Cynthia Ebere Nwobodo

This study assessed Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) awareness, use, and challenges in Southeast Nigeria among 450 farmers selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Quantitative data collected through the interview schedule were analysed using percentages and mean statistics. The findings reveal low awareness (44.4%) and minimal use (14.9%) of CEA practices, with only 10.5% of farmers practising container and sack farming. Additionally, 2.1% and 1.7% utilised hydroponics and greenhouse technologies, respectively. Key barriers to the use of CEA included high costs of CEA farm setup (=3.05), limited technical expertise (x=3.01), lack of training (x=2.97), and absence of supportive government policies (x=3.36). An overwhelming majority (97.8%) of the respondents revealed non-supportive government policies as a gap. It is recommended that grants and subsidies for rural CEA startups should be established, while training programmes are organised to build farmers’ capacityThis study assessed Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) awareness, use, and challenges in Southeast Nigeria among 450 farmers selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Quantitative data collected through the interview schedule were analysed using percentages and mean statistics. The findings reveal low awareness (44.4%) and minimal use (14.9%) of CEA practices, with only 10.5% of farmers practising container and sack farming. Additionally, 2.1% and 1.7% utilised hydroponics and greenhouse technologies, respectively. Key barriers to the use of CEA included high costs of CEA farm setup (=3.05), limited technical expertise (x=3.01), lack of training (x=2.97), and absence of supportive government policies (x=3.36). An overwhelming majority (97.8%) of the respondents revealed non-supportive government policies as a gap. It is recommended that grants and subsidies for rural CEA startups should be established, while training programmes are organised to build farmers’ capacity

The study assessed the technological capability of rice processors in Enugu State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 120 respondents across two town communities in two local governments of agricultural zones. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data collected. Findings showed that 88.3% of parboilers were aware of maintaining hygienic conditions and 58.3% practice. While 100.0% knew that they should wash/dewater paddy till wash water is colourless, only 33.3% practised. The majority (80.0%)of millers were aware that operational cost is reduced by ensuring that paddy is at 1%impurity rate but only 20.0% practised. Only 15% of millers owned de-stoning machines and offered the service. A minority (31.7%) of millers package milled rice while only 1.7% practised size sorting, buffering, and polishing of milled rice. This implied that rice processing in Enugu State is still at the basic27processing level of parboiling, drying, milling, and bagging; revealing the need for training and capacity building on value-addition processing such as de-stoning, size sorting, polishing, and buffering which will place domestic rice at par with foreign rice. The reason for the high disparity between awareness and practice is a gap for extension workers to explore and address.

The study assessed gender roles in the production of African black beans (akidi) in Southeast Nigeria. Specifically, it addressed the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, agronomic practices, gender roles, constraints, and strategies for improving the production of African black beans (ABB). A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 192 ABB farmers for the study. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using percentage and mean statistics. Results revealed that the average age of female and male respondents was about 44 and 41 years, respectively. Men, women and youths played complementary roles in various operations in ABB production. Men (37.5%, 32.8%, 32.8% and 13.5%) and youths (32.8%, 33.9%, 34.9% and 10.9%) dominated heavy labour operations like land clearing, ploughing, harrowing and fertilizer application, respectively, while women (60.4%, 53.1%, 59.9%, 63% and 61.5%) dominated other operations like planting, harvesting, processing, storage and marketing respectively. Therefore, all genders are involved in ABB production in the area. Efforts should be made to target different genders in ABB production. This can be done through the dissemination of improved technologies in the various production operations. This will ensure that roles are not neglected, thereby enhancing the production of African black beans.

The poultry industry in sub-Saharan Africa faces significant sustainability challenges associated with social equity, economic stability, and environmental degradation. As the sector expands due to population and income growth, a major concern remaining is how to ensure a sustainable future for the industry. This paper assessed the knowledge capabilities of poultry farmers for sustainable production using southeast Nigeria as a model region for all riparian regions in sub-Saharan Africa. Sixty poultry farms and 180 participants were sampled. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources, including relevant literature, participant observations, and in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed with the percentage, bar chart, regression, and Pearson Moment Correlation. Findings revealed that only 13.9% of the respondents had a high knowledge of environmental sustainability. The number of years spent in school (t = 1.992; p = 0.048), access to veterinary service (t = 2.161; p = 0.032), and membership in a social organization (t = 2.306; p = 0.022) were socio-economic factors that significantly influenced knowledge capabilities. Knowledge (r = 0.252; p < 0.005), rather than income, significantly influenced the use of sustainability practices. Low knowledge of sustainability practices could mean a gross violation on the part of farmers. Specialized programs for educating poultry farmers on the realities of the environmental impacts of their livelihood are paramount.

The study assessed the determinants of communication channel use among rice value chain actors in Nasarawa and Benue States, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select six hundred (600) respondents. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule and were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model with the forced entry method. Results show that the full Logit Regression model containing all the predictors for determinants of use of face-to-face communication channel (x2 = 19.74), mobile phone (x2 = 46.453), radio (x2 = 55.12), television (x2 = 34.41) and print media (x2 = 29.71) were statistically significant. The key determinants for the use of mobile phones include: sex, age, number of social organizations, and years of experience while sex, age, and number of years spent in school were key determinants in the use of television. Therefore, extension agents should consider the different socio-economic groups in selecting communication channels in reaching out to rice value chain actors as identified. Also, extension agencies should create awareness, and provide training opportunities to enable actors to take advantage of the available channels in rice value chain communication.

This study investigated farmers’ use of sustainable production practices for yellow pepper crop in the Nsukka agricultural zone, Enugu State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 135 farmers and interview schedule using structured questionnaires was employed for data collection. Data generated were analysed with SPSS software using frequency and percentage, mean scores, standard deviation, factor analysis, and logistic regression. Findings revealed that the majority (91.1%) of the yellow pepper farmers had moderate knowledge on sustainable production practices and that some of the practices used were mass selection (97.0%), use of poultry manure (95.60%), use of improved varieties of yellow pepper (94.0%), crop rotation practices (91.10%), and minimum use of agrochemicals (78.50). Among the factors considered to be potential determinants of farmers’ use of sustainable production practices, only sex was statistically significant, at 5% level. Also, findings indicated that technical, institutional, and economic constraints affected farmers’ use of sustainable production practices. Furthermore, results indicated that sustainable production practices could be enhanced through the use of improved seeds (85.5%), access to credit facilities (77.8%), access to extension services (71.8%), and training of farmers (68.9%). The study therefore recommends that government and private sectors should provide services that will facilitate the development of sustainable production practices of Nsukka yellow pepper crop, as this will have a long-term effect on productivity and the production environment.

A sustainable ruminant production system ensures economically viable livestock systems that meet the current and future demands of animal products as well as the environmental safety of current and future generations. The study analyzed the determinants of ruminant farmers' use of sustainable production practices for climate change adaptation and mitigation in Enugu State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select ninety six (96) ruminant farmers that constituted the sample for the study. Semi-structured interview schedule with open ended questions was used in data collection. Data were analyzed using multiple regression and Pearson Moment Correlation statistics. Access to veterinary services (t= 2.056,p= 0.044), monthly household income (t= 3.582,p= 0.001) and annual income from ruminant production (t= −2.635,p= 0.011) were socio-economic factors that significantly influenced use of sustainable practices. The adjusted R- square implies that the three factors were able to explain 24% of variance in use of sustainable practices. There is a significant positive correlation (r= 0.426,p= 0.000) between knowledge level of farmers and their use of sustainable production practices. Schemes for financial inclusion such as payment for ecosystem services can spur farmers to adopt mitigation strategies. Improved climate change knowledge can enhance ruminant farmer's resilience to the increasing impacts of climate change.

The study investigated the attitude of farmers to the use of erosion control measure in Anambra State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers used for the study. Results show that majority (99.2%&98.3%) of the respondents indicated that rain water run-off and poor road construction respectively were the major causes of soil erosion in the area. All (100%) the respondents used mixed cropping, tie ridging and mulching as control practice against erosion. Challenges to farmers’ use of erosion control practices were: unavailability of resource required (x̄ =3.44), and high cost of using the practice (x̄ =3.23). Respondents had positive attitude to erosion control as indicated by the results including: it is good to adopt some erosion practices as it helps to save the soil (x̄ =2.68), interested in issues concerning erosion as this will help me gain knowledge of how to control it (x̄ =2.68),I always teach their family members how to control erosion on their farmland/homes (x̄ =2.56), I will like to be trained about erosion control even though it has not directly affected them (x̄ =2.55).in the area. The paper advocates that government at all levels should provide financial incentives to farmers so that they can afford some good erosion control practices which are costly for them. Keywords: environmental degradation, farmers’ attitude, erosion control practices

The study was carried out to assess trend in agricultural services received by farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. The three agricultural zones in the state, twelve blocks, thirty cells and four hundred and thirty two farmers constituted the samples for the study. Data were analyzed with percentage and mean score while some were presented in charts. Findings revealed that majority (86.8%) of the respondents were males, married (89.6%) with a mean household size of 8 persons and mean age of about 48 years, respectively. On average, they had about 20 years of farming experience, owned and cultivated 4 and 3 hectares of land, respectively. Extension visit was agricultural service that was relatively enjoyed by the respondents. The study advocated for private sector investment in agriculture especially in provision of farm credit and other crucial agricultural services to farmers in order to increase productivity and output. Key words: Agricultural services, farmers, agricultural inputs, Benue State.