Climate change is expected to intensify existing problems and create new combinations of risks, particularly in Africa. The situation is made worst due to factor such as widespread poverty, over dependence on rain fed agriculture, inequitable land distribution, limited access to capital and technology, inadequate public infrastructure, such as roads, long term weather forecasts and inadequate research and extension. By lessening the severity of key damages to the agricultural sector, adaptation is the key defensive measure. Adaptation to climate change involves changes in agricultural management practices in response to changes in climate conditions. This paper reviews agricultural adaptation strategies employed by farmers in various countries in Africa in cushioning the effects of climate change. The common agricultural adaptation strategies used by farmers were the use of drought resistant varieties of crops, crop diversification, changes in cropping pattern and calendar of planting, conserving soil moisture through appropriate tillage methods, improving irrigation efficiency, and afforestation and agro-forestry. The paper concluded that improving and strengthening human capital through education, outreach programmes, extension services at all levels will improve capacity to adapt to climate change impact. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v39i3.21984 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 39(3): 407-418, September 2014
The study assessed the role of intra-household water management practices in transforming water resources available for agricultural activities in Benue State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 160 respondents used for the study. Data were collected using interview schedule. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis. Findings of the study showed that majority (67.8%) of the respondents indicated that women provided drinking water in their households; also majority (71.3%) indicated that women provided water for cooking and majority (66.1%) stated that women also provided water for laundry (66.1%), bathing (65.5%), and home cleaning (65.5%), while greater proportion (26.4%) indicated that boys were responsible for watering of livestock. The result showed that reducing the number of baths per household member (1.98), reducing the number of times dishes are wished per day (M=1.97), watering of gardens in the morning and evening only to reduce evaporation (1.95) gray water re-use (M=1.91), use of alum in purifying water (M=1.56), and use of water closet toilets (M=1.54) were among the water demand management strategies employed by households in the area. Strategies for improving water availability for households in the area include: participatory risk assessment involving local people and all other stakeholders (M=3.90), engaging the beneficiary community for which water provision is planned (M=3.88), encouraging local watershed management (M=3.88), mainstreaming gender in community water management (M=3.79) among others. It was recommended that gender mainstreaming in community water management be encourage so that both men and women will be involved in issues relating to water provision, policy and decision making for the development of water supply infrastructure.
The study examined gender roles and challenges of small scale processed cashew nut marketers in Enugu North senatorial zone of Enugu State. Interview schedule was used to collect data from 72 respondents. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Small scale processed cashew nut marketers were dominated by female youths with mean age of 31 years and making a monthly income of between 10,000.00 -14,999.00 from cashew nut marketing. The marketing strategy mostly used by marketers of processed cashew nut products in the study area was lowering of the product price (73.6%). The roles performed by marketers of small scale processed cashew nut products across gender were effective except selling of the products in which men were not involved at all. None of the extension services received by cashew nut marketers across gender was effective. The major challenges facing small scale processed cashew nut marketing enterprise were lack of institutional support (M=3.86) and poor quality of products (M=3.26). The study therefore recommends that the government critically examines its policy thrust on cashew nut production so as to attract private sector participation.
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