This study evaluates the technical efficiency of insured and uninsured cocoa farm operators in Ondo State, Nigeria. Study data were obtained from 60 insured and 60 uninsured farm operators. Descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier production function and t-test were used for the data analysis. The mean technical efficiency of the insured farm and uninsured farm operators was 76% and 70% respectively. Evidence from the t-test revealed that there was a significant difference between the technical efficiency of the insured and uninsured farm operators (t-cal. = 2.513; p = 0.012). The significant determinants for the output of the insured farm operators were farm size and the cost of pesticides while only the cost of pesticides was significant in determining output for the uninsured farm operators. The study therefore recommends policies aimed at promoting agricultural insurance among cocoa farmers, reducing the cost of pesticides, increasing farm size as well as encouraging young and well-educated individuals to insure their farming activities.

This study examined the status of climate smart small ruminant production practices in Kwara State, Nigeria. About 105 small ruminant breeders were selected for the study. The data were analysed the use of frequency count, percentage, mean score, Binary Logistic Regression and Pearson product moment correlation. The result revealed that about 60% of the breeders were females and the mean years of experience in small ruminant production was 7 years. The result of most of the frequently used climate smart small ruminant production practices of the respondents showed that provision of medication to sick animals and cultivation of crops along with rearing of animals (90.5%), feeding with supplementary feeds, isolation of sick animals and vaccination of animals (92.4%); provision of shade through Planting of trees to reduce heat stress (93.3%); feeding with crop residues and building and maintenance of pens (96.2%) and grazing on pasture/grassland (97.1%). About 90.5% of the breeders have high status on the use of climate smart small ruminant production practices. Disease outbreak and high mortality (mean=2.07) was the highest ranked factors affecting the small ruminant breeders. The result of Binary Logistic Regression showed that educational level (B=3.985), membership of social group (B=6.083), access to extension services (B= 13.941) and years of experience (B= -0.544) were the determinant factors of the use of climate smart small ruminants production practices. This study therefore recommends that breeders should be provided with veterinary services and extension services.

The aim of the study is the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Model Analysis of Training Needs of Artisanal fishers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Data were collected with the use of a questionnaire and analysed using frequency count, percentages, mean score and Binary Logistic Regression. The food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Needs Assessment Model was used to determine the areas of training needs. Any task or skill that had a threshold score above 6.13 requires training intervention. The results revealed that all the respondents were male (100 %), 41.7 years was the average age of the fishers. about 89.3 % of the respondents were married, 45.4% had no formal education, the average years of experience was 26.9 years and 59.7 % of the respondents practiced farming as a supportive occupation. 19.2 kg was the mean quantity of fish caught per day and the mean household size was 8 persons. The fisherfolks required capacity building identification and sorting of fish (x ̅=6.26), handling and transportation of captured fish (x ̅=7.46), canoe use and maintenance (x ̅=6.76), use of chorkor smoker (x ̅=6.7), maintaining personal and environmental health hygiene (x ̅=7.29) and local weather forecasting (x ̅= 6.62). The determinants of training needs on Artisanal Fishing practices were years of fishing experience (p<0.05), income (p<0.05), household size (p<0.10), and membership of a fishing association (p<0.01). The highest ranked constraint affecting artisanal fishing practices was the of storage facilities (x ̅=2.62). The recommendations of the study are that there should be provision of training in the identified areas and provision of supports to the artisanal fisherfolks inform of inputs and credit facilities..

Tomato is a vegetable crop commonly grown in Nigeria and consumed by most people. It contains vitamins and vital nutrients that are essential for good health. This study was conducted to determine the effect of magnetization of irrigation water on the growth, yield and nutritional qualities of tomatoes under deficit irrigation. Tomato seeds (‘Roma VF’ and ‘UC 82B’ varieties) were planted in 96 buckets (11 liters capacity), 48 buckets for magnetized water (MW) and 48 buckets for non-magnetized water (NMW), grown in a greenhouse and harvested 82 days after planting. The irrigation water was treated with 30 pieces of 10×25×50 mm neodymium magnets (1.2 Tesla). The tomato plants were subjected to deficit irrigation to determine the effect on the performance of tomatoes at 100% (1 liter), 80% (0.8 liters), 60% (0.60 liters) and 50% (0.50 liter) water requirement. Each treatment was replicated 6 times for both MW and NMW. The MW increased the growth of ‘Roma VF’ and ‘UC 82B’ varieties by 5.44-38.10% and the stem girth by 21.13-49.01%. MW increased the yield of ‘Roma VF’ variety by 110.00%, 36.00%, 6.26% and 24.00% for 100%, 80%, 60% and 50% of water application, respectively but increased the yield of ‘UC 82B’ variety by 56.52% for 100% water application. MW also improved vitamin A and C content by 7.89-27.94% and 0.45-19.06%, respectively. The concentrations of Lead were slightly higher in the tomato irrigated with MW than in the NMW but values of other heavy metals were not consistent and very close for both MW and NMW.

The study assessed the factors affecting entrepreneurship development among Food Marketers in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria. One hundred and ten respondents were randomly selected in four markets in Ilorin. The data was analyzed using frequency count, percentage, mean and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The result reveals that mean age of the respondents was 30.5 years and about 58.2% were female. Record keeping skills (mean score =2.42) was the highest ranked entrepreneurial information needs of the respondents while lack of start-up capital (mean score =2.40) was the most severe factor affecting entrepreneurial activities of food marketers. There is a weak positive significant relationship between the entrepreneurial information needs and factors affecting entrepreneurial development of the respondents (r=0.407, p=0.0001). The study recommends that there should be provision of training on entrepreneurial skills based on the identified areas of needs and there should be provision of credit facilities to the food marketers as these will enhance their productivity. Keywords: Entrepreneurial Development, Factors, Information Needs, Food Marketers, Ilorin Metropolis