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Information is a critical factor in the farming business as the survival of the participants relies on their ability to access innovations and meet the dynamic challenges of the sector. This study analysed the information needs of poultry farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, and a multistage sampling technique to collect data (from 113 poultry farmers) for the study. Descriptive statistics, a three-point rating scale, and the Ordinary Least Square regression model were used to analyse the data collected. The findings of the study indicated that the prominent information sources among the farmers were: the internet, acquaintances/friends, and radio. Similarly, the study revealed that the respondents require information on various aspects of poultry production. Based on the results, age, household size, educational level, and membership in association negatively influence poultry farmers’ information needs, whereas gender, farm size, and farming experience have shown a positive influence on the farmers’ information needs. Hence, the study emphasised the need for the government and other actors in the agricultural sector to employ and also motivate agricultural extension workers to widen the scope of their reach using the internet.

This study is focused on analysing the economics of rice production by the small-holder female rice-farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described female rice-farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, analysed their technical and allocative efficiencies, and also assessed their economic efficiency in the area. Primary data were collected from 180 randomly selected female rice-farmers in Adamawa State using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier function were used analysing the data collected. Findings of the study revealed that the technical in-efficiency of the farmers is influenced by farming experience, education, and access to credit facilities. Also, the allocative in-efficiency of female farmers was influenced by education, household size, and access to credits. The result showed that education and access to credit facilities were common factors affecting the technical and allocative efficiency of female rice farmers in the area. The mean economic efficiency of the female farmers was 0.6. Therefore, the study recommends that the government and other actors in the agricultural sector should facilitate women’s access to credit facilities and other agricultural information relevant to rice production.

This research analysed livelihood diversifi cation and income in resident communities along the Kiri Dam, Adamawa state, Nigeria. The specifi c objectives of the study were: to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, assess the level of livelihood diversifi cation of the respondents, analyse income of the respondents, identify factors associated with varying levels of income, and identify constraints to livelihood diversifi cation in the area. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 120 respondents from the study area. The data collected were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The results showed that the majority of the respondents were male (78%), married (76%), educated (70%), below 60 years of age (93%) and employed in agricultural activities (83%). The Simpson index of diversifi cation shows that 43% of the respondents diversify at an average level. The majority (60%) of the respondents’ annual income is over ₦ 200,000. The ordinary least square estimation shows that age, marital status, education, irrigation activities, fi shing, farm size and level of diversifi cation aff ect income level in the area. The main constraints to diversifi ed livelihood in the area were a lack of basic social infrastructure, a hippopotamus menace and fl ooding. The study recommended the provision of social infrastructure and the control of hippopotamuses.

Human-animal conflict is posing a severe threat to wildlife conservation as well as the longterm viability of farming communities. This study assessed the economic consequence of humanhippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) conflicts on rural livelihoods in Adamawa state, Nigeria. The study had the following specific goals; describe the direct effects of Human Hippopotamus Conflict (HHC) on livelihoods in the study area, and estimate the agricultural economic losses incurred in the area as a result of HHC. A mixed research method was used to collect primary data from 371 crop farmers. The study relied on descriptive statistics in the analysis of the data collected between February to May 2019. The study found that Groundnut, Cowpea, and maize were among the most severely damaged crops at their mid-stage of development based on land size. In terms of the monetary value of the damages, sweet potato is the most affected. The study concluded that farmers should work as a team and adopt measures like fencing, scare tactics, or deterrents that will minimize significant crop losses. Also, there is the need for local awareness on the importance of Hippopotamus conservation in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analysed the management practices and information needs of fish farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study adopted a multistage sampling technique to collect primary data from 166 fish farmers. Descriptive statistics, Likert Scale, and Ordinary Least Square regression model were used to analyse the data collected. The findings of the study indicated that the prominent information sources among the farmers were the internet and acquaintances/friends. Similarly, the study established that the majority of the respondents need information on most aspects of fish farming and that the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers influence these information needs. Furthermore, high-cost of fish feed, lack/inadequacy of capital, lack of good/reliable market information, and poor breeds of fish were identified as the leading respondents’ constraints in fish production. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that there is a dire need for the government and other agricultural development actors to employ and also motivate more agricultural extension agents in the area to enable the fish farmers to access them for information. The findings of this study will substantially contribute to aquaculture planning in the country so as to enhance gains from the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analysed rural farming households' poverty status and alleviating strategies in Benue State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: describes the rural household heads' socio-economic characteristics; determine the poverty status of the respondents and its determinants; and identify poverty alleviating strategies of the respondents. Data for the study was collected from 420 respondents selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty measurement index, and the Binary Logistic regression model. The findings of the study revealed a very high incidence of poverty (70%), having a gap of 0.34, and severity of 0.17. Poverty in the area is positively associated with the age of the household head and household size, while gender, educational level, off-farm activity, membership of a group, farm size, and land ownership are negatively associated with poverty. The common poverty alleviation strategies identified were agricultural wage labour (48.6%), rental services (45.0%), and transportation business (36.7%). Therefore, it was recommended that the government and other stakeholders should initiate sustainable social protection schemes that can assist rural residents in alleviating poverty until their condition improves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The livelihood of rural residents is paramount in the development of the Nigerian State. The broad objective of this study was to assess rural livelihoods in Adamawa State, Nigeria. In specific terms, the study described rural residents' socio-economic characteristics, identified their livelihood strategies and activities, examined factors affecting the undertaking of diverse livelihood activities, and also identified livelihood constraints in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 480 selected household heads spread across 16 villages from the three agroecological zones of the State. Descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis were used in the data analysis. Findings of the study revealed that most of the respondents were male with a mean age of 46 years and were mostly (over 60%) educated. Married persons constituted the majority (about 90%), having an average household size of the respondents was seven persons. The main livelihood strategies in the area were diversification, intensification, and migration with agriculture-related activities being the most common. The study also revealed that the livelihood activities in the area were significantly affected by age (X1), gender(X2), marital status (X3), household size (X4), educational level (X5), farm size (X6), remittance (X7), social group membership (X8), and access to credit (X9). The respondents' foremost livelihood constraints identified in the study were the lack of basic social amenities, poor political representation, insecurity challenges, lack of capital/financial exclusion, and adverse climatic conditions. Key among the recommendations of the study was the need for substantial investments in the provision of physical infrastructure in rural areas and also the provision of adequate security of lives and properties in conflict-affected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L) is among the most widely consumed staples and is also used in the production of livestock feeds. This study analysed the adoption of improved farm practices among maize farmers in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, identify the improved farm practices adopted by the respondents, and identify respondents' sources of information on improved farm practices. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 117 respondents from whom primary data was collected using structured questionnaire. The data collected was analysed using means, frequency and percentages. The result showed that, majority (67.5%) of the respondents were male, married (76%), educated (70%), and 54.6% were within the economically active age of less than 51 years. Majority (81%) of the respondents were small scale farmers with land holdings of 1-4 ha, 77% of the respondents practiced maize farming for more than 10 years, 56.4% and 43.6% practiced sole cropping and mixed cropping respectively. Radio, friends, and extension agents were most preferred information sources. Use of herbicides, fertilizers, seed dressing, and mechanized farming were respondents' most adopted improved technologies. The study recommends that radio should be used to disseminate information on improved farm practices; farmers should also, be encouraged to form groups that would assist them share information and pool resources together to overcome transitional cost of certain technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing poverty has remained foremost among Nigeria's developmental challenges. This study analysed poverty level among some selected households in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, determine the pattern of income distribution among the respondents, determine the incidence, depth and severity of poverty among the respondents, and lastly, identify the respondents' coping strategy to poverty in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 80 household heads using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke (FGT) weighted poverty index, and Lorenz curve. The result revealed that majority of the respondents were male (90%), educated (70%), married (88.57%) and whose primary occupation is mostly farming (50%). Income distribution as shown by the Lorenz curve revealed that, 79% of the respondents cumulatively earn only 56% of the income, indicating an incidence of income inequality. Poverty incidence among the respondents is 60%, having a poverty gap of 27% and a poverty severity of 10%. In response to the challenge of poverty, majority of the respondents adopt agricultural intensification and livelihood diversification (especially in non-farm activities) as coping strategies. The study recommends timely and affordable provision of farm inputs, provision of social amenities and encouraging entrepreneurial skills through training in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the effect of level of awareness of Ebola virus disease on food security status among bush meat marketers in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to; describe the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, examine the extent to which the respondents are aware of Ebola virus disease prevalence, determine their food security status, identify the determinants of household food security of the respondents and lastly, the major constraints encountered by the respondents during Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 100 bush meat marketers using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the study revealed that 89.0% of the respondents were female and 76.0% were married. Majority (90%) were educated and their age fall between 41 and 60 years (51.0%). Majority (54.0%) of the respondents earned ₦20,001 and ₦40,000 per month before Ebola Virus Disease outbreak and 52.0% earned between ₦20,001 and ₦30,000 after Ebola Virus Disease outbreak per month. Similarly, ranking score showed that radio (53.0%), family and friends (21.0%), television (44.2%) were major sources of information to the respondents during the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the study area. majority (85.5%) of the respondents were aware of Ebola Virus Disease occurrence while only (14.5%) were not aware of Ebola Virus Disease. The mean per capita food expenditure per month was estimated to be ₦3,720.45 and the value was used to establish the food security line which shows that 52.3% of the households were food secure. The binary logit regression analysis showed that marital status, educational level and monthly income were positive and had a significant influence on food security status while age was significant but negatively influences the respondents' food security status. Major constraints faced by the respondents include low income generation as a result of phobia for the virus, which hinders the respondents from meeting their social obligations as well as discrimination of the infected person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversifying livelihoods has become a common concept in development discourse across the globe in recent decades. The focus of this study was to analyse non-farm diversification in rural Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa state, Nigeria. Specifically, the research objectives were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, identify livelihood activities among the respondents, and also identify the determinants of diversifying into non-farm activities. Primary data were collected using questionnaire from respondents (140) drawn from the study area using multistage sampling technique. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and probit regression model. Findings of the study revealed that, majority of the respondents were male (90%), 88.57% were married and 70% were educated. They are mostly farmers with average farm size of 2.47 hectares. The probit regression analysis showed that, the coefficients of age, household size, distance to market, access to credit and farm size significantly influence the decision of respondents to undertake non-farm activities in the area. The study recommended that, all development actors should ensure; improved access to credit by farmers, the provision of basic infrastructure in the area, and the empowerment of rural residents through intensified entrepreneurships and technical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a Project Performance Assessment of the Second National Fadama Development Project implemented between 2004 and 2009. The study assessed the level of social inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups in the project in Yola North LGA of Adamawa state, Nigeria. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select 88 vulnerable and marginalized persons from 10 participating FUGs in the study area. The study relied on primary data collected using structured questionnaire and secondary data from the local Fadama desk office. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that, 49% of the respondents were young, female (68%), married (57%) and educated (77%). Vulnerable and marginalise based FUGs constituted 37% of the FUGs that participated in the project in the area. All the FUGs sampled patronized both the capacity building and the pilot asset components most, compared to other project components. Majority (90%) of the respondents benefited from the project, but they rate their level of participation as average (67%). The main constraints to the respondents' participation in the project were; low matching grant and internal conflicts. It was recommended that, counterpart fund share of people in this group should be reduced. Furthermore, adequate sensitization on the entire goal of the project is necessary for promoting inclusion and reducing conflict among participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]