The Nigerian Journal of Rural Extension and Development

Influence of Youth Participation in Decision Making on Implementation of Agricultural Extension Programmes

2024-08-02T13:35:27+00:00

There is low youth participation in decision making on implementation of agricultural extension programmes leading to failure in their acquisition of vocational skills for self-reliance. This study determined influence of out of school youth participation in decision-making on the implementation, to suggest measures to enhance their engagement for success. It was conducted in five typical Kenyan farming systems. Cross-sectional survey design, stratified, simple random and purposive sampling were used to select 160 adolescents who studied school agriculture but once out, had registered with youth groups engaged in it for self-reliance. Data was collected with questionnaires, analyzed by qualitative and inferential statistics at significance level 0.05. In the results, youth rated the 5 strategies proposed to enhance their participation in a five-point likert scale, as being important to extremely important. The linear regression correlation analysis confirms significant positive correlation between level of participation in decision making and level of implementation of agricultural extension programmes. Spearman’s correlation coefficient showed that level of implementation increases with rise in participation in decision making. Therefore, the strategies are prelude to success in attaining youth involvement in the implementation of the programmes, that may lead to their acquisition of vocational skills for self-reliance.

Participation of in and out of-school youth in decision making on use of information communication technology to facilitate implementation of agricultural programmes and markets

2025-10-14T11:09:27+00:00

Youth may not be interested in primary farm production agriculture because of its drudgeries and low remuneration nature but application of ICT in implementation in its various nodes offers them alternative occupation for self-reliance. However, secondary school agriculture curriculum might be inadequate in information communication technology (ICT) that would initiate youth at that early stage to ICT use to facilitate implementation of agricultural programmes and markets. The consequence is low participation of youth out-of-school in decision-making on ICT use to facilitate the implementation. Research was carried out to determine the influence of participation of in and out of school youth in decision-making on use of ICT to facilitate the programmes and markets. The research was done in five farming systems prevalent in Kenya and three categories of secondary schools. Cross-sectional survey design, purposive, stratified and simple random sampling were used to select 160 out-of-school youth and 361 school youth taking agriculture subject. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed by qualitative and inferential statistics at probability level 0.05. Results show that out-of-school youth rated their use of ICT to facilitate implementation of the programmes as considerably lower than those in school. Strategy 5 was ranked significantly highest as solution followed by strategy 4. Strategy 5 suggested as solution the establishment of digital infrastructure in rural areas to enable out of school youth who are ICT knowledgeable create platforms and support youth farmers by sharing information. Strategy 4 propose to establish and manage networks for youth agri-preneurs to enable them share experiences for efficiency in agricultural production and marketing as the answer. The rest of the strategies 1, 2 and 3 were also rated as very important thus indicating their potential as solutions. There is a significant positive linear regression correlation (R2 = 0.751; p ? 0.005) between level of participation in decision making on use of ICT by out-of-school youth and level of its application in the operation of agricultural programmes and markets.

Perceived effects of climate change on tomato production in selected local government areas of Ondo state, Nigeria

2025-10-14T11:21:36+00:00

The study examined the perceived effects of climate change on tomato production in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ondo State, Nigeria. A total of 126 tomato farmers were randomly sampled from six communities. Data were garnered using an interview schedule and were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Tomato farmers were aged 39.56±8.33 years, males (87.3%), married (54.8%), formally educated (82.6%), and had a household size of 6.02±2.27 persons. Farming experience was 5.46±3.53 years, farm size was 4.44±3.28 acres, 54.0% cultivated local varieties, 46.0% cultivated improved varieties, and 61.1% had access to credit. The average quantity of tomatoes sold in 2022 was 23,860.56±8,812.12 kg, and the average income from tomato sales was ?6,445,269.84±2,393,836.26. Major information sources were radio (x ?=1.54), internet (x ?=1.54), television (x ?=1.41), and relations/family (x ?=1.39). Farmers' knowledge of deforestation (x ?=1.56), pesticide use (x ?=1.32), soil erosion (x ?=1.31), fertiliser use (x ?=1.25), greenhouse gas emissions (x ?=1.25), and temperature fluctuations (x ?=1.21) as the major causes and effects of climate change was highest. Severe climate change effects include temperature fluctuations (x ?=1.56), changes in soil fertility (x ?=1.26), decreased fruit quality (x ?=1.18), and changes in rainfall patterns (x ?=1.15). There was a significant relationship between the quantity of tomatoes lost (r=0.194, p=0.030), information source (r=0.336, p=0.000), knowledge (r=0.504, p=0.000) and the perceived effects of climate change. Tomato farmers need government education programs on how to combat the various effects of climate change and improved access to climate change information.

Transborder smuggling and youth participation in agriculture in Badagry local government area of Lagos state

2025-10-14T15:37:19+00:00

The study focused on assessment of trans-border smuggling and youth participation in agriculture in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State. One hundred and six youth smugglers were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected on respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, factors that enabled their involvement in smuggling, level of involvement in smuggling, agricultural activities available and level of participation in agricultural activities using structured questionnaire. Results revealed that 50.9% of the respondents were male, 69.8% were married, 32.1% were Yoruba, while 64.2% had between 7 and 12 years of formal education. Poverty (71.7%) was the most dominant factor responsible for the respondents’ engagement in smuggling. Level of involvement in smuggling was high (77.4%) among respondents in the study area. Cultivation of crops (x ?=2.62) was the most prominent agricultural activity in the study area in which they participated mostly (x ?=2.32). Years of formal schooling (? = 0.024, p = 0.012), Poverty (? = 0.16, p = 0.00) and Level of involvement in smuggling (? = -0.022, p = 0.001) were significant determinants of respondents’ involvement in agriculture. The study concluded there was a low participation of respondents in agricultural activities in the study area. The study recommended the need for targeted interventions, including economic empowerment programmes, improved access to agricultural resources and policy measures that discourage smuggling while promoting sustainable youth involvement in agriculture.

Determinants of poverty among coastal artisanal fishers in Lagos state, Nigeria

2025-10-14T15:57:40+00:00

This study examined the determinants of poverty status among coastal artisanal fishers in Lagos State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 200 artisanal fishers from nine fishing communities. Data were collected using an interview schedule and analysed using descriptive and Ordinary Least Square Regression (OLS) analytical techniques. Majority of the respondents were married (79.0%) and had formal education (95.5%), with mean age of 35.00±8.55 years. The mean monthly income and household expenditure of the artisanal fishers were ?163,810.00±110,347.12 and N89, 276.57, respectively. The mean household size and income-earning members were 7±3.81 and 5±2.88 persons, respectively. More than half (52.2%) of the respondents were relatively poor. Constraints facing coastal artisanal fishing were high cost of fishing materials ?(x ?=1.93±.31), inadequate storage facilities (x ? = 1.93±.27), limited access to credit facilities (x ? = 1.88±.45), and low fish catch (x ? = 1.85±.36). Household size (? = -0.128), number of incomes earning members (?= 0.052), and total monthly household expenditure (?= 0.987) significantly influenced poverty among the respondents. The study concluded that poverty is prevalent among coastal artisanal fishers in Lagos State, Nigeria, and that poverty is influenced by household size, number of incomes earning members, and household expenditure. The study recommended that government and concerned stakeholders should collaborate to provide subsidies or microfinance schemes to reduce the cost burden of fishing materials for artisanal fishers.

Determinants of utilisation of digital financial services among rural farmers in Ido local government of Oyo state, Nigeria

2025-10-14T16:13:48+00:00

Digital financial services (DFS) have the potential to enhance financial inclusion among rural farmers, yet their utilisation remains limited due to socio-economic and infrastructural challenges. This study assessed the determinants of utilisation of DFS among rural farmers in Ido local government Oyo state. It specifically examined the socio-economic characteristics of rural farmers and their awareness, access, constraints to, and utilisation of digital financial services. Results revealed that the age, household size, farm size, and farm income were 35.98±10.62 years, 5.57±1.14 members, 4.65±4.58 acres and ?66,804.12±41,377.24, respectively with a male majority (79.4%), being primarily farmers (80.4%) and had secondary education (45.4%). The rural farmers were aware of Point of Sales (POS) services (99.0%), USSD services (88.7%), and e-wallets (85.6%) among the available DFS. Access to USSD, e-wallets, and POS services was highest (x? = 1.00) among the DFS while the most utilised being POS services (x? = 1.95). Electricity supply (x? = 4.01) and internet connectivity (x? = 2.45) were significant constraints to utilisation. Respondents farm/enterprise income (B = 0.93), household size (B = 2.10), and awareness (B = 2.35) significantly influenced the DFS utilisation positively, while farm size (B = -1.33) and constraints (B = -4.10,) were deterrents. The study recommends infrastructural improvements, financial literacy programmes, and policy reforms to enhance digital financial inclusion among rural farmers.

Effects of self-isolation policy on the psychosocial state (condition) of senior citizens in Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa

2025-10-15T11:27:36+00:00

This study presents a cross-country comparison of the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 self-isolation policy (SIP) on senior citizens in Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Africa. Specifically, it examines seniors’ perceptions of self-isolation and its impact on their health, social interactions, attitudes, behaviours, and psychological well-being. A cross-sectional comparative design was employed using an online questionnaire adapted from Hughes' (2004) short-scale loneliness measure. Data were collected between June 6 and August 3, 2020, via social media platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype), with a total of 350 respondents selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for analysis. Results revealed that SIP was perceived as detrimental to seniors’ health. The mean scores for Nigeria = 3.10; Pakistan = 3.08; South Africa = 3.05, causing anxiety, sleep disturbances, x? = 3.37, 3.15, 3.64, reduced physical activity and social participation, x? = 3.08, 3.18, 3.44, and negatively affecting mental and emotional well-being, x? = 3.02, 3.05, 3.16. Fear of death was more pronounced in Pakistan, x? = 3.53, and South Africa, x? = 3.44, while loneliness was more reported in Nigeria, x? = 3.08 and South Africa. Significant differences emerged across countries in experiences of fear (F = 15.350, p < .001), anxiety (F = 6.265, p = .014), and general psychosocial outcomes (p < .01), underscoring the influence of cultural, social, and policy contexts. The findings suggest the urgent need for culturally responsive mental health and social support strategies for elderly populations during public health emergencies.

Adoption of pesticides safety practices among cucumber farmers in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

2025-10-15T13:07:34+00:00

The study assessed pesticides safety practices adopted by cucumber farmers in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna state, Nigeria. The specific objectives were description of the socio-economic characteristics of the cucumber farmers, identification of safety practices adopted by the cucumber farmers and determination of factors that influence the adoption of safe pesticide practices. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 144 cucumber farmers. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean were used to analyze socio-economic characteristics of the cucumber farmers. The use of safe pesticides practices was analyzed by adoption index while multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationships between socio-economics characteristics of the cucumber farmers and adoption of safe pesticides practices. Most (88%) of the cucumber farmers had low level of education, while 52.9% of them had access to extension services. About 40.2% of them were trained but only 26% of the training content was on pesticides safety. The mean age, household size, household labour and farm size of the farmers were 32.24 years, 10 persons, 3 persons and 0.91ha, respectively. Majority (70.6%) of the cucumber farmers used inorganic pesticide. Result of regression analysis showed that years of inorganic pesticide usage (r=0.009), frequency of pesticides spray (0.004), education (0.138) and extension services (r=1.908) were significant and positive variables that influenced adoption of safe pesticides practices. Thus, the study recommended that routine training and educational programs focusing on pesticides safety practices should be conducted by the extension agents for the farmers in local languages.

Influence of Nigerian hip-pop music on perceived moral values of rural youth in Kosofe local government area of Lagos state

2025-10-15T13:30:40+00:00

Music influences cultural and moral values, but recent trends in Nigerian popular music show an increase in explicit lyrics referencing drugs, sex, and violence. This shift may affect young listeners' morals, posing a threat to public discipline and social values. This study therefore investigated the influence of hip-hop music on the moral values of rural youth. Using multistage sampling procedure120 respondents were sampled for the study. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and were analysed using frequency, percentages, Chi-square and PPMC. The findings show that most respondents were male (55.0%), single (86.7%), Christians (70.8%) and more than half were students (52.5%) with secondary education (63.3%) and mean age of 20.3±5. Also, the majority were from monogamous family (73.3%) with mean household size of 5.8±3. The level of exposure to Hip pop music was high (53.3%) and the most preferred song was Davido Assurance (1.44). Preference of music was based on the beats. Attitude towards hip-hop music was favourable (53.3%). Interactions with friends ranked highest (1.60) as the source of the hip-hop music. The perceived moral value was low (56.7%). There was significant relationship between parents’ occupation, interaction with friends and perceived moral values (X²=8.615, p<0.05). Also, there existed a significant relationship between level of exposure of the youth toward hip-hop music and their perceived moral values (r = 0.202, p<0.05). The study concluded that the perceived moral values of youth in the study area was low. It is recommended that National Broadcasting Commission check and regulate lyrical contents and the broadcasting of any music in the country.

Complete edition

2025-10-15T13:54:49+00:00

None