The agricultural sector which contributes between 20-50% of gross domestic product in Africa and employs about 60% of the population is greatly affected by climate change impacts. Agricultural productivity and food prices are expected to rise due to this impact thereby worsening the food insecurity and poor nutritional health conditions in the continent. Incidentally, the capacity in the continent to adapt is very low. Addressing these challenges will therefore require a holistic and integrated adaptation framework hence this study. A total of 360 respondents selected through a multi-stage random sampling technique participated in the study that took place in Southern Nigeria from 2008-2011. Results showed that majority of respondents (84%) were aware that some climate change characteristics such as uncertainties at the onset of farming season, extreme weather events including flooding and droughts, pests, diseases, weed infestation, and land degradation have all been on the increase. The most significant effects of climate change that manifested in the area were declining soil fertility and weed infestation. Some of the adaptation strategies adopted by farmers include increased weeding, changing the timing of farm operations, and processing of crops to reduce post-harvest losses. Although majority of respondents were aware of government policies aimed at protecting the environment, most of them agreed that these policies were not being effectively implemented. A mutually inclusive framework comprising of both indigenous and modern techniques, processes, practices and technologies was then developed from the study in order to guide farmers in adapting to climate change effects/impacts.
This paper investigates the hypothesis that rural informal savings and credit associations persist, remain popular and flourish because they are able to resolve the problems of information asymmetry, transaction costs and related risks that are handled poorly or not at all by formal finance and rural credit schemes. Data for the paper emanated from two empirical studies of traditional savings and credit associations in south-eastern Nigeria, the initial study in 1993 and a follow-up study in 1998. The traditional savings and credit associations appear able to cope well with the risks associated with asymmetric information, transaction costs and moral hazard, through sustained locally valued diverse financial and non-financial services, expense-reducing techniques, locally adapted integrated loan guarantees and contract enforcement, and flexibility and convenience of loan services. While it is unrealistic to expect formal finance to emulate the risk coping techniques of these associations, it can and should at least learn from them and harness them. In addition to policy instruments that would reduce the information asymmetry, transaction costs and enforcement problems, the enhancement of complementary institutional and financial linkages between formal financial intermediaries and these associations are integral components of a dependable strategy to expand the frontiers of rural formal finance.Résumé: Ce document analyse l'hypothèse selon laquelle les associations rurales informelles d'epargne et de crédit perdurent, restent populaires et se développent parce qu'elles sont capables de résoudre les problèmes d'asymétrie de l'information, de frais de transaction et des risques connexes que les programmes formels de financement et de crédit rural ne règlent pas de manière satisfaisante ou ignorent complètement. Les données utilisées sont empruntées de deux études empiriques sur les associations traditionnelles d'épargne et de crédit du Sud-est du Nigeria. La première étude a été effectuée en 1993 et la
Households need energy for various activities, chief among these is cooking, which accounts for a greater percentage of the total domestic energy consumption. In Nigeria, household cooking energy accounts for a major part of the total energy consumed. This study was designed to explore the determinants of cooking energy use and preferences among households in Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically, the aims of the study were; to ascertain the differences in the quantities of cooking energy sources used by households, determine the preferences of each of the energy sources by the households, reasons for preferences for each of the energy sources, and the problems associated with the use of each of the energy source. Multistage sampling technique was adopted in this study. One hundred and sixty-six respondents were used for the study. Primary data were collected and analyzed using a t-test and descriptive statistics. Results showed that the mean quantities of kerosene used in the rural and urban areas were about 26 and 36 litres per month that of fuel wood were about 231 and 306 kg, respectively. The t-test result showed that there exist significant differences between the quantities of kerosene and fuel wood used in the rural and urban areas. The likert-type scale result showed that the cooking energy with the highest perceived level of efficiency was liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), while the energy with the highest level of preference was kerosene. The major reasons for the preference for LPG was because it cooks fast and clean, that of kerosene was lower chances of fire accident than LPG. For fuel wood, preference was due to fast cooking and better taste of food, while that of charcoal was due to clean cooking and reduced cases of fire accident. The major constraints militating against the use of different cooking energy sources, even when they are preferred, were scarcity, expensiveness and risk of fire outbreak for LPG and kerosene, while for fuel wood and charcoal, they were pollution and the fact that it produces a lot of black soot. There is need to implement incentive-based policies to encourage the use of LPG and kerosene, through targeted subsidies and cost reduction. Key words: energy consumption, efficiency, preference, pollution, income
This paper examines the local government system in Nigeria, its relevance and impact in poverty reduction, economic growth and sustainable development. After a review of the local government system in Nigeria as an example of political, fiscal and economic decentralization, it examines the nature and evolution of local government in Nigeria as well as the roles and responsibilities of the local governments in the Nigerian context. In examining the deficiencies of the local government system in Nigeria one of the major issues seem to be a problem of accountability of local governments along with serious capacity issues. The paper concludes with a treatment of the imperatives for optimising the effectiveness of local governments in Nigeria.
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