Empirical evidence is scanty on the nexus between caregivers’ nutrition knowledge, market accessibility, and preschool children’s dietary diversity in remote communities of Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria. To fill this gap, this study evaluated the effects of caregivers’ nutrition knowledge and access to food market on dietary diversity of preschool children. We used cross-sectional data from four hundred households selected from twenty remote communities in Southeast Nigeria. The study adopted instrumental variable regression to estimate the impacts of nutrition knowledge and food market access on preschool children’s dietary diversity. The findings show that in remote communities, caregivers’ nutrition knowledge and households’ closeness to the market improved preschool children’s dietary diversity. The study demonstrates the potential of improving preschool children’s nutrition outcomes through enhancing access to food market and the nutrition knowledge of the caregivers.

Data from 302 progeny in a heterogeneous population of rabbits were used to estimate the heritability and correlations (phenotypic and genetic) of pre-weaning litter traits (litter size at birth LSB, litter size at weaning LSW, litter weight birth LWB, litter weight at weaning LWW, kit weight birth KWB, and kit weight weaning KWW). Heritability estimates for litter size ranged from 0.16 (LSW) to 0.22 (LSB). LWB and LWW were more highly heritable (0.52 and 0.55 respectively) than KWB and KWW (0.36 and 0.25 respectively). The genetic (rG ) and phenotypic (rP) correlations between litter size and litter weight at birth and weaning were 0.69 to 0.88 (rG) and 0.28 to 0.88 (rP). Generally, litter traits gave higher estimates than individual kit traits implying that selection criteria based on litter performance rather than on individual kit performance should be applied in genetic improvement of pre-weaning traits in rabbits raised in derived savanna zone.

Empirical evidence is lacking on the nexus between coffee commodity output, climate change, and commodity price volatility of Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, and other developing countries. To fill this gap, this study analyzed the reaction of coffee output to climate change and commodity price volatility. We used secondary data from 1961 to 2015 from reliable sources for Nigeria. The study adopted generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH), autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH), and fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) in analysis of coffee output reaction to climate change and commodity price volatility. The findings show that coffee output in Nigeria is influenced by climate change and the international commodity price of coffee. The study demonstrates the potential benefits of improving coffee output and export through climate mitigation and adaptation measures and revival of agricultural commodity marketing in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Empirical evidence is lacking on the nexus between coffee commodity output, climate change and commodity price volatility of Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria and other developing countries. To fill this gap, this study analyzed the reaction of coffee output to climate change and commodity price volatility. We used secondary data from 1961 to 2015 from reliable sources for Nigeria. The study adopted GARCH, ARCH and FMOLS in analysis of coffee output reaction to climate change and commodity price volatility. The findings show that coffee output in Nigeria is influenced by climate change and the international commodity price of coffee. The study demonstrates the potential benefits of improving coffee output and export through climate mitigation and adaptation measures and revival of Agricultural Commodity Marketing in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Crop rotation has been identified as a practice that enhances soil fertility and healthy foods, but its awareness and adoption among rural farmers of Ebonyi State, who need the knowledge of best agronomic practices owing to the high cost of fertilizer, remain unknown. To bridge this gap, 180 rural farmers were selected for this study using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data for the study was obtained using a structured interview schedule, and was analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, chi-square, and probit regression. The results showed that the mean age of the farmers was 55, and the majority of them (72.22%) were males. However, the majority (87.78%) of the rural farmers were not aware of crop rotation and diversity practices, and a significant difference existed in the average mean annual income of the same land size for adopters (N886, 848.68) and non-adopters (N455, 055.60). The probit regression result showed that marital status, educational level, farm size, cropping system practiced, and access to extension services by the respondents increased the likelihood of farmers' adoption of crop rotation and diversity practices. Intercropping was used more by farmers, and it was found that more extension support and access to education, among other things, would make it more likely that rural farmers would use the method.