This study examined farmers ' and extension personnel'

This study examined child street trading activities and its effect on the educational attainment of its victims in Epe local government area of Lagos State. One hundred and twenty (120) respondents were selected from 6 communities using purposive sampling techniques, administered by means of interview guide. Children interviewed were between 10 and 18 years of age. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. The study revealed that most (60.8%) of the children who engaged in trading are females while 39.2% were males. Also, 36.7% of the respondents are Christians while 40.3% are Muslims. Most (31.7%) of the respondents have a household size of 9 -12 persons while 34.2% have father's occupation as fishing. Also, 45.8% have mother's occupation as trading. Only 20.0% undertake load carrying operation while 29.2% cited reason for involvement in street trading as poverty. Most (40.8%) are into sales of pure water. Majority of them earn a daily income of N500 -N1000 while 36.7% work morning and afternoon. Nevertheless, 70.9% of the respondents are of the opinion that child trading activities have a negative effect on the reading schedule of children while 79.2% believes trading activities affect their school attendance rate. There is a significant relationship between daily income and pure water selling (χ 2 = 22.22, p < 0.05), orange hawking and head carrier (χ 2 = 21.72) p < 0.01). The study suggests the need for government to design appropriate programme aimed at poverty reduction and recommends mass enlightenment for the populace to reduce the menace.

Abstracts This study examined extension agents' perception of the use of the Internet for sourcing and disseminating agricultural innovation in (2008) opined that frontline extension workers, who are the direct link between farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural knowledge transfer and information management system should be well positioned to make use of information communication technologies (ICT) to access expert knowledge and other types of information that could be beneficial to farmers. As a result of the numerous information resources on the Internet and increasing investment in the provision of Internet services and resources, it is essential that extension services and farmers should be enabled to have better access to innovations. It will be fascinating if the farmers and extension agents can use the Internet to access and exchange new ideas. This could enhance the extension service delivery thereby improving farmers' knowledge of agricultural technologies and better their attitudes towards innovation adoption. Aker (2010) opines that so far there is no large survey and data-based study on the impact of ICT on extension services in remote areas. This is probably due to lack of reliable data on outcome variables, as well as variations across extension and non-extension communities; and between users and non-users in observable and unobservable. The use of information stored on the Internet to find accurate and reliable information will be a new form of literacy to farmers and probably to extension agents as well. Whitworth, (2009) defines "information literate" as a person who can recognize when information is needed and be able to locate, evaluate and use effectively the needed information.

This study examined the effect of land tenure on the adoption of sawah rice production system in Nigeria. Using pre-tested interview guides, data were collected from 124 randomly selected sawah farmers. The results showed that rice farmers were predominantly male, married and had Quranic education, with the mean age of 42.30 years, farm sizes ranged from 0.03 to10 hectares (X = 0.5ha), the mean yield was 4.65 tonnes/ha, and the mean income was $1,041.38 ($1 = N145.00). The hierarchical regression analyses revealed that personal and farming characteristics of farmers accounted for a significant variance in the level of adoption of sawah technology. Also security of land has significant influence on the level of adoption of sawah technology among the farmers. This study revealed the importance of land tenure arrangement to sawah adoption and therefore recommends for an urgent intervention to address land tenure related issues to enhance the prospects of green revolution in Nigeria.

The study assessed the causal factors of land degradation in urban areas of Abeokuta and the employed control measures by residents of the communities. A qualitative approach, which encompasses observational techniques – participant/field observation, interactive discussion and photographic capturing, was used for collection of data on land degradation in the study area. Analysis of collected data showed land gradients, rainfall and run-offs, erosion, entrenched foot paths, sand scraping/mining, poor/absence of drainage system and land covers as causal factors of land degradation in the study area. The study though observed that control measures such as filling of drenches with sand bags, wood logs, bricks and stones were employed by residents in the study area, construction of good drainage system was presumed to be the most appropriate and sustainable control measure of water erosion in the study area.

This study was carried out in Ijebu North East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria, to determine the effects of climate change on health of rural households. One hundred and twenty respondents were selected using multistage and random sampling techniques. Primary and secondary data were collected. The data collected were subjected to descriptive and inferential analyses. The results showed that 67% of respondents were males and the majority (54%) were above 40 years with a mean age of 43. The results also revealed that 60% of the respondents have been residing in the area for more than 6 years, which implied that a greater percentage of them witnessed the changes in the climatic pattern of the area. The major health problems reported included common cold, cough, malaria, and fever due to climate change. Many of the respondents patronized medicine hawkers (78%) and local chemists (46%) to treat the problematic changes in their health. Data analysis revealed that climatic change has significant effects on respondents' health status (p < 0.05). The study concluded that there have been changes in the climatic pattern in the area and the health status of the people were affected. The study recommended that health, environment, and rural development agencies should coordinate efforts to assist rural households on preventing and mitigating the effects of climate change. Sustainable use of all resources, sustainable development, preventive health methods such as clean environment and proper hygiene, and reduction in activities contributing to the increase in climate change (deforestation, bush burning, environmental, and e-pollution) were advocated.

Water is an essential commodity which affects life and livelihoods in the universe. This study examined perceived effect of water scarcity on livelihoods in Iwoye-Ketu, Ogun State. Random sampling was used to select 80 rural households and water samples for the study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive, inferential and laboratory analyses. Findings showed that the mean age of respondents was 38 years with an average household size of four persons. The major sources of water were boreholes (97.5%) and rainwater (90.0%), the average trekking time to the water source was 24 minutes and the households requires an average of 162 litres of water per day. Water analysis’ result showed that the water has pH (6.87), total dissolved solids (0.175 mg∙dm−3), temperature (29.9°C) and turbidity (0.6 FTU). The major causes of water scarcity include insufficient rainfall (97.5%), increased sunlight intensity (97.5%), pollution of water sources (95.0%) and increased population (93.8%). About 60% of them perceived water scarcity to have a negative effect on their livelihoods. Correlation analysis shows that there is a significant relationship between usage of water (r = 0.370, p < 0.01) and perceived effect of water scarcity. It was concluded that water available for household use is not sufficient, although it is safe but contain some elements which are not of World Health Organization standard for good potable water. It is recommended that the community should build a hub for water collection and distribution close to the village centre and the government should provide water infrastructures to increase the supply of potable water.

Snails are common in the rainforest region especially during the rainy season, but its population in the wild is decreasing due to human and environmental activities. This affect quantity available for consumption and it prompts the reason to encourage snail production. The study examined snail consumer's willingness to choose snail production as means of livelihoods. Snowball sampling technique was used to select 120 consumers. Data were obtained through questionnaires and analysed using descriptive and correlation analyses. The result shows that many (60%) of the respondents were male, 48.7% were married with an average income of N78,983.64 and 37 years of age. Level of snail consumption was high (63.4%) and more than 50% were willing to choose snail production as a means of livelihood. Meanwhile, poor supply of feeding materials (43.5%) and inadequate skills in snail rearing (39.1%) were perceived as major constraints. Correlation result shows significant relationship between age (r = 0.346, p < 0.05), level of snail consumption(r = 0.200, p < 0.05) and willingness to choose snail production as means of livelihoods. The study concluded that people that consume more snails were willing to choose snail production. It is recommended that concerned agencies for capacity building should consider training people especially snail consumers in snail production and provide palliative resources to overcome challenges in snail production for sustainability and transformation of the agricultural system.