The processing of this popular root tuber into different products (gari, fufu, pupuru) is not without hazards both to the environment, the processors, and even the consumers. This study, therefore, investigated cassava processors' awareness of occupational and environmental hazards associated with and factors affecting cassava processing in three states-Oyo, Ogun and Ondo in Southwestern Nigeria. A total of 380 cassava processors were purposively and randomly selected from the three states. Data were collected through the use of structured interview guide using the participatory and focus group approach with the assistance of experienced enumerators. The data were analysed using frequency counts and percentages. Results from the study showed that majority (68.9%) of the respondents involved in cassava processing were females, 65.7% are between the ages of 31-50 years which means that they were still in their active age, 48% have between 4-6 persons as household size, 64.2% had one form of education or another which is a good indicator of their level of understanding especially where a technology involves a little technicality. Another 55.5% of the respondents took cassava processing and marketing as their primary occupation. A larger percentage (74.5%) of the respondents indicated that the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) is their source of information. The result also showed that processor's awareness of occupational hazards associated with the different stages of cassava processing vary because their involvement in these stages also varies. They were also aware of environmental hazards associated with cassava processing. Majority (97.7%) of the respondents combined conventional and modern methods of cassava processing. Majority of the respondents also complained of lack of water (78.4%), lack of effective channel for cassava effluent (64.5%), lack of labour (80.3%) and unstable price of cassava products (70.3%) as major factors affecting cassava processing in the study area. It is, therefore, recommended that for proper channeling be made for cassava effluent, cassava peels should be sun-dried and used as livestock feed, government and the community should provide a borehole or a deep well as this will improve cleanliness of the environment cassava products. Key stakeholders can also participate in the design of processing site from inception so as to reduce the problems faced by cassava processors during processing.
The study was conducted to examine the management practices and constraints associated with quail production in southwestern Nigeria. Data were collected through a survey of 113 quail bird farmers selected by multi-stage sampling technique from three states of southwestern Nigeria. Data were analyzed mainly by descriptive statistics with values compared across states using relevant statistics at certain instances. The results show that quail farming is a relatively new enterprise with farmers' average year of experience estimated as 4.52 years. Production was predominantly for the sale of eggs and table birds (46.90%). They were reared under intensive system (87.61%) and in deep litters (53.10%). Birds were commonly reared with chicken (71.03% of the farmers). Foundation stocks were sourced from commercial farms (33.63%) and hatcheries (25.66%), while birds were fed on compounded feed by 73.45% of the farmers in the morning and evening (55.75%). Veterinary support services were sought occasionally by 76.99% of the farmers while 55.7 and 40.71% of the farmers vaccinated and dewormed their birds, respectively. Disease incidence was generally low across the states with incidence in 13.27% of the farms with associated mortality of 2.05%. Quail eggs and birds were predominantly sold at farm gate (81.42%) at average prices of N632.94 per crate and N584.09 per bird respectively. Notable constraints were inadequate technical knowledge on feed formulation, difficulty in meat processing and marketing, which need to be addressed for upscaling the technology.
The paper investigated the agro-allied aspect of the Skill and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme of the National Youth Service Corps in Oyo State. Specifically, the study examined the personal characteristics of the corps members, determined the attitude of the corps members to agro-allied activities of the SAED and identified challenges facing corps members in executing the agro-allied activities. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to elicit information from 100% of the SAED participants which gave a total of 82 graduate youths. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The majority (67.1%) of the youths were female. More than half (54.9%) of the youths were in the age category of 24-26 with more than 62.7% having Bachelor of Science/Technology degree. Only 17.1% of the youths had a degree in agriculture. Majority (79.3%) of the youths were into livestock production and 20.7% chose agricultural engineering. Financial independency and ability to manage resources (67.6%), ability to innovate and inspire other youths (12.0%) were the major motivations of youth. The majority (64.0%)of the corps members are favourably disposed towards the programme. Challenges to entrepreneurship were poor supervision of the programme by National Youth Service Corps officials ( =1.89), lack of sufficient facilities for training ( =1.85),inconsistence government policies ( =1.84), incompetence of some of the facilitators ( =1.74) and lack of motivational support by government and other stakeholders ( =1.73). Sex (χ2 =21.07), educational qualification (χ2 =7.47), and marital status (χ2 =5.72) had significant association with attitude. Youth attitude and benefits derived from SAED programme were found to be significant (r=0.38). For further involvement and positive attitude of graduate youths to agro-allied skill set of SAED, financial 14 assistance, supervision, monitoring and psychological motivation should be improved upon by stakeholders and government during and after the youths service year so as to encourage more graduate youths to take up agriculture and agribusiness as a profession and means of livelihood. Engaging graduate youth in agriculture and retaining them in the sector is a strategy that could both contribute to increasing agricultural productivity and address youth unemployment.
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