The study examined determinants of adoption of land management practices among male and female crop farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed for the selection of the respondents. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Data were collected from one hundred and sixty three respondents (163). The mean age of the male respondents was found to be 51 years while that of the female was 44 years. The mean total size land cultivated was 1.1 hectares for male respondents and 0.5 hectares for female respondents while the mean years of schooling for male and female farmers were 11.6 and 11.2 years respectively. Multi variant probit model was used to determine the factors that influence farmers' adoption of the land management practices on their farm. Although the results revealed that farmers age, land size, household size, years of schooling, farming experience and technical know-how were factors that significantly influence land management practices among both genders, It was concluded that years of schooling improve the level of adoption of land management practices among the female farmers while among the male respondents their land size was a critical factor that influence their land management practices.

The study examined the adoption of selected bio-security measures against avian-influenza (HPAI-A/H5N1) outbreaks among poultry farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria. A total of 120 respondents selected through a multistage sampling procedure was used for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Data collected were subjected to percentages, mean and binary regression. The study revealed that the high level of adoption on biosecurity measures of segregation and traffic control (x̄ =2.82), medium level of adoption for cleaning (x̄ =2.440) and low level of adoption for disinfection of the standard bio-security components (x̄ =1.290). There was a positive and significant relationship between  some socio-economic characteristics (age, average monthly income, farming experience and membership of social group) and adoption of bio-security measures of poultry farmers. Constraints to adoption of biosecurity measure poultry tension/veterinary contact, lack of buffer areas (x̄ =3.21) around the farm site and inadequate access to fund (x̄ =3.21). Provision of accessible and affordable credit facilities by government to poultry farmers, and extension agents should intensify more effort on continuous training and constant veterinary services for poultry farmers in the study area towards increased capability to eradicate the negative effect of this acute and highly contagious viral disease on their means of livelihood.Keywords: Adoption of bio-security, avian-influenza, outbreak, poultry farmers

No abstract

Despite the nutritional and other advantages of cocoyam over some tuber crops, it remains neglected, underutilised, and non-commercialized in many parts of Nigeria. The study assessed the potentials for the commercialisation of cocoyam. Specifically, it assessed farmers’ awareness of the uses of cocoyam, level of cocoyam cultivation, farmers’ attitude towards its commercialisation, and the constraints to its commercialisation. Two-stage random sampling technique produced 154 respondents and an interview schedule was administered to collect data. Descriptive statistics and the multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results revealed that farmers’ mean age, farming experience and farm size were 53.9  years, 22 years, and 4.3 acres respectively. The level of awarenessof the uses of cocoyam was high (73.52%) and had an averagely positive attitude (mean score = 2.38) towards its commercialisation. Cultivation of cocoyam was mostly on a subsistence level among the farmers (97.3%). High susceptibility to pests and diseases (MS = 3.13) and a higher preference for other tuber crops (MS = 3.09) were the major constraints to the  commercialisation of cocoyam. Farmers’ age (β = –0.008), level of education (β = –0.046), household size (β = –0.012), and frequency of extension contact (β = 0.018) determined farmers’ attitude towards its commercialisation. The study concluded that the potentials for the commercialization of cocoyam was appreciable in the study area. Findings underscore the need for research on cocoyam pest and diseases control as well as breeding ofimproved varieties of the plant by National Root Crops Research Institutes. Key words: attitude, commercialization, neglected, under-utilized and cocoyam

This study assessed the activities of women in processing and preservation of catfish in Ijebu-Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State. A three-stage random sampling technique was employed to select a total of 120 respondents for the study. The data collected were analysed with both descriptive statistics and correlation model. The mean age of the respondents was 54 years with a mean of nine years of catfish processing and preservation experience. The annual mean income was N107, 587.50. Findings also show that respondents’ levels of involvement in processing and preservation methods such as smoking and salting were high. There was a positive and significant relationship between respondents’ age (r= 0.003; p=0.034), annual income (r= 0.012; p=0.030), household size (r= 0.232; p=0.011) and their level of involvement in catfish preservation at 5% level of significance. The results of correlation analysis also show that a significant relationship exists between respondents’ perceived benefits and their level of involvement in catfish processing and preservation. The study concludes that, although the level of involvement of women in catfish preservation methods was high, low income was realized from the venture when compared with the minimum wage of N18,000 that government workers earn in the study area. It therefore recommends upgrading the methods and facilities used for the preservation and preserving catfish.