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- ItemFarm Practical Training and Job Aspiration of Undergraduates of Agriculture in Universities in Kwara State Nigeria(Association of African Universities, Accra, Ghana, 2017) Yusuf, O. J.; Ayanda, I. F; Olooto, F.M; Salawu, L. O.; Subair, S. K.The study investigated whether Farm Practical Training (FPT) is significantly associated with job aspiration of Undergraduate students comparing results of empirical evidence between two Universities in Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, students preferred courses of study were identified, and their attitude towards FPT and job aspiration were determined. 120 final year students who recently completed the FPT were selected from the two Universities through multistage sampling. Average age of student was 23.5 years with standard deviation of 2.4. Less than half (40%) preferred agriculture as course of study, while 38% preferred science and 5% medicine. About 32% decided to stay on in agriculture after admission because it is deemed prestigious, 13% due to being last available opportunity to gain admission and 17% because of its entrepreneurial potentials. Many (69.8%) aspired for agriculture/farming related job, while 12% aspired to work in agro-allied industries. While many (45.8%) had favorable attitude towards the FPT, comprising 35.0% UNILORIN and 10.8% KWASU students, more (23.3%) of KWASU students had unfavorable attitude towards the FPT compared to 5% UNILORIN students in this category. There was no significant association between students attitude towards FPT and their job aspiration in both institutions (UNILORIN χ2=8.07, p=0.62; KWASU χ2=8.60 p=0.38). Although, most of the students aspired to work in agriculture/agro-allied industry, it could not be concluded from the findings of the studies that FPT did significantly influence their job aspiration.
- ItemUtilization of organic farming practices by arable crop farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria(2014) Bamigboye, E. O.,; Yusuf, O. J.; Kuponniyi, F. A.Organic agriculture plays a crucial role of enhancing the realization of sustainable environment and human health. The study investigated the utilization of Organic Farming Practices (OFPs) by arable crop farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Four rural local government areas (LGAs) Ilejerneje, Moba, Ise-orun and Emure were purposively chosen while 100 respondents were selected for the study. Findings indicated that 86% utilized OFPs, 62% have heard about OFPs through the custodians of indigenous knowledge practices. Bush fallow was the most practiced OFPs (86%) with Weighted Mean Score (WMS) of 1.99, followed by Mulching with refuse (74%, WMS=1.88). Reasons adduced for utilizing OFPs included easy practicability (78%), environmental friendliness of the practice (78%) and costliness of inorganic fertilizer (77%). Constraints that impend the practice of OFPs included problems of land tenure system and environmental degradation. There was a significant association between OFPs utilization and religion (χ2=68.63) and marital status (χ2=65.84). Pearson correlation test revealed a significant and positive relationship between OFPs utilization and age (r=0.168) and farm size (r=0.280). Regression analysis revealed that only age and farm size significantly influenced farmers' utilization of OFPs. A major challenge for extension therefore, is the need to improve on the existing practices.
- ItemAssessment of farm waste utilization among rural dwellers in Osun State, Nigeria(2014) Yusuf, O. J.he study identified farm wastes among rural dwellers in Osun State, Nigeria, it examined rural dwellers' perception about farm wastes' economic potentials, determined the knowledge level of identified farm wastes' economic potentials and the level of utilisation of farm wastes by rural-dwellers as well as identified factors associated with farm waste utilisation with a view to empowering the rural dwellers economically through judicious utilisation of identified farm waste items. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. At the first stage, 20 per cent of the total number of Local Government Area (LOA) in each Agricultural Development Project (ADP) zone was sampled giving a total of 6 rural LGAs. At the second stage, proportionate sampling method was used to select five per cent of the , total number of communities in each LOA giving a total of 28 communities. Finally, 13 respondents involved in farm waste utilisation were purposively selected from each of the communities, giving an overall sample size of 364 respondents. Interview schedule was used for quantitative data collection while Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Informant Interview (Kil) were used to elicit qualitative data. Frequency counts, percentages and weighted mean scores were used to describe data collected while chi-square; correlation and stepwise regression analyses were used to make deductions. Also, factor analysis was used to identify factors associated with farm waste utilisation among rural dwellers in the study area. Results showed that cassava and yam peels, maize stalks and cobs, cowpea husk, palm kernel shell, empty palm fruit bunch, cocoa pods, poultry droppings, and sheep and goat faeces were prominent waste items identified in the study area. Results further revealed high extent of utilisation of cassava peels for livestock feeding with weighted mean score (Rv:) of 2.45 ± 1.11, yam peels for making yam flour (X\.; = 2.24 ± 1.06), maize cobs (~ = 2.22 ± 1.07) and palm kernel shell (X11; = 2.43 ± 0.99) as household fuel for cooking and palm fronds for broom production CXw= 2.23 ± 0.91). Also, results of Chi-square analysis CODESRIA - LIBRARY xvii established significant association between farm waste utilisation and gender et = 10.38), farm land acquisition et= 51.00), ethnicity et= 19.67) and nativity et= 10.40) at p ~ 0.05. Result of regression analysis further showed that income (t = 2.401), perception about farm waste items (t = 4.458), perceived behavioural control (t = 2.534) and attitude towards farm waste utilisation (t = 2.732) positively and significantly contributed to extent of farm waste utilisation at p ~ 0.01. The study concluded that there were varieties of farm waste items with good economic potentials which if well utilised could be harnessed to empower rural dwellers economically thereby enhancing their liveli
- ItemSOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING RICE PRODUCTION IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA(2013) Yusuf, O. J.; ZK Taimanda; AJ FarindeThis paper investigated the factors influencing rice production in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger state. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the personal and socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, identify rice production constraints, and determine factors associated with rice production. Purposive and random sampling procedures were used to select 100 respondents used for the study. Validated and structured interview schedule was used to elicit quantitative data. Frequency counts, percentage distribution, mean and standard deviation were used to summarize and describe the data collected, while correlation and regression analyses were used to make analytical deductions. Findings revealed that 92 percent of the rice farmers were male, mean age was 45 years and majority (89%) were married The land ownership pattern showed that 68 percent obtained their farm through inheritance and about 70 percent sourced finance through personal saving, with no- farmer borrowing from the Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank (N.A. C.R.D. B) The constraints faced by the farmers include lack of capital, problems of input procurement, lack of adequate extension services and drought problem being the major one. While the correlation analysis indicated that significant relationships exist between output of rice and all the variables considered in the analysis at p<0.01.
- ItemYOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA(2011) Ayinde, J. O.; Yusuf, O. J.; Torimiro, D. O.This study assessed the involvement of youth in peri-urban agriculture in Osun-state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 113 youths from 6 Local Government Areas in the State. Frequency count, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation were used to summarize the data collected. Results revealed that majority (93.0%) of the respondents were unmarried, with mean age of 21.0 years and spent average of 8.0 years on formal education. Peri-urban agriculture enterprises in which the youths engaged were snailery (42.0%), bee keeping (31%), grass cutter rearing (13.0%), rabbit rearing (6.0%) and vegetable production (73.0%). Constraints inhibiting successful involvement in the identified peri-urban agricultural enterprises include: problem of inadequate extension service (30.0%), inadequate information about importance of peri-urban agriculture (27.0%) and problems of inadequate capital (26.4%). Age, years of education, income, sex and marital status were found to have significant association with the youth’s level of involvement in peri-urban agriculture