The issue of low productivity of the Nigerian farmers is becoming topical particularly in rice production. Rice is an annual crop and one of the most important staple food crops in Nigeria. Since the mid-1970, the demand for rice has been increasing at a much faster rate in Nigeria than in any other African country. This paper therefore examines the factors affecting rice farmers' productivity as well as constraints limiting rice production in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Primary data was used for this study with the aid of a well-designed questionnaire to collect data from 160 randomly selected rice farmers. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used in selecting the respondents. Three major rice-producing Local Government Areas (LGAs) were purposively selected from the State, followed by the random selection of two villages from each LGA. In all, 160 rice farmers were randomly selected from six villages. The objectives were analysed using descriptive statistics, OLS regression and Likert-type scale. The results showed that the linear functional form gave the best line of fit. R value was about 77% and statistically significant at 1% level. Farm size, level of education and quantity of fertilizer were positively and significantly related to productivity at 1% and 10% respectively, while years of farming experience and quantity of seeds used were negatively significant at 10% and 1% respectively. Pest infestations and financial constraints were ranked as the most challenging factors limiting rice production in the study area. It is therefore recommended that extension services should be intensified in the area to educate the farmers on the appropriate application rate of fertilizer and seed rate per hectare. In addition, the relevant research institutes should develop a technology for controlling or preventing birds' infestations in the area.

This study analyzed the compound growth rate (CGR) and the contributions of yield and area to cassava production output in Nigeria. During the period, TE1970 – TE2018, production followed an upward trajectory from 9.3 million tonnes (1970) to 59.5 million tonnes (2018) while yield oscillated between 7.9tonnes/ha (TE2014) and 11.9tonnes/ha (TE2010). At this period, the CGR per year for yield declined (-0.2%), harvested area increased (10.9%) and production increased (10.6%). The decomposition analysis for the period revealed that, increase in output was largely due to expansion of harvested area (152%) while the interaction between area and yield effect declined production output by 45.8%. Regrettably, during the period, cassava yield also declined production output by 5.8%. The study also found that harvested area has the highest instability index (11.8). In order to further increase and sustain cassava production in Nigeria, intense planting of high yield cassava stems instead of solely expanding cropped area is recommended.

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The study assessed the determinants of food security status of households living with HIV/AIDS in Southwestern Nigeria. Eighty-five people living with HIV/AIDS were interviewed for the study. Descriptive statistics, cost of calorie measure and the Logit model were used in analyzing the data collected. The result shows that there is high prevalence of food insecurity among the households living with HIV/AIDS. The result of the Logit model also shows that gender, education, monthly food intake (Kcal), total monthly income, drug share and food share significantly influence the food security status of the households living with HIV/AIDS. To improve the food security status of households living with HIV/AIDS, it is recommended that economic policy should be directed towards the reduction of the food prices, thus reducing the food share of the household monthly expenditure (Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 10: