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This study employed geo-physical Land Use Land Cover (LULC) satellite data and crop yield data to examine the trend of agricultural land-use change and how it affected food security in the Nigerian state of Benue. Satellite imageries were downloaded for the years 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2015 from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) website, while crop yield data from 1980 to 2015 were obtained from the Benue State Ministry of Agriculture. Satellite image datasets were analyzed using remote sensing and GIS techniques, and data extracted for a quantitative analysis while crop yield data and data on percentage changes in cropland/vegetation were analyzed using regression analysis. The results of the study showed that the trend of agricultural land-use change in Benue state, Nigeria is tending towards reduction in agricultural lands. While this negative trend was found to reduce the output of some crops (e.g. yam, maize and groundnut), it seemed to have also spurred an increase in the production of other crops with more economic value (e.g. rice and cassava) due to intensification. The study recommends that appropriate landuse policies should be put in place to prevent unguarded loss of agricultural lands so as to forestall looming food security crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey marketing is an important off-farm economic activity for women's livelihood and sustenance. Despite this, there is scant information in the literature about the economic performance of women honey marketers. Therefore, this study investigates the economic performance of women marketers, its drivers, and its challenges. Data collected from 120 women honey marketers were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross profit, net profit, benefit-cost ratio, return on capital invested, operating ratio, marketing margin, and multiple regression. We found that honey marketing was a profitable venture, as indicated by the high gross profit (USD 262.08), net income (USD 257.03), marketing margin (56%), benefit-cost ratio (1.72), and return on capital invested (0.72) per 58.14 liters sold. Honey marketing also had a low operating ratio of 0.57. Thus, women honey marketers performed economically well. The significant factors that enhanced the profitability of honey marketing were education, experience in honey marketing, credit, and membership in an association. While age, purchasing costs, and transportation costs reduced honey marketing profitability. Inadequate capital and credit, price fluctuations, a poor road network, high transportation costs, adulteration, and poor marketing information were the major severe constraints faced in honey marketing. These call for the provision of credit, training, and education to honey marketers by the government to enhance the profitability of the enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]