The study examined agriculture, its challenges in Nigeria and how GIS can be applied effectively ... more The study examined agriculture, its challenges in Nigeria and how GIS can be applied effectively to help farmers to increase their yields. The study opined that agricultural production in Nigeria has taken a serious nosedive since the discovery of crude oil and for the country to regain her lost glory, improved technology must be applied to raise production in order to meet domestic needs, reduce dependence on imports which is costing the country billions of Naira on annual basis and one of such technologies is GIS. The study enumerated useful applications of GIS in agriculture in areas such as water quality control, soil suitability, agro-climatology, management of natural resources, disease and pest control. Also, the use of GIS helps to avoid excessive use of fertilizers and other chemicals which can have negative environmental effects based on analysis of data. It is recommended that government should make agricultural information, weather forecasts available to farmers in order...
National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria. Department of Agricultural Econom... more National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria. Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author’s E-mail: uneks55@gmail.com The study investigated poor sanitation and its effects in Nigeria as the country is heavily plagued with the burden of open defecation. Communities are put at greater risk of infection when sources of drinking water are polluted with human faecal matter, untreated water, sludge etc. Also, the environment can be negatively impacted on especially when coastal areas are bombarded with direct defecation and discharge of sewage thereby disrupting normal ecosystem functions especially of the marine world. It is therefore recommended that all house owners should provide adequate sanitation facilities in their houses and new building plan should not be approved by the regulatory agency of the government unless there is provision for sanitation facility in it. i.e. strict enforcement of building standards....
This study critically examined the negative effects of importation of rice on the Nigerian econom... more This study critically examined the negative effects of importation of rice on the Nigerian economy. The study also took a look at various import policies embarked upon by the Nigerian government as inconsistency in policy is a major hurdle to long term investment in the rice sub-sector. Nigeria spends billions of Naira on annual basis to import rice with its attendant depletion of the nation’s foreign reserves and this study analyzed that this negative trend can be reversed as there are a lot of opportunities in the rice sector that will not only help the country to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, but also transform the country from a net importer to an exporter of rice. In order to meet local demand, right investment has to be made in production, milling and grading (especially in the production of excellent quality rice that can replace imported rice), marketing, road infrastructure etc. It is recommended that farm inputs (fertilizers, improved quality seeds, pesticid...
 Objective: The study assessed resource-use efficiency among fish farmers in Owo Local Governmen... more  Objective: The study assessed resource-use efficiency among fish farmers in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria.Methods: A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 50 fish farmers for the study. Data were collected during 2013 production cycle. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effects of variables determining the quantity of fish harvested. Allocative efficiency of resources used in raising fish was determined using marginal value product and marginal factor cost.Results: Significant determinants of the quantity of fish harvested at the end of the production cycle were fish seeds (0.647) and the quantity of feeds used (0.339). The two productive resources were significant at 0.01 probability level. The values of allocative efficiency of all the inputs used indicated that pond size (7.041) and fish seeds (11.500) were under-utilized while labour (0.705) was over-utilized; only feeds (1.032) were optimally utilized during fish production p...
The study examined desertification, its causes and effects in the northern region of Nigeria and ... more The study examined desertification, its causes and effects in the northern region of Nigeria and how a green initiative can be adopted to tackle the menace. The study opined that desertification can do severe damage to Nigerian agricultural production the bulk of which is concentrated in the northern region of the country if the problem is not properly handled. The study is of the opinion that greening the desert is a good approach that will help in reclaiming land areas lost to desertification and also help in transforming or regenerating the degraded land areas. Greening the desert has a lot of advantages that are of immense benefits to the environment, man and animals and some of these advantages include carbon sequestration, attraction of tourists, employment creation for the locals, natural rainfall generation, possible return of animal species that left as a result of desertification. The study suggested that halophytes, deep-rooted crops and trees that are of economic value s...
The study focused on the economic analysis of fish farming and its contribution to household pove... more The study focused on the economic analysis of fish farming and its contribution to household poverty alleviation in Akure South and Owo Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 100 fish farmers for the study during the 2013 production cycle. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, net farm income analysis, Tobit regression model, expenditure approach of determining poverty line, Foster, Greer and Thorbecke technique and z-test. Results of the study showed that 63% of the fish farmers were still within the economically active age bracket of 20-49; 80% of the respondents had tertiary education while 70% had an average of 4 years of farming experience. Earthen pond was used by about 78% of the respondents to culture fish; 88% of the farmers practiced monoculture while 12% practiced polyculture. Significant determinants of intensity of fish farming were pond size (0.0004), number of ponds (0.1051), feed (0.6411), start-up capital (-0.6771), labour (-0.0003), years of experience (0.0105) and level of education (0.0169). An average quantity of 3,097.00 kilogram of table size fish was harvested from an average pond size of 353.00m2 at the end of the production cycle. The net farm income analysis showed that fish farming was profitable in the study area with a profit of N2,432.37/m2 being realized by a farmer at the end of the production cycle. At 0.05 probability level, the calculated z value was statistically significant and thereby ascertained the positive contribution of fish farming to household poverty alleviation. Notable problems facing fish farmers were high cost of fish feed (33.06%), inadequate capital (22.98%) and inadequate market (12.09%). It is recommended that farmers should be trained on how to compound feed used in raising fish. It is also recommended that increased credit facilities toward aquaculture by financial institutions will help farmers to expand their scale of operation and practice modern culture system such as re-circulatory aquaculture system.
The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences
This study assessed the fluctuating water level of Lake Chad and its consequences on the liveliho... more This study assessed the fluctuating water level of Lake Chad and its consequences on the livelihood of people that depend on it. In terms of depth, Lake Chad is very shallow which makes it vulnerable to climate change and human activities. The study opined that continuous reduction in the volume of water of the lake will lead to negative effects such as forceful migration, resource-induced conflict, loss of biodiversity etc. Insurgency spear-headed by Nigeria based terrorist organization, “Boko Haram”, has killed many people including farmers and fishermen in the riparian countries of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun and this has led to a decline in agricultural activities around the Lake Chad area making many to depend on food aid for their survival. The insurrectional activity of the terrorist group around the Lake Chad area also makes trade between communities extremely difficult as they are known to have attacked and killed people inside market. It is recommended that measures ...
The study focused primarily on postharvest losses which are like a recurring decimal in Nigeria's... more The study focused primarily on postharvest losses which are like a recurring decimal in Nigeria's agricultural sector, the driving factors and pro-active measures that can be adopted to tackle the problem. Nigeria's population is increasing on annual basis and that is putting tremendous pressure on natural resources such as land, water, forest which means food wastage and loss must be avoided in order to avoid food insecurity especially in the face of unstable food prices and slow economic growth. Nigerian farmers are losing a lot in terms of monetary value occasioned by postharvest losses as many of them are plagued by inadequate storage facilities coupled with the fact that there are insufficient industries to add value to some of their farm produce and power supply is also erratic and this does not allow industries to operate at full capacity. The irony of the whole issue is that Nigeria is a country that produces crops such as cotton and cocoa but imports textile and chocolates from other countries of the world owing to inability to add value to some of her agricultural produce as local manufacturing ability is either very low or virtually non-existent in some areas. It is recommended that efficient and low cost technologies suited to the Nigerian environment should be developed to address the problem of postharvest losses through massive investment in agricultural research by the government, agro-allied industries etc. Farmers are also encouraged to form marketing cooperatives which will enable them to have a central location through which they can market their produce at reasonable prices and also link up with anchor buyers.
The study painstakingly examined how Nigeria can tap into the economic and environmental benefits... more The study painstakingly examined how Nigeria can tap into the economic and environmental benefits of bamboo. The study further looked at the wide range uses of bamboo in many fields such as textile industry, furniture industry, paper industry, weaving industry and its role in the environment as a carbon sink. As a multipurpose plant and also due to its fibrous root and gregarious growth pattern, bamboo has the ability to control soil erosion. The study opined that as useful as bamboo is in so many fields, there can't be much progress if there is no substantial capital investment in research, cultivation and utilization. It is recommended that there should be more awareness on the various uses of bamboo especially in the production of toothpick which Nigeria imports and its role in mitigating the issue of global warming as a result of its ability to carry out carbon sequestration. ÖZET Çalışma, Nijerya'nın bambu maddesinin ekonomik ve çevresel faydalarına etkilerini incelemektedir. Çalışma ayrıca tekstil endüstrisi, mobilya endüstrisi, kağıt endüstrisi, dokuma endüstrisi ve çevreye karbon lavabo olarak rolü gibi pek çok alanda bambu ürününün geniş kullanım alanlarını ortaya koymaktadır. Çok amaçlı bir bitki olarak ve ayrıca lifli kök ve toplu gelişme modelinden dolayı, bambu toprak erozyonunu kontrol etme kabiliyetine sahiptir. Çalışma, bambunun bir çok alanda yararlı olduğunu, ancak araştırma, geliştirme ve kullanımda önemli bir yatırım yapılmadığı takdirde çok fazla ilerleme kaydedilmeyeceğini ifade etmektedir. Çalışmada sonuç olarak, Bambu'nun çeşitli kullanımları konusunda daha fazla farkındalık yaratılması önerilmektedir.
The study examined agriculture, its challenges in Nigeria and how GIS can be applied effectively ... more The study examined agriculture, its challenges in Nigeria and how GIS can be applied effectively to help farmers to increase their yields. The study opined that agricultural production in Nigeria has taken a serious nosedive since the discovery of crude oil and for the country to regain her lost glory, improved technology must be applied to raise production in order to meet domestic needs, reduce dependence on imports which is costing the country billions of Naira on annual basis and one of such technologies is GIS. The study enumerated useful applications of GIS in agriculture in areas such as water quality control, soil suitability, agro-climatology, management of natural resources, disease and pest control. Also, the use of GIS helps to avoid excessive use of fertilizers and other chemicals which can have negative environmental effects based on analysis of data. It is recommended that government should make agricultural information, weather forecasts available to farmers in order to guide them in their decision making processes especially on annual rainfall pattern, soil suitability for a particular type of crop, disease and pest control, water quality control etc. The study suggested that farmers should embrace improved technologies such as GIS to plan their crop's cultivation in cost effective manner so as to maximize yield.
The study assessed the impacts of natural hazards on the environment and agriculture in Nigeria a... more The study assessed the impacts of natural hazards on the environment and agriculture in Nigeria as the cost of negative impacts of natural hazards either on the environment (natural and built environment) or food production is unimaginable. The aftermath of the 2012 flood in Nigeria was catastrophic as over 300 people lost their lives, more than 7 million people were affected and economic activities were paralyzed in a lot of places with huge damage to farmlands, houses and basic infrastructure. The devastating consequences of natural hazards are of immense magnitude or proportion particularly on the environment and agricultural activities and that is why it is imperative that pro-active measures must be taken by all and sundry to safeguard the environment so that investments in other fields of endeavours can be secured and made useful or productive to meet current needs without hampering the ability of the future or coming generations to meet their own needs. It is recommended that early warnings must be dispatched or sent out to people in hazard prone areas in the language that they understand and people in such areas should be ready to evacuate immediately to avoid loss of lives and minimize damage to their property. Each local government area should also strive to establish its own disaster risk reduction and emergency management authority to address emergencies locally before the arrival of help from the national body. Since man has no absolute control over natural hazards, it is also recommended that people should cultivate the habit of insuring their lives, farms and other assets that they have in order to mitigate the destructive impacts of natural hazards.
This study critically examined the negative effects of importation of rice on the Nigerian econom... more This study critically examined the negative effects of importation of rice on the Nigerian economy. The study also took a look at various import policies embarked upon by the Nigerian government as inconsistency in policy is a major hurdle to long term investment in the rice sub-sector. Nigeria spends billions of Naira on annual basis to import rice with its attendant depletion of the nation's foreign reserves and this study analyzed that this negative trend can be reversed as there are a lot of opportunities in the rice sub sector that will not only help the country to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, but also transform the country from a net importer to an exporter of rice. In order to meet local demand, right investment has to be made in production, milling and grading (especially in the production of excellent quality rice that can replace imported rice), marketing, road infrastructure etc. It is recommended that farm inputs (fertilizers, improved quality seeds, pesticides etc.) should be heavily subsidized by the government at different levels as timely access to inputs can significantly raise the level of production and also lead to an increase in the quantity and quality of yield. Also, there has to be a consistent and business friendly government policy in the rice sub-sector in order to encourage investors.
The study examined desertification, its causes and effects in the northern region of Nigeria and ... more The study examined desertification, its causes and effects in the northern region of Nigeria and how a green initiative can be adopted to tackle the menace. The study opined that desertification can do severe damage to Nigerian agricultural production the bulk of which is concentrated in the northern region of the country if the problem is not properly handled. The study is of the opinion that greening the desert is a good approach that will help in reclaiming land areas lost to desertification and also help in transforming or regenerating the degraded land areas. Greening the desert has a lot of advantages that are of immense benefits to the environment, man and animals and some of these advantages include carbon sequestration, attraction of tourists, employment creation for the locals, natural rainfall generation, possible return of animal species that left as a result of desertification. The study suggested that halophytes, deep-rooted crops and trees that are of economic value should be planted. It is also recommended that programmes and policies designed to address the problem must move from paper policy to concrete action on the ground. There should be systematic and regular collection of data on the extent of desertification, damage and losses caused by desertification so that appropriate counter measures can be taken. Regular public enlightenment on sustainable use of natural resources was advocated as a de-desertification technique of immense proportion. Also, the Great Green Wall initiative designed to limit desertification should not be abandoned, it must be financially supported to achieve its objective.
The study assessed resource use efficiency among fish farmers in Owo Local Government Area of Ond... more The study assessed resource use efficiency among fish farmers in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 50 fish farmers for the study. Data obtained were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Significant determinants of the quantity of fish harvested at the end of the production cycle were fish seeds (0.647) and the quantity of feeds used (0.339). The two productive resources were significant at 0.01 probability level. The values of allocative efficiency of all the inputs used indicated that pond size (7.041) and fish seeds (11.500) were underutilized while labor (0.705) was overutilized; only feeds (1.032) were optimally utilized during fish production process. Underutilized resources should be optimally used to obtain the best possible output. Excessive use of labor should be reduced so as to cut cost of production and increase profit margin. It is also recommended that fish farmer's capacity should be developed through regular training on how to allocate productive resources efficiently.
The study examined fish farming business and its capability to reduce poverty and invariably fost... more The study examined fish farming business and its capability to reduce poverty and invariably foster wealth creation in Akure South and Owo Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 100 fish farmers for the study during the 2013 production season. Data obtained were analysed using net farm income model, descriptive statistics, Foster, Greer and Thorbecke poverty technique and expenditure approach of determining poverty line value. The result of the study revealed that fish farming was profitable in the study areas with a net farm income of N2423.37/m 2 being realised at the end of the production cycle. The study also revealed a poverty line value of N461.89/day among the fish farmers which is higher than the one dollar a day benchmark of the World Bank. Other results showed that poverty depth among fish farmers was 9% while poverty severity was 2%. It is recommended that fish farmers need to be trained on how to produce fish feed in order to reduce the cost of feeding fish, make maximum profit from their investment in fish farming which can significantly lead to poverty reduction. Also, lending institution should be encouraged by the government through measures like reduced bank rate, lower reserve ratio, selective credit policies etc to grant loan to practicing fish farmers at a reduced interest rate so as to enable them to expand their scale of fish production and thereby boost domestic production of fish.
The study focused on the economic analysis of fish farming and its contribution to household pove... more The study focused on the economic analysis of fish farming and its contribution to household poverty alleviation in Akure South and Owo Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 100 fish farmers for the study during the 2013 production cycle. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, net farm income analysis, Tobit regression model, expenditure approach of determining poverty line, Foster, Greer and Thorbecke technique and z-test. Results of the study showed that 63% of the fish farmers were still within the economically active age bracket of 20-49; 80% of the respondents had tertiary education while 70% had an average of 4 years of farming experience. Earthen pond was used by about 78% of the respondents to culture fish; 88% of the farmers practiced monoculture while 12% practiced polyculture. Significant determinants of intensity of fish farming were pond size (0.0004), number of ponds (0.1051), feed (0.6411), start-up capital (-0.6771), labour (-0.0003), years of experience (0.0105) and level of education (0.0169). An average quantity of 3,097.00 kilogram of table size fish was harvested from an average pond size of 353.00m2 at the end of the production cycle. The net farm income analysis showed that fish farming was profitable in the study area with a profit of N2,432.37/m2 being realized by a farmer at the end of the production cycle. At 0.05 probability level, the calculated z value was statistically significant and thereby ascertained the positive contribution of fish farming to household poverty alleviation. Notable problems facing fish farmers were high cost of fish feed (33.06%), inadequate capital (22.98%) and inadequate market (12.09%). It is recommended that farmers should be trained on how to compound feed used in raising fish. It is also recommended that increased credit facilities toward aquaculture by financial institutions will help farmers to expand their scale of operation and practice modern culture system such as re-circulatory aquaculture system.
The study examined agriculture, its challenges in Nigeria and how GIS can be applied effectively ... more The study examined agriculture, its challenges in Nigeria and how GIS can be applied effectively to help farmers to increase their yields. The study opined that agricultural production in Nigeria has taken a serious nosedive since the discovery of crude oil and for the country to regain her lost glory, improved technology must be applied to raise production in order to meet domestic needs, reduce dependence on imports which is costing the country billions of Naira on annual basis and one of such technologies is GIS. The study enumerated useful applications of GIS in agriculture in areas such as water quality control, soil suitability, agro-climatology, management of natural resources, disease and pest control. Also, the use of GIS helps to avoid excessive use of fertilizers and other chemicals which can have negative environmental effects based on analysis of data. It is recommended that government should make agricultural information, weather forecasts available to farmers in order...
National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria. Department of Agricultural Econom... more National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria. Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author’s E-mail: uneks55@gmail.com The study investigated poor sanitation and its effects in Nigeria as the country is heavily plagued with the burden of open defecation. Communities are put at greater risk of infection when sources of drinking water are polluted with human faecal matter, untreated water, sludge etc. Also, the environment can be negatively impacted on especially when coastal areas are bombarded with direct defecation and discharge of sewage thereby disrupting normal ecosystem functions especially of the marine world. It is therefore recommended that all house owners should provide adequate sanitation facilities in their houses and new building plan should not be approved by the regulatory agency of the government unless there is provision for sanitation facility in it. i.e. strict enforcement of building standards....
This study critically examined the negative effects of importation of rice on the Nigerian econom... more This study critically examined the negative effects of importation of rice on the Nigerian economy. The study also took a look at various import policies embarked upon by the Nigerian government as inconsistency in policy is a major hurdle to long term investment in the rice sub-sector. Nigeria spends billions of Naira on annual basis to import rice with its attendant depletion of the nation’s foreign reserves and this study analyzed that this negative trend can be reversed as there are a lot of opportunities in the rice sector that will not only help the country to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, but also transform the country from a net importer to an exporter of rice. In order to meet local demand, right investment has to be made in production, milling and grading (especially in the production of excellent quality rice that can replace imported rice), marketing, road infrastructure etc. It is recommended that farm inputs (fertilizers, improved quality seeds, pesticid...
 Objective: The study assessed resource-use efficiency among fish farmers in Owo Local Governmen... more  Objective: The study assessed resource-use efficiency among fish farmers in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria.Methods: A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 50 fish farmers for the study. Data were collected during 2013 production cycle. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effects of variables determining the quantity of fish harvested. Allocative efficiency of resources used in raising fish was determined using marginal value product and marginal factor cost.Results: Significant determinants of the quantity of fish harvested at the end of the production cycle were fish seeds (0.647) and the quantity of feeds used (0.339). The two productive resources were significant at 0.01 probability level. The values of allocative efficiency of all the inputs used indicated that pond size (7.041) and fish seeds (11.500) were under-utilized while labour (0.705) was over-utilized; only feeds (1.032) were optimally utilized during fish production p...
The study examined desertification, its causes and effects in the northern region of Nigeria and ... more The study examined desertification, its causes and effects in the northern region of Nigeria and how a green initiative can be adopted to tackle the menace. The study opined that desertification can do severe damage to Nigerian agricultural production the bulk of which is concentrated in the northern region of the country if the problem is not properly handled. The study is of the opinion that greening the desert is a good approach that will help in reclaiming land areas lost to desertification and also help in transforming or regenerating the degraded land areas. Greening the desert has a lot of advantages that are of immense benefits to the environment, man and animals and some of these advantages include carbon sequestration, attraction of tourists, employment creation for the locals, natural rainfall generation, possible return of animal species that left as a result of desertification. The study suggested that halophytes, deep-rooted crops and trees that are of economic value s...
The study focused on the economic analysis of fish farming and its contribution to household pove... more The study focused on the economic analysis of fish farming and its contribution to household poverty alleviation in Akure South and Owo Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 100 fish farmers for the study during the 2013 production cycle. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, net farm income analysis, Tobit regression model, expenditure approach of determining poverty line, Foster, Greer and Thorbecke technique and z-test. Results of the study showed that 63% of the fish farmers were still within the economically active age bracket of 20-49; 80% of the respondents had tertiary education while 70% had an average of 4 years of farming experience. Earthen pond was used by about 78% of the respondents to culture fish; 88% of the farmers practiced monoculture while 12% practiced polyculture. Significant determinants of intensity of fish farming were pond size (0.0004), number of ponds (0.1051), feed (0.6411), start-up capital (-0.6771), labour (-0.0003), years of experience (0.0105) and level of education (0.0169). An average quantity of 3,097.00 kilogram of table size fish was harvested from an average pond size of 353.00m2 at the end of the production cycle. The net farm income analysis showed that fish farming was profitable in the study area with a profit of N2,432.37/m2 being realized by a farmer at the end of the production cycle. At 0.05 probability level, the calculated z value was statistically significant and thereby ascertained the positive contribution of fish farming to household poverty alleviation. Notable problems facing fish farmers were high cost of fish feed (33.06%), inadequate capital (22.98%) and inadequate market (12.09%). It is recommended that farmers should be trained on how to compound feed used in raising fish. It is also recommended that increased credit facilities toward aquaculture by financial institutions will help farmers to expand their scale of operation and practice modern culture system such as re-circulatory aquaculture system.
The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences
This study assessed the fluctuating water level of Lake Chad and its consequences on the liveliho... more This study assessed the fluctuating water level of Lake Chad and its consequences on the livelihood of people that depend on it. In terms of depth, Lake Chad is very shallow which makes it vulnerable to climate change and human activities. The study opined that continuous reduction in the volume of water of the lake will lead to negative effects such as forceful migration, resource-induced conflict, loss of biodiversity etc. Insurgency spear-headed by Nigeria based terrorist organization, “Boko Haram”, has killed many people including farmers and fishermen in the riparian countries of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun and this has led to a decline in agricultural activities around the Lake Chad area making many to depend on food aid for their survival. The insurrectional activity of the terrorist group around the Lake Chad area also makes trade between communities extremely difficult as they are known to have attacked and killed people inside market. It is recommended that measures ...
The study focused primarily on postharvest losses which are like a recurring decimal in Nigeria's... more The study focused primarily on postharvest losses which are like a recurring decimal in Nigeria's agricultural sector, the driving factors and pro-active measures that can be adopted to tackle the problem. Nigeria's population is increasing on annual basis and that is putting tremendous pressure on natural resources such as land, water, forest which means food wastage and loss must be avoided in order to avoid food insecurity especially in the face of unstable food prices and slow economic growth. Nigerian farmers are losing a lot in terms of monetary value occasioned by postharvest losses as many of them are plagued by inadequate storage facilities coupled with the fact that there are insufficient industries to add value to some of their farm produce and power supply is also erratic and this does not allow industries to operate at full capacity. The irony of the whole issue is that Nigeria is a country that produces crops such as cotton and cocoa but imports textile and chocolates from other countries of the world owing to inability to add value to some of her agricultural produce as local manufacturing ability is either very low or virtually non-existent in some areas. It is recommended that efficient and low cost technologies suited to the Nigerian environment should be developed to address the problem of postharvest losses through massive investment in agricultural research by the government, agro-allied industries etc. Farmers are also encouraged to form marketing cooperatives which will enable them to have a central location through which they can market their produce at reasonable prices and also link up with anchor buyers.
The study painstakingly examined how Nigeria can tap into the economic and environmental benefits... more The study painstakingly examined how Nigeria can tap into the economic and environmental benefits of bamboo. The study further looked at the wide range uses of bamboo in many fields such as textile industry, furniture industry, paper industry, weaving industry and its role in the environment as a carbon sink. As a multipurpose plant and also due to its fibrous root and gregarious growth pattern, bamboo has the ability to control soil erosion. The study opined that as useful as bamboo is in so many fields, there can't be much progress if there is no substantial capital investment in research, cultivation and utilization. It is recommended that there should be more awareness on the various uses of bamboo especially in the production of toothpick which Nigeria imports and its role in mitigating the issue of global warming as a result of its ability to carry out carbon sequestration. ÖZET Çalışma, Nijerya'nın bambu maddesinin ekonomik ve çevresel faydalarına etkilerini incelemektedir. Çalışma ayrıca tekstil endüstrisi, mobilya endüstrisi, kağıt endüstrisi, dokuma endüstrisi ve çevreye karbon lavabo olarak rolü gibi pek çok alanda bambu ürününün geniş kullanım alanlarını ortaya koymaktadır. Çok amaçlı bir bitki olarak ve ayrıca lifli kök ve toplu gelişme modelinden dolayı, bambu toprak erozyonunu kontrol etme kabiliyetine sahiptir. Çalışma, bambunun bir çok alanda yararlı olduğunu, ancak araştırma, geliştirme ve kullanımda önemli bir yatırım yapılmadığı takdirde çok fazla ilerleme kaydedilmeyeceğini ifade etmektedir. Çalışmada sonuç olarak, Bambu'nun çeşitli kullanımları konusunda daha fazla farkındalık yaratılması önerilmektedir.
The study examined agriculture, its challenges in Nigeria and how GIS can be applied effectively ... more The study examined agriculture, its challenges in Nigeria and how GIS can be applied effectively to help farmers to increase their yields. The study opined that agricultural production in Nigeria has taken a serious nosedive since the discovery of crude oil and for the country to regain her lost glory, improved technology must be applied to raise production in order to meet domestic needs, reduce dependence on imports which is costing the country billions of Naira on annual basis and one of such technologies is GIS. The study enumerated useful applications of GIS in agriculture in areas such as water quality control, soil suitability, agro-climatology, management of natural resources, disease and pest control. Also, the use of GIS helps to avoid excessive use of fertilizers and other chemicals which can have negative environmental effects based on analysis of data. It is recommended that government should make agricultural information, weather forecasts available to farmers in order to guide them in their decision making processes especially on annual rainfall pattern, soil suitability for a particular type of crop, disease and pest control, water quality control etc. The study suggested that farmers should embrace improved technologies such as GIS to plan their crop's cultivation in cost effective manner so as to maximize yield.
The study assessed the impacts of natural hazards on the environment and agriculture in Nigeria a... more The study assessed the impacts of natural hazards on the environment and agriculture in Nigeria as the cost of negative impacts of natural hazards either on the environment (natural and built environment) or food production is unimaginable. The aftermath of the 2012 flood in Nigeria was catastrophic as over 300 people lost their lives, more than 7 million people were affected and economic activities were paralyzed in a lot of places with huge damage to farmlands, houses and basic infrastructure. The devastating consequences of natural hazards are of immense magnitude or proportion particularly on the environment and agricultural activities and that is why it is imperative that pro-active measures must be taken by all and sundry to safeguard the environment so that investments in other fields of endeavours can be secured and made useful or productive to meet current needs without hampering the ability of the future or coming generations to meet their own needs. It is recommended that early warnings must be dispatched or sent out to people in hazard prone areas in the language that they understand and people in such areas should be ready to evacuate immediately to avoid loss of lives and minimize damage to their property. Each local government area should also strive to establish its own disaster risk reduction and emergency management authority to address emergencies locally before the arrival of help from the national body. Since man has no absolute control over natural hazards, it is also recommended that people should cultivate the habit of insuring their lives, farms and other assets that they have in order to mitigate the destructive impacts of natural hazards.
This study critically examined the negative effects of importation of rice on the Nigerian econom... more This study critically examined the negative effects of importation of rice on the Nigerian economy. The study also took a look at various import policies embarked upon by the Nigerian government as inconsistency in policy is a major hurdle to long term investment in the rice sub-sector. Nigeria spends billions of Naira on annual basis to import rice with its attendant depletion of the nation's foreign reserves and this study analyzed that this negative trend can be reversed as there are a lot of opportunities in the rice sub sector that will not only help the country to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, but also transform the country from a net importer to an exporter of rice. In order to meet local demand, right investment has to be made in production, milling and grading (especially in the production of excellent quality rice that can replace imported rice), marketing, road infrastructure etc. It is recommended that farm inputs (fertilizers, improved quality seeds, pesticides etc.) should be heavily subsidized by the government at different levels as timely access to inputs can significantly raise the level of production and also lead to an increase in the quantity and quality of yield. Also, there has to be a consistent and business friendly government policy in the rice sub-sector in order to encourage investors.
The study examined desertification, its causes and effects in the northern region of Nigeria and ... more The study examined desertification, its causes and effects in the northern region of Nigeria and how a green initiative can be adopted to tackle the menace. The study opined that desertification can do severe damage to Nigerian agricultural production the bulk of which is concentrated in the northern region of the country if the problem is not properly handled. The study is of the opinion that greening the desert is a good approach that will help in reclaiming land areas lost to desertification and also help in transforming or regenerating the degraded land areas. Greening the desert has a lot of advantages that are of immense benefits to the environment, man and animals and some of these advantages include carbon sequestration, attraction of tourists, employment creation for the locals, natural rainfall generation, possible return of animal species that left as a result of desertification. The study suggested that halophytes, deep-rooted crops and trees that are of economic value should be planted. It is also recommended that programmes and policies designed to address the problem must move from paper policy to concrete action on the ground. There should be systematic and regular collection of data on the extent of desertification, damage and losses caused by desertification so that appropriate counter measures can be taken. Regular public enlightenment on sustainable use of natural resources was advocated as a de-desertification technique of immense proportion. Also, the Great Green Wall initiative designed to limit desertification should not be abandoned, it must be financially supported to achieve its objective.
The study assessed resource use efficiency among fish farmers in Owo Local Government Area of Ond... more The study assessed resource use efficiency among fish farmers in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 50 fish farmers for the study. Data obtained were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Significant determinants of the quantity of fish harvested at the end of the production cycle were fish seeds (0.647) and the quantity of feeds used (0.339). The two productive resources were significant at 0.01 probability level. The values of allocative efficiency of all the inputs used indicated that pond size (7.041) and fish seeds (11.500) were underutilized while labor (0.705) was overutilized; only feeds (1.032) were optimally utilized during fish production process. Underutilized resources should be optimally used to obtain the best possible output. Excessive use of labor should be reduced so as to cut cost of production and increase profit margin. It is also recommended that fish farmer's capacity should be developed through regular training on how to allocate productive resources efficiently.
The study examined fish farming business and its capability to reduce poverty and invariably fost... more The study examined fish farming business and its capability to reduce poverty and invariably foster wealth creation in Akure South and Owo Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 100 fish farmers for the study during the 2013 production season. Data obtained were analysed using net farm income model, descriptive statistics, Foster, Greer and Thorbecke poverty technique and expenditure approach of determining poverty line value. The result of the study revealed that fish farming was profitable in the study areas with a net farm income of N2423.37/m 2 being realised at the end of the production cycle. The study also revealed a poverty line value of N461.89/day among the fish farmers which is higher than the one dollar a day benchmark of the World Bank. Other results showed that poverty depth among fish farmers was 9% while poverty severity was 2%. It is recommended that fish farmers need to be trained on how to produce fish feed in order to reduce the cost of feeding fish, make maximum profit from their investment in fish farming which can significantly lead to poverty reduction. Also, lending institution should be encouraged by the government through measures like reduced bank rate, lower reserve ratio, selective credit policies etc to grant loan to practicing fish farmers at a reduced interest rate so as to enable them to expand their scale of fish production and thereby boost domestic production of fish.
The study focused on the economic analysis of fish farming and its contribution to household pove... more The study focused on the economic analysis of fish farming and its contribution to household poverty alleviation in Akure South and Owo Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 100 fish farmers for the study during the 2013 production cycle. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, net farm income analysis, Tobit regression model, expenditure approach of determining poverty line, Foster, Greer and Thorbecke technique and z-test. Results of the study showed that 63% of the fish farmers were still within the economically active age bracket of 20-49; 80% of the respondents had tertiary education while 70% had an average of 4 years of farming experience. Earthen pond was used by about 78% of the respondents to culture fish; 88% of the farmers practiced monoculture while 12% practiced polyculture. Significant determinants of intensity of fish farming were pond size (0.0004), number of ponds (0.1051), feed (0.6411), start-up capital (-0.6771), labour (-0.0003), years of experience (0.0105) and level of education (0.0169). An average quantity of 3,097.00 kilogram of table size fish was harvested from an average pond size of 353.00m2 at the end of the production cycle. The net farm income analysis showed that fish farming was profitable in the study area with a profit of N2,432.37/m2 being realized by a farmer at the end of the production cycle. At 0.05 probability level, the calculated z value was statistically significant and thereby ascertained the positive contribution of fish farming to household poverty alleviation. Notable problems facing fish farmers were high cost of fish feed (33.06%), inadequate capital (22.98%) and inadequate market (12.09%). It is recommended that farmers should be trained on how to compound feed used in raising fish. It is also recommended that increased credit facilities toward aquaculture by financial institutions will help farmers to expand their scale of operation and practice modern culture system such as re-circulatory aquaculture system.
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study area with a profit of N2,432.37/m2 being realized by a farmer at the end of the production cycle. At 0.05 probability level, the calculated z value was statistically significant and thereby ascertained the positive contribution of fish farming to household poverty alleviation. Notable problems facing fish farmers were high cost of fish feed (33.06%), inadequate capital (22.98%) and inadequate market (12.09%). It is recommended that farmers should be trained on how to compound feed used in raising fish. It is also recommended that increased credit facilities toward aquaculture by financial institutions will help farmers to expand their scale of operation and practice modern culture system such as re-circulatory aquaculture system.
study area with a profit of N2,432.37/m2 being realized by a farmer at the end of the production cycle. At 0.05 probability level, the calculated z value was statistically significant and thereby ascertained the positive contribution of fish farming to household poverty alleviation. Notable problems facing fish farmers were high cost of fish feed (33.06%), inadequate capital (22.98%) and inadequate market (12.09%). It is recommended that farmers should be trained on how to compound feed used in raising fish. It is also recommended that increased credit facilities toward aquaculture by financial institutions will help farmers to expand their scale of operation and practice modern culture system such as re-circulatory aquaculture system.