International Journal of Agricultural Science Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems
Volume:7 Issue: 1, Jun 2017

The study assessed the effects of agricultural practices on biodiversity in Olamaboro Local Government Are of Kogi State, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty (150) farmers (respondents) were sampled using simple random sampling technique from five council wards (30 farmers per council ward). Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Logit regression model. Results showed that 63% of the respondents were male, 56% were between 21-40 years, 61% were married, 46% were farmers, 58% acquired their land by inheritance with 24% having farming experience of 11-15 years and 37% owned a farm size of between 1.01-2.0 hectares. Biodiversity was mostly lost through application of herbicides 36%, losses were more significant on species 48%, and use of agrochemical affected biodiversity most 43%. The results of Logit regression revealed that sex and land acquisition were some of the socio-economic characteristics that significantly affected biodiversity losses (p<0.10). It is recommended that agricultural practices with minimum disturbance to biodiversity should be practiced.

The study analyzed farm households’ access and utilization of government health facilities in Kogi State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the socioeconomic characteristics of farm households, determined the level of accessibility to health facilities by farm households, and determined the factors that drive farm households’ utilization of government health facilities. A two staged random sampling technique was used to select one hundred (100) farm households and twenty (20) government-owned health care facilities from four Local Government Areas in the State. Data obtained through structured questionnaire and spot assessments were analyzed using descriptive statistics, indices of accessibility and binary logit regression model. The indices of accessibility revealed that there is unequal access to government health facilities (medical personnel and infrastructure) in the area. The binary logit model indicated that farming experience (p<0.01), distance to health centre (p<0.05), and cost of treatment (p<0.001) negatively influenced the utilization of government health facilities, while gender (p<0.05), education (p<0.05), and numbers of dependants (p<0.05) directly influenced government health care facilities utilization among farm households. It was suggested based on findings from the study that government needs to urgently engage and deploy more medical personnel and facilities to rural areas. Also, intervention programmes such as construction of good access will reduce travelling distance to health facilities.

One of the environmental concerns during the past decade is dust pollutant. This phenomenon is extensively known around the globe. In Iran, this destructive phenomenon has created serious problems among environmental policy-makers in general and agricultural producers in specific. Kermanshah Province is located near Iraq, a neighboring country in west part of Iran. It is believed that Iraq is mostly blamed for developing dust into different parts of Iran. The impact of dust on agriculture is not known. Specifically, it is not known how agricultural producers in Sarpol-e-Zahab Township are affected by dust phenomenon. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to determine the impact of dust on agricultural production. Using purposeful sampling, farmers and agricultural specialist as well as natural resource experts participated in this study. Deep interview as well as observation and audio recording were used to collect data. Grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data. Results revealed that dust has impacted orchard farmers, bee farmers, rose and grape growers differently. Results also revealed that orchard farmers and bee farmers were affected most by dust storm in the region. Overall, dust is a phenomenon that can only be mitigated if farmers are to adapt effective strategies.

The study assessed the perceived effectiveness of agricultural extension methods used to disseminate improved technologies to rice farmers in kogi state, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio – economic characteristics of the rice farmers, to assessed farmers level of contact with extension agents, perceived level of competence of extension agents to perform agricultural extension activities and farmers perception on the effectiveness of agricultural extension methods in the study area. Primary and secondary data were used for the study. Data were collected using a well structured questionnaire from 212 rice farmers in the study area. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that 59.9% of the respondents were male, with a mean age of 43.5 years. Majorities (58%) of the respondents were married and about 44.3% of them had more than 20 years of farming experience. About 99.1% of the farmers were aware of the existence of extension agents in their area and 87.7% were visited fortnightly. Also, extension agents were perceived to be more competent in performing field demonstration activities and the individual contact method was perceived as the most effective extension teaching method in the study area. It is recommended that the extension agents should do more in contacting more female rice farmers as well as male rice farmers; the extension agents should use variety of extension methods appropriately in order to meet specific extension objectives and to ensure effective use of limited resources, personnel, time and fund which ensure farmers participation.

The present research is conducted to find out the services and facilities of tobacco companies in promotion of tobacco crop in Malakand division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A multi-stage sampling technique applied for selection sample size. In this method, 135 tobacco growers were selected from fifteen villages of tobacco growers. The principle researcher interviewed selected respondents face by face through a well-designed interview schedule. The results show that majority 65.18, and 72.57% growers were small size of landholders and literate. Moreover, the tobacco companies provided seed quality, size of plant, leaf cluster, and leaf quality facilities to tobacco growers. So, maximum 51.90% tobacco growers reported that above mentioned facilities were 26-50% beneficial for seed quality, and plant size. Meanwhile, individual, group contact, and mass contact extension methods practiced for delivery of various facilities to tobacco growers. Meantime, farm home visit, office call, leader training, method demonstration, lecture meeting, Radio, Television, and Poster extension techniques recorded for promotion of services to tobacco growers. While, majority 97 and 63.70% enclosed that farm home visit and office call were excellent techniques for services promotion. Beside these facilities, tobacco companies provide training to almost all tobacco growers related seed bed preparation, transplantation, field preparation, fertilizers application, harvesting, and curing process. It is suggested that tobacco companies had better to start programs on electronic media related suitable and appropriate technologies in tobacco crops on equality base for illiterate and literate growers.

This study assessed the effect of rural-urban transportation on agricultural produce in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Primary data obtained from 90 rural farming households were analysed using frequency count, Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis and mean score from a 3 point Likert type of scale. Results of the study revealed that majority of the farmers were married males in their active productive age of 41-60 years and a household size of 4-9 members. Farming in the area was still on a subsistence level as only 22.2% of the farmers cultivated above 3 hectares of farm land. The major modes of transporting farm produce identified in the area include the use of tricycle (92.2%), motorcycle (70%), and pick up van (64.9%). Furthermore, annual cost of transportation and number of years spent schooling (education) were negatively related to farmers’ income at 1% and 10% level of significance respectively. The major challenges faced by farmers in transporting their produce were bad road network (M= 2.4) and high transportation cost (M = 2.3). It was recommended that government should provide good road network and transportation facilities as it will ease the movement of farm produce to urban areas and as well increase farmers’ productivity and better their standard of living.

This study was conducted in Abia state, Nigeria with specific objectives to: describe socio economic characteristics of ADP and non-ADP contact farmers; estimate profitability level of the two farmer groups; compare profitability of cassava production among the two farmer groups; determine factors that influence profitability of ADP and non-ADP contact cassava farmers and identify problems constraining the cassava farmers. Multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents. Data collected using structured questionnaire and interview schedule were analysed using descriptive statistics, cost and returns analysis, paired t-test and ordinary least square regression technique. The paired-t-test result showed that ADP contact cassava farmers had a statistically significant higher net return (N93, 638.6) per hectare of cassava production than non-ADP contact farmers (N65, 715.58). Factors that influenced profitability of cassava production among ADP contact farmers were age, variable costs, education and selling price while factors that influenced profitability of cassava production among non-ADP contact farmers were age, farming experience and selling price. Main constraint to cassava production among the ADP and non-ADP cassava farmers was inadequate access to credit. It was recommended that the scope of Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in the state should be enlarged to accommodate more cassava farmers as evidence showed that ADP impacted positively on profitability of cassava production. To this end, additional skilled manpower should be employed and encouraged to visit more farmers on regular basis to teach them modern agricultural technologies.