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

THE NIGERIAN AGRICULTURE AND POVERTY INCIDENCE: THE NEED FOR PRIVATE SECTOR EMPOWERMENT

Poverty in Nigeria is concentrated in rural areas. Low resource or resource-poor farmers characterized by preponderance of small farm units, fragile soils, rain-dependent, minimum inputs and poor yield dominate the agricultural sector. The incidence of poverty is highest among households in which the head is engaged in agriculture as the main source of income. Agricultural growth is therefore important to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger in Nigeria. Conscious policy efforts by government towards poverty alleviation began during the SAP era. Some companies like Shell and certain State Governments have shown real interest in alleviating poverty through their agricultural programmes and policy statements. Nigeria’s current vision for agricultural development is expressed in the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS), the New Agricultural Policy (NAP), and the Rural Sector Development Strategy (RSDS). This paper posits that provision of electricity, potable water, health centres and formal schools will facilitate the sustainability of any impact of poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria. Encouraging community development projects evolved by the communities themselves will minimize poverty incidence. Increasing the access of the poor to land and other productive resources will reduce poverty and generate employment. Development of infrastructural facilities in the rural areas has the two pronged approach of reducing poverty and developing the rural areas. Encouraging processing through adequate incentives to SMEs will also further empower the private sector.Farm Management, Food Security and Poverty,

IMPACT OF ENLIGHTENMENT AND MONITORING ON THE USE OF LONG LASTING INSECTICIDE NETS FOR MALARIA PREVENTION AMONG CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY IN ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA

The female Anopheles mosquito is the vector for human malaria and bites man mostly from 5pm to 7am, with maximum intensity between 10pm and 4am. This provides the basis for the use of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN). A study to assess the impact of enlightenment, advocacy and monitoring on LLIN use for children under five years was conducted in Olugbo. A total of two hundred (200) children under five years were recruited into the study. Ethical clearance was received from the Ogun State Ministry of Health. Pre-tested questionnaires were administered to the respondents and blood samples were collected for malaria test before and after provision(Pre and Post intervention) of LLIN. The blood samples were analyzed at the laboratory using the QBC Malaria Test and ParaLens system. The subjects were divided into two groups of study (group that received LLIN, enlightenment on the importance of LLIN and assisted with LLIN hanging) and Control (group that merely received the LLIN without enlightenment or assistance). The subjects in the study group were monitored between 1600hrs to 2000hrs thrice a week. The pre intervention study result shows that the prevalence of malaria infection was 70% and 56% amongst the study and Control group respectively. The post intervention blood samples screening reveals that the prevalence of infection in the study group was 13% with low parasite density. In the Control group, however, the prevalence of infection was 60% and 38.33% of those infected had high parasite density. There is a significant difference (P<0.05) in malaria parasitaemia between both groups post intervention. This study shows that distribution of LLINs alone is not sufficient to reduce malaria morbidity and recommends that enlightenment and assistance with hanging of LLINs should form an integral part of mass distribution of LLINs by government and donor agencies

Gender differences in time-poverty among rural households in Southwest Nigeria

This study seeks to assess gender inequality in and correlates of time poverty among 360 rural households in Southwest, Nigeria. A person is deemed to be time poor if (s)he works more than 10.5 hours per day, the internationally accepted threshold. Using the time allocation domain of the Abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index, the study found that on the average, rural women and men spent about 10.3 hours and 8 hours, respectively, on work activities on a daily basis. Work activities for women were found to be diverse, spreading across reproductive and productive domains largely farming, own business e. g. trading, cooking and domestic work, while for men, work activities centred on productive economic activities, dominated by farming. Using a Probit regression model, the study found experience in agriculture and adoption of television to reduce the likelihood of time poverty among rural men. Surprisingly, participation in empowerment projects was found to increase the likelihood of time poverty among rural women. In conclusion, empowerment programmes should be expanded to address the non-material aspects of human well-being. Hence, the study recommends a gender-sensitive approach to intervention programmes in agriculture and adoption of a broader definition of empowerment which not only focus on expanding access to markets and increasing income but enhances control over time. This is more important for women who are already under the double burden of paid and unpaid domestic work

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

Mineral Content of Grasses from Natural Pasture in South West Nigeria

Nigeria’s grassland grows on uncultivated land on which animals have access for grazing. These are found along roadsides and fallow lands in the coastal forest zones of Nigeria. Most of the natural grassland/rangeland assumes more important proportions in the open derived savanna zones of the country. Ruminant production during dry season is limited by low productivity of pasture forages, which often contain too low mineral concentration to meet the minimum requirement for optimal productivity of livestock (Annison and Bryden, 1998)

CONTRIBUTION OF FORMAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CASSAVA PROCESSING IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out to assess the contribution of Formal Financial Institutions (FFIs) to income of cassava processors in Benue state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 234 cassava processors from 18 communities in the state. Data on credit sources and uses, processing activities and income were collected using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while the impact of the credit was assessed using the before and after comparison. The result shows that about a third of the processors had access to formal credits. The Nigerian Agricultural Bank ranked highest (83%) in terms of patronage. Commercial and microfi-nance banks«¤?? lending to cassava processing represented about 12% and 5% respectively of the total credit received. Majority (70%) of the processors received less than N100, 000 per year; an average of N63,152, which is about 12% of total amount, required. Credit financing from formal financial institu-tions was found to have significant effects on both the output of garri and flour processed and the profit from garri, flour and chips«¤?? processing. The credit use structure shows that over 65% of the credit was use to increase processing scale, through increase in the purchase of raw tubers and payment for processing labour

CONTRIBUTION OF FORMAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CASSAVA PROCESSING IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out to assess the contribution of Formal Financial Institutions (FFIs) to income of cassava processors in Benue state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 234 cassava processors from 18 communities in the state. Data on credit sources and uses, processing activities and income were collected using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while the impact of the credit was assessed using the before and after comparison. The result shows that about a third of the processors had access to formal credits. The Nigerian agricultural bank ranked highest (83%) in terms of patronage. Commercial and microfinance banks’ lending to cassava processing represented about 12% and 5% respectively of the total credit received. Majority (70%) of the processors received less than N100, 000 per year; an average of N63,152, which is about 12% of total amount, required. Credit financing from formal financial institutions was found to have significant effects on both the output of garri and flour processed and the profit from garri, flour and chips’ processing. The credit use structure shows that over 65% of the credit was use to increase processing scale, through increase in the purchase of raw tubers and payment for processing labour

The Role of Agricultural Extension Service in Poverty Alleviation Among Oil Palm Farmers in Ogun State

This study examined the major roles playedby the government owned agricultural extension outfit in other to alleviate the poverty status of oilpalmfarmers in Ogun State. Multi stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 Oil palm farmers, who were interviewed in May 2003. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistical tools such as percentages, averages, ranking andcharts. Two null hypotheses were also testedusing the Chi Square Coefficient. The result revealed that oilpalmfarmers are elderly, married, males andfemales. They have noformal education and are members offarmers cooperative groups. It was also established that, more than half of thefarmers are large-scale oil palm producers. They still use crude methodsfor palmfruit harvesting andprocessing. Furthermore, the studyfound significant relationship between group membership andfrequency of extension agents’ contacts (}Cmi = 23.65). The study concluded that, fanners are better assisted when they form strong groups through which intervention can take place. It also recommends that, other categories offarmers should be encouraged to organize themselves into viable groups so that they can benefit adequately from the services rendered by the extension service agency. Also, better working environment should be providedfor thefield level extension agents to better perform their roles in the rural ureas

The Role of Agricultural Extension Service in Poverty Alleviation Among Oil Palm Farmers in Ogun State

This study examined the major roles playedby the government owned agricultural extension outfit in other to alleviate the poverty status of oilpalmfarmers in Ogun State. Multi stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 Oil palm farmers, who were interviewed in May 2003. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistical tools such as percentages, averages, ranking andcharts. Two null hypotheses were also testedusing the Chi Square Coefficient. The result revealed that oilpalmfarmers are elderly, married, males andfemales. They have noformal education and are members offarmers cooperative groups. It was also established that, more than half of thefarmers are large-scale oil palm producers. They still use crude methodsfor palmfruit harvesting andprocessing. Furthermore, the studyfound significant relationship between group membership andfrequency of extension agents’ contacts (}Cmi = 23.65). The study concluded that, fanners are better assisted when they form strong groups through which intervention can take place. It also recommends that, other categories offarmers should be encouraged to organize themselves into viable groups so that they can benefit adequately from the services rendered by the extension service agency. Also, better working environment should be providedfor thefield level extension agents to better perform their roles in the rural ureas