International Journal of Agricultural Science Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems
Volume:1 Issue: 3, Sep 2011

Nigeria represents one of the paradoxes of development in which case the nation is rich but her people are poor. This study examines the rate of poverty among rural households in South western, Nigeria. A random multistage sampling was employed for the study. Ekiti and Osun states were randomly selected from the six states in South-western Nigeria. This was followed by random selection of two Local Government Areas from each senatorial district of the states. Lastly, data were randomly collected from three hundred and ninety-nine households using structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) weighted poverty indices and Tobit regression. Mean age and household size were 41.3±11.4years and 6.0±2.2 respectively. The monthly mean per adult equivalent household expenditure of the households was N 4396.3. At a poverty line of N2930.90, fifty-two percent of the households were poor. The result of Tobit regression shows that age, household size, asset value and presence of toilet facility significantly affected poverty. [Olubunmi Lawrence Balogun. Determinants of Poverty among Rural Households in South Western States, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2011; 1(3):99-104].

Rainfall and evapotranspiration are the two most popular climatic factors which have crucial function on agricultural production. Rainfall can be directly measured easily in an area but evapotranspiration is estimated from weather data. In this study reference evapotranspiration ETo was estimated using Penman–Monteith equation. Monthly rainfall and evapotarnspiration were plotted and compared in order to determine moisture deficit periods for two main several stations in Kerman Province which located in south east of I.R. of Iran. Temporal variation of annual rainfall was analysed using rainfall anomaly index. It was found that the moisture deficit in both stations is obvious for whole year and irrigation requirement is high for agricultural production. ETo showed relatively low variation with time while year-to-year rainfall variability was very high. Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI) values was plotted and from these plots information on rainfall pattern over the past 33 years, such as drought years was obtained. [Shahram Karimi-Googhari. Analysis of Precipitation Climate and Evapotranspiration in Kerman of Iran. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2011; 1(3):105-108].

The study analyzed the information needs and accessibility of artisanal fisher folk in Benue State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select two fishing communities from each of the three agro-ecological zones in the study area. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 222 respondents. Descriptive statistics showed that artisanal fisher folk were mostly married male adults with low level of formal education, low income, and low use of modern technologies. The chi-square test revealed that there was a significant relationship between access to needed information and the output of the artisanal fisher folk at 1% level of significance. Logit regression test revealed that age, education and household size had significant effect on fisher folk access to needed fisheries information. Important areas of information need of the fisher folk were, sources of micro credit, modern fish capture methods and aqua-culture. It was recommended that adequate fisheries extension services should be provided in the fishing communities. [O. J, Okwu et al. Analysis of Information Needs and Accessibility among Artisanal Fishermen in Benue State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2011; 1(3):109-115].

Identifying role of extension system in adoption of new technologies have important role to developing favorable extension systems. For supporting sustainable agriculture in Iran needs extension systems to be carefully thought and accurately implemented. The purpose of this is analyzing role of extension activities in adoption of sustainable agriculture. Based on the results the attending agricultural extension and education courses was very important because significant differences were observed in adoption of all items of sustainable agriculture between participators and non participators in extension courses. Linear regression was used for predicting changes in farmers' knowledge toward sustainable agriculture. Level of education, technical knowledge regarding sustainable agriculture, income, social participation, social status, job satisfaction may well explain for 66.4% in Knowledge toward sustainable agriculture practices. [Azadeh Noorollah Noorivandi. Role of Agricultural Extension Courses in Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2011; 1(3):117-120].

The aim of this study was to find the optimal conditions of a newly isolated Streptomyces strain JRS 19. Screening for keratinase producing bacteria and their keratinase production were investigated. The keratinase produced by the isolate was purified by chromatographic techniques and the optimum pH maintained was 7.0 and maintained at different temperatures Viz., 20ºC, 25ºC, 30ºC, 35ºC and 40ºC. Besides temperature and pH ,the enzyme is active upon different sources and its effect on carbon, nitrogen , aminoacids were determined and recorded the protein content and enzyme activity. The carbon sources revealed that sucrose was found highly significant, whereas peptone was found highly significant in nitrogen source. The effect of keratinase on amino acid shows that valine was found highly significant. Based on this study, the physio-chemical properties of keratinase were analyzed and the results were interpreted. [T. Jayalakshmi et al. Optimization of Culture Conditions for Keratinase Production in Streptomyces Sp. JRS19 for Chick Feather Wastes Degradation. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2011; 1(3):121-125 ].

Six different composite packaging materials were tested with the trades’ practice of polythene bags in storing smoked catfish for a period of six months. The thickness of the packaging materials ranges from 0.23 to 046 mm with water and oil absorption rates of the packaging materials varies from 0.23 to 10.00 and 0.28 to 10.857 glcm2/mm respectively. The impact resistance weight also varies from 25 to 50 gm. It was observed that the physical properties of the packaging materials are related to the keeping quality of the stored catfish. The two packaging with better engineering properties offered better barrier functionality that gave better keeping quality for the catfish. [O, Foline Folorunsho et al. Effect of the Physical Properties of Composite Packaging Materials on Keeping Quality of Smoked Catfish. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2011; 1(3):127-131].

The paper determined optimum farm plan for food security among smallholder farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Data were collected with structured and validated questionnaire from 180 smallholder crops farmers in Imo State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, frequency distribution and percentages), budgetary analysis and linear programming model. Results show that the mean age of the farmers was 41 years, mean household size was 9 persons, mean farm size was 1.25 hectares mean farming experience was 19years and mean level of education was 8.3 years. The enterprises that contributed greatly to the smallholder farmers’ net return were food crops and cash crops with net returns per annum of N122666 and N116850 respectively. The profit lines as determined with the linear programming model were 6.8 and 4.9 for food crops and cash crops respectively, and this is the optimal feasible solution. [Ohajianya, D.O et al. Optimum Farm Plan for Food Security among Smallholder Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2011; 1(3):133-136].

Though beekeeping is a common farming enterprise and income generating activity in Atsbi Wemberta district, and promotional efforts have been made to improve it, no systematic study has been undertaken to evaluate the promotional efforts and people’s response to it. The objectives of this study were to identify determinants of improved box hive adoption by the beekeepers; and to analyze financial benefits from adopting improved box hive technology. It was found that credit, knowledge, education level of household head, perception and visits to demonstrations positively and significantly influenced adoption of box hive. Hence, Linking honey producers to stable and reliable markets and following a participatory value chain based approach; promoting private entrepreneurs to provide additional services for value addition; promoting farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing; and encouraging farmer groups create a learning environment are some initiatives that could go a long way in the sustainable development of this important economic sub-sector. [Workneh Abebe et al. Determinants of Box Hive Promotion and Financial Benefits in Selected District Of Ethiopia. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2011; 1(3):137-144].