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Agroecology is a sustainable farming method that has the potential to revolutionize the global agricultural sector by promoting cleaner and more environmentally friendly practices. However, the question of how to effectively transition to a sustainable agroecology system remains a topic of debate, particularly in developing economies. In many developing countries, subsistence farming plays a crucial role in supporting the livelihoods of countless households. Therefore, it is essential to explore the connection between food self-provisioning and the shift towards agroecology. Using primary data from rural Nigeria and by applying an ordered logistic regression, the study demonstrates that when farmers are primarily dependent on their own produce for sustenance, there is a natural inclination towards methods ensuring long-term soil health and ecological balance. We observed that self-provisioning leads to a 10.9 % increase in agroecology transition, and this result was statistically significant (P-value 0.001). This paradigm not only promotes sustainable agricultural practices but also underscores a holistic approach where agriculture coexists harmoniously with nature. As the global challenges of climate change and increasing food demand loom large, understanding and supporting these farmer-driven solutions become paramount. The results beckon policymakers and stakeholders to frame strategies grounded in farmers' intrinsic motivations, ensuring a sustainable agricultural future that is ecologically viable, culturally resonant, and economically beneficial.

Both government and non-governmental organisations have been making efforts in the fight against the menace of child labour, child poverty and deprivation. Despite these efforts, 70% of world’s child labour still work in agricultural sector. This study examined the nexus and impact of child poverty, deprivation and other socio-economic variables on child labour among rural farming households in Enugu State of Nigeria. Data for the study were collected using survey research design with the aid of structured questionnaire and interview. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit regression was applied for data analysis. The result of the study shows that majority (92%) of the farming households were engaged in crop farming, majority (69%) of the children aged between 4 and 17 combined both schooling and agricultural labour. For children who were completely out of school, 5% we found to be idle while 16% engaged in agricultural labour. A significant number of children were engaged in agricultural labour, and 62.3% of them had access to primary school only. About 49.4% of children cannot obtain primary health services. Age, household size and gender of children had positive and significant (p < 0.10) relationship with child labour. We recommended a redesign of poverty alleviation programmes for rural active farmers and public schools make attractive, accessible and affordable in the rural areas.

Improved and environmentally friendly agricultural waste management technology is needed to improve the environment and avoid some health issues as a result of poor waste management. Yet, its adoption is low and there is little documented work on the subject matter, especially in Nigeria. Therefore, this study assessed cassava processors’ willingness to adopt improved cassava waste management technology in Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze data collected from 240 cassava processors using a structured questionnaire. The current cassava waste management practices among the processors were disposing of the solid waste through open dumping around the processing site, letting liquid waste run off and dry on the ground, channelling liquid waste to the drainage system, burning waste and disposing of waste on the farm. These methods caused insects and pests to breed and bad odor in the area, which resulted in an unhealthy environment and affected people's health. Awareness of biogas technology for cassava waste management was very low (21.25%) among the processors and only 10.83% were aware of its benefits. However, 74.17% were willing to adopt biogas technology to manage waste after the creation of awareness about biogas technology. The significant factors responsible for their intention to adopt improved technology were awareness of biogas technology, awareness of the benefits of biogas technology, age, experience, extension services, access to credit, and membership in an association. This study advocates the creation of awareness about modern improved waste management by institutions, and agricultural extension to have a healthy environment.

Background: A fundamental departure from subsistence to commercial agriculture is crucial for ensuring lasting household-level food security and poverty reduction. The absence of farm-level analysis of the market orientation decisions constitutes a bottleneck to commercialising smallholder rice farmers. Objectives: The study evaluated the determinants of smallholder rice farmers’ market orientation and the extent of market orientation among smallholder rice farming households. Methodology: The study adopted a survey design. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 288 smallholder rice farmers. Primary data was collected from the respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire. The market orientation index and Heckman's two-stage model were used to realise the objectives. Results: A moderate market orientation index of 0.52 was established among the small-scale rice farmers. In addition, the results of the determinants of market orientation showed that the socioeconomic and institutional drivers of market orientation were education, distance to an established market, size of the rice farm, agricultural extension service, and land fragmentation. The extent of market orientation was driven by education, labour, fertiliser access, distance to the asphalt road, size of the rice farm, and market information. Conclusion: Small-scale rice farmers in Southeast Nigeria are moderately market-oriented, and the educational status of the household head principally drives the decision to be market-oriented and the extent of orientation. Unique Contribution: The study identified the key factors that drive or inhibit smallholder rice farmers’ market orientation in Southeast Nigeria. This will help government agencies and policymakers to enact precise policies that will effectively drive smallholder commercialisation. Key Recommendation: Agricultural extension services should be strengthened to include market-oriented training and information dissemination to provide farmers with timely information on market dynamics and opportunities.

Background: Rice forms a significant portion of food consumed in most households, and it is one of the few food items whose consumption has no cultural, religious, ethnic, or geographical boundaries in Nigeria. Objective: This study analysed the effect of agglomeration economies on rice production in Southeast Nigeria. Specifically, the study estimated the level of agglomeration economy among rice farmers in their clusters, compared the degree of rice production concentration among different levels of agglomeration, and determined the major benefits of agglomeration economy to the rice farmers. Methodology: The researchers applied the descriptive survey research design for the study. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the 298 respondents. Primary data were used, and data were collected through the use of a well-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using inferential and descriptive statistics such as ANOVA, means and standard deviation and percentages. Results: Agglomeration economy exists in the Southeast with three levels low, medium, and high and is a major benefit to the farmers. The Gini coefficient of 0.34 indicates equality in rice production among all the clusters except Abakaliki, whose result was 0.66, indicating inequality. The agglomeration location quotient is greater than one and thus greater than the national average, showing that the zone has evidence of agglomeration economies and great potential for rice export. The degree of rice production concentration among clusters is significantly different at 1%, with access to labour and farm credit having the most significant influence. The benefits of agglomeration to farmers include access to skilled labour, workable cooperatives, and low transport costs, among others. Conclusion: Agglomeration has been of great advantage to the farmers in the study areas. Such benefits include having easy access to farm labour due to the labour pooling associated with agglomeration. Key recommendation: Rice farmers should form cooperatives to access credit, and the government should formulate favourable agricultural policies to favour agglomeration to reduce diseconomies and increase the advantages of agglomeration economies.

IntroductionOrganic Agriculture is considered one of the promising sustainable agricultural systems that can promote green economy measures, especially in developing countries where smallholder agriculture forms the backbone of the economy. With increasing awareness of the environmental and health benefits of organic foods, there has been an increasing number of studies assessing the demand side (determinants of consumers’ demand for organic products) within the global South. However, there is a dearth of research information on the supply side (e.g., factors influencing smallholder farmers’ willingness to engage in organic agriculture). To scale up organic agriculture among smallholder farmers, there is a need to explore and understand the factors influencing its adoption.MethodsUsing survey data from rural Nigeria, this paper applied Cragg’s double-hurdle model to assess the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption of organic farming in the Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria.ResultsThe result showed that information about organic farming plays a major role in motivating farmers to adopt organic farming. Farmers that know what organic farming entails were found to be 1.31 percent more likely to adopt organic farming and to dedicate 1.23 percent more of their land to organic farming than the farmers that are less aware of organic farming. Similarly, an organized organic marketing structure and a premium on organic products were found to statistically improve the adoption of organic farming. The proportion of land dedicated to organic farming was found to be 2.15 percent more for farmers that received a premium for their organic produce than their counterparts that do not receive a premium for their produce.DiscussionThe findings demonstrated policy actions aimed at certification among smallholder farmers employing organic farming methods can facilitate system-wise organic farming in rural areas. However, the nature of such certification that will not jeopardize the agency of the farmers requires further investigation.