Adoption Behaviour of the Rural Farming Household in South West Nigeria: A Panacea for Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP)

The study examined the adoption behaviour of the rural farming household in South-West Nigeria. A cross-sectional sample survey of 200 farmers were randomly chosen for the study. Descriptive statistics and Tobit regression were used to calculate the probability of adoption. The study showed the magnitude of change in the level of adoption of agroforestry-based technologies by performing simulated analysis on some identified variables that could influence government policies. The simulation is done with an increase in the values of the variables by 5%, 10% and 20%. The results of this simulation of policy variables revealed that adoption will decrease with increase in age and credit facility. Also, any policy that will improve the quality and/or coverage of extension education is likely to increase adoption of agroforestry-based technologies. Landowners are likely to adopt agroforestry based technologies than tenants. Any policy that provides land to prospective farmers is likely to increase adoption of agroforestry-based technologies. Some of the general conclusion which have emerged from this investigation are that: Only availability of credit to farmers has significant effect on adoption of agroforestry-based technology at 0.05 level. However, at 0.10 level of significance, distance of input source from farm, membership of cooperative society and farmers’ educational status are significant in explaining adoption decision of farmers in the area. It is therefore recommended that there is need for provision of regular and better extension services to keep farmers abreast of the latest agroforestry-based technologies.

PROFITABILITY AND CONSTRAINTS OF IFAD/VCD RICE PROJECT AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN NIGER STATE OF NIGERIA

Failure to sustain most of the rural poor and food security programmes in Nigeria after their life span is due to poor productivity of the capital investment of a project to generate a remunerative income to sustain a typical agrarian farming household in Nigeria. Thus, to critically investigate this hypothetical proposition, this research aimed at evaluating the viability of the IFAD rice project among the beneficiaries in Niger State of Nigeria. Undated data of the 2018 rainfed cropping season was elicited from 111 farmers through a multi-stage sampling technique and the information were collected viaa structured questionnaire complemented with an interview schedule. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The empirical results showed that the rice project in the study area is likely not to be sustained after the stipulated time frame for the programme as inspite of the programme aim of doubling farmers’ income viz. value chain. The capital investment is not productive to sustain an average farming household composed of 8 persons having an operational holding of less than two hectares. Therefore, the study recommends provision of consumption credit in addition to the production credit advanced to the farmers in order to make the capital investment viable so that its turnover after each production season will be consistently re-invested into the rice project and possibility of a farmer taken-up additional activities along the chain, thus keeping the business going concern viable and sustainable.

THE EFFECT OF ADAPTATION PRACTICES TO CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION BY FARMING HOUSEHOLD. A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW

Purpose: Climate change can disrupt food availability, reduce access to food, and affect food quality. Projected increases in temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reductions in water availability may all result in reduced agricultural productivity. Increases in the frequency and severity extreme weather events can also interrupt food delivery, and resulting spikes in food prices after extreme events are expected to be more frequent in the future. Increasing temperatures can contribute to spoilage and contamination. The general objective of the study was to establish the effect of Adaptation practices to climate change and its impact on agricultural production by farming household. Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps. Findings: The study found out the locals households prefer multiple adaptation strategies to counter the effects of climate variability and change. The current local adaptation strategies include crop, diversification, shifting planting dates, off farm jobs and diversifying from farm to non – farm activities. However majority of the respondents employ crop diversification as the main adaptation strategy. For the locals’ crop diversification does, to an extent, guarantees good harvests although there are years in which farmers report total crop losses Recommendations: The study recommends that policy efforts should be directed at enforcing adaptation measures of climate change in order to boost agricultural production

Energy efficiency in an integrated agro-ecosystem within an acidic soil area of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Background Both exergy and energy analysis methodologies are used for analysing energy efficiencies in various processes, including agriculture. This study focuses on the connection of three main process components (husbandry-crop-fishpond) in a typical farming household located within an acid soil region of rural Vietnam. The concept of exergy analysis is used to underline the potential for resource efficiency in alternative processes in the agricultural system. For development of an integrated ecological system aiming towards zero emissions, the analytical methods of material cycles and energy flows utilized a set of indicators of resource efficiency in a sustainable agriculture. Results The design of the ideal integrated farming system “Agro-Industrial Zero Emissions Systems” (AIZES) can increase the system efficiency by making use of indigenous natural materials and waste reuse/recycling. Recycling waste produce energy, fish feed and fertilizer can result in a decreased environmental load of approximately half. Using exergy analysis to calculate an indicator non-renewable yield ratio (NRYR), the systems verified sustainability of agriculture production. Conclusions The farming household will be able to subsidize their fuel and electricity consumption by utilizing biogas. Surplus biogas will be distributed to proximate households, further creating sustainable goals. Biochar, created by mixing the biomass residues with local plants, will improve soil quality and pig sludge, mixed with biomass residue, will create high-quality fertilizer.

Energy efficiency in an integrated agro-ecosystem within an acidic soil area of the Mekong delta, Vietnam

Background: Both exergy and energy analysis methodologies are used for analysing energy efficiencies in various processes, including agriculture. This study focuses on the connection of three main process components (husbandry-crop-fishpond) in a typical farming household located within an acid soil region of rural Vietnam. The concept of exergy analysis is used to underline the potential for resource efficiency in alternative processes in the agricultural system. For development of an integrated ecological system aiming towards zero-emissions, the analytical methods of material cycles and energy flows utilized a set of indicators of resource efficiency in a sustainable agriculture.Results: The design of the ideal integrated farming system “Agro-Industrial Zero Emissions Systems” (AIZES) can increase the system efficiency by making use of indigenous natural materials and waste reuse/recycling. Recycling waste produce energy, fish feed and fertilizer can result in a decreased environmental load of approximately half. Using exergy analysis to calculate an indicator non-renewable yield ratio (NRYR), the systems verified sustainability of agriculture production.Conclusions: The farming household will be able to subsidize their fuel and electricity consumption by utilizing biogas.. Surplus biogas will be distributed to proximate households, further creating sustainable goals. Biochar, created by mixing the biomass residues with local plants, will improve soil quality and pig sludge, mixed with biomass residue, will create high-quality fertilizer.

Energy efficiency in an integrated agro-ecosystem at the acid soil area in Mekong delta, Vietnam

Background: Both exergy and energy analysis methods are used for analysing energy efficiency in all kind of processes, and can be used also in agriculture. The study focuses on the connection of the three main process components (husbandry-crop-fishpond) in a typical farming household in an acid soil region in rural Vietnam. The concept of exergy analysis is used to underline the potential for energy efficiency in alternative processes in the agricultural system. To develop an integrated ecological system towards zero-emission, the analytical methods of material cycles and energy flows use a set of indicators of resource efficiency in a sustainable agriculture.Results: The design of the ideal integrated farming system “Agro-Industrial Zero Emissions Systems” (AIZES) can increase the system efficiency by making use of indigenous natural materials and waste reuse, recycling. Recycling waste for energy, fish feed and fertilizing can result a decrease in half of environmental load. Using exergy analysis to calculate an indicator non-renewable yield ratio (NRYR), the systems imply sustainability of agriculture production.Conclusions: The farming household will be able to replace fuel and electricity resulting in energy self-sufficiency to distribute surplus biogas to surrounding households. Biochar created by mixing the biomass residues with local plants can improve soil quality. Pig sludge can become nutritious fertilizer when mixed with biomass residues. Also, utilizing biogas can reduce purchased electricity.

The Evolution and Dynamics of Managerial Economic Activities of Peasant Families: Ding County since the Republican Era

While the overall pattern of peasant economic activities in Ding county has remained largely unchanged since the Republican years, in which farming as the major source of income was supplemented with sidelines, this article finds constant changes in the ways in which this pattern continues and in the nature of supplementary sidelines. Specifically, there have been four types of peasant households: completely farming; farming combined with sidelines; non-farming combined with sidelines; completely non-farming, with the “combined households” being the dominant type and undergoing a transition from the farming-based to the non-farming-based. The farming household-based managerial pattern currently remains and will continue to be an optimal choice in the long run.