A Mathematical model to Study the Effect of Herdsmen/Farmers Crises on Agricultural and Economic Growth in Benue State, Nigeria

Atindiga, S.T¹.; Orngudwem, T.I¹., Kper, B. T²  & Kwaghbula, N.G³

¹Department of Basic Sciences, Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev-Benue State

²ICT Directorate, Akperan Orshi College Agriculture, Yandev-Benue State

³University of Agriculture, Demonstration Secondary School, Makurdi-Benue State.

ABSTRACT

We developed a mathematical model to assess the ill activities of herdsmen on the people of Ukum and Logo local government areas of Benue State. We evaluated the effect of security on the dynamics of herdsmen activities in Ukum and Logo which has been implicated in the spread of crises across the state. The resulting co-mingling of the people of these local governments which are at high risk does not only explain high prevalence of crises in Ukum/Logo and the subsequent spread of the menace in the whole state, but also points out the magnitude of the problem (killings, burning of houses and destruction of properties/produce and even grown crops) and the urgency of introducing effective security measures for the control/eradication of communal crises. Furthermore, results from our numerical experiments show that security could be a very effective measure to control/eradicate the unrest. However, proportion of those communities being secured must be sufficiently high, say 80% and above.

Keywords: Model, LAS, Stability, Crises, Security

Environmental Factors that Limit Sustainable Commercial Agriculture in Developing Economies and Control Measures

Asira, Enim Enim & Effiom Orok Etim

School of Sciences

Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa L.G.A

Email: enimas1965@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This research study is intended to examine environmental factors limiting commercial agriculture in developing economies. Man’s desire to produce food on large scale for sale, distribution and export has been hindered by some problems such as poverty, international market, inaccessibility to advanced technologies and environmental changes. The environmental changes are inevitable outcomes of economic growth and development which qualitatively transformed the physical environment. The environmental impact on agriculture in this study is understood in the context of wider environmental problems, which stemmed from unsustainable practices associated with low productivity and agricultural practices by subsistence farmers. In this study, the problems that tend to limit commercial agriculture in developing economies have been reviewed. Various environmental challenges critically examined and major control measures explored to ensure sustainable agriculture in developing economies of the world.  

Key words: Environmental factors, commercial, agriculture, economies, control and measures.

Agricultural Information Seeking Behavior of Rural Farmers in Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria

Ogundana O.S.

Department of Agricultural Technology

Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, P.M.B. 1500, New Bussa, Niger State

E-mail: odunmansam@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Agricultural information seeking behavior of rural farmers in Kainji Lake Basin. The study aimed at investigating the Agricultural information seeking behavior of the rural farmers. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. A total of 160 rural farmers from four districts (Bussa, Dogongari, Wawa and Kuruwasa) formed the sample population of the survey. Purposive sampling technique was used to select sample for the study. A structured interview and questionnaire was used to bring out information from respondents. The findings showed that among the 160 respondents, 47% of them are 31-40years of age, 19% of the respondents are 41-50years of age, 16% of the respondents are below 30years of age, among others. The study also revealed majority of the have Qur’anic school education with 54% of them admitting that they are Qur’anic school certificate holders. The study shows that 89% of the respondents belong to one or two farmers’ association. The study clearly revealed that the majority source of Agricultural information for the respondents is friends and family members with 96% of the respondents attesting to that, another 86% of the respondents indicated Age groups as their source of information. The study revealed that the major use of Agricultural information by respondents was to improve their farm operation, with 71.9% of respondents, improve access to credit facility with 74.4% of respondents rarely use the information. It is clear from the study that language barriers is the major barrier to the access of Agricultural information by respondents with 86%, illiteracy with 61% of respondents, lack of time with 54% respondents, among others. The study revealed that 79.4% of the respondents attesting to high or favorable Agricultural information seeking behavior while 20.6% of the respondents have low or unfavorable Agricultural information seeking behavior. Based on the results, recommendations were put forward to enhance access to Agricultural information by farmers in the rural areas.

Keywords: Agriculture, seeking-behavior, rural farming, Kainji lake, impoundment.

Constraints to Livelihood Options Pastoralists in Yusufari Local Government Area of Yobe State, Nigeria

Ibrahim Ahmed Jajere and Mohammed Ahmed Jajere²

Department of Geography, Federal University, Gashua

News Agency of Nigeria, Abuja²

ABSTRACT

Pastoralism can be regarded as a global phenomenon, occupies 25 percent of the world land area and provides 10 percent of the global meat production (FAO, 2001). The livelihoods of most pastoralists depend on availability natural resources and much dictated by the climatic factor. Hence, pastoralists are having few options for diversifying livelihoods perhaps due to the lack of knowledge for other livelihoods and their tradition that detached them to other livelihoods.  The populations of the study were composed of the five districts and adopted a multi-stage sampling technique. At the third stage, systematic random sampling was used to interview households. Mobile pastoralists were selected using snow ball sampling. Pastoralism is the major means of survival for the pastoralists in the study area. The other possible options identified are farming, mat making, rope making, weaving, hut making, trading of livestock and potash mining and marketing. However, these alternative options are also constraint by many factors including desertification and fast moving sand dunes; market competition,  insurgency and power of aristocrats. Recommendations made by this study include social and economic support to the pastoral communities, increasing access to land and water rights and establishment of skills acquisition centers.

Assessment of the Level of Adoption of Organic Farming Technologies by Rice Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria

¹Ukohol, Francis Y.; ²Asema, Ruth M.; ³Bassey, Jimmy I. & ⁴Ominikari, Abraham. G.

¹Institute of Food Security, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

²Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

³Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

⁴Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bayelsa State

Email: ukoholfrancis@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The study assessed the level of adoption of organic farming technologies by rice farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. Purposive and multi-stage sampling techniques were used to select 135 rice farmers. The data for the study were collected through the use of questionnaire and were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that majority (82.2%) of the respondents were married with household size of 6-10 persons.  The organic farming technologies adopted by rice farmers were; green manuring (96.3%), crop rotation (96.3%), bush fallowing (81.5%) and shifting cultivation (80.7%).  The study further showed that the farmer’s perceived accessibility of sources of information on organic fertilizer were through friends/neigbours/relations ( =2.75), farmer/field school ( =1.35) and radio ( =2.07).  The study also identified the various types of organic farming technologies available; farmyard manure (96.3%), green manure (96.0%), compost manure (31.9%) and crop rotation (98.5%). The logit regression analysis on the effect of the socio-economic of the rice farmers on the adoption of organic farming technology was significant at 5% level of probability. The study concluded that farmyard manure, green manure, crop rotation, mulching and shifting cultivation were the organic farming technologies perceived to be available and adopted. Hence, the study recommended that there is need for farmers to be given skill-based training on how to make compost, farm yard manure and on the general principles of organic farming.Key words:  Adoption, Assessment, Rice farmers, Technologies