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Information on economics of production of minor vegetables is largely limited. This is the case for waterleaf [Talinum triangulare (Jacq). Wild]. Farm-level, output-oriented technical efficiency indices were estimated by fitting stochastic production frontier functions to survey data collected from waterleaf producers. By use of the Maximum Likelihood analysis, asymptotic parameter estimates were evaluated to describe efficiency determinants. The most critical production factors were labor, irrigation, and use of organic manure. The mean efficiency term, 0.65, indicates that waterleaf output could be increased with available technology. Some socioeconomic factors were evaluated to determine their influences on the ability of producers to be E. J. Udoh and N. A. Etim are affiliated with the

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The rise in population amidst climate change has exerted undue pressure on food production and security. Rice production has also been adversely affected by rising temperature and varying rainfall resulting in reduced productivity. In order to cope with the negative impact of climate change events on rice production, farmers need strengthen and improve their adaptive capacity. Therefore, a study was conducted to empirically estimate the factors affecting the adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural ( CSA) practices in rice production. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select the representative rice farmers for the study. With the aid of oral interview and questionnaires, information were elicited from 90 farmers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and univariate probit model. Results revealed that majority ( 62.5 percent) of rice farmers were women, 75 percent were married, 67.5 percent were within economically active age and 85 percent had post primary education. Findings further showed that education level of farmers, family size, farm income and access to information on climate change were positively and directly related to rice farmers willingness to adopt climate smart agricultural practices at 1 percent and 5 percent levels of significance respectively. Result also showed that about 55.85 percent of rice farmers in the study location received information on climate change from village meetings, friends, relatives and other farmers. Agricultural policies that aimed at increasing incomes of rice farmers and creating awareness on climate change will be rational decision.

Youths are successor farming generation and therefore the future of food security. At present, they constitute about 60% of Nigeria’s population and have over the years contributed significantly to national development. Unfortunately, the present environment makes it  difficult to explore their full potentials in  production through participation in agriculture. The ageing smallholder farmers are less likely to increase capacity needed to sustainably expand agricultural production. There is therefore a pressing need to engage the youth in ways that they can see a promising future in agriculture as well as influence them to build capacity through effective involvement in agricultural production. Several factors however, have continued to hinder capacity building and effective  participation of youths in vegetable farming. An empirical study was conducted to estimate the factors affecting the willingness  of youth to  participate in small scale waterleaf production. The representative waterleaf producers were selected using the multi stage sampling procedures.With the aid of questionnaire, primary data were obtained from 100 farmers. Univariate probit regression model was used to analyze the data. Results of analysis indicated that the most critical factors affecting the participation of youths in waterleaf production were age, educational qualification, size of household members, and farm income. Results indicated that youths who have acquired some form of education were more willing to be involved in waterleaf production. Findings further indicated that youth in families with higher income from farming activities were more willing to participate in waterleaf production.

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This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Author NAE designed the study, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Author GEE managed the literature searches, analyses of the study performed the spectroscopy analysis. Author NAE managed the experimental process. Author GEE identified the species of plant. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.