The study assessed the profitability of catfish marketing in Ondo State, Nigeria. Structured interviews were used to collect information from a total of 50 marketers in each selected town across four local governments using a multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, Gini coefficient, and regression analysis were used for data analysis. The profitability analysis showed that catfish marketing is profitable with an income of N2,998 ($8.3) for every marketing operation. The Gini Coefficient value of 0.74 showed a high level of inequality in income distribution among the catfish marketers and also a high concentration of catfish marketers in the study area. The regression analysis showed that the total kilogram of catfish sold, the price per kilogram of catfish, experience in years, transportation cost of catfish, and age in years are determinants of income of catfish marketers and accounted for 91.2% variation in income of the catfish marketers. The problems militating against catfish marketing in the study area include; high rate of spoilage and high cost of transportation in the study area. The study recommended among others that the government should try as much as possible to organize seminars, workshops, and necessary trainings for catfish marketers on how they can reduce their losses so as to have a required and sustainable income. Manuscript profile

This study examined the participation of rural youth in mushroom production in the Umuahia Agricultural zone of Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and examined their level of participation in mushroom production technology in the study area. Purposive and multi-stage sampling procedures were used in the selection of 60 youths who participated in Mushroom Production Technology Training in Umuahia Agricultural Zone. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, while ordinary least square regression analysis was employed to test the hypothesis. The findings show that 58.3% of the respondents were males, 65.0% had tertiary education and 63.3% had 1-4 years experience in mushroom production. Participation in mushroom production was high (mean=3.17). The regression analysis shows that the level of education, household size, years of experience, and level of income of the respondents significantly influenced the level of participation of youth in mushroom production technology in the study area. From the result, the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternate hypothesis was accepted given that the computed F-statistic of 72.136 was significantly higher than the critical F-statistic at 1% level. Based on the results of the study, it could be inferred that the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents influenced their level of participation in mushroom production. The study recommended that government should encourage youths to get involved in mushroom production by relating the production technology information in such a way that they can understand and practice. Manuscript profile