Determinants of catfish farmers’ use of sustainable environmental management practices in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study assessed the use of sustainable environmental management practices (SEMP) by fish farmers in Enugu state, Nigeria. Seventy-five catfish farmers selected through multistage sampling procedure were used for the study. Data were obtained with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics, probit regression model and factor analysis. Results showed that most of the catfish farmers did not apply SEMP as only 25.33% of them had a score of 50% and above regarding the application of SEMP. The number of years spent in school and being a male significantly increased the likelihood of using SEMP. In contrast, the likelihood of use of SEMP significantly reduced with an increase in the number of production cycles carried out by a fish farmer. The fish farmers' constraints were grouped as poor technical knowledge and feed issues, financial uncertainties, and water supply problems. Government should deliver training packages and provide information on SEMP to catfish farmers through different media, including extension agents, radio and television messages, handbills and billboards. Supporting the farmers with credit facilities through existing credit programmes would help reduce their challenges in applying SEMP.

Determinants of farmers’ knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in dry zones of Central Highlands, Kenya

This study ascertained the socioeconomic determinants of farmers’ knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in Dry zones of Central Highlands of Kenya involving 400 farming households. Results showed that the majority of the farmers had inadequate knowledge on the use and benefits of soil and water conservation technologies. The socio-economic factors that influence knowledge levels of the knowledge-intensive technologies were education level, gender, perceptions on soil fertility, farmer group membership, access to training, farm size, access to credit, number of livestock kept and access to farm equipment. This implies that there is the need to come up with an all-inclusive policy that can be employed in improving farmer’s level of knowledge through the use of more innovative methods of information dissemination. This can be done by strengthening the existing farmer groups, enhancing extension services, and also formulating gender-friendly policies.

Digitization of agricultural extension system for effective management of emergency in Nigeria

This paper presents challenges facing agricultural extension system in Nigeria most especially, during crises and emergencies, which necessitate the adoption of digitizing extension systems as a basis for improving farmers’ access to extension services during emergencies. The emergence of ICTs has given rise to digitization, which is the delivery of agricultural advice via audiovisual messages (video), interactive voice response (IVR) and short message services (SMS) among others. Efforts should be made by the stakeholders in agricultural extension to digitize the country's extension system by capitalizing on the existing enthusiasm among extension practitioners, and farmers using lessons of best practices from elsewhere.

Adoption of banana (Musa spp) production technology among small-scale farmers in Embu West Sub-County, Kenya

The study examined adoption of recommended banana production technology among small-scale farmers in Embu West Sub-County, Kenya. Data were obtained from a sample of 384 small-scale banana farmers that were proportionately selected from four wards of the study area. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection. Both percentages and inferential statistics were employed in data analysis. The study used a logarithmic multiple linear regression model based on Cobb-Douglas production function. The amount of credit accessed, cost of the banana plantlets, fertilizer and manure had significant effects on banana output area. In addition, adoption of tissue culture banana, use of irrigation, debudding, desuckering, deleafing and banana value addition had positive and significant effects on banana production. The County government to enhance sensitization of small-scale banana farmers on the importance of adopting these and other recommended technologies for improved banana yields.

Determinants of inorganic fertilizer use by smallholder farmers in South Wollo and Oromia special administrative zones, Ethiopia

The study investigated the determinants of fertilizer use by smallholder farmers. Data were drawn from 207 smallholder farmers, experts, and respective office heads using structured and semi-structured interview schedules, Key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Data were analysed using percentage, mean and standard deviation and linear regression model. About 94% of the farmers had the willingness to apply inorganic fertilizer on their farmland. An increasing price of inorganic fertilizer (96%), poor demand estimation (82%), delay in distribution (78%), lack of attention for the irrigation production system (65%), and unfair distribution/nepotism (61%) are the top-ranked challenges affecting inorganic fertilizer use. The existence of more active labour forces in the family (dy/dx = 20.4, t = 2.49), farmsize (dy/dx = 14.53, t = 3.82), ownership (dy/dx = 75 .13, t = 10.64), total income (dy/dx = 0.00024, t = 2.24), use of credit service (dy/dx = 31.11, t = 1.94), and frequency of extension contact (dy/dx = 24.60, t = 2.07), were found significantly promoting the amount of fertilizer use by smallholder farmers. Actions such as real demand estimation, arranging agricultural implements, and fertilizer subsidy for resource-poor farmers should be implemented to ensure food self-sufficiency.

Factors influencing adoption of improved cultivars of macadamia (Macadamia spp.) among small-scale farmers in Embu County, Kenya

The study investigated the factors influencing adoption of improved cultivars of macadamia (Macadamia spp.) among small-scale farmers in Embu County, Kenya. Data was collected from a sample of 384 small-scale farmers obtained through multistage sampling procedure in ten sub-locations. Binary Logit model was used to determine the effect of selected institutional and socio-economic factors on adoption of improved cultivars of macadamia. The results revealed that education level (wald=26.160), access to extension services (wald=6.246) and farm size (wald=4.271) had significant positive influence on adoption of improved cultivars of macadamia while age of the farmer (wald=5.235) and market distance (wald=5.519) had a negative influence on the same. There is need to encourage the youth to embrace macadamia farming and to develop smart marketing strategies to promote adoption of improved cultivars.

Factors affecting multiple climate change adaptation practices of smallholder farmers in lower Eastern Kenya

The study investigated the socioeconomic and institutional factors influencing uptake of multiple climate change adaptation practices among smallholder farmers in lower Eastern Kenya. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 384 small-scale farmers. Percentage and regression were used in the analysis. Among the socio-economic factors, gender positively and significantly influenced adoption of conservation agriculture and water harvesting at 5%, respectively. Among the institutional factors, distance to markets positively or negatively influenced uptake of all the technologies at 1% and 5%, respectively. Due to complementarity in adoption of all the seven adaptation practices, age and distance to nearest markets should be considered during technology dissemination. The study, therefore, calls for agricultural policy reforms that aim at designing incentive programmes which adequately address most of the socioeconomic and institutional issues related to uptake of adaptation practices as well as encouraging off-farm diversification.

Effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures used by women garden egg farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures used by women in garden egg production in Enugu State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select eighty respondents for the study. Data were collected through the use of semi-structured interview schedule and analysed with descriptive statistical tools such as frequency count, percentage, mean scores and standard deviation. The major effects of climate change on garden egg production were scarcity of floral resources (x̅ = 3.00), increased spread of pests and pathogens (x̅ =2.78), reduced pollen production in flowers (x̅ = 2.68), increased garden egg susceptibility to pathogens (x̅ = 2.67) and decreased quantity and quality of garden egg production (x̅ = 2.67). The effectiveness of adaptation strategies used by women in garden egg production were change of farming sites (x̅ = 2.97), establishment of water reserve and farming close to irrigated area (x̅ = 2.92). The identified constraints to adapting to the present climate change scenario included: unstable weather (x̅ = 3.00), unavailability of modern harvesting techniques (x̅ = 2.75), increased pest and disease pathogens (x̅ = 2.68) and poor access to materials and equipment (x̅ = 2.63). Hence, this study recommends provision of incentives such as materials and equipment’s and increased training of garden egg farmers on how to reduce and prevent pests and diseases outbreak.

Self-esteem of agriculture students at the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria

The study investigated self-esteem of agriculture students of the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta in Southwestern, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 117 and 124 students from the conventional university and agriculture-based university respectively. A structured questionnaire was used in data collection and analysed with percentages, Chi-square, PPMC and independent t-test. The students from the University of Ibadan (UI) preferred medicine (x̄ = 1.14), had unfavourable perception (87.2%) about agriculture and low self-esteem (85.5%) while students from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) preferred agriculture (x̄ = 1.48), had favourable perception (82.7%) about agriculture and high self-esteem (89.5%). Self-esteem was significantly related to family structure and preferred course of study in UI while sex and perception towards agriculture is significantly related to self-esteem of students in FUNAAB. There were significant differences in self-esteem of students in UI and FUNAAB and that of 100 level and 500 level students in UI. School counsellors should promote careers and opportunities in agriculture to make it popular and attractive to the students.

Knowledge of extension agents on climate smart agricultural initiatives in South-West Nigeria

This study examined the knowledge level of extension agents on six classes of climate smart adaptation initiatives (CSAI). A multi-stage sampling procedure was utilized to collect data from 277 agents in South-West Nigeria with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were descriptively analysed using frequency counts, percentages and means. The result showed that extension agents were knowledgeable on crop-mix (56.3%) and tillage-smart (53.4%) related initiatives with more than half of them scoring above the mean benchmark. However, they had a low knowledge level on the majority of the water management (59.2%), fossil-burning (94.2%), soil (75.8%), ICT and other adaptive initiatives (98.9%) as the majority of them scored below the mean benchmark for each of these categories. Seminars and workshops should be provided by extension organizations for these agents to upgrade their knowledge on these initiatives, thus positioning them to effectively be able to render needed advisories to farmers. This will equip farmers to be adept in responding adequately to managing climate change risks and also scale-up their use of CSAI.