Wetlands are among the most precious ecosystems in the world, sensitive to changes in land use, affecting their distribution, health, quality, functions and provisioning services they provide. This study assessed how land use change and socio-economic activities are driving wetland conversions in Kaduna Metropolis from 1986 to 2020. Landsat images (189/053) and SRTM DEM were obtained from USGS. These images were processed using ERDAS Imagine 2014 and the study area was extracted using mask tool. Decision-tree classification was used to identify and map the wetlands in the study area, and indices-based classification using eCognition 9.0 was used to carry out the land use land cover change detection. Result of the analysis showed an overall accuracy of 94% (0.93 Kappa) for 1986 classification, and 90% (0.88 Kappa) for the 2020 classification. The study revealed that only the built-up areas increased from 72.47 km2 to 239.88 km2, riparian vegetation reduced from 88.39 km2 to 70.96 km2, open water bodies reduced from 6.67 km2 to 4.89 km2, agricultural land also reduced from 424.80 km2 to 356.99 km2, bare land reduced from 169.22 km2 to 101.21 km2 and undisturbed vegetation also reduced from 150.39 km2 to 138.56 km2. The study concluded that settlement expansion as the primary driver of wetland changes in Kaduna metropolis. The study therefore recommends creation of buffer zones around the wetlands in order to prevent further encroachment.
The present research empirically determined the factors influencing total factor productivity (TFP) of sugarcane producers in the Kwara State of Nigeria. Data were obtained from using the 2017-2018 sugarcane cropping season field survey through the administration of a structured questionnaire complemented with an interview schedule on 105 sugarcane farmers selected via multi-stage sampling technique. The collected data were analyzed using the conventional TFP index and censored regression model. From the empirical findings, it was observed that inefficiency in the allocation of working capitals, capital consumption, and health-related challenges decreased the TFP of sugarcane farmers in the studied area. However, the study advised the extension agents to educate farmers to be rational in resource allocation in order to optimize their productivity in sugarcane production. In addition, the study advised farmers to adopt health precautious measures in order not to predispose their family members to tropical diseases and should imbibe savings and investment cultures
The study empirically determined the factors that influenced household sugarcane output commercialization in Kwara State of Nigeria using undated data elicited via structured questionnaires complemented with interview schedule from 105 active sugarcane farmers chosen through multi-stage sampling design during the 2017 production season. The collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The empirical findings showed poor extension services, inadequate credit facilities, failure of the farmers to utilize their social capital, lack of scientific storage facilities and health-related issues to be the major factors that affected sugarcane output commercialization the studied area. Therefore, the study recommended that the farmers in the studied area should be advised to pool their social capital together in order to become economically viable thereby maximizing the pecuniary economic advantages of sugarcane value chain in the studied area.
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