bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ACCESS TO CREDIT AND RICE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Ogebe Francis , Olagunju Oladapo , Abah Daniel
Published: June 2023

The study was conducted to examine access to credit and rice production efficiency of rural households in Benue State, Nigeria. The study focuses particularly on the effects of both formal and informal credits on production levels and production efficiency by using a stochastic frontal analysis. Data were randomly collected from 650 farmers consisting of 339 borrowers and 311 non-borrowers by means of well-structured questionnaire which were analyzed through descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier analysis. The results of the SFA showed a clear effect of credit on rice production levels and production efficiency of farmers. Rice production in the borrower group was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of non-borrowers. Borrowers planted more rice, and spent more on inputs for rice production such as fertilizers, pesticides and hired machinery than non-borrowers except for expenditure on seeds. The borrowers used on average, 0.23 tons seeds and 0.24 tons fertilizer per hectare compared to an average of 0.22 tons and 0.21 tons with corresponding yields of 6.6 tons/ha and 6.0 tons/ha, respectively, for non-borrowers. Findings revealed that, the accessed credits help rice farmers to purchase inputs and improve farming technologies which ultimately transformed into higher productivity of the borrowers. The calculated technical efficiency (TE) of rice farmers ranged from 16.5% to 98.5%, with an average of 85.20%, indicating that almost all farmers achieved rather high technically efficient production. In addition, findings showed that the technical efficiency levels of borrowers were higher than those of non-borrowers confirming the positive influence of credit on production and production efficiency. Furthermore, the study showed that age, farming experience, family size, gender and access to credit are major determinants of TE in the study area. The study concluded that in order to improve the rice production outcomes, various policy recommendations needed to be considered such as expansion of rural credit systems, establishment of more branches of agricultural and community banks and formation of “Savings and Credit Cooperative Unions” (SACCOS) for collective responsibilities and paying loans.
POULTRY FEED MARKET ANALYSIS IN A RURAL PERI-URBAN AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Bassey Inyang Helen
Published: June 2023

The study evaluated the poultry feed market situation in the rural peri-urban area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study analyzed demand trend of the different types of feed in the study area, determine the supply pattern of the different types of poultry feed in Ikono Local Government Area. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 160 farms and structured questionnaire was administered on 144 farmers that sufficiently responded to the questionnaire for inclusion in the statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, percentages, incidence index analysis and factor analysis were used to analyze the specific objectives. Analysis of the feed brand preference among poultry farmers in the study area showed that 69% of the farmers used Top Feed, about 19% of the farmers used Hybrid feed while 7% of the farmers used Amo Byng Feed. It was gathered that Top Feed was the most preferred feed used in Ikono Local Government Area. The study therefore concluded that to enable farmers maximize profit, there is need for them to choose feed brands that are easily available in the shop, support growth and fast weight gain. Recommendations were directed towards manufacturer’s improvement in production, effective distribution methods and access to credit facilities.
EVALUATING MAIZE PRICE VOLATILITY AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA
Authors: Sani, M. H. Sani, M. H. , Orefi Abu
Published: June 2023

Evaluation of food price volatility is useful as price variations can be demanding when large and sudden, thereby creating risks for consumers, producers and traders. This paper examined maize price volatility and its implication for food security in the Nigeria by using Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (ARCH) model and its extensions (GARCH and TGARCH) based on monthly maize prices between November, 2010 and October, 2017. The results show that maize price is relatively unstable although no evidence of leverage effect was observed. The absence of leverage effect would mean that positive news such as useful policies and good weather have bigger impact on volatility than negative news at the same scale. Consequently, investments in reducing post-harvest losses and storage facilities need to increase to guarantee stable prices and food security.
Factors Influencing Adoption of Agricultural Technologies amongst African Development Bank Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Project Beneficiaries in Nigeria
Authors: A.Y Nura
Published: June 2023

The Nigerian agricultural sector is characterized by low level of technology adoption which in turn contributes to the low agricultural productivity in the country. This is indeed worrisome given the plethora of interventions by successive governments, multi-lateral and donor agencies working to implement several programmes aimed at promoting technology adoption among farmers. This study examines factors which influence adoption of modern agricultural production technologies among African Development Bank-Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (AfDB-CBARDP) beneficiaries in Nigeria. To achieve this objectives, Multi stage sampling technique was employed where a total of 1020 farmers/Project beneficiaries across the 5 Project Implementing Units were selected. The data was estimated using the logit regression. The use of the logit model for this analysis is consistent with the literature on adoption (see for instance Griliches, 1957). Result of the maximum likelihood estimates of the Logit regression model has indicated that the relationship between income and improved technology adoption was shown to be positive and statistically significant. Farming experience was also positively related to adoption of the improved technologies and statistically significant at 1% level. The study also reveals that adoption of improved farming technologies increases with credit availability. Farm size on the other hand was negatively related to adoption of fertilizer technology but positively related to seed, post-harvest and livestock improvement technologies at 1% significant level. Correspondingly, the coefficients for improved seed and livestock technologies were positively related to the farmer’s age at 5% significant level. The findings of the study further revealed that profitability of the enterprise is the major reason for technology adoption by the beneficiaries and is considered very important (3.7*). Output/yield and product marketability was the second and most important reasons for technology adoption having a weighted mean scores value of 3.1* and 3.3* respectively. Likewise, among the bundles of technology disseminated under crop sub sector, varietal attributes related to early maturity was adjudged to be important motive for the adoption (2.7*). Inaccessibility of the technology or high cost of production were cited prominently as the main reasons for non-adoption of a particular technology (*Reason ≥2.5). These findings have important implication. The availability of modern agricultural production technologies to end users, and the capacities of end users to adopt and utilize these technologies should always be consider when scaling up innovation practices.
EFFECT OF ANNUAL FLOODING ON CASSAVA PRODUCTION AND COPPING STRATEGIES IN KOLOKUMA/OPOKUMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAYELSA STATE
Authors: Ominikari Abraham Godwin , Agadaga, Benatari B.
Published: June 2023

The study examined the effect of flooding on cassava production in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: ascertain the effect of annual flooding on cassava production and assess the coping strategies employed by the farmers in combating the effects in the study. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select one hundred (100) cassava farmers for the study. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and mean scores, while ordinary least square simple regression analysis was used to test the null hypothesis at 5% level of significance. The result revealed that land erosion (= 3.05), pre-mature harvesting of crops (= 2.99), loss of crops (= 2.96), reduced soil fertility (= 2.93) and shortened farming season (= 2.71) were notable effects of annual flooding on cassava production. Furthermore, planting quick maturing varieties of crops (92.2%), digging of drainages/embankments before flood season (89.0%), planting early and harvesting before the onset of flood (85.0%) and conserving food and water (80.0%) were the major coping strategies employed by cassava farmers in combating the effects of annual flooding on cassava production. The ordinary least square regression analysis revealed that flooding (-45.285)*** significantly and negatively influenced the output of cassava farmers at 1% level of significance. The study concluded that flooding negatively influenced the output of cassava farmers. The study therefore recommended that there is need to support farmers in the study area with information on how to combat flooding menace so as to restore soil fertility, reduce land erosion/loss of crops thus ensuring food abundance during flooding.
Keywords: Cassava, Coping, Effect, Flooding, Production, Strategies
INTERACTION OF DOSAGE AND SPRAY FREQUENCY OF HENNA (Lawsonia inermis) LEAF EXTRACTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ALTERNARIA LEAF SPOT DISEASE OF CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.) IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA
Authors: Mohammed, Z. H.  , Bwala, R. I.  , Tata, S.
Published: June 2023

Field trial was conducted in 2018 and   2019 cropping seasons at Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri to assess the effects of the interaction of dosage and spray frequency of Lawsonia inermis leaf extracts in the management of Alternaria leaf spot disease of cucumber   in Maiduguri.   The treatments consisted of three Dosages (50g/L, 75g/L and 100g/L)   assigned as a Vertical factor and five spray regimes (no spray, spray once, spray twice, spray thrice and four times) as a horizontal factor, factorially combined and laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Results of the experiment showed that, interaction of the spray frequency (three or four times) and dosage (100g/L) of the leaf extracts significantly reduced disease incidence and severity of Alternaria leaf spot disease better than the other treatment combinations. The result further revealed a significantly higher yield increase   under the same condition than the other treatments considered. Based on the result of this findings, it can be concluded that spraying of cucumber three or four times coinciding with the fruiting stage of the crop were important in   reduction of the disease.
EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT SOURCES AND AGRO-ECOLOGY ON PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Shuaibu, Y. M.  , Garba, A. A.  , Fagam, A. S.  , Voncir, N.  , Kawure, S.  , Bala, R. A.  , Sabo, M. U.  , Nayaya, J. A.
Published: June 2023

The study was conducted at both Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University teaching and research farm, Bauchi located in the Northern Guinea Savannah and also at Bulkachuwa village of Katagum LGA located in Sudan Savannah both in Bauchi state, during the wet seasons of 2016, 2017 and 2018 to investigate the effects of nutrient sources and agro-ecology on physic-chemical properties of soil. The treatments consisted of a factorial combination of five nutrient sources (poultry manure, cow dung, chicken feather, municipal waste, mineral fertilizer) and a control and two varieties of castor (Ex-India 1 and 2), these gave 12 treatment combinations and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results of the experiment revealed a significant (P≤0.05) difference among the treatments used throughout the study period. The results of the soil analysis before the conduct of the experiment revealed that, the soil in both locations is sandy loam in texture. It also indicated that, the soils are slightly acidic, low in organic carbon, available P (mg/kg) and total N (g/kg) while the exchangeable cations (cmol/kg) are medium, following the ESU rating. The result after treatment application showed that, soil texture remained the same (sandy loam) in both locations. The soil pH was neutral to slightly acidic while organic carbon ranged from medium to high with highest value in poultry manure and chicken feather in Bauchi but generally low to medium in Bulkachuwa location. Available P and total N were medium to high in Bauchi but low to medium in Bulkachuwa location. However, the exchangeable cations were rated to be high in both locations following ESU rating. Based on the results of this study, Application of poultry manure or chicken feather at the rate of 2 tons/ha should be adopted by farmers in the study area for good soil fertility restoration.
COSTS AND RETURN OF FARO-44 RICE FARMERS’ BENEFICIARIES OF THE FADAMA III ADDITIONAL FINANCE II IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Banseka, R. F.  , Sani, M. H.  , Sani, R. M.  , Murtala, N.
Published: June 2023

The study was carried out to analyse the costs and return of faro-44 rice farmers’ beneficiaries of the fadama III additional finance II in Taraba State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the 500 respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, percentages and tables) and inferential statistics (farm budget techniques or cost-benefit analysis). The findings showed that in wet cropping season, average labour cost of ploughing and harrowing was N23,600.23 (11.84%) with t-value of 7.1268 and significant at P≤0.01. In dry and wet cropping season, cost of land clearing was N32,500.33 (13.18%) and N17,500.00 (8.78%) with t-value of 3.4534 significant at P≤0.01. Cost of planting, harvesting, threshing, winnowing, bagging and were significant at P≤0.01 with their corresponding t-values of 3.5407; 5.9132; 4.4771; 3.5463 and 5.4935, respectively. In dry season, the respondents realized N1,569,780.00 as total revenue from 6,156 kg of paddy rice produced compared to N696,795.00 as total revenue in wet season. Similarly, sale of rice straws yielded total value of N108,800.00 in dry season compared to N29,200.00 in wet season. The respondents consumed 372 bags more rice in wet season valued at N61,380.00 compared to 164 bags in dry season valued at N41,820.00. The results further disclosed that dry season faro-44 rice farmers incurred total cost of N304,738.91 compared to wet season total cost of N225,840.33. Realizable revenue of N1,720,400.00 in dry season and N787,375.00 in wet season with net farm income of N1,415,661.09 and N561,534.67 in dry and wet seasons, respectively. With profit index of 5.74 and 2.82 in dry and wet seasons, respectively, the faro-44 rice farmers realized more profits in dry season as it is also glaring from the rate of returns on investment (RRI) of 4.65 (dry season) and 2.49 RRI in wet season. These results indicated that faro-44 rice farming is profitable in Taraba State meaning that for every N1 invested in faro-44 rice production, the farmers realized N4.65 and N2.49 in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The study concluded that faro-44 rice productivity is profitable in Taraba State; and that ploughing and harrowing was major on-farm rice activity carried out in wet season while land clearing was majorly an activity of dry season. It was recommended that faro-44 rice farmers in Taraba State should be given more cash-for-work supports; advisory services; supports for non-farm activities and capacity building on agribusiness, enterprise of farmers’ choice, record keeping.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND MARKETING CHANNEL OF SESAME (SESAMUM INDICUM L.) FARMERS’ WILLINGNESS TO TRADE THROUGH MIDDLEMEN IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Musa, A. U.  , Sani, M. H.  , Idi, S.
Published: June 2023

The research was carried out to determine the socio-economic characteristics and marketing channel of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) farmers’ willingness to trade through middlemen in Bauchi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 204 and 60 sesame farmers and marketers, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed an average age of 40 years; majority (84.8% and 80.0%) farmers and marketers, respectively, were married. Majority (89.7% and 96.7%) farmers and marketers, respectively, were males with average household size of 7 persons. About 63% of the sesame farmers had land size range of 1-4 hectares. Almost half of the farmers (41.2%) and marketers (30.3%) have between 6-10 years of experience with a minimum of secondary education of 43.1% and 41.7%, respectively. Most (73.0%) of the sesame farmers did not belong to any cooperative society and contrary to the marketers with 91.7% belonged to various cooperative societies. Majority (58.8% and 98.3%) of farmers and marketers were purely crop farmers and agro marketers, respectively. More than half 65.2% of the farmers were willing to trade through middlemen and 34.8% of the farmers preferred not to deal with middlemen. Majority (90.0%) of the farmers sold sesame produce through village collectors before it reaches the end user. Poor pricing (70.1%), exploitative practices of the middlemen (63.2%), low profit margin (58.3%) and prolonged, deceiving and deceit bargaining (47.5%) were the major constraints faced by the sesame farmers in dealing with middlemen in the study area. The study concluded that sesame farmers and marketers were young, agile and economically productive; middlemen were found to be highly resourceful though posed serious challenge in the marketing channel of sesame. The study recommended marketing intervention by government in sesame marketing activities like involving price appreciation, reduction in the cost of marketing, formulating and implementing marketing policies and rules by government targeted at improving infrastructures such as roads and providing marketing information outfit for sustainable improving the marketing efficiency.
PERFORMANCE AND HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF BALAMI RAMS FED CATTLE URINE-ENSILED SORGHUM STOVER AS SOURCE OF NON-PROTEIN NITROGEN
Authors: Abbas, S.  , Kawu, Y. U.
Published: June 2023

A 90-days feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing fertilizer grade urea with cattle urine in sorghum stover silage on the performance and haematological indices of Balami rams. Five diets were formulated. Diet 1 (control) contained sorghum stover ensiled with fertilizer grade urea (FGU) while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 had 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels of cattle urine as replacement for FGU. Twenty (20) rams of the Balami breed were allotted to the five diets in replicates of four in a completely randomized design. Data on daily feed intake, weight gain and haematological indices were collected Results showed no significant influence of cattle urine on daily feed intake. However, Daily weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher on T5 (128.11 g) and T4 (124.08 g) which were the same, than on other diets which also did not differ (101.67 – 103.65 g). Similarly, Rams fed T5 (34.53 kg) had higher (P<0.05) final weight than those on other diets which were the same (30.30 – 31.93 kg). Feed conversion ratio was significantly (P<0.05) better on T5 (5.74) and T4 (5.88) compared to T1 (7.19), T2 (7.13) and T3 (7.06) which were poorer. All haematological indices did not significantly differ among diets. It was therefore concluded that cattle urine can completely replace fertilizer grade urea as silage additive in sorghum stover and as non-protein nitrogen source in balami rams diets.
FARMERS ASSESSMENT OF EXTENSION SERVICES DELIVERY IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Musa, U. R.  , Abdullahi, S.  , Sulaiman, A.
Published: June 2023

The study examined farmers’ assessment of extension services delivery in Bauchi State Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling techniques was used in selecting 200 farmers from the three agricultural zones of the State. Data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that majority (84.5 %) of the farmers were male with mean age of 42 years. Also majority (75%) were married with household size mean of 8 persons. Similarly, 38 % had farming experience of 6- 10 years with mean land size of 1.5 hectares. More than half (58%) of the farmers belongs to farmers cooperatives with 26% having monthly extension contact. Similarly, 78% of the farmers received technology under crop and farming sub sector while 88.5% sourced information on extension services delivery from radio. The logistics regression shows that annual income and access to extension were significant at (P<0.01), while extension contact was significant at (P<0.05) in influencing farmers assessment of extension services delivery. The major constraint to extension services delivery were inadequate transportation/mobility of extension workers, inadequate equipment/teaching material and poor extension agent farmer ratio. It was concluded that the key factors influencing farmer’s assessment of extension services delivery in the study area were annual income, access to extension and number of extension contact. Based on the constraint highlighted the study recommended that extension agents should be provided with adequate mobility and incentives for easy access to the farmers, more extension workers need to be hired in order to significantly address the issue of poor ratio of extension agents to farming households.
ANALYSIS OF SOURCES OF MICRO CREDIT TO WOMEN GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS HYPOGEAE L.) PROCESSORS AND COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS IN CENTRAL ZONE OF BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Haruna, A. A.  , Sani, M. H.  , Haruna, U.
Published: June 2023

The study examined analysis of sources of micro credit to women groundnut (Arachis hypogeae L.) processors and collateral requirements in central zone of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Two local government areas were randomly selected from the central agricultural zone with sample size of 122 groundnut women processors and data were collected with the aid of well-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The results revealed that all (100%) of the groundnut processors were female, 71.3% were married while 9.8%, 8.2% and 10.7 were single, divorced and widowed, respectively. The results also indicated that 35.2% of the respondents had attended secondary school and 27.0% had primary education, 17.2% had tertiary education, 11.5% had never been to school and 9.0% had adult education. Majority (79.5%) had good market access in terms of sales. 19.7% had a fair market access and 0.8% had difficult market access. The results further disclosed that 97.5% of the respondents used local method for groundnut. Majority (53.3%) of the respondents sourced credit through the informal sectors. The findings further showed that majority (86.9%) of the groundnut women processors in Central Bauchi State mainly used relatives as their source of micro credit. Cooperatives source of micro credit, village shopkeepers, local money lenders and faith organizations as well as non-governmental organizations and agricultural traders accounted for 77.0%, 70.5%, 58.2%, 58.2%, 54.1% and 54.1%, respectively. Majority (92.6%) of the groundnut omen processors indicated that household asset was the major collateral they use while obtaining loans from the informal credit sources in the study area. The findings also revealed that salary, land/title deed, cooperative registration and others accounted for 15.6%, 47.5%, 77.9%, and 9.9%, respectively, as other collateral requirements for accessing credit by the respondents in the study area. The study concuded that household asset (92%) was the major collateral the groundnut omen processors used in obtaining loans from the informal credit sources in the study area. Also, (86.9%) of the groundnut women processors major sources of credit was relatives in the study area. The study recommended that women groundnut processors should be provided with simple but efficient equipment at affordable cost, and that soft loans should be made available at low interest rate by the government and non-governmental organizations.
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZATION AND SOWING DATES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF LABLAB (Lablab purpureus L. walp) VARIETIES IN SEMI-ARID ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF RINGIM, JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Surajo, A.  , Fagam, A. S.  , Ali, G.  , Sabo, M. U.  , Bindawa, M. A.  , Yahaya, S. U.
Published: June 2023

Field trials were conducted at the Jigawa state Horticultural Farm during 2019, 2020 and 2021 wet seasons to investigate the effect of phosphorus levels and sowing date on the growth and yield of lablab varieties (Dan Farankachi and Dan Inusa). The treatments consisted of four levels of phosphorus (0, 20, 40 and 60 kgPha-1) in the form of single superphosphate and three sowing dates 1st July (S1), 15th July (S2) and 29th July (S3), laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Data were collected on canopy height, number of branches, leaf area index and pod yield per hectare. The results showed that application of 60 kgPha-1 and 40 kgPha-1 resulted to highest growth in terms of canopy height at 4WAS and 8WAS in 2019, 2021 wet season and 2020 wet season and combined, respectively, sowing three had taller plants at 4WAS, and highly significant (P≤0.01) varietal differences at 12WAS in 2020 and 2021 wet seasons, variety was highly significant (P≤0.01) at 12 WAS in 2020 wet season and combined. The results showed that application of 60 kgPha-1 at 4WAS and 12WAS were highly significant (P≤0.01), and sowing three resulted to highest number of branches per plant at 4WAS. It was further reported that, leaf area index were highly significant (P≤0.01) interns of phosphorus application and sowing dates at 4 and 12WAS, pod yield was also highly significant (P≤0.01) in all the seasons. Based on the result of this study, it could be concluded that application of 60 kg P/ha, Dan Inusa and sowing date of 29th July could be adopted by farmers for better yield of lablab in the study area, hence recommended for better yield.
ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF FAO IN INCREASING FOOD SECURITY AMONG FOOD CROP FARMERS IN JERE LGA BORNO STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Nuhu, H. S.  , Aliyu, Y. M.  , Wadai, A. M.
Published: June 2023

This study assessed the role of FAO in increasing food security among food crop farmers in Jere LGA of Borno State, Nigeria. Multi stage random sampling was used in drawing 100 respondents for this study. Information was collected using structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyzed data for this study; descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies, mean and percentages and food security index were used, inferential statistics in the form of logit regression was also used. Male dominated food crop production with (66%). Majority (34%) of the food crop farmers in Jere LGA were between the age bracket of (41- 50) years. Overwhelming majority of (81%) were married, and majority of (60%) had household members between (5-8) persons. The level of education was very poor as majority of (42%) had no formal education. The contribution of FAO in increasing the food security among crop farmers in Jere LGA were (assisting in diversifying livelihood 96%, farmer field school 89%), distribution of seeds, 87%). The food security status of the food crop farmers was (65%) were food secure. The logistic regression model was used to examine the socioeconomic characteristics on food security. The results revealed that 9 out of 10 variables included in the model were significant at (5% or 1%).  The significant variable at 5% were age, household size, education, farm size, farming experience, access to credit, access to extension service, while marital status, income and access to credit were significant at 1%. The value of R2 that the model explains that 54.7% variation in the data. Government should support FAO in order to ensure that food crop farmers have access to improved farm input such as seed, fertilizers, and others, gets to food crop farmers easily. Large household sizes and farm size were found affect food security level in the study area. Therefore, policy measures were directed towards the provision of better family planning, increased awareness and access to family planning facilities should give adequate attention and priority by government. In view of this, strategies for an effective community participation in design of concept and messages aimed at imparting knowledge about family planning to households are recommended.
ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING NEEDS OF SMALL-SCALE OIL PALM PROCESSORS IN IKWERRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Ominikari, Abraham G.
Published: June 2023

The study assessed the training needs of small-scale oil palm processors in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. In conducting the study, multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 80 oil palm processors. Data collection were through structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and percentage while ordinary least square multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis formulated for the study. Findings show that the mean age of the oil palm processors was 42.68 years. The mean farm size of the oil palm processors in the study area was 0.69 hectares and the mean household size was 6 persons per household. The mean monthly income of the respondents was N43,603.86 per month and the mean years of processing experience of the respondents was 11.63 years. Findings also reveal that skimming (x= 3.99), accessing loans and grants (x= 3.91), sterilization (x= 3.89), threshing (x= 3.88), digestion (x= 3.86), access to improved oil palm seeds (= 3.81), filtering (x= 3.79), mechanized boiling (x= 3.73), packaging and branding of palm oil (x= 3.71), extraction (x= 3.68) and training on marketing and management skills (x= 3.61) were the training needs of oil palm processors in the study area. The study also reveals that the age of respondents (-2.396**), level of education (2.844***) and farming experience (2.437**) significantly influenced the training needs of small-scale oil palm processors in oil palm processing in the study area. The study concluded that small scale oil palm processors were highly in need of training in various areas such as skimming, sterilization, threshing, digestion, access to improved oil palm seeds, filtering, mechanized boiling, packaging and branding of palm oil, extraction and training on marketing and management skills. The study recommended that the extension agencies should intensify efforts in educating small scale oil palm processors through workshops, seminars and farmer trainings on their identified training needs especially in the areas of accessing improved oil palm seeds and the use of improved oil processing techniques.
ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SMALL-SCALE BROILER PRODUCTION TO FARMERS’ FOOD SECURITY IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Isiaka, Z.  , Oladimeji, Y. U.  , Ammani, A. A.  , Mani, J. R.  , Sani, A. A.
Published: June 2023

The challenges of food insecurity and hunger in Nigeria have continued to receive attention from experts and the government. To increase both protein intake and food security, the government called for urgent need to increase broiler production at both household and commercial holdings. Primary data obtained in year 2020, from 205 randomly selected broiler farmers was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model. This study assessed small-scale broiler production’s contribution to farmers’ food security in Kaduna state, Nigeria. The result showed that mean age was 40 years and majority of the farmers (89.4%) had household size ranged from 1 – 10 persons. In addition, about 73.8% were members of a cooperative society, about 40.5% of the farmers did not have access to extension service while about 78 % of the farmers have access to credit. About 75.10 percent of broiler farming households were found to be food secure. Of the food insecure households, 6.70 % were marginally food insecure, 4.20 % moderately food insecure and 14.00 % severely food insecure. The regression results showed that coefficients of level of education (0.872), access to credit (0.113), membership of association (0.068), cost of day-old chicks (0.363), cost of feed (0812), cost of labour (-2.211), cost of drugs (-0.263) and income from broiler (0.161) were found to be significant contributing to the food security status of the broiler farming households. Finally, broiler farmers attested to the fact that; lack of constant market (95.8%), high cost of feed (92.7%), high cost of input (88%), and price fluctuations (86.9%) are most severe constrains militating the chances of increasing broiler production. Built on the findings of the study it can be concluded that the proportion of food secure broiler farmers are more than the food insecure broiler farmers in the study area. Education, cost of feed and income from broiler production are variables that significantly influences broiler farmers’ food security status. Therefore, farmers should adopt self-feed formulation using locally available resources that will reduce the cost of feeding and increase their profit margin and thereby their food security status.
PROFITABILITY AND CONSTRAINTS OF PERI-URBAN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Saras, J. Z.  , Oladimeji, Y. U.  , Sani, A. A.  , Suleiman, R.
Published: June 2023

In human nutrition, vegetables are an essential protective food containing vitamins and minerals, any balanced diet should include vegetables and fruits for this reason. The study assesses profitability and constraints of peri-urban vegetable production in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Primary data collected with the aid of structured questionnaire were used for this study through farm survey in 2018. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 217 vegetable farmers for this study. Descriptive statistics, net farm income (NFI) and stochastic profit frontier regression model were used to analyze the data. It was revealed that tomatoes production has the highest profit of N145,580.7 compared with that of cucumber N112,992.7 and cabbage N78,450.3, respectively. The result showed that the estimated coefficients of (-0.342), agrochemical (-0216), fuel (0.906) and fixed cost (0.233) were statistically significant. The coefficient of fertilizer implies that a 1% increase in fertilizer cost will decrease the profit made from vegetable enterprise by -0.342 units. Furthermore, the estimated coefficient of fuel cost will increase the profit made from vegetable enter by (0.906) units. The results of inefficiency model showed that the coefficient for age (0.024) was positive and statistically significant at 1% level of probability which implies that younger vegetable farmers are more profit efficient than the older ones. Conversely, the coefficient of household size (-0.027) was negative and statistically significant at 1% level of probability implying that farmers who have large household sizes are more profit efficient than those with few. Unstable market price, high cost of labour and incidence of pest and disease were the most critical constraints faced by vegetable farmers in the study area. It is recommended that; agribusiness industries and non-governmental organization should encourage and support the vegetable famers through provision of farm inputs at a subsidies rate.
ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS INFLUENCING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURAL-BUSINESS IN WESTERN AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Maigari, N. I.  , Abu, I. A.  , Sulaiman, A.
Published: June 2023

The study examines the factors influencing youth participation in agricultural business in the western agricultural zone of Bauchi state. The data were collected using structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Multi stage random sampling technique was used in selecting 384 respondents. The results revealed that 36.4% and 34.5% of the respondents were within the age bracket of 25-29 and almost all (97.3%) of the respondents were males and most (63.6%) were married. The result also showed that more than half (59.1%) of the respondents had primary education while 24.5%, and 16.4% of the respondents had secondary, and higher education, respectively. The results further reveal that 41.8% of the respondents had 1-2 persons as their households. The occupational distribution of respondents showed that most (86.4%) of the respondents were business people (traders) and 13.6% were civil servants and had been in agribusiness for 1-5 years (10.0%), 39.1% for 5-9 years with majority (61.6%) not having agribusiness background while only 38.4% indicated to have agribusiness background. Different types of agribusiness youths participated in the study area were identified in which almost all (97.6%), (94.3%) and (86,5%) of the youths participated in livestock business, agro-marketing and crop production, respectively with majority (62.4%). The results further depicted educational level, access to extension and access to credit were found to be positively significant at 5% levels of significance. The constraints to youths’ participation in agribusiness were poor infrastructure such as roads, electricity, derailed support for local industries and negative impacts of climate change were ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd. it was concluded that youth’s participation in agribusiness in the study area is low with more participation in crop and livestock production,level of education, access to extension service and credit facilities were significantly influencing youth participation in agribusiness (P = 0.045, P = 0,043 and P = 0.037 respectively).  A lot of challenges constrained youth’s participation in agribusiness but they are mostly institutional. The study recommended that; extension and advisory services be improved to enable access to timely and relevant agricultural information, capacity building programmes should be organized to boost the skills of the youth in agricultural businesses, robust agricultural policies should be formulated and implemented. There should be efforts to improve youth attitudes by promoting the willingness and ability to engage in agribusiness, innovative ideas, and positive perceptions and access to credit facilities should be increased through loans from commercial banks cooperative savings.
Constitutional history as an independent discipline?
Authors: Cvetković Aleksandar
Published: June 2023

The constitutional history never had the status of an independent discipline on faculties of law in Serbia. On the other hand, there are a few synthesis in Serbian and in English with monographic characteristics regarding the constitutional history of Serbia. Occasionally there are some concerning the entire constitutional history, but most of them are about 19th century. Some of those monographs are analyzed in this paper: the works of Slobodan Jovanović regarding 19th century constitutional history of Serbia 'Constitutional Development and Constitutional Fights in Serbia' by Jaša Prodanović, 'The Development of Parliamentary Government in Serbia' by Alex Dragnich and 'Constitutional history of Serbia' by Dragoljub Popović. In consideration are taken a few Serbian Constitutional law textbooks which traditionally contain general as well as national constitutional history. Those works are taken as examples for analyzing the possibility of constitutional history being an independent discipline. It was done through an indirect approach, by analyzing the monographic works, that is, the synthesis of constitutional history of Serbia in 19th century. This paper doesn't give a review of the content of the abovementioned works but a review of the methodological approach used by its authors. Although the constitutional history was never considered as an independent discipline on faculties of law in Serbia, the assumption is that it has its own subject and specific methodological approach. All the works that have been the subject of analysis show a certain methodological specifics. However, the authors do not explicitly state their methodological approach. For example, Slobodan Jovanović distinctly says that he writes about the constitutional history and states some notions in regards to a potential subject of that discipline which he understands it to be quite broadly. The analysis of Jaša Prodanović and Alex Dragnich are predominantly based on chronological approach, whereas the analysis of Dragoljub Popović are based on chronological and thematic approach. The conclusion is that the constitutional history lays between the use of the historical method and the method of the constitutional law. And, as there can't be an understanding of constitutional legal phenomenon without its overall comprehension which includes not only the analyze of the constitutional norms but also the 'life' of those norms, their practical shaping, neither can constitutional history be limited to merely give a description of the constitutional norms which existed in the past. Constitutional history must leap into the past and understand which conditions lead to certain ideas or were of great significance in shaping the political institutions. Hence, the subject of constitutional history, at first glance, can be seen as unspecified. However the subject is clear, and a successful result requires a perception of the subject of constitutional history from various perspectives.
Numerical modelling of concrete-filled steel tubular short columns under axial compression
Authors: Nikolić Jelena , Kostić Svetlana , Stošić Saša
Published: June 2023

The paper presents three-dimensional numerical models of short concrete-filled steel tubular circular columns that can successfully describe the column behaviour under axial compression. Several of the most commonly used material models for the steel part and a concrete portion of the column are evaluated in the models. In addition, the paper presents a new proposal for the extension of the Eurocode 2 stress-strain relation to make it suitable for describing the complex behaviour of concrete inside the steel tube. This model overcomes the current limitations of the Eurocode 2 design guide, referring to the limitation for the concrete curve in compression to 3.5%o strain. The ultimate axial column strength obtained by the proposed model is compared to the ultimate column capacity calculated by a simplified method provided in Eurocode 4. All presented numerical models are validated on a set of experiments from the literature and demonstrate good agreement. The comments about the accuracy of each model are provided, along with the identified limitations.
Carbonation of limestone powder concrete: State-of-the-art overview
Authors: Marinković Matija , Radović Andrija , Carević Vedran
Published: June 2023

Recently, research into finding long-term solutions to CO2 mitigation in the cement and concrete sectors was initiated since commonly used supplementary cementitious materials are not globally available in sufficient amounts. One of the possible solutions to that problem is to develop concrete with a higher percentage of limestone in the powder phase. This work presents a critical overview of the state-of-the-art in the field of the carbonation resistance of limestone powder concrete. Experimental research performed so far has shown that if the simple replacement of cement with limestone powder is applied in the standard mix design, a maximum of 10-15% of cement (clinker) could be replaced to maintain similar carbonation resistance. It has also been proven that the dilution effect of weakly inert limestone powder can be compensated for with several measures in the mix design of concrete. By adjusting the cement, limestone, and water content and their particle size distribution, it is feasible to design concrete formulations with up to 50% limestone in the powder phase that are comparable to referent Portland cement concrete in terms of rheological and mechanical performance and carbonation resistance. This is an environmentally significant reduction in the clinker content, but it comes at the cost of a larger superplasticizer content. Prediction models for the carbonation resistance of the limestone powder concrete are poorly developed. Amongst them, the fib MC 2010 prediction model is considered relatively simple and robust; however, it has not yet been proven that the model is applicable to concrete with a higher content of limestone powder (>15-20% of the powder phase). The future research should be oriented towards further optimization of the concrete mix design and implementing this model on the middle-and high-content limestone concrete carbonation.
A local history of digital games: First steps into the new, happy, digital world
Authors: Gavrilović Ljiljana
Published: June 2023

The paper reconstructs the history of digital/computer games in Serbia and (former) Yugoslavia, in the 1980s. Histories of digital games are mostly written based on the history of industry in the US and, somewhat later, Japan, and largely ignore local histories, which - at least in their beginnings and especially on the periphery - are very different from global developments. That is why it was important to reconstruct the local story, before it completely sinks into oblivion. It includes both the games themselves, as well as the computers on which they were played and the media in which they were promoted.
New narratives and new consumers: Youth lifestyle
Authors: Bubonjić Mladen
Published: June 2023

Each generation has been influenced by certain external factors, in addition to society as a key factor in the formation of their value system. These factors, primarily the media, have contributed to the creation of the modern generation's value system. The assumption is that today's young generations, thanks to the abundance of information that "bombards" them every day, influencing their cognitive-receptive apparatus, build their worldviews and values around them on the displays they see on monitors and screens of their technological devices.