International Journal of Agricultural Science Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems
Volume:9 Issue: 1, Mar 2019

This study analysed factors influencing food security status of female headed farm households in Abia state, Nigeria. Multistage random sampling technique was employed in selecting 240 female headed farm households from whom data were collected using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, food security indices and probit regression technique. Results of analysis showed that mean age of the female farm households heads was 47.56 years, while, mean farm size, household size, annual farm income and non-farm income of the female headed farm households were 0.71 hectares, 6 persons, 154,086 Naira and 92,034.08 Naira respectively. Food security line of the female headed farm households was N9206.81, with food insecurity incidence of 0.5863 and food insecurity gap of 0.4067. Results of probit regression showed that age, dependency ratio, level of education, extension access, farm income, household size, household asset endowment and membership of association were significant determinants of food security status of female headed farm households. Results also showed that 78.75% of the female headed farm households were constrained by inadequate access to credit. Relevant government agencies should mobilize female heads of farm households in Abia State and encourage them to join cooperative associations, so that they can derive benefits associated with being members of agricultural cooperatives such as increased access to credit, extension information and agricultural input, with which to improve farm productivity, farm income and food security.

The present study was conducted to compare precision and traditional agriculture by budgeting technique. Its statistical population consists of 210 experts in agricultural jihad organization of Qom province. The validity of Questionnaire as research tool ware confirmed by professors while its reliability was corroborated by Cranach’s alpha to 0.78-0.94 intervals. According to the findings, there was the significant difference between economic, social, managerial, and training aspects for both precision and traditional agriculture on average. Also, there was the significant relationship between all economic, social, environmental, managerial and training aspects, limitation and policies on expert’ s understanding on each concept of precision agriculture. The findings show that there was no significant relationship between all aspects, limitation, and policies on precision agriculture and expert’s understanding of each concept of precision agriculture. The findings were indicated that there was no significant link between correlation coefficient of environmental aspect and limitation to understanding the concept of precision agriculture. Results of regression analysis show that economic, social, managerial, training, policies of precision agriculture overall can be explained 44% of changes in independent variables. Also, results of budgeting sector show that there was the significant difference between cost and income of precision and traditional agriculture so that cost of the traditional production was much higher than precision agriculture.

For over a decade now improved maize technology constituting a package of fourteen production recommendations have been developed and disseminated to maize farmers in the Bawku West district of the Upper East region through the district department of agriculture. This paper presents findings of a study conducted to assess the level of adoption of these production recommendations and its effect on yield among smallholder farmers in the district. Through multi-stage sampling techniques, 400 maize farmers were surveyed with personal interviews, focus group discussions and observations employed in gathering data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in analysing the data and results presented in tables and graphics. Many (44%) of the farmers surveyed were found to have been practicing most of the production recommendations. The study found significant and positive relationship between level of adoption and yield. Adoption of many production recommendations guarantees high yield. Also, age, gender, household size, farm size of maize credit, labour and experience were found as significant determinants of yield. Education and training aimed at improving farmers understanding and skills regarding the practice of maize production recommendations should be strengthened and organized regularly.

The study examined factors influencing rice farmers` vulnerability to poverty, identified coping strategies employed by farmers to manage livelihood shocks that predisposes them to poverty and determined the impact of poverty on rice production in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. The study was carried out in Nasarawa rice hubs Nasarawa state. A two stage sampling technique was employed to select 121 rice farming households across 5 communities. Data was collect using questionnaire and personal interview and the data was analysed using household vulnerability index (HVI),fussy set analysis, regression analysis(ordered probit and OLS) as well as descriptive statistics. HVI analysis reveals that 16.5% of the households has low vulnerability to poverty, 65.3 has moderate vulnerability to poverty while 18.2% has high vulnerability to poverty. Ordered probit regression result reveals that access to information, number of shocks (idiosyncratic and covariate) exposed to by households, and years of farming significantly affect household vulnerability to poverty in the studied area. The study therefore, concludes that majority of the households are moderately vulnerable to poverty which implies majority of the household has been affected so hard that they need rapid-response poverty alleviation strategies to be liberated from poverty. It was also shown that rice farmers in the study area rely majorly on help from friends and relatives, also borrowed food in order to cope with livelihood threats. The study also concludes that Fulani herds men crisis, communal crisis, flood and poor linker roads are the major challenges facing farmers in the studied area.

The general purpose of this descriptive-correlation study is to analysis the effective components on participation of villagers in implementation of watershed management projects in Mahabad Dam watershed. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed. The statistical population of this study is supervisors of rural households that living in Mahabad catchment area (N = 2458). By using the Cochran formula 175 people were selected as simple size and randomized cluster sampling use as statistical sample method. The results of pearson correlation coefficient showed that there is a positive and significant relationship found between the viewpoint of respondents about participation in water management projects and economic, socio-cultural, managerial, official, educational and ecological components. Therefore, it can be stated that according to the content of each component, effective measures should be taken to strengthen each component and attract the participation of villagers in the implementation of watershed management projects. Also the amount of determination coefficient indicates that about 74.1 percent in the participation in the implementation of water management projects could determined by economic, socio-cultural, educational, managerial, official and ecological components

The use of liquid fertilizer as an alternate means of improving soil fertility has the possibility of increasing the quality and quantity of food crops. Specifically, this study was designed to examine the level of usage of liquid fertilizer among the dry season vegetable farmers; determine the intensity of usage; and identify the determinants of liquid fertilizer usage among the farmers. Data was collected from 309 farmers using a pretested interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were used for data analysis. The study revealed that only 28.1% of vegetable farmers used liquid fertilizer. Farm size, quantity of water, membership of vegetable association and mode of irrigation increased the likelihood that the farmers would use sole liquid fertilizer relative to sole non-liquid fertilizer. Amounts of pesticide and water, sex of the farmer, household size and years of education determined the usage of the combination of both liquid and non-liquid fertilizer relative to sole non- liquid fertilizer. The study concluded that there was a low level of usage of liquid fertilizer and therefore recommended the need for more awareness on the existence and usage of liquid fertilizer through improved extension activities.