than a billion people who depend on them. This study was therefore aimed at evaluating the adaptive measures used by rural farmers to alleviate the effect of climate change on small ruminant (sheep and goats) production in rural Nigeria. The target population for this study was all the small ruminant farmers in the five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. A total of 300 respondents were interviewed using validated structured interview schedule. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, means and percentage. The result shows that most (71.9%) of the respondents were adults between 20 and 50 years of age. About 35% keep sheep and goats together while others keep either of the species. The most preferred management system is semi-extensive system (64%). Majority (93.2%) of small ruminant farmers in the rural Nigeria were aware of what climate change is all about and about 54% of them had observed changes in climage through personal experience.Majority of them had also observed and attributed changes to effect of climate change on their flock. Majority of them have also used various strategies to combat climate change. Traditional health care and irrigation of pasture during dry season were not effective adaptive strategies to combat climate change.There is need to educate the farmers more on the possible effect of climate change through the use of radio and other extension organizations (government and non-governmental) on the current situation and implication of climate change on themselves and their animals

Assessment of Climate Change Adaptive Strategies in Small Ruminant Production in Rural Nigeria

Animals are intrinsically dependent on the environment, and any fluctuations in weather and climate can affect them through water and land changes, such as desertification, feed and water availability. Climate change will not only impact the health and welfare of animals, but also the more than a billion people who depend on them. This study was therefore aimed at evaluating the adaptive measures used by rural farmers to alleviate the effect of climate change on small ruminant (sheep and goats) production in rural Nigeria. The target population for this study was all the small ruminant farmers in the five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. A total of 300 respondents were interviewed using validated structured interview schedule. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, means and percentage. The result shows that most (71.9%) of the respondents were adults between 20 and 50 years of age. About 35% keep sheep and goats together while others keep either of the species. The most preferred management system is semi-extensive system (64%). Majority (93.2%) of small ruminant farmers in the rural Nigeria were aware of what climate change is all about and about 54% of them had observed changes in climage through personal experience.Majority of them had also observed and attributed changes to effect of climate change on their flock. Majority of them have also used various strategies to combat climate change. Traditional health care and irrigation of pasture during dry season were not effective adaptive strategies to combat climate change.There is need to educate the farmers more on the possible effect of climate change through the use of radio and other extension organizations (government and non-governmental) on the current situation and implication of climate change on themselves and their animals

ADOPTION OF COWPEA PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS BY RURAL FARMERS IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

This study reveals that the use of storage chemical is the technique with the highest adoption level (70%), closely followed by hermetic storage (63.8%) and use of insecticides on the field (48.4%). Farmers do not use herbicides and fungicides. The non-adoption of herbicides is attributed mainly to high cost and non-availability of herbicides and above all farmers’ preference for hoe weeding. About 87% have never used improved cowpea varieties. However, most farmers still use local varieties together with the improved. About 70% of the farmers use at least one type of storage chemical for protecting their produce. Only 1.5% of the farmers use 'Gammallin 20' as a storage chemical. Most of the farmers that use Phostoxin follow the recommended rate of one Phostoxin tablet per 100kg of cowpea or 500g of Actellic dust per tonne of cowpea. Only 4.6% and 1.5% of farmers use wood ash and chilly pepper for protecting their produce respectively. Extension agents are the major source of awareness of recommended crop protection practices. There is a significant relationship between adoption and sources of agricultural information. There is also a significant but negative correlation between age and adoption and a positive correlation between adoption and household size, farm size and extension contac

ADOPTION OF COWPEA PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS BY RURAL FARMERS IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

This study reveals that the use of storage chemical is the technique with the highest adoption level (70%), closely followed by hermetic storage (63.8%) and use of insecticides on the field (48.4%). Farmers do not use herbicides and fungicides. The non-adoption of herbicides is attributed mainly to high cost and non-availability of herbicides and above all farmers’ preference for hoe weeding. About 87% have never used improved cowpea varieties. However, most farmers still use local varieties together with the improved. About 70% of the farmers use at least one type of storage chemical for protecting their produce. Only 1.5% of the farmers use 'Gammallin 20' as a storage chemical. Most of the farmers that use Phostoxin follow the recommended rate of one Phostoxin tablet per 100kg of cowpea or 500g of Actellic dust per tonne of cowpea. Only 4.6% and 1.5% of farmers use wood ash and chilly pepper for protecting their produce respectively. Extension agents are the major source of awareness of recommended crop protection practices. There is a significant relationship between adoption and sources of agricultural information. There is also a significant but negative correlation between age and adoption and a positive correlation between adoption and household size, farm size and extension contac

Assessment of women involvement in agricultural activities in Kuje and Abuja municipal area councils of federal capital territory, Abuja, Nigeria

The Federal Government of Nigeria in 2011 launched the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) as its Vision and Mission to promote the growth and development of Nigeria. The agenda clearly has many promising hope for Nigerians. However, like many programmes of past governments, designed to address the structural imbalance in legislation, policy and governance, between men and women, no pragmatic and concrete effort is made to address the anomalies. Therefore, this paper seeks to bring to the fore women’s involvement in agricultural activities in Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area Councils, Abuja, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling procedure was employed in selecting the respondents. Two Area Councils (AC), from the six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, were purposively selected due to the high number of women involved in farming in the area councils. Twenty percent of the registered women farmers were randomly sampled from six villages in each of the selected Area Council (AC), giving a total of 240 respondents. Structured questionnaire was administered to obtain information from registered women farmers purposively selected from a register of women farmers in the area. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the data. Results revealed that 45% of the women were between 31-40 years, 82.9% were married and 78% had formal education. Out of 24 agricultural activities engaged in by the women only six variables, namely, fish farming (mean=2.5), agro forestry products (mean =2.6), fish salting (mean 2.2), fish smoking (2.4), shea butter processing (mean=2.4) and carrying of farm produce home (mean=2.5) above the cut-off point mean of 2.0 were most practised activities. The t-test showed that mean involvement in agricultural activities of women farmers from Kuje (29.1) and Municipal (28.5) AC were not significantly different at 5% of probability. The Logit Regression model shows that cultural beliefs significantly influenced women’s involvement in agricultural activities at 1% level of probability while age, income, household size and extension contact had significant influence at 5% level of probability. Credit was also significant at 10% level of probability. The correlation was highly significant between women involvement in agricultural activities and the following variables: age, household size, and years of experience in farming. It is recommended that clear governmental policies, national guidelines, strategies, and plans for the involvement of more women in agricultural activities, be formulated and implemented

Farmers Perception of Sources of Information in Relation to Adoption of Improved Rice Technology by Farmers in the Inland Valley Swamps of Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the fanners perception of information sources and adoption of rice technology and its relationship with farmers socioeconomic characteristics in the inland Valley Swamps (IVS). Using survey research, a pre-tested structured interview scheduled was used to collect information from 500 rice farmers that were randomly selected from four States including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from the Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. About 96% of the respondents adopted fertilizer application and only 29.8% adopted iron toxicity control. The results of the PPMC analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between adoption and household size involved in farming (r =0.095; p < 0.05), and extension contact (r =0.31;p < 0.05). The result of the Chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship between adoption and religion(X2 = 9.94;p < 0.05), ethnic group (X2 =8.57;p < 05 ), awareness of technology ( r = 0.392, p < 0.05) and information source (X2 = 59.49; p < 0.01). This study revealed that extension publication, television and newspaper are considered as not important sources of agricultural information while extension agents, demonstration/SPAT, neighbour/friends, radio, field-day andparents are important sources of agricultural information. The study also revealed that the sources ofinformation awareness variesfrom technology to technology. It is recommended that, the extension agents be encouraged and effort be made to emphasize andpopularize the use of mediated information sources and extension research methodology in order to increase the extension coverage area which is likely to increase adoption