scholarly journals Assessment of Extension Delivery Methods to Farmers in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Author(s):  
P. G. Kughur ◽  
A. A. Aveuya ◽  
Y. Kuza

Information plays a very important role in agriculture in particular and life in general. Agriculture has become information-intensive; information is required for livestock and crop production. It empowers farmers to respond to market incentives, risks, and competition. Farmers access information from a variety of sources. These sources can be divided into formal and informal information networks. The study assessed extension delivery methods to farmers in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used in selecting 125 respondents through survey. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that males were 74.2%, the respondents 49% were between 26 and 35 years, 61.7% were married, 52% had farm size of 6 hectares and above. About 34% earned an estimated annual income of between ₦100,000.0 and ₦500,000.0, 83.3% acquired land through inheritance and 47.5% obtained information from extension services using radio. About 50% of identified characteristics of the effectiveness of extension delivery methods used were helped solve problems and 86% of constraints to the effectiveness of extension delivery methods used were poor infrastructure. It is recommended that government and non-governmental organizations should provide infrastructure, organize adult education for farmers and organize training to update knowledge of extension workers.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Ezekiel Olaoluwa Akerele ◽  
Damilola Tobi Babayanju ◽  
Olumayowa Oyebanjo

This study examined farm size and productivity of food crop farmers in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. The study was based on primary data obtained through the use of structured questionnaires. The survey involved a cross section random selection of 112 farming households from the study area. Data were obtained on the socio – economic characteristic of the farming members of the households, mode of land acquisition, parcels of land available for cultivation, total parcels of land cultivated, resources used, cost and outputs of food crops on parcels of land cultivated. The data was analyzed by both descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier model with the level of land fragmentation measured by Simpson index as well as the number of parcel cultivated. It was found that significant evidence exists to show that most farms cultivated in the study area are relatively fragmented which was caused by inheritance mode of land acquisition and this have effect on food crop production. The farm sizes cultivated by farming households have significance effect on output. Hired labour and cost of intermediate materials used have significant effect on the production efficiency of farmers. The finding revealed that most farming households in the study area were found operating relatively on scattered farm land. On the basis of the above findings, it was recommended that Farmers' accessibility to loans should be addressed by government and to establish farm estate, pattern of land holding and also acquisition of more farmland should be addressed for high production efficiency.


Author(s):  
A. A. Dalla ◽  
S. K. Vihi ◽  
B. Jesse ◽  
L. G. Tor

This study assessed cost and returns analysis of groundnut production in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the socio economic characteristics of groundnut producers in the study area, estimate the cost and returns of groundnut production, determine the input and output relationship in groundnut production and identify the constraints faced by groundnut farmers in the study area. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 150 respondents for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of structured questionnaires and interview technique and were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results obtained from the study revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 38 years with males dominating (82%) the groundnut production enterprise in the study area. Greater (85%) percentages of respondents were married with majority (64%) of them having primary school education. The respondents had an average household size of nine (9) persons, a mean farming experience of 9.3 years and an average farm size of 3.0 hectares. The result also revealed that majority (72%) of the respondents did not belong to any cooperative/ farming association. The result indicates that majority (79%) of the groundnut farmers acquired their farmland by inheritance. Groundnut production in the study area is profitable. The average output obtained per hectare was 696 kg at the prevailing selling price of ₦280/kg. The total revenue (TR), gross margin (GM) and, net farm income (NFI) per hectare obtained were ₦194880, ₦139380 and ₦123730 respectively. The return on naira invested (RNI) by farmers in the study area was ₦1.70 indicating that for every one naira invested, ₦1.70 profit was gained. The result of the double log production function analysis shows that farm size, cost of fertilizer and cost of labour were statistically significant and influenced the profitability of groundnut production.  Major constraints to groundnut production in the study area include; high cost of inputs (64 %), high cost of labour (49 %), lack of organized market system (47%), land tenure (42%) among others. The study recommends that groundnut stakeholders and research institutes should work more on introducing new improved groundnut varieties. Government should subsidize groundnut inputs like recommended fertilizer and herbicides so as to motivate farmers to grow groundnut. Government should establish organized marketing systems where farmers will have proper and reliable linkages with buyers thereby reducing the undue exploitative tendencies of the middlemen.  Improved storage facilities should be provided so that farmers could store their produce to avoid spoilage and for sale during times of scarcity.


Author(s):  
Amurtiya Michael ◽  
Yuniyus Dengle Giroh ◽  
Mark Polycarp ◽  
Zubairu Emmanuel Ashindo

The purpose of this study was to analyse rural farm households’ access to formal agricultural credit in Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa state, Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the primary data collected using structured questionnaire (from 140 rural farming households). Findings from the study have shown that, 90 % of the respondents were male, mostly educated (70 %) and married (89 %) engaging in farming as their primary livelihood activity (about 81 %) with an average farm size of 2.47 hectares. The result of the binary logit regression has shown that level of education and income do influence access to credit positively, while age and distance to access point negatively influence respondents’ access to formal credit. The study further revealed that, lack of acceptable collateral / security, high interest rates, low financial literacy, and complex banking procedures were the main factors that limits the respondents’ access to credit facility from formal sources. In order for farmers to have an improved access to formal credits, the formation of strong groups that are viable to provide the needed capital is encouraged, banking operations should be simplified to suite farmers’ needs / convenience and financial literacy among farmers should be improved through awareness campaigns (in agricultural extension packages).


Author(s):  
O. B. Ibeagwa ◽  
N. C. Ehirim ◽  
G. N. Ben-Chendo ◽  
I. I. Ukoha ◽  
E. C. Osuji ◽  
...  

The increased incidences of farming risks have been a challenge among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. This study set out to assess risk management strategies among arable crop farmers in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. The proportion of risk in arable crop production and the factors that influence risk in arable crop production in the study area were specifically estimated. Primary data used for the study were collected with the aid of well-structured questionnaire from eighty-four farmers in the study area. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result revealed that majority of the arable crop farmers (52.4%) were females. The average age and household size were 54 years and 5 persons respectively. Educational level, age, farming experience, farm size, household size and farm income were the factors influencing the estimated output of the farmers due to the prevalence of risk in arable crop production. The study recommended the continuous education of arable crop farmers in the area so as to increase their capacity to deal with risk on their farms.


Author(s):  
M. R. Umar ◽  
I. J. Suleiman

This study was carried out to access farmer’s contribution to Agriculture in Rural Development of Fufore LGA of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Seven wards within the LGA were selected (Ribadu, Gurin, Farang, Mayo-ine, Pariya, Karlahi and Yadim). Thirty (30) questionnaires were randomly distributed to the household in each ward selected through multi-state random sampling technique as primary data. A total of Two Hundred and Ten (210) farmers were selected for the study. Data were analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics and multiple regression models. Results show that Age, Marital status, Farm size, Family size, Education level have percentage ranging from 10-28.6, 13.3-31, 4-69, 5.2-31 and 15.2-37.6% respectively while Primary occupation, Access to credit, Number of extension visit and farm income percentage values ranged from 3.8-43.9, 15.7-25.7, 5.7-53.4 and 8.1-35.7% respectively.  The result further shows that the majority of the respondents are still in their youthful stage and 31% of them were married. The study further reveals that 69% of the respondents cultivate on 1-5 hectares of land, the result of the multiple regression analysis indicates that farm size was negative and significant at 5% level; Education level has a positive coefficient and significant at 1% level while access to credit coefficient was positive and significant at 5% level. The findings of the regression equation determine the manner towards farmer’s contribution to agriculture in rural development and examine the constraints militating farmer’s contributions to agriculture in the study area. Cob-Douglas function with R­2 value of 0.813 was chosen as the lead equation. Low price of farm output poor extension visits, market distance, is some of the major problems affecting the contribution of agriculture to the development of the study area. It was therefore recommended that there is need to train and provide farming equipment’s, agricultural credit should also provide the needed environment to foster rural development facilities in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-162
Author(s):  
Sanchi ID ◽  
Alhassan YJ ◽  
Musa SY ◽  
Suleiman YS ◽  
Utono MS ◽  
...  

The study examined the Economic and Environmental Factors Influencing Pesticides Handling and Usage in Danko/Wasagu Local Government area of Kebbi State, Nigeria. Structured Questionnaires were used to obtained information from the respondents. Descriptive statistics comprising frequency distribution tables and percentages, Mean and Ranking were used for Data Analysis. The result of the study showed that majority of the respondents (90%) were male while female formed the minority in pesticide usage with only (10%). The study also showed that all the respondents (100%) were married and engaged in agricultural activities. The study further revealed that all the respondents never had any formal training on the use of pesticide from either governmental or non -governmental organizations. The research study also found out that all (100%) of the respondents were not aware of pesticide effects on man and environment. On the economic and environmental factors affecting pesticide handling and usage, it was found out that, the effect of pesticide on man and the environment is in the form of Nausea, Dizziness, Diarrhea, Respiratory Difficulty, Skin Irritation, Rashes, and Fever, Peeling of the Skin, Vomiting, and Headache. These were discovered to be the serious effects of pesticides on man. However, it was found out that the effects of pesticides on the environment were in the form of pollution, annihilation of the micro fauna and flora and reduction in land viability on the occasion of repeated usage over time, pollution of water bodies, pollution of the atmosphere, depletion of plat population etc. It is concluded that respondents were posed with serious challenges on pesticide usage and handling. It is therefore recommended that appropriate authorities should enforce the use of protective clothing, appropriate equipment and correct handling practices when using pesticides. Existing pesticide regulations and monitoring policies should be enforced. Government should also intensify efforts at registering and controlling distribution of pesticides and banning hazardous ones. It should also enforce the making of less toxic pesticides available to farmers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 28-32
Author(s):  
Saheed O. Sanusi ◽  
I. A. Adedeji ◽  
M. J. Madaki ◽  
G. Udoh ◽  
Z. Y. Abdullahi

This study was carried out to analyse cassava production, prospects and challenges in Irepodun local government area, Kwara State, Nigeria. It aimed to examine the determinant variables and determine the profitability level of cassava enterprises. The study was based on primary data obtained with the aid of structured questionnaire from 100 cassava farmers drawn through multi-stage sampling techniques from the study area. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, ordinary least square (OLS) regression model and gross margin analysis. The result of the OLS regression estimates showed that farm size, cost of fertilizer application, farm size, herbicides, family and hired labour were significant variable affecting cassava production in the study area. Fertilizer, farm size and hired labour are significant at 1% while herbicide and family labour are significant at 10%. The study found that the average gross margin per hectare for cassava production in the study area was ₦24,749.28 ($65.30) with a gross benefit ratio of 1.38. This shows that for every ₦1 invested in the business of cassava production, there is a corresponding profit of ₦1.38. The major challenges identified in cassava enterprise are huge transportation cost, high cost of production, lack of improved cassava cultivars, and lack of market linkages. The study concluded despite the problem encountered in the study area, cassava production is profitable and can serve as a panacea for economic improvement of households. Therefore, the study recommends that basic inputs such as improved cassava varieties, herbicides and fertilizer should be made available at affordable price. Also, infrastructural facilities such as good road network and improve marketing channels should be provided in order to sustain current cassava production rate and economic gains from the production.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 245-252
Author(s):  
David Okechukwu Enibe ◽  
◽  
Chinecherem Joan Raphael ◽  

The study analyzed the economics of pineapple production in Awgu Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 50 respondents from Amoli and Ihe communities of the LGA through a simple random sampling technique. The communities were purposively selected because they contain higher concentration of pineapple farmers. Primary data were collected using interview schedule administered to the respondents. Data were realized with descriptive statistics, enterprise budgeting techniques and multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that (36%) of the farmers had farming experience of 1 to 10 years’ experience in pineapple production, indicating that new farmers entered the crop’s production sector within the last decade. The enterprise proved profitable with farmers’ net return on investment value of 1.7. Farm size, cost of input, level of education and household size significantly determined net farm income. It was further revealed that poor access road and high transportation cost were the main constraints of the pineapple producers. The study concluded that profitable production opportunities exist on the crop. The study recommends that extension agencies should encourage more new farmers to exploit pineapple production potentials while encouraging its existing farmers to scale up production through farm size increment, reinvestment of their gains and production knowledge increase.


Author(s):  
S. K. Vihi ◽  
O. Adedire ◽  
B. K. Ngu-Uma

This study assessed the adoption of agroforestry practices among farmers in Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria. The multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 farmers from four (4) out of the six (6) districts in the Local Government Area for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of questionnaires and oral interview and were subjected to both descriptive and logit regression analysis. Findings from the study revealed that the mean age of the farmers was 39 years. Majority of the farmers were male and mostly married. The study also showed that majority of the respondents had at least one form of education with a mean farming experience of 7 years and a mean farm size of 3.5 hectares. A greater percentage of the respondents acquired their farmlands through inheritance. The greater proportion of the farmers affirmed to have had contact with extension agents three times in a year and the majority of them aware of agroforestry. The average number of agroforestry practices adopted by the farmers is approximately 2 with home garden adopted by the majority of the farmers. The results also revealed that the mean annual income of respondents is N113,529. The logit regression result showed that educational level, income, membership of cooperatives and land tenure had a significant relationship with the adoption of agroforestry practices at different levels of probabilities. The major constraints to agroforestry practices as opined by the respondents include; land and tree tenure rights,  long gestation period to obtain benefits, lack of knowledge and skills in agroforestry, low awareness of agroforestry practice and the high cost associated in adopting agroforestry. The study recommended the formulation of a good land use policy so that farmers can acquire land titles to guarantee the security of their land.


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