The Nigerian Journal of Rural Extension and Development

Analysis of apple fruits profitability in selected markets in Abuja metropolis, Nigeria

2024-03-08T10:51:09+00:00

This study analysed profitability of apple fruits in some selected markets in Abuja metropolis, Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 120 apple fruit marketers. The data obtained was analysed using descriptive analysis, gross margin analysis, multiple regression analysis and factor analysis. The results reveal that most (76.67%) of the apple fruit marketers were male. Gross margin of N4,240.19 per carton (45kg) was recorded, while the benefit cost ratio was 1.20. The study also revealed that the profit made by apple fruit marketers were premise on their level of education and marketing experience. Poor pricing (0.5260), perishability (0.6106), inadequate extension services (0.9395) were the constraints experienced by apple fruit marketers in the study area. Therefore, more women should be encouraged to join the business and those already in the business should collaborate to generate fund to purchase storage and transport facilities. In addition, apple fruit marketers should visit extension agents to learn modern ways of preserving and prolonging apple fruit shelf life.

Climate change mitigation practices among arable crop farmers in Saki East local government area, Oyo state, Nigeria

2024-03-08T10:55:35+00:00

The study investigated the climate change mitigation practices among arable crop farmers in Saki East Local Government Area of Oyo State. Multiple sampling procedure was used to get a sample size of 120 respondents for the study. Interview schedule was used to collect information from the respondents. The result shows that majority (83.3%) of the respondents were male and average of 17.3±4.71 years of experience in arable crop farming. Majority of the respondents indicated that climate change had caused scarcity of food (85.0%), reduction in crop yield through flood and drought (75.0%), and reduction in water availability (60.0%). Use of drought resistance crop (mean=3.0), mixed cropping (mean=2.7) planting of early mature crop and change of seed rate (mean=2.6) ranked 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd, respectively as the mitigation practices and adaptation measures adopted for arable crop farming. Also, lack of climate information on mitigation practices (100%), lack of resources and modern technology (85.0%), high cost of fertilizer (75.0%), inadequate of funding support (60.0%) were the major constraints faced in using the adaptation measures. There were significant relationship between sex (?²=21.875), age (?²=144.875), marital status (?²=11.725), education (?²=65.456) and effects of climate change on arable crop production. The study concludes that arable crop farmers mainly employed the use drought resistance variety, mixed cropping, and early maturing variety practices to mitigate the adverse effects loss of crops and food insecurity caused by climate change. Thus, extension empowerment programmes to build resilience to climate change of farmers is needed among farmers.

Influence of agriculture portrayal in Ona Wura movie on youths’ perception of agricultural career in Ibadan North local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria

2024-03-08T11:00:54+00:00

Entertainment-education tools are underutilised in the promotion of food security in Nigeria. This study assessed the influence of positive portrayal of agriculture in few scenes of Ona Wura movie on youths’ perception of agriculture as a career in Oyo State. Exposure to, satisfaction and retention of the movie as well as youths’ perception of career in agriculture were assessed using structured questionnaire administered to 130 secondary school students randomly selected from the study area. Data were analysed using t-test at 95% level of significance. Only a few students (4.7%) had watched the movie more than once. Respondents were satisfied with the lessons learnt in the movie (x?=1.54), but majority (86.9%) had low retention of the movies watched. There was a slight increase in the percentage of respondents with favourable perception of a career in agriculture (from 50.8% to 56.9%) after watching the movie. There was no significant difference in the respondents’ perceptions of career in agriculture before and after exposure to the movie (p?0.05). Stakeholders should be strategic in their use of entertainment education to enhance youths’ perception of agriculture in Nigeria.

Involvement of youths in soilless agriculture in Ogun State, Nigeria

2024-03-08T11:04:51+00:00

The need to make agriculture attractive especially for the youth population is key to achieving food security and eradicating hunger in the nation. This is possible when appropriate technologies are introduced and made available to farmers of all ages, which necessitated this study. This study examined the involvement of youths in soilless agriculture in Ogun State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 122 youths for the study and data were collected with the use of questionnaire. Results were analysed using percentages, mean and Chi-square. The result shows that 60.7% were male and 45.9% of the respondents had tertiary education. More than half (55.7%) of the respondents had unfavourable perception about soilless agriculture. Insufficient information (x?=1.11), inadequate finance (x?=0.91) and lack of interest (x?=0.75) were the major constraints experienced by respondents as regards soilless agriculture. Involvement in soilless agriculture was low (76.2%) among respondents. There was a significant relationship between the level of education (?²=8.826, p=0.032) and involvement in soilless agriculture. The study concluded that youths’ involvement in soilless agriculture was low and should be improved through publicity and trainings from extension agents and various research institutes.

Perceptivity: How Yoruba ‘elder’ farmers use their secret weapons against insecurity in Ondo state, Nigeria

2024-03-08T11:11:29+00:00

In today’s global landscape, security consciousness is paramount, given the surge in criminal activities often leading to conflicts. Nigeria, notably, has witnessed a distressing rise in insecurity, leading to substantial loss of lives, property, and agricultural assets. This study explores the interplay of security consciousness and indigenous protective strategies in Ondo State’s agrarian communities, Nigeria. The study adopted a multistage sampling procedure, selecting 116 farmers within some selected agrarian communities of Ondo State, Nigeria. Data was collected using a well-structured interview schedule, while analysis used frequency counts, means, factor analysis and multiple regression. The prevalent forms of insecurity incidents which have triggered security consciousness included farmers-herders clashes (mean = 12.36), theft (mean = 9.24), abduction/kidnapping (mean = 7.64) and armed-robbery (mean = 4.01). There was an exceedingly high level of security consciousness among the majority. Vigilante patrol teams (56.9%), local security guards (50.9%), and community rules and regulations (40.5%) were the most utilized communal indigenous measures. Although personal traditional protective measures were less common, they are not completely out of use Regression analysis indicates that household size and perceived need for improved security significantly influenced respondents’ use of indigenous protective measures. The findings underscore the need to improve the government-controlled security system to safeguard the farming environment and nurture the already challenged agri-food system in Ondo state, Nigeria.

Rural-urban migration and welfare among farming households in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

2024-03-08T11:16:57+00:00

Rural-urban migration can reduce poverty of farming households through remittances sent by the migrant members, thereby improving welfare, although it is not encouraged in order to avoid loss of labour for farm activities. Hence, the study examined the impact of rural-urban migration on farming households' poverty status in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data was used for the study collected via a multistage sampling procedure to survey 160 farming household heads. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, FGT poverty indices and propensity score matching. Results showed age and total household income were significantly higher among migrant farming households, while farm size and farm income were significantly higher among non-migrant households. Probability of migration was increased by age (0.0474), household size (0.5284), being married (1.1642) and crop production (0.8400). Poverty was higher among non-migrant households than migrant, and was significantly reduced by rural-urban migration, up to 43%. Therefore, poverty reduction policy should incorporate rural-urban migration of farming households through provision of employment opportunities for members who are willing to migrate to urban centers.

Use of advertising media by small-scale agricultural entrepreneurs in Odeda local government area, Ogun State, Nigeria

2024-03-08T11:22:10+00:00

Advertising media engender a wider reach of agricultural products and services to potential customers and clients. Yet agricultural products and services are rarely advertised in the media. The study examined the use of advertising media by small-scale agricultural entrepreneurs in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. Snow-ball sampling was used to select 180 respondents for the study. Data were obtained with the aid of interview guide. Descriptive (percentages and mean scores) and inferential (Chi-square and PPMC) statistics were used to analyse the data. Results show that the mean age of the respondents was 30.0±57.8 years. Majority (73.3%) were male, a little above half (51.1%) attended secondary schools, while 18.9% had tertiary education. Less than half (45.6%) had below 10 years of experience in agricultural enterprises, while 68.3% had positive perception of the use of media for advertisement. Physical display of products (x?=1.82) and social media (x?=1.67), limitation in customer’s access to online advertisement (x?=1.27), and high number of media advertisement competitors (x?=1.15) were the most serious constraints to their use of media for advertisement. There were significant relationships between type of agricultural enterprise (?²=7.281, p=0.02), constraints (r=-0.260, p=0.00) and use of advertising media. The study concluded that there was low use of advertising media among the respondents, however the favourable perception towards the use of advertising media should be leveraged upon by relevant stakeholders to engender a greater use of advertising media for a wider reach to customers and prospective clients.

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2023): The Nigerian Journal of Rural Extension and Development (NJRED)

2024-03-08T14:27:09+00:00

Full edition