Thursday, April 25, 2013

JSD Vol 4 Nos 1 and 2 September 2007


JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VOL. 4. NO. ½ SEPTEMBER, 2007,  PP. 2-7

NEW RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NIGERIA

DANBABA, N., ABO M.E., UKWUNGWU M.N AND OCHIGBO, A.A

National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, P.M.B. 08 Bida, Niger State Nigeria.

E-mail: zirbabs@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT


Rice production in Nigeria has increased over the last few decades due to the introduction of modern rice production technologies at an increase cost to the environment. It is predicted that during the coming decades, global climate are likely to affect agriculture including rice production. Conversely, rice production has its effects on the environment. A more environmentally sound rice production technology is recommended. This paper reviews problems of increase chemical inputs in modern rice production system on the environment in Nigeria and the urgent need for a new approach.

 

JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VOL. 4. NO. ½ SEPTEMBER, 2007, PP.8-16

ECONOMICS OF VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

NADEEM AKMAL, NISAR ALI SHAH, HASSNAIN SHA, M SHARI AND SAJIDA TAJ

National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Vegetable crops have always been held in high esteem due to their special attributes: high cash value, more productivity, high quality food, better employment opportunities and their suitability for small land holdings. Vegetables growing help in increasing the income of the farmers substantially. Agro-climatic conditions of AJK are favorable for vegetable production. This study was undertaken in district Muzaffarabad to describe vegetables production practices, identify constraints in vegetable production, and to estimate cost and revenue of the selected vegetables. Forty farmers involved in commercial vegetable production were randomly selected for data collection. Majority of the sampled farmers (85 percent) was small farmers, having area less than 12.5 acres, 10% medium having an area of 12.5 – 25 acres while the remaining 5% were large farmers with above 25 acres of area. A literacy level among the sample farmers was 62.5 percent. Out of the total literate respondents, 32 percent were educated up to primary level, 20% up to matric and 7% above matric. The average gross incomes estimated from tomato, brinjal, and ladyfinger were Rs. 47736, Rs. 35728, and Rs. 36600, respectively. Likewise, per acre gross incomes earned from pumpkin, karram, spinach, radish, and turnips were Rs. 40320, Rs. 35352, Rs. 30096, Rs. 30944 and Rs. 32768, respectively. Net incomes (including land rent) earned from production of tomato, brinjal, ladyfinger, pumpkin, karram, spinach, radish and turnips production were Rs. 32944, Rs. 25195, Rs. 24694, Rs. 30701, Rs..24144, Rs. 19457, Rs. 21846 and Rs. 23660, respectively. A big gap was observed between the recommended production practices and the farmers’ production practices. Major production constraints reported by the sample farmers were lack of good quality seed, inadequate technical skills, less or no use of inputs (FYM, chemical fertilizers and pesticide), poor crop husbandry, lack of credit, adulterated inputs, poor marketing system etc.

 

JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VOL. 4. NO. ½ SEPTEMBER, 2007, PP.17-24

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF RAFFIA PALM (Raphia hookeri) IN THE LIVELIHOOD OF RURAL DWELLERS IN OBIO/AKPOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

UNAEZE, H.C., ONU, M.E. AND AGUMAGU, A.C.

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the economic analysis of raffia palm products on the   livelihood of rural dwellers in Obio/Akpor LGA. A purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of 75 respondents. The data obtained were analyzed using percentages and net income analysis. It was found that, majority of the respondents who were engaged in raffia palm business are of middle age bracket (31 – 40) (29.3%) and also of men folk (80%). The women, who engaged in this business (20%), sell and assist in carrying the tapped palm wine out of the bush. Also those gainfully employed in the raffia palm business, sell mainly the palm wine (35%). It was found that in spite of the positive effect of raffia palm business, its sourcing impose dangers to those directly involved in the business (drudgery, scarcity of raffia palm, snake bites, inadequate preservative measures, problems of climbing and falling etc.). The introduction of improved palm seedlings with shorter height and good preservative measures should be encouraged extensively. There is therefore need for government and private organization to invest in this raffia palm business, so that rural livelihood in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria will be improved.

 

JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VOL. 4. NO. ½ SEPTEMBER, 2007, PP.25-31

DETERMINANTS OF INFORMAL SAVINGS MOBILISATION AMONG FARMERS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

ADEGBITE, D. A., MOMOH, S. AND ALALADE, A.

University of Agriculture, P.M.B.2240, Abeokuta Ogun State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The rural populace has long explored different indigenous informal means of financing their farming and other activities before the establishment of the rural banks and other formal financial institutions by the Government. The terms and conditions of harnessing loans by these institutions and their unwillingness to lend to the “risky” agricultural sector make farmers to look for the informal financial services options like savings in order to improve their level of production, standard of living and secure their livelihood. The study has therefore attempted to assess the level of savings vis-à-vis the farm revenue and the significant of the factors affecting savings among farmers in Ogun State. The field study of the 80 farmers sampled in the study, using multi-stage stratified purposive sampling technique revealed a correlation between farm size and revenue and saving made by farmers in a year, the estimated total revenue of N 22, 399,627 in one year out of this the farmers were able to save N 5,396,539.3 .Average farm revenue was N 279,995.33 per farmer. The R2 value is 0.673, the adjusted R2 value of 62.4% , the relatively high F value (13.221), in addition to the t-values and the statistically significant variables Household size (X2) educational qualification (Eq) X3, Farming experience (Fe) X4 and  number of Children (Nc) X6  exert some influence on savings among farmers in the study area. The need to reshape the rural financial services sector through regulatory reforms and policies that could address improvement in market information and liquidity of the rural capital market was therefore suggested.

 

JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VOL. 4. NO. ½ SEPTEMBER, 2007, PP.32-8

EFFECT OF CONFLICT ON ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL LAND IN ATISBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

ENIOLA, P. O. AND SIYANBOLA M. F.

Agricultural Technology Department, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Saki Campus, Oyo State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study was undertaken in order to asses the effect of conflict on access to land for agricultural production in Atisbo Local Government, Oyo State.  Two major land conflict zones were selected; viz- Irawo Ile and Irawo Owode.  Fifty respondents were randomly chosen from each of the town. A total of 100 respondents were interviewed using validated interview schedule to elicit information. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution and percentages, T – test was used to analyze the effect of land conflict on the livelihood of the farmers and the difference in the size of the farm before and after conflict.  The study shows that preponderance (84%) of the respondents are young male farmers with little or no formal education. It was noted that 86% of the respondents cultivate greater than 1 hectare before conflict and 97% of them having less than 1 hectare after conflicts yield and sales from the farms also reduced after conflict. There is also a significant different between all the variables considered before and after conflict. Such as farm size, frequency of visit to farms, number of animals owned, size of the family, number of wives, number of children as well as the farmers’ income were drastically reduced compared to the initial experienced of the farmers before conflict.

 

JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VOL. 4. NO. ½ SEPTEMBER, 2007, PP.39-44

INSTITUTIONAL LESSONS FROM THE PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND LIVELIHOODS OF STREET FOOD VENDORS AND CONSUMERS IN GHANA

JOHNSON1, P-N. T., K. ADEBAYO2, M. OTTAH ATIKPO1, K. ESSEL3, W.O. ELLIS4, J. AWUDZA4 AND K.I TOMLINS5

1 Food Research Institute (CSIR), Accra, Ghana

2University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

3 Food and Drugs Board, Accra, Ghana

 4 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

5Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

The growth in urban populations in Ghana offers both opportunities and risks for resource-poor groups in urban and peri-urban environments.  One important opportunity has been the increase in sale and patronage of street-vended foods (SVFs). However, the livelihoods of these street-food vendors, their raw material input suppliers as well as the health of consumers could be jeopardized if problems of food safety are not addressed.  This paper emanates from a project executed in 1999/2000 to establish whether food hazards occur in some popular Ghanaian foods sold along the streets of Accra and establish the contributions street-vended foods were making to the economy of Ghana. The coalition team formed was made up of partners from different interest groups.   Conflicts resulting from vested interests involving key coalition partners in the project became evident and were addressed. A key lesson from the project is that while key partners may have all the technical capabilities to ensure the success of the project, their poor inter-personal relationships may present a major setback to the progress, timely execution and realization of the project’s goals. The ability of coalition members and the project leaders to effectively manage such conflicts was a key step in realizing the success of the project. Finally, it was also learnt that an unwieldy size of partnership impedes the smooth execution of the project.

 

JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VOL. 4. NO. ½ SEPTEMBER, 2007, PP.45-50

AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, AND POVERTY IN NIGERIA

OJEMADE, A. C.

Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) P.M.B. 1030, Benin City, Nigeria


ABSTRACT


The majority of land in rural Nigeria is used for Agriculture and most people depend on environment for their livelihoods.  Agriculture accounts for about 40% of GDP and generates about 90% of all agriculture-related exports in terms of revenue.  The industrial, oil-exploration, and mining sectors also contribute substantially to revenue, but collectively all these sectors impact on the environment and this tends to perpetuate poverty in Nigeria. The paper seeks to examine the links between environment, agriculture and poverty within the Nigerian context.  The analysis begins with core environmental issues including air pollution, water pollution, solid and hazardous waste, deforestation, soil degradation, loss of Bio-diversity.  Also discussed are some applications of environmental economics in environmental management as well as some poverty issues. The paper observed that Nigerian Agriculture is a major employer of the active labour force and a great contributor to GDP, which has long been neglected.  In addition, it has also been observed that some agricultural practices used, such as the slash-and-burn system, use of heavy machinery, desertification, and deforestation of trees without reseeding to replace felled ones, forest fires etc have contributed to environmental degradation, poor yields and poverty.  The way forward as proposed in the sources reviewed, is highlighted in a section which leads in to the conclusion.

 

JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VOL. 4. NO. ½ SEPTEMBER, 2007, PP.51-53

PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF HAUSA POTATO (Solesnostemon rotundifoluis Poir) PRODUCTION UNDER DIFFERENT PLANT POPULATIONS

AKINPELU, A. O., L. E. F. AMAMGBO, M. C. OKWUSI, B. C. OKOYE AND A.O. OLOJEDE

National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Private Mail Bag 7006, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
The study was carried out at the National Root Crops Research Institute to determine the effects of plant spacing on yield and economic returns of Hausa Potato production. Four different plant spacing were used in the study; 100 cm x 12.5 cm, 100 cm x 16.6 cm, 100 cm x 25.0 cm, and 100 cm x 50.0 cm. The highest average yield (3.89t/ha) was obtained from 100 cm x 12.5 cm (80,000plants/hectare) which was closely followed by 100 cm x 16.6 cm (3.54t/ha). Average fresh tuber yield (3.23t/ha) was recorded from 100 cm x 25.0 cm plant population. The lowest average yield (2.56t/ha) was recorded from 100 cm x 50.0 cm (20,000plants/hectare). It is therefore suggested that, economically, plant population of 100 cm x 12.5 cm is suitable for Hausa Potato production in Umudike.