Segun Fakayode

La capacidad de un sistema, comunidad o sociedad expuesta a peligros para resistir, absorber, adaptarse y recuperarse de los efectos de un peligro de manera oportuna y eficiente se denomina resiliencia. En este estudio, utilizamos datos de una encuesta transversal reciente de 293 hogares agrícolas en el estado de Níger, Nigeria, para examinar la rentabilidad de las estrategias de gestión de riesgos para la resiliencia a los choques climáticos. Se examinó el análisis de beneficio-costo de las estrategias de mitigación donde se utilizaron como reglas de decisión la relación costo-beneficio (BCR) y el valor actual neto (VAN). Las estrategias de mitigación más utilizadas fueron los cultivos tolerantes a la sequía (62.8 %), la diversificación de cultivos (60.8 %), las existencias reguladoras (54.6 %) y la agricultura de estación seca (41.3 %). El resultado mostró que alrededor del 52 % de los hogares muestreados tenían seguridad alimentaria, mientras que el 48 % de ellos tenían insegurid...

The study examined beekeeping activities in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Specifically the study appraised the costs and returns structure of beekeeping activities by beneficiaries of the ESACA scheme, examined the constraints to beekeeping under the scheme and outside the scheme and identified factors that affect beekeeping under the scheme and outside the scheme. A total of 150 beekeeper households were selected; 75 households each for ESACA beneficiary and non-beneficiary respondents across communities popularly known for beekeeping in Ekiti state. Descriptive statistics, costs and returns, regression and Kruscalwallis analyses were employed for data analysis. Beekeeping was found to be more profitable under the ESACA scheme than outside the scheme with returns to beekeeping labour and management of N 128.5 and N 87.0 per hive for beneficiary and non-beneficiary respondents respectively. The pooled regression result showed that the ESACA scheme enabled beneficiary respondents to be more ...

The high incidence of poverty in the rural households calls for a concerted effort by all members of the household, including the women. Meanwhile, the discussion on the economic contribution of rural women in many developing countries has largely focused on national and regional levels with little or no concentration on their impact at their immediate household level. Therefore, this study examines the contribution of rural women to household welfare in Kwara State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 160 women in the rural area of the state using structured interview schedule. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, index ranking and regression model. Results showed that the mean age of the women was 41.2 years, 61.3% were married, less educated and had an average household size of six persons. Their main source of income was agro-processing (54.4%), though they were pluriactive in nature. The mean income earned by the women was N15,344.65 ($42.62) per month. The major a...

ABSTRACT Background: Many studies have focused on agricultural-related health hazards globally; however, little is known about agricultural stressors among crop farmers in the developing countries. This study identified agricultural stressors, their causes and ascribed effects among crop farmers in Nigeria. Methods: There were 70 crop farmers randomly selected in farming communities across Ekiti State, an agrarian State in South-Western, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire with interview was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Findings from the study showed that about 98% of the farmers were able to identify stressors that are occupational-related. About 80% of the respondents thought they had been mostly affected by agricultural stressors in a number of ways including inability to sleep regularly, relaxation problems, excessive tiredness, back problems, and intense headache. About 98% of these farmers are yet to develop structured means of coping with these stressors. Conclusion: We concluded that agricultural stressors affect farmers’ well-being. Efforts should be made at initiating a stress management campaign for Nigerian crop farmers. Government and development partners should assist farmers in their challenged areas, and there should be functional integration of mental health focused agricultural health in primary health care.

The quest to meet the challenges of global food insecurity and low total factor productivity in African agriculture necessitated the adoption of massive use of agrochemical by small scale farmers. Nigerian agricultural sector just like most developing countries is dominated by small scale farmers with increased usage of agrochemicals in this case limited to inorganic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. This study examined the health and safety implications of the massive agrochemical usage in Nigeria. Eighty nine farmers were randomly selected from farming communities in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. Simple descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. The study revealed that twenty four percent of the respondents had no formal education while sixty percent had below tertiary education. Eighty percent of the respondents were not aware of farm safety concept and procedure while eighty one percent do not use the recommended complete personal protective equipment during chemical...

Investing in farm safety is a win-win game. Apart from improving the financial bottom line of a farm business, it increases and improves the labour productivity of farm workers, which in turn improve agricultural sector. Consequently, agricultural accidents place a great burden on the economy resulting in reduced return on investment (ROI) in agriculture and the burden of injuries/illness (BOI) is increased. This impedes efficiency of the workers, decreased agricultural output and profitability. The dearth of information on the economic relationship of farm safety and ROI, especially in agriculture with focus on a developing country like Nigeria stimulated this research by assessing the economic implication of farm safety practices on agriculture in Nigeria. 100 respondents with agriculture as primary occupation were randomly selected from farming households in Ibadan, Nigeria. Health and work performance questionnaire (HPQ), work limitation questionnaire and interview schedule were...

The objectives of this study were two-folds; examined the use of mobile phone technology to facilitate catfish marketing and identified the determinants of variations in the frequency of mobile phone use for catfish marketing among agents involved in the marketing chain. The study was carried out in Kwara-state, Nigeria. One hundred and forty respondents were stratified and randomly sampled and data was collected through the use of well-designed questionnaires. Descriptive and Poisson regression model were used to analyze the data. The study identified the use of mobile phone along five communication channels used for catfish marketing. Annual income generated from catfish business was significant in explaining variations observed in the frequency of mobile phone use (p

Recently, it is acknowledged that mobile phones, as an asset, exhibits multiple functionalities and diverse applications that cut across all forms of capital accumulation necessary for sustainable livelihood. However, empirical result is sparse in Nigeria as to the impact of mobile phones on asset accumulation. This study examined the socio-economic determinants of mobile phone use and intensity of use for sustainable capital formation in among farming households in Kwara state, Nigeria. Specifically, 120 rural farming households were randomly sampled and count data on the number of calls made with respect to livelihood capitals generated. Binary Logistic regression and Zero-Inflated negative Binomial regression models were used in analyzing the data. The study revealed that 73% of the respondents have access to mobile phone use. The study identifies major uses of mobile phone for sustainable livelihood enhancement activities. Significant determinants of mobile phone use are; posses...

ABSTRACT Given the vital contributions of traditional food processing techniques to rural development and sustainable national development, this study examined consumers’ awareness of benefits, consumption and determinants of consumption of kunun-zaki, pito, soborodo, ogi, and nunu, which are examples of fermented traditional food drinks in Kwara State, Nigeria. For the study, 165 respondents were stratified, and randomly selected across socioeconomic strata of farmers, students and civil servants in the study area. Descriptive statistics and the Binary Logistic model (BLR) were used to analyse the data. Findings indicated that awareness of the nutritional benefits of the drink is relatively high (75%) and frequency of consumption highest at 2-3 times in a week (60%). This implies a favourable disposition towards the drink which could lead to eventual demand of this food drinks category. Similarly, the probability of consumption was influenced by the availability of the drinks (p=0.1) and assurance of safety relating to the processing of these drinks categories (p=0.1). Based on these findings, the study recommends that issues relating to safety assurance of how the food drinks are processed be addressed by concerned food regulatory agencies and the formulation of appropriate strategies by marketing agents that would enhance the availability and acceptability of the products by consumers.

ABSTRACT This study examined the viability of the sweet orange market in Nigeria using Kwara State, Nigeria as a case study. The study specifically estimated the distribution of net margins among the various marketing agents: wholesaler and retailer in the sweet orange market and identifies the constraints limiting the sweet orange commodity market. Data were collected from 160 sweet orange marketers; sixty-four wholesalers and ninety-six retailers surveyed across Kwara State. The marketing margin and marketing efficiency estimates were N25.1 per kg and 273.7 per cent respectively at the wholesaler end of the market while at the retailer end these estimates were N85.6 per kg and 232.3 per cent respectively. Problems limiting sweet orange marketing were found to include poor storage, poor assess to credit facilities and poor road infrastructures. The study therefore calls for the enhancement of storage techniques research for sweet orange and mobilization of marketers to join viable cooperatives so as to organize and fund their marketing activities.

Grain cereals are the food security staples of the poor masses around the globe. However, a significant proportion of these crops, especially cowpea are lost during storage. This is more so the case in Africa where postharvest losses due to the absence of efficient storage for cowpea is alarming: between 30-70 percent. This study, therefore, examined the adoption of improved cowpea storage practices/facilities by cowpea farmers and traders in Nigeria, using Kwara State as case study. The study specifically investigated factors affecting cowpea storage practices. For the study, 180 households involved in cowpea storage activities were selected across the study area and interviewed. Data analysis tools were the descriptive statistics and logistic regression tools. The descriptive statistics was employed to analyse the socio-economics and cowpea storage practices of respondents, while the logistic regression tool was used to identify factors affecting respondents’ likelihood to adopt p...

This study examined the viability of prospective Jatropha based firms vis–a-vis employment opportunities in Nigeria, specifically the study identified the Jatropha bio-diesel and other allied products that were been researched into in Nigeria, estimated the costs and returns structure to Jatropha cultivation and the production of Jatropha based products. For the study, small scale Jatropha based firms were investigated. The results of the study revealed that Jatropha based products manufactured include bio-diesel, Jatropha kernel cake livestock feed, Jatropha ink pigment and dye, glycerine and Jatropha seeds-coat cement sheet and floor tiles. All the various parts of the Jatropha seeds are useful either for one or two of these products. Jatropha cultivation, was shown to be very profitable. Among Jatropha products, only the costs of the biodiesel Jatropha fuel is relative expensive when compared with the common fossil diesel. Based on the study findings, the study calls for the mobi...