<strong></strong><p>Food production in Nigeria is largely dependent on natural environmental resources like rainfall, temperature and relative humidity. This study examined the impact of some of these climatic variables on food production in Nigeria from 1975 to 2010. Secondary time series data obtained from FAOSTAT (Food and Agriculture Organization statistics) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency were used for the study. The data were analyzed using some econometric tools such as Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, Johansen Test and Vector Error Correction (VEC) Estimates. The ADF test reveals that relative humidity integrated at order zero level while rainfall and temperature and agricultural output were stationary after differencing at level 1 thus showing that the variables had relationship. The results of the Johansen co-integrated test revealed that there is one co-integrating equation at 5% showing a co-integrating relationship between agricultural output and the climatic variables. The Vector Error Correction Estimates indicated that rainfall was positively significant at 5% to food production on the short run indicating that vagaries in climate especially rainfall affected food production and output in Nigeria. It was recommended, therefore, that measure that could help to mitigate the adverse effects of inadequate rainfall e.g. irrigation, drought resistant crops varieties among others should be put in place by the government. Farmers should equally be sensitized and trained in the area of adaptation and mitigation of the effect of climate change as this will go a long way to ameliorate large scale failure in food production in the country.</p>

In addressing the problem of ill-health and risks associated with the use of pesticides, health and safety practices were advocated among cocoa farmers in the area. The study was therefore conducted to investigating safety options the farmers were aware of as well as the factors influencing their adherence to the safety precautions. Descriptive statistics and Ordered probit model were used to analysed data collected from 480 respondents using multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics revealed that the average age of the farmers was 54±12.5years. Farmers were aware of the use of eye glasses, nose mask, mouth cover, protective clothing, protective boot, hand glove as well as washing/bathing after application and disposing off chemical container but adopt only the protective boot, protective clothing and wash/bath after application. Farmers' adherence to safety practices in the area was influenced by age, number of extension contact, cocoa income, livestock income as well as level of education. It is therefore important for development organisations and relevant government agencies to put in place policy thrust that would improve extension service, educate farmers as well as encourage them on the need to strictly adhere to Safety Precautions in Pesticides Use for efficiency and health of farmers.

As parts of the efforts to reduce land degradation and hence improve farm productivity, farmers in the area were introduced to various land conservation technologies. The study was thus conducted to investigate the determinants of land conservation technologies in the area. Data collected through a multi-stage sampling procedure were analysed with the aid of descriptive statistics and multinomial logit model. Findings revealed significant difference between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents such as age (p≤0.01), household size (p≤0.01), farm size (p≤0.01), value of livestock (p≤0.01) and off-farm income (p≤0.01). Findings further revealed that level of education, extension contact and land ownership significantly influenced farmers adoption of mulching, cover cropping and tree planting respectively. On the other hand, while age of respondents reduced farmers' adoption of mulching and tree planting, membership of association increased the adoption of cover cropping. Government through her agencies and other development organizations should therefore put in place policy framework that would educate the farmers through regular extension contact and also carry out a review of land ownership rights in the study area. This would enhance farmers' adoption of conservation options and hence, sustainable production.

Purpose: Examine residents’ attitude towards urban trees from the perspective of funding or voluntarily contributing time for tree care programs. Majority of global populace live in cities, hence, the rise in public expectations for liveable, sustainable and greener communities and urban areas all over the world, Nigeria inclusive. With proper planning and management, cities may become more liveable, but the rapid loss of large urban green areas cause havoc, and has ushered in several problems such as adverse climatic condition, reduced water and air quality, amongst others. Metodology: A questionnaire survey was conducted to understand how residents rank and rate the benefits of urban trees as well as individual willingness to support conservation initiatives, using Benin metropolis, Nigeria as a case study. Findings: Using binary logit analysis, the study identified that residents who are aware of ecosystem services, had a profession and have spent at least 20 years in the city, had a significant relationship with personal willingness to volunteer time and/or donate money toward urban tree care programs and activities. Contribution to knowledge: Provided quantitative information to demonstrate the importance of conserving trees in development projects towards Global SDGs.

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License This study determines the impact of agroforestry practices on food production, income generation and poverty reduction among farming households in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Both descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages as well as inferential statistics such as Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Foster Greer Thorbecke (FGT) analysis were used in the study. It was discovered that the propensity score distribution and common support for propensity score estimation shows the results from the covariate balancing tests both before and after matching in which the treatment (adopters) and comparison (non-adopters) groups are said to be balanced. The result of the impact of the adoption of agroforestry practices on farmers' income from the PSM analysis shows that the adoption produces a positive and significant impact on the farmers' income, while the result of the impact of the adoption on farmers' output was found to be negative, though not significant. This could be attributed to improper adoption or practices of the technologies by the farmers. It was also discovered that about 27% of the adopters fell below the poverty line ($183.25) and were therefore regarded as poor while about 67% of the non-adopters fell below the poverty line ($102.21) and can therefore be described as poor. FGT poverty index was then used to show the extent of poverty among the farming households and it was found that the adopters of agroforestry technology were faring better than the non-adopters of agroforestry technology.