Degradation of grassland and the environment restricting access to grazing resources increased pastoral vulnerability to drought and loss of livestock assets which pose threat to pastoral based livelihoods. In respond to these threats many pastoral communities diversify their livelihood to agro-pastoralism. This shift led to increased sedentarization of the pastoralists with many growing crops and vegetables commercially. Therefore, the study estimate the costs and returns to leafy vegetable production; and examine the technical efficiency level of the pastoralists’ leafy vegetable farmers. A multistage sampling was used to select one hundred and twenty one (121) pastoralist leafy vegetable farmers as the sample for the study. Data were collected by means of structured interview schedule. Information was obtained on age, marital status, years of formal education, farming experience, land ownership, costs and revenue. Percentages, means and frequencies were the main descriptive statistical tools utilized. While the inferential statistics used is Stochastic Production Frontier. The study revealed that leafy vegetable production among pastoralist in the study area is profitable with mean net income of 23,379.47. Also, the technical efficiency ranges between 60.1% - 99.0% and the mean technical efficiency of the pooled sample is 86.9%. The study therefore concluded that vegetable farming among pastoralists is a profitable venture. Therefore it is recommended that farmers should be encouraged by giving inputs and incentives. They should also be trained by extension agents on proper farming techniques so as to increase their profit. Manuscript profile

The use of liquid fertilizer as an alternate means of improving soil fertility has the possibility of increasing the quality and quantity of food crops. Specifically, this study was designed to examine the level of usage of liquid fertilizer among the dry season vegetable farmers; determine the intensity of usage; and identify the determinants of liquid fertilizer usage among the farmers. Data was collected from 309 farmers using a pretested interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were used for data analysis. The study revealed that only 28.1% of vegetable farmers used liquid fertilizer. Farm size, quantity of water, membership of vegetable association and mode of irrigation increased the likelihood that the farmers would use sole liquid fertilizer relative to sole non-liquid fertilizer. Amounts of pesticide and water, sex of the farmer, household size and years of education determined the usage of the combination of both liquid and non-liquid fertilizer relative to sole non- liquid fertilizer. The study concluded that there was a low level of usage of liquid fertilizer and therefore recommended the need for more awareness on the existence and usage of liquid fertilizer through improved extension activities. Manuscript profile