Agroforestry has recently been experiencing a surge in interest as a cost-effective means to enhance food security and well-being. Thus there is a need to assess its contribution of to farmer’s wellbeing. Primary data needed for the study were collected through the administration of questionnaires to agroforestry farmers. Purposive random sampling technique was used to select three forest enclaves in Edo state. A simple random sampling technic was used in the selection of respondents and a total number of 120 copies of questionnaires were administered. Datawere analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages and inferential statistics such as Chi-square, Pearson Product Moment correlations (PPMC). The study revealed that the mean age of the farmers in the area was 45.6years. Majorities (85.8 %) were male and 78.3% were married. with 54.2% having household size of between 4 - 6 persons. Majority (84.2%) had formal education. Also, 65.8% engage in agroforestry farming as their primary occupation. The results showed that there was positive and significant relationship between farmers’involvement in agroforestry and their economic wellbeing (χ2 = 76.27, P ≤ 0.001), material wellbeing (χ2 = 93.77, P ≤ 0.001), social wellbeing (χ2 = 73.00, P ≤ 0.001) and psychological wellbeing (χ2 = 132.63, P ≤ 0.001), respectively. It is therefore recommended that farmers should be encouraged to increase their farm holding and also organized themselves into association for them to have access to mechanized equipment Keyword: Contribution, Agroforestry, Wellbeing, Farmers
Cassava, an edible root crop and a reliable and relatively inexpensive source of carbohydrate, is widely grown and processed into different foods such as cassava flour and garri. The study analyzed the costs and returns in cassava flour and garri production and also determined the factors influencing its production in the study area. A two- stage sampling technique was used to generate primary data used for this study. The first stage involved the purposive selection of Ibarapa North Local Government Area (LGA), because it has more cassava producers and processors than other LGAs. The second stage involved the random selection of 15 villages out of the 23 in the LGA. From the selected villages, 170 respondents were randomly selected while only 150 copies of the structured questionnaire administered were retrieved. Results from the primary data shows that 28.3% of garri producersproducers had no formal education and 46.7% were between the ages of 30 and 39years. The regression analysis shows that the quantity of garri sold (ß =5.4099), transportation cost (ß =-0.2994), peeling cost (ß = -0.4249), and grating cost (ß = 0.6878) were all significant to the total revenue of cassava flour sold. Price, inadequate capital, transportation, land tenure and markets were factors influencing garri and cassava flour production. Analysis of the costs and returns revealed that processing cassava into garri gave a higher gross margin even though processing of cassava was profitable, indicating that there is a significant difference between flour and garri production. Inputs, market, good and infrastructural facilities should be provided so as to increase production capacity and hence food security. Keywords: Cassava, Cassava flour, Garri, Gross margin, Nigeria
Background and Objective: Unproductive soil has been a major problem to farmers, recent interest in the use of a stable organic manure (biochar) as soil amendment and poultry manure to increase soil fertility is also increasing. Hence, the experiment was conducted to assess the condition of poultry manure and biochar on the growth and yield of tomato. Materials and Methods: A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the Federal College of Forestry Ibadan, using polyethylene bag with 5 kg soil collected at two (2) soils depths, 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth at the botanical garden, Federal College of Forestry Ibadan. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replicates. The treatments used were poultry manure (5t/ha), biochar (10t/ha), mixture of poultry manure and biochar (1:1) and control (no amendment).The tomato seeds (UC82B) were sourced from NIHORT, Ibadan and raised in a germination basket. Data were collected weekly on plant height, collar diameter and number of leaves, 50% days to flowering and yield of tomato plants from two weeks after transplanting (WAT). Data collected were analyzed statistically using ANOVA while means were separated using LSD (p<0.05) where applicable. Results: In 0-15 cm soil, the growth variables (plant height, number of leaves and collar diameter) increased with various treatments used. The highest tomato height was observed with the application of biochar (10t/ha). All the treatments applied affected the number of tomato leaves at all weeks after transplanting (WAT) with poultry manure 5t/ha having the highest number of leaves at 7WAT, while collar diameter was significantly affected by various treatments from 2 to 5 WAT, with the mixture of P.M + BIO (1:1) recording the highest value and the control plot recorded the least values in all weeks. However, in 15-30 cm soil, there was significant difference in the number of leaves of tomato among all the amended soil from 5 to 7 WAT, the highest tomato leaves were obtained when the soil was amended with poultry manure (5t/ha) and can be compared with other treatments. Interaction of poultry manure and biochar(1:1) and poultry manure 5 t/ha resulted in highest height of tomato plant from 3-7 WAT as compared to the control that had the least value but were not significantly different from the sole application of biochar 10t/ha. Interaction of poultry manure + biochar (1:1) and poultry manure (5t/ha) gave the highest tomato flowering and fruits. Conclusion: Based on this result, biochar and poultry manure when added to soil, boosted the mineralization of the soil after amendment.
This study was carried out in the Onigambari area of Oyo state to determine the choice of farmers to practice Ago-forestry in the area. The χ2 test result revealed that the educational level of the respondents correlated highly with the respondents major occupation (p<0.01). χ2 test shows that there was significant relationship (p<0.01) between the respondents’ level of education and awareness of agroforestry systems. This shows that farmers with a better educational background can accept agro forestry easily than those will lower education. Farmers’ awareness of Agroforestry systems, willingness to plant trees, purpose of planting trees and desired tree species were evaluated. It was observed that 74% of the respondents are not willing to practice agroforestry while 24% shows interest. 64% confirmed they are aware of the practice while 32% had never heard of such practice. The t-test result shows a significant difference with respect to the willingness of the respondents to practice agroforestry. Of those that areaware, 38% practice agroforestry for the purpose of fuel wood, 36% as source of income while only 2% practice for the purpose of wind breaking. Eucalyptus calmuldulensis, Magnifera indica, Gmelina aboreal are some of the tress used for this practice in the study area. Lack of seed and scarcity of land were identified as limiting factors that prevent farmers from practicing agroforestry. In summary it was observed that the respondent’s level of education correlated significantly to the level of education, also the level of education determines respondent’s willingness to practice agroforestry. It is recommended that Seeds, Seedlings and land be made available to encourage the practice among farmers. Extension workers are encouraged to engage farmers more on the benefits of agroforestry. Keyword: Farmers, Agroforestry, Climate change, Land degradation, Natural Fallow
A fundamental concern of any government is the wellbeing of its citizens. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the determinants of wellbeing among agroforestry farmers in Edo state, Nigeria. Respondents were selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure to select three forest enclaves based on the number of agroforestry farmers in the enclaves. These enclaves are Sakponba, Ubiaja and Agbede using 50%, 33%and 17% respectively, this percentage was based on the population of the enclave dwellers in each using simple random sampling, and a total of 120 respondents was obtained; data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as multinomial logit and multiple regression. The result reveals that the mean age of the farmers was 45.6years. Majority (85.8 %) were male and 78.3% were married. The mean household size was 5 persons, with 54.2% having household size of between 4 and 6 persons. Majority (84.2%) had formal education. Also, 65.8% had agroforestry farming as primary occupation, with source of income as main reason for involvement in agroforestry and average farm size of 8.4 hectares. Results of multiple regression analysis for relationship between contribution of the independent variable and farmers’ wellbeing reveals a positive and significant relationship between farmers’ level of income; economic and material wellbeing are not signific ant at any alpha level, social wellbeing (r = 0.217, P ≤ 0.10) and psychological wellbeing (r = 0.283, P ≤0.05), respectively. The positive and significant relationship implies that the higher the farmers’ income level, the higher the economic, social and psychological wellbeing of the farmers. The study therefore, recommends that agroforestry support services like incentives, agricultural inputs and provision of soft loans should be provided by government and various NGOs to improve farmers’ income. Keywords: Determinants, Agroforestry, Wellbeing, Farmers, Edo State
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