Agricultural Extension

Maize Innovation System in North Central, Nigeria.

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Maize Innovation System in North Central, Nigeria. Afolabi, Kayode Ojo The study examined maize innovation system in north central, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe policies, acts and initiatives in maize innovation system, examine the technological capabilities of selected key actors in maize innovation system, examine the levels of linkage existing among the key actors, identify constraints in maize innovation system and identify strategies for improving maize innovation system in the study area. The study was carried out in north central , Nigeria. Specifically, Kwara, Kogi and Benue States of Nigeria constituted the population for the study. A total sample size of one hundred and fifty-six (156) respondents constituted the sample size for the study. Data for the study were collected through structured questionnaire and pre-tested interview schedule. Data were presented as percentage, mean and standard deviation. While factor analysis with loading of 0.4 and above was used to analyze constraints to maize innovation. The review of agricultural programmes, policies, acts and initiatives in maize innovation system revealed unsteady growth rate, low investment, weak linkage and lack of continuity. Technological and investment capabilities in equipment (9.9 %) and human resource (53.3 %) were found to be low among maize innovation actors. The linkage mechanism that were frequently used by the respondents were joint planning meeting ( =2.2), exchange of resources ( =2.2), joint training ( =2.2), joint workshop/seminars ( =2.2), memoranda of understanding ( =2.0), joint programming and priority setting ( =2.0) and joint research among stake holders ( =2.0).The results also revealed strong linkage between technology transfer agents and educators ( = 2.7), policy makers and farmers ( =2.5), researchers and educators ( =2.0), educators and technology transfer ( =2.0). A weak linkage was recorded among farmers and policy makers ( =1.7), educators ( =1.6), technology transfer agents ( =1.6) and researchers ( =1.4). The linkage mechanism that were frequently used by the respondents were joint planning meeting ( =2.2), exchange of resources ( =2.2), joint training ( =2.2), joint workshop/seminars ( =2.2), memoranda of understanding ( =2.0), joint programming and priority setting ( =2.0) and joint research among stake holders ( =2.0).Factors constraining maize innovation were policy/organizational related factors -poor information flow (0.817) and weak public- private sector collaboration (0.779), manpower related factors - poor extension network (0.768), low mobility of experts (professionals) (0.673) and poor motivation of staff (0.647), financial/marketing related factors include complex process of agricultural budgeting for research (0.728), lack of information on market (0.551) and poor access to credit (0.532 ) while institutional related factors were bureaucracy (0.679) and farmers’ conservatism (0.476). The major strategies for improving maize innovation include formation of maize cooperative society ( =2.6), access to communication facilities (internet and mobile phones) ( =2.6), adoption of improved maize varieties ( =2.6), improved funding on maize research ( =2.6), better marketing channel/networks ( =2.6), improved labour saving devices ( =2.6), regular visit and training by extension agents ( =2.5), improved working conditions for innovation actors ( =2.6) and adoption of improved pest management control strategies ( =2.4). The study recommend strong linkage between research ,university and enterprise, increase in investment in human and non-human resources, enlightment programmes on the roles of actors in maize innovation system, strengthening professional associations such as maize association of Nigeria (MAN), formulation of policies and enactment of legal and regulatory mechanism favourable to maize production and improvement on value and addition for scaling up of maize in meeting the rising feed demands and becoming an exporter crop.

Impact Of The National Fadama Development Project Phase (Ii) On Poverty Reduction And Food Security Among Rice Farmer Beneficiaries In Kogi State, Nigeria

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Impact Of The National Fadama Development Project Phase (Ii) On Poverty Reduction And Food Security Among Rice Farmer Beneficiaries In Kogi State, Nigeria Olaolu, Michael Olatunji The study was conducted to examine the impact of the National Fadama Development Project (II) (NFDP-II) on poverty reduction and food security among rice-farmer beneficiaries in Kogi State Nigeria. Four LGAs that participated in the Fadama (II) project and cultivated rice were selected through a multi stage sampling, two Fadama Community Associations (FCAs) were also randomly selected from the each of the four selected LGAs and two facilitators were selected from each of the LGAs selected. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) respondents (112 farmers and 8 facilitators) constituted the sample size for the study. A set of interview schedules and questionnaire were used to collect the data for the study. Descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage and mean score were used to analyze the data collected. Gross margin, Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty model and food security model were used to determine farmers’ profitability, food security status and poverty level. Factor analysis with principal factor model with interation and varimax rotation was used to determine major constraints while t-test were used to analyze the impact of the project on farmers’ profitability and difference in respondents’ perception of problems encountered. The result of the study showed that the majority of the farmers (51.8%) and facilitators (75%) were males, the mean age of the farmers was 45.5 years while that of the facilitators was 38.5 years. The majority (57.1%) of the farmers have farming as their primary occupation. Information from fellow farmers was the most popular (96.4%) source of information on fadama project. Among some of the improved innovations on rice production introduced by the NFDP(II), only the rice farming inputs and field preparation/planting distance had above average adoption ratio with adoption index of 0.84 and 0.96 respectively. The gross margins of rice production before and after the project was significantly different with t-value of -14.94 at p < 0.05. The food security analysis of the farmers revealed that more (2.8%) of them were food insecure after the project. The project had positive impact on poverty reduction of the farmers. With respect to the perceived problems being encountered by the farmers in the project, poverty level of the farmers was perceived as the most serious (mean score = 3.89), while the facilitators perceived both high cost of farm inputs and lack of credit facilities as the most serious problems (mean scores of 3.38 each). The results of the analysis further revealed that both farmers and facilitators share similar opinion on twenty identified problems and have significant differences in their perception on seven identified problems at p< 0.05. The result, however showed that several factors constrained the effectiveness of the NFDP (II) in the study areas. These factors were grouped into technical problems; institutional problems and economic problems. The most popular strategies suggested for effective performance of the project were provision of tractors for land preparation (65.2%) by farmers, proper implementation and completion of the programme plans as well as the supply of subsidised farm inputs and farmers’ training (87.5%) by the facilitators. In conclusion, the study provided evidence of the effectiveness of Community Driven Development approach on food security and poverty reduction. It is therefore recommended that, to improve the overall performance of the programme, the programme staff at all levels should ensure that the programme implementation plans, (various local development plans (LDPs)) are followed religiously and the programme projects are completed.

Trends in the Activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Anambra State, Nigeria, 1991-2013

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Trends in the Activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Anambra State, Nigeria, 1991-2013 Amakom, Stanley Tochukwu This study evaluated the impact of the extension services of Green River Project (GRP) on fish farmers in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Specifically, it sought to ascertain fishery technologies received by GRP fish farmers; determine adoption of fish farming technologies by fish farmers; determine impact of extension services of GRP on socioeconomic condition of the fish farmers as at the year 2012; ascertain farmers’ perceived constraints to adoption of GRP fish farming technologies; ascertain constraints to effective performance of extension services of GRP and determine perceived strategies to improve effectiveness of the extension services of GRP. The study was carried out in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 fish farmers and 20 GRP personnel. Data were collected through the use of questionnaire and interview schedule. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean statistic, percentage) were used to present data while t-test, regression, chi-square and factor analysis with varimax rotation were used to analyze the data. Mean age of GRP fish farmers and personnel were 50 and 41.70 years, respectively. Majority (76.7% of fish farmers and 65% of GRP personnel) of respondents were male. Also majority (77.5%) of the fish farmers and all (100%) the GRP personnel were married. The respondents were literates. Majority (70.0) of the fish farmers also engaged in other income generating activities. Average household size of the fish farmers and GRP personnel were 6.0 and 4.0 persons, respectively. Average years of participation in GRP for the fish farmers was 8.00 years while the mean years of working with GRP of the personnel was 12.65years. The farmers’ average number of contact with GRP was 4.0 times per month. GRP personnel used different types of teaching methods such as the use of contact group (100%), T&V system (90%) and SPAT (85.0%). Majority (86.7%) of the fish farmers belonged to social organisations. Majority of respondents received most of the technologies disseminated. Adoption index of fish farm management technologies, feeding techniques, fish culture management technique, water quantity and quality management techniques and liming techniques were 0.79, 0.77, 0.77, 0.88 and 0.52 respectively. Extension services of GRP had impact on quantity of fingerlings stocked (t=6.398; p≤ 0.05) and quantity of fishes harvested (t=6.279; p≤ 0.05); income from fishes produced (t=7.390; p≤ 0.05) among others. Constraints to adoption of GRP technologies were grouped into technology dissemination constraints; project implementation and sustainability constraints among others. Some socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents (age (years), years spent in formal education and years of participation in GRP) influenced the adoption of the fish farming technologies. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected for these variables. There was significant difference between the average quantities of fish stocked and average quantity of fish harvested by the fish farmers in Imo and Rivers States after participation in GRP hence the null hypothesis was rejected. The null hypothesis was rejected while the alternative hypothesis was accepted. It further revealed that there was no significant difference between the average income earned by the fish farmers in Imo and Rivers States after participation in GRP and the null hypothesis was accepted. Implementation constraints to effective performance of extension services of GRP according to GRP personnel included: climatic uncertainties and flooding (M= 1.55) and delay in input supply

Adoption of Oba 98 Maize Production Technologies by Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Adoption of Oba 98 Maize Production Technologies by Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria Odia, Franklin Ndubuisi This study was carried out to examine the adoption of Oba 98 maize production technologies by farmers in Delta State. Specifically, the study ascertained major sources of information on Oba 98 maize production technologies; determined the extent of adoption of Oba 98 maize production technologies; determined factors influencing the adoption of Oba 98 maize production technologies; and identified perceived constraints to adoption of Oba 98 maize production technologies. The study was carried out in Delta State. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the sample size for the study. In the first stage, six (6) LGAs were purposively selected out of 25 LGAs based on their popularity on maize farming. In the second stage two (2) towns farming communities that are popular in maize production were randomly selected from the six (6) LGAs giving a total of twelve (12) town farming communities. In the third stage, ten (10) maize farmers were selected from a list of maize farmers from the twelve communities through simple random sampling technique, giving a total of one hundred and twenty (120) maize farmers. Data collected on socio economic characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics consisting of percentages, frequency and mean scores. Objectives 1 and 2 were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Objective 3 was analyzed using multiple regression, while objective 4 was analyzed using mean score and standard deviations. The statistical products and service solutions (SPSS) version 20.0 constituted the software package used for the analysis. The study revealed that greater proportion (27.5%) of the respondents were within the age range of 31-40 years. Majority (65.8%) were male. About 43% had household size of between 8-11 persons. Majority (72.5%) were married. About 35% had more than 10 years farming experience. Also, 30% acquired primary school education. Majority (91.7%) were Christians. Furthermore, 45.8% received between N 10,000 and N 100,000 as income realized from the sale of maize. Majority (95%) cultivated less than 3 ha of land. A greater proportion (65.8%) inherited their farmland. Majority (61.7%) did not have access to credit facilities, but 38.8% received credit from institutional sources. Greater proportion (29.7%) had thrift savings as non-institutional source of credit. Majority (69.2%) of the respondents used hired labour as their major source of labour for maize production. Also, majority (73.3%) had been visited by extension agents. Majority (87.5%) belonged to one or more social organizations. Data collected on sources of information revealed that majority (33.3%) received information from radio. Technologies mainly adopted included use of planting space of 75cm by 25cm with adoption mean score of 3.48, use of post emergence herbicides with adoption mean score of 2.45and use of insecticides to control pest with adoption mean score of 3.38. Major constraints to adoption of innovations were poor access to sources of agricultural information with a mean score of 2.87, poor accessibility to institutional credits with a mean score of 2.86, inadequate rural roads with a mean score of 2.84 , inadequate extension contact with a mean score of 2.81, in adequacy of modern storage and processing facilities with a mean score of 2.77, poor health status of rural farmers with a mean score of 2.71, weak market information with a mean score of 2.67, scarcity and high cost of inputs with a mean score of 2.62 and ignorance of usefulness of the technologies with a mean score of 2.53. Conclusively, mean age was 37 years, mean household size was 10 family members, mean farming experience was 11 years and mean number of years spent in school was 12 years. The only personal characteristic that influenced adoption was annual income realized from the sale of maize. It is recommended that farmers should be encouraged to participate actively in farmers/social organizations and co-operative societies in order to strengthen their group action and as such act as effective channels for extension information delivery system to farmers, when maize farmers are in cooperative societies they take advantage of government policies and programmes and attract more funds to themselves. Also, farmers should be linked to sources of affordable credit so as to enable them purchase necessary inputs and their complementary need.maize technology