List of Articles

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  1 - Effects of Awareness of Fertilizer Subsidy on the Yield of Crops among Rural Farmers in Ghana
  Fariya Abubakari Farida Abubakari
  The study examines the effects of awareness of fertilizer subsidy on the yield of crops among rural farmers in Ghana. Random sampling was used to select six communities and 10 households per community. They include Bawku, Navrongo, Tolon kumbungu and Walewale from the More

  The study examines the effects of awareness of fertilizer subsidy on the yield of crops among rural farmers in Ghana. Random sampling was used to select six communities and 10 households per community. They include Bawku, Navrongo, Tolon kumbungu and Walewale from the Northern part and Ejura and Atebubu in the Southern part of Ghana. Primary data were collected from the sampled household by administering questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used in analyzing the data and independent-samples t-test was used to compare the crop yield of farmers that are aware of the fertilizer subsidy program and unaware of the fertilizer subsidy program and mean was used to find the output of the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries by using SPSS. Out of the 60 farmers interviewed in the study, male households head constituted majority 88.3%.Thepercentages of beneficiaries of the fertilizer subsidy program were 66.7% and that of the non-beneficiaries were 33.3%.Maize recorded the highest average output per acre 10.12kg/acre of beneficiaries of fertilizer subsidy program and the highest average output per acre 11.3kg/acre for the non-beneficiaries of the fertilizer subsidy program. Rice recorded the highest average output per acre 40.10kg/acre of beneficiaries before the fertilizer subsidy program and also recorded the highest average output per acre of beneficiaries after the fertilizer subsidy program. The results of the independent-samples T-test shows that, the group means 16.21 and 12.50 are significantly different because the value in the sig (2 tailed) row 0.01 and 0.03 are less than 0.05. This implies that, those farmers who were aware of the fertilizer subsidy program had higher crop yield than those who were unaware of the fertilizer subsidy program. Manuscript profile
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  2 - Comparison Study of Application of ICT on Marketing of Agricultural Crops in Iran
  Mohamad Kamal Ebrahimi Filouri Azita Zand Mohammad Mohammadi
  This research through comparison study of application of ICT on marketing of agricultural crops in khozestan province, evaluate the role of such factors. The study is of applied type and the method being used is descriptive- correlational. Statistical population of this More

  This research through comparison study of application of ICT on marketing of agricultural crops in khozestan province, evaluate the role of such factors. The study is of applied type and the method being used is descriptive- correlational. Statistical population of this research is all agricultural experts of Khuzestan province and using Cochran’s formula , a sample size of 144 members was selected census method is used for the purpose of responding to the questionnaires. Researches show that there is significant difference between item of electronic readiness based on gender at 1% and item of market relationship, supply and demand, reducing production and sale costs based on gender at 5% and also there is significant difference between item of market relationship based on attending at computer education courses at level of 5%. There is significant difference between market influence based on education at the level of 1% and market relation based on education of respondents at the level of 5%. Manuscript profile
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  3 - The Influence of Socio-Economic Factors on Adoption of Fish Production Technologies among Community-Based Farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria
  Nwaobiala . Chioma Udo
  The poor performance of fishery subsector is most clearly evidenced by low adoption of fishery production technologies by farmers. The purpose of this research was analyzing influence of socio-economic factors on the adoption of fish production technologies by community More

  The poor performance of fishery subsector is most clearly evidenced by low adoption of fishery production technologies by farmers. The purpose of this research was analyzing influence of socio-economic factors on the adoption of fish production technologies by community-based farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria. A Multistage random sampling technique was used in selecting 60 community-based farmers. Data for the study were analyzed with descriptive statistics and probit regression model. The result showed that the farmers adopted catfish technology packages such as; pond construction, stocking rate, fertilization of pond, feeding, test cropping, fingerlings production and harvesting and processing. The probit regression estimates of the determinants of farmer’s adoption showed that coefficients of education, farm income and extension contacts were positive and significant at 1%. Policies aimed at encouraging farmers’ access to extension education and information on fish production technologies through extension were advocated for increased fish production and poverty alleviation. Manuscript profile
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  4 - Effectiveness of Cassava Women Processors in Value Addition Technologies in Abia State, Nigeria
  K. M Okoroafor C. U Nwaobiala
  This study analyzed the effectiveness of cassava women processors in value addition technologies in Abia State, Nigeria. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select ninety (90) women. Data for the study were collected through a structured questio More

  This study analyzed the effectiveness of cassava women processors in value addition technologies in Abia State, Nigeria. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select ninety (90) women. Data for the study were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics such as: frequency, mean scores and percentages and inferential statistics (Tobit regression analysis). The socio-economic characteristics of the women revealed that a 63.33% of the women were married, with mean age of 49.5 years, mean processing experience of 4.5 years and mean annual processing N226,500 (4,190.25 USD). The result also revealed that the processors effectively utilized ( =2.65) cassava value added technologies in the study area. The Tobit regression estimates of the determinants of effectiveness of women in cassava value addition indicate that coefficients for processing experience, level of education and access to credit were positive and significant at 1%, 5% and 5% levels of probability respectively, while coefficients for marital status and age were negative and significant at different levels of probability. The study therefore recommends sustainability in training and re-training of women in cassava value addition technologies, group formation and access to credit by women in order to promote effectiveness in cassava value addition technologies in the study area. Manuscript profile
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  5 - Constraints to Increasing Agricultural Production and Productivity among Women Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for Agricultural Transformation Agenda
  Mary O. Agada Evangeline N. Ajani
  Agriculture is an important engine of growth and poverty reduction in much of Africa, Nigeria inclusive. But the sector is underperforming in part because women, who are often crucial resource in agriculture and rural economy, face constraints that reduce their producti More

  Agriculture is an important engine of growth and poverty reduction in much of Africa, Nigeria inclusive. But the sector is underperforming in part because women, who are often crucial resource in agriculture and rural economy, face constraints that reduce their productivity. An understanding of these constraints is a prerequisite to devising policies to improve agricultural production and productivity in the region. The study was based on a desk review of available literature. Information was accessed mainly through web search and journals. Findings revealed that women farmers are responsible for 80% of food staple production in Africa and contribute about 80% of the farm labour. In Nigeria, about 60% of the food produced comes from the rural women who constitute 60-80% of the agricultural labour force. Women play key roles in production, processing and marketing of agricultural products in addition to their reproductive functions. However, women farmers face enormous challenges such as limited access to land, capital, credits, education, appropriate technologies, training and extension, membership of rural organizations, marketing services, labour saving devices and farm inputs. Furthermore, women are overburdened by lack of access to portable water for domestic use. The implications of these findings for Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda include involving women farmers in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ATA programmes, provision of productive resources and labour saving technologies, as well as ensuring women’s access to ready markets for sale of products. Manuscript profile
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  6 - Marketing Performance of Salad Vegetables: The Case of Cabbage Marketing in Abia State, Nigeria
  Osondu, C. K. Nwadike F. C Ijioma J. C. Udah S.C. Ugboaja C .I.
  This study analyzed the performance of cabbage marketing in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically the study sought to: describe socio-economic characteristics of cabbage marketers; identify marketing channels of cabbage; determine marketing cost components of cabbage market More

  This study analyzed the performance of cabbage marketing in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically the study sought to: describe socio-economic characteristics of cabbage marketers; identify marketing channels of cabbage; determine marketing cost components of cabbage marketers; determine marketing margins, market share and marketing efficiency of cabbage marketers; and determine socio-economic factors influencing income of cabbage marketers. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 160 marketers. Data were collected with use of structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed descriptively using means, frequencies, percentages, pie chart and flow chart and inferentially using marketing margin analysis, marketing efficiency analysis and ordinary least square regression technique. The study showed that cabbage marketing is not efficient but very profitable. The wholesalers and retailers had: marketing margin of N82.9 and N41.1; market share of 37.41% and 15.43%; and marketing efficiency of 160.60% and 167.40% respectively. Determinants of wholesaler’s income were household size, marketing experience, rent on storage, product price and transport cost, while household size, education level, other variable cost, product price and transport cost significantly influenced the retailer’s income. The study recommended that cabbage farmers in northern Nigeria should be encouraged, adequately motivated and instructed by the government and extension agents to form marketing cooperatives. This would help them pool resources together and transport their produce to farther points of consumption in-order to increase their market share and realize higher profit. This would also help to reduce the excess profit made by the marketers and improve the marketing efficiency of cabbage. Manuscript profile
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  7 - Assessment of Youth Involvement in Agricultural Production: The Case of Sabon-Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria
  Issa F. O. Obioma O. D. Sallau R.
  This study assessed of youth involvement in agricultural production in Sabon Gari Local Government Area. The data used for this study were collected using interview schedule administered to 112 respondents who were selected through multi-stage sampling procedure. Descri More

  This study assessed of youth involvement in agricultural production in Sabon Gari Local Government Area. The data used for this study were collected using interview schedule administered to 112 respondents who were selected through multi-stage sampling procedure. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages and means were used to analyze the data. The result revealed that majority (95.5%) of the respondents were males; between 26–30 years of age (33.9%), had formal education (46.4%), married (66.0%); had household size of 1–5 (54.4%); had farm size of 1–2 ha for crops (57.2%), and had a hard size of 1-6 cattle (85.7%). Also, the study also revealed that 69.6% of the respondents were involved in crop production with about (1-5 tonnes) output of major grains. Furthermore, constraints limiting youth involvement in agricultural production were identified as inadequate capital (M=3.8); inadequate modern implements (M=3.7); difficulty in accessing loan (M=3.7); and inadequate extension services (M=3.6). The study recorded effective involvement of youth in agricultural production (79.4%). The study recommends that the youth should form themselves into functional cooperatives so that they can mobilize funds for their farming activities. Furthermore, more extension workers should be employed to enhance extension services delivery especially in fisheries in the study area. Manuscript profile
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  8 - The Relationship between Social Capital and Performance of Agricultural Extension Experts
  Maryam Alizadeh
  The purpose of research was identifying the relationship between social capital and performance of agricultural extension experts, Khouzestan province, Iran. The method of research was a descriptive-correlative. The sample size was agricultural extension experts (n=98). More

  The purpose of research was identifying the relationship between social capital and performance of agricultural extension experts, Khouzestan province, Iran. The method of research was a descriptive-correlative. The sample size was agricultural extension experts (n=98). A five-point Likert-type scale was used as instrument to gather data in order to measure the social capital. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS19). Questionnaire reliability was estimated by calculating Cronbach’s alpha and it was appropriate for this study (Cranach's alpha 0.93). Te result of research revealed that the correlation between organizational performance with social participation, social status and social trust was significant. Liner regression was used to predict changes in performance by different variables. Based on the results social participation, social status and social trust, educational level and job satisfaction may well explain for 48.9% changes (R2 = 0.489) in organizational performance of extension experts. Manuscript profile