Journal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR)

Participation and performance of root crops scientists on cassava research and development in south eastern Nigeria

F.N. Nwakor — 2018-02-14

The study was conducted among cassava crops research scientists in Abia State Nigeria in order to evaluate their participation and performance in cassava research. The study described the socio economic characteristics of the researchers ascertain their level of participation in different research activities, identify their achievements in cassava technology development and the constraints militating against cassava research in the area. Data for the study were collected by the means of structured questionnaire from sixty two scientists at the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike. Data collected were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution tables, percentages, means and inferential statistics. The result of the study showed that 64.25% of respondents were young scientists between the age of 31-40 years and 90.32% of them have their M.sc and PhD in Agriculture, 87.09% and 80.65% of respondents were involved in problem identification and research planning activities. Mean x̄ of 2.74, 2.68 and 2.58 showed high participation of respondents in cassava research activities. The study also showed the researchers agreement to the various technologies developed on cassava by researchers. Mean of 2.0 and above showed an agreement. Hundred(100) percent of the researchers indicated fund as the major constraint to cassava research in the study, followed by lack of motivation by government (96.77%), high cost of research (93.54%) and weed control problem (90.32%). It was recommended that researchers should increase their participation in research activities. Fund and motivational aids should be made available to researchers for a reliable research outcome.

Keywords: Participatory, Performance, Root/tuber Crops, Scientists, and Cassava

Rural farmers perception on the use of agricultural mechanization in agricultural production in Rivers State, Nigeria

N.S. Amadi — 2018-02-14

The study examined rural farmers’ perception on the use of Agricultural Mechanization in agricultural production in Rivers State. The study employed a descriptive survey design to seek the opinions of the respondents. The population of the study consists of all rural farmers in the 23 local government areas in Rivers State. 102 rural farmers were randomly selected from 6 local government areas, giving the total sample size as 612 respondents. The data gathered was analyzed using mean and standard deviation with acceptance mean value of ≥3.00. The study revealed that agricultural mechanization can be used to carry out different farm operation in the farming process. It also revealed that there are lots of benefits in the use of agricultural mechanization in farming, this include; increase in productivity, reduction in time of operation, increase in income generation opportunities, increase in stable development of food system among others. The study also revealed that Scarcity of machinery, Shortage of spare parts, Illiteracy of the farmers, Fragmentation, Lack of capital are some challenges bedeviling the use of agricultural mechanization in the rural areas. However, the study recommended that government should make Agricultural Mechanization available and accessible to farmers as to boost and motivate farmers in using them to maximize production; large area of land should be made available to willing farmers who want to go into large scale production.

Keywords: Agricultural Mechanization, rural farmers, agricultural production

Determinants of savings among small-scale food crop farmers in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria

I.J. Uhuegbulem — 2018-02-14

The study on the Determinants of savings among small scale farmers was conducted in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 110 small scale farmers. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics and the multiple linear regression analysis. The study showed that the mean age of farmers in the study area was 47.7years and that majority (78%) of the farmers were married with mean household size of 6 persons. Majority (45.4%) of the farmers had attained primary education and had mean farm sizes of 1.57 hectares. The result of the multiple regression analysis showed that farm size and income had a significant positive influence on the farmers volume of savings while, household size and distance to financial institutions had a significant negative influence on the farmers volume of savings. The main constraints to the small scale farmer’s inability to save are inadequate income, lack of access to credit facilities and delays and congestion in bank halls. The study recommended that Government, stakeholders and policy makers should provide incentives in the form of short and medium term loans to enhance the productivity and income levels of the small scale food crop farmers.

Keywords: Savings, Small scale farmers and Income

Socio-economic determinants of the adoption of improved yam production technologies in Imo State, Nigeria

O.C. Aniedu — 2018-02-14

This study was designed to investigate the adoption of improved yam production technologies by farmers in Imo State during the 2012 /2013 cropping season. 60 Yam farmers were selected from the three agricultural zones in the state using multi-stage random sampling technique. The mean age of yam farmers was 55.6 years, mean number of members of the family available for yam production was 5.4 , their mean farm size was 2.53hectares, mean farm size devoted to improved yam production was 1.08 hectares, mean farming experience was 32.2 years, while mean income per annum was ₦121,217.00. The rate of adoption of the improved yam production technologies in the state was 42.1%. The results of the linear multiple regression analysis showed that educational level was negatively and significantly associated with adoption. The farm size was positively and significantly associated with adoption. There was no clear cut relationship that existed between adoption and age of farmers, gender, farming experience, family labour, and frequency of extension visits.

The R² was 0.742 indicating that the independent variables in the model can explain about 74.2% of the variability in adoption of improved yam production technologies in the study area. The F-ratio was 16.00 and significant at 1% level which implies goodness of fit of the regression line.

Formal education should be encouraged among yam farmers to enhance adoption of improved technologies and also yam farmers should increase their farm size as this will improve their productivity and income.

Keywords: Socio-economic, Adoption, Improved, Production technologies, Imo State

Assessment of factors influencing cocoyam production among farmers in southeast zone of Nigeria

F.N. Nwakor — 2018-02-14

This study assessed factors influencing cocoyam production in southeast Nigeria. The data for the study were collected from 288 farmers. An interview schedule with a well structured questionnaire was used for the study. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages and mean. Ordinary least square regression analysis was used for the analysis of factors influencing cocoyam production. The result of the multiple regression analysis of the factors influencing cocoyam production shows an R² value of 0.822 which indicates that 82.2% of the total observed variations in the dependent variable were accounted for. F–statistics was significant at1% indicating the fitness of the model used. The result also revealed that seven variables were statistically significant and conforms to the researcher’s a prior expectation. The major production related factors influencing cocoyam production output were land, access to credit, farm size, farming experience, fertilizer and planting materials. Result of the three point likert scale on the constraints militating against cocoyam production showed inadequate fund with the mean of (X =2.71) and high mortality rate of cocoyam (X=2.68) as the major constraints to cocoyam farming. It was recommended that Agricultural credit should be made available and accessible to cocoyam farmers for increased farm size and for increased cocoyam production.

Keywords: cocoyam production, tuber crops

Effects of the European Union Micro Project Programme on the poverty status of food crop farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

I.J. Onwuagba — 2018-02-14

The study evaluates the effects of the European Union Micro Project Programme (MPP6) on the poverty status of food crop farmers in Imo State. Primary data were collected with structured and validated questionnaire from one hundred and ninety eight farmers comprising of farmers in the beneficiary and non-beneficiary communities. The analytical tools used for the study include; descriptive statistics and the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) model. The FGT poverty measure showed that the poverty headcount for households in the beneficiary and non-beneficiary was 52 and 60 respectively; indicating that incidence of poverty was higher among households in the non benefitting communities than households in the benefitting communities. Thus the European Union should establish more infrastructural facilities particularly in the non-benefitting communities as this will bring about the development of the rural communities.

Keywords: Micro project programme, Poverty and Small scale farmers

Extent of use of orthodox and traditional treatments and preventive measures against malaria among rural dwellers in Abia State

Leo O. Obinna — 2018-02-14

The study assessed the extent of use of the orthodox and traditional treatment preventive measures against malaria among rural dwellers in Abia State. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire from 180 respondents via multi- stage procedure. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics analysis. About 78% and 95.6% of the respondents were married and literates respectively. A mean age of 46 years, a mean monthly income of about ₦24,227.78 and a mean household size of about 5 persons respectively were recorded by the respondents. The result further revealed that the respondents employed different types of malaria treatment practices (100% of the respondents employed orthodox practices and 11.78% employed traditional practices).The extent of adoption of malaria preventive measures was low ( X= 2.2) and only about 45.4% of the respondents had a good knowledge level in the use of orthodox malaria treatment practices . The result equally revealed low (X= 1.78) attitudinal level by the respondents towards the use of orthodox malaria treatment practices. It equally, revealed a low (X= 1.98) practice level and gave the Relative Credibility Index (RCI) of the respondents over the use of traditional methods of controlling malaria as (RCI = 2.9). The study concludes that the respondents in the study area had a low Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) level over the use of orthodox malaria treatment practices. Therefore, the study recommends more awareness campaign by the health workers mostly in the rural areas in order to increase the KAP level of the rural dwellers in the use of orthodox malaria treatment practices as this will enormously reduce the devastating effects of malaria sickness in Nigeria and mostly in the study area,

Keywords: Malaria Treatments, Orthodox, Traditional and Abia State

Effect of mulching on growth of ginger in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

M.O. Ahaiwe — 2018-02-14

The paper investigates effect of mulching on growth of ginger in ishiagu, ebonyi state, Nigeria. The experiment was carried out at the experimental farm of Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State, Nigeria, during the 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons, using ginger as test crop. In 2009, there was less than 40% sprouting of ginger at 4 WAP but all the mulched plots were significantly higher than the control. In 2010, there was also significant difference (P < 0.05) in sprouting at 4 WAP but not at 6 and 8 WAP. At 6 WAP there was 50 to 62% sprouting across the treatments. However, at 8 WAP, there was 80% or more sprouting across the treatments. Number of leaves per plant showed that at 6 WAP on average, the organic mulch materials produced higher number of leaves when compared with either the control plot or the black polythene mulched plot. No significant differences occurred between the treatments at 8 WAP. In both years, the dry grass mulch resulted in significantly higher leaf area than the saw dust mulch. The mean leaf area for 2009 and 2010 was in the magnitude of dry grass >rice husk> saw dust > black polythene > control. There was increase in plant height from 4-12 WAP in 2009 and 2010. The organic mulches available were suitable for ginger production in the study area and the test crop UG1 is well adaptable to Ishiagu Environment. It is therefore concluded that mulching is imperative for ginger production and variety UG1 could be used to maximize production at Ishiagu environment. Dry grass and rice husk mulches should be used in Ishiagu environment.

Keywords: mulch, growth, ginger, rice husks