Background: Oil exploration operations decreased the cultivable lands of rural people in the study area, leading to the establishment of the Green River Project (GRP). This study assessed the effectiveness and constraints of private sector extension services of GRP in Imo and Rivers States, Nigeria. Objectives: To analyse the roles and effectiveness of, as well as constraints to, the GRP in the area. Method: A multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, chi square and t-test were used to analyse the data. Results: Roles of GRP in farming technologies dissemination included training of farmers on fish pond construction technique and maintenance of good pH levels. There was significant improvement in standard of living (X2 = 15.7; p ≤ 0.05) and size of production (t = 6.398; p ≤ 0.05) of the respondents after participation. In terms of the effectiveness of private sector deliveries on public policies, the programme had effect on beneficiaries’ access to credit, education of wards and poverty reduction. But it is worthy to note that the observed changes may not have been solely caused by the GRP, given that there could be many other factors affecting fish farming, either positively or negatively. Serious implementation constraints to effective performance of GRP included organisational, input and sustainability constraints. Conclusion: It was recommended that there should be timely provision of sufficient inputs to farmers and measures to improve organisation of private sector extension services in the area in order to enhance development.

Small scale cashew nut processing enterprise is important in meeting the needs of the local processors and strategic in the current transformation agenda of the government. The study examined the gender roles and challenges of small scale cashew nut processing enterprise in Enugu North Senatorial zone of Enugu State. Seventy two small scale cashew nut processors were identified and interviewed to elicit information for the study. The study revealed that youths on the whole were found to be more effective in most of the activities of cashew nut processing namely packaging (M=2.0), grading (M=1.90), sizing (M=1.50 and cleaning (M=1.50). On the other hand, men played more effective role in two processing activities-shelling (M=2.0) and peeling (M=2.0) while women played more effective role only in one activity-roasting/frying (M=1.80). It was found that all the respondents (100.0%) were still using local processing method like open pan roasting. About 19.0% of the respondents processed 3-5kg per day while 12.4%, 2.2% and 1.4% processed 6-8kg, 9-11kg and 12-14kg per day respectively. The challenges of small scale cashew nut processors were chemical burns (M=3.86), damage of kernels by fire through non regulation of heat (M=3.67), high cost of kernels (M=3.57) and excess heat affecting the body. The study concluded that the contribution of cashew nut processing enterprise to the transformation agenda was hampered by the use of local processing equipment which also adversely affected the livelihood survival of local processors.

This study assessed households’ involvement in rabbit production in Enugu-North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State. It determined rabbit management and breeding practices of respondents, roles of households in rabbit production and constraints associated with rabbit production in the area. Multistage sampling technique was used to select eighty respondents. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule and analyzed using percentages, mean scores and standard deviations. Majority (62.55%) provide feed for their rabbits twice a day. Majority (86.2%) use paddocks and wooden hutches to construct rabbit house/cages. Adult female and youth/children play less roles in rabbit production. Most perceived constraints were: inadequate/lack of fund (M=3.97), lack of access to foundation stock (M= 3.97) and poor knowledge of rabbit production (M= 3.92). It was recommended that households involved in rabbit production in the area should be encouraged to increase production through training and increased awareness on prevalence of disease and vaccination of rabbits. Similarly, they should be provided with access to foundation stock and other inputs by government and agricultural organizations like Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Development Programme in the area.

The study assessed adoption of improved fish farming technologies by fish farmers as well as socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, level of adoption of GRP fish farming technologies and constraints to adoption of the technologies. The hypothesis of the study was that socioeconomic conditions of farmers do not significantly influence adoption of GRP technologies. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents from two states in Niger Delta. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis and factor analysis were used to analyze data. Results showed that majority (76.7% and 77.5%) of the fish farmers were male and married respectively. Mean age of the respondents was 50 years and majority were literates. Majority of the respondents adopted fish farm management technologies (79%), feeding techniques (79%), fish culture management techniques (77%) and water quantity and quality management techniques (88%). Constraints to adoption of the technologies included technology-related constraints such as existence of technologies better than GRP technologies (with loading of 0.536) and input-related constraints such as: late arrival of GRP input (0.760). Result of the hypothesis was that some socioeconomic characteristics of farmers (age and years spent in school) affected adoption. It was recommended that there should be involvement of youths in the project, provision of sufficient inputs to farmers at the right time and measures to increase collaboration between GRP and other agencies that disseminate improved fish farming technologies in the area.