Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme Research Articles

Rural infrastructure and production efficiency of food crop farmers: Implication for rural development in Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of rural infrastructure on production efficiency of food crop rural farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. A total of 160 farming households from 20 communities in Abeokuta and Ilaro in Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP) were randomly selected. Descriptive statistics, budgeting, Infrastructure Index Estimation (IIE) and Stochastic Production Frontier (SPF) were used to analyze the collected data. Results revealed that rural dwellers’ major economic and livelihood activities were farming (51.9%), trading (26.3%) and food processing (19.4%). The budgeting analysis showed that food crop production was more profitable in developed areas than in less-developed areas with Net Farm Income (NFI) of $328.900 (₦119,402.90/hectare) and $179.496 (₦65,163.68/hectare), respectively. SPF showed that total land cultivated (p<0.05), family labour (p<0.01), hired labour (p<0.05) as well as cost of planting inputs (p<0.01) significantly influenced food crop output. It was concluded that farm size, labour and cost of planting materials were the major factors affecting food crop output, irrespective of the presence of infrastructural facilities or not in the study area. The research recommends that all-inclusive rural infrastructural development policies should be formulated towards efficient food crop production in Nigeria.

Cocoa Farmers Attitude towards Utilisation of Integrated Pest Management in Edo and Ogun States of Nigeria

The study examined cocoa farmers’ attitude towards the utilization of integrated pest management (IPM) in Edo and Ogun States of Nigeria. In Edo State, 60 respondents were randomly selected out of 100 trained cocoa farmers. Random selection of 60 respondents from registered cocoa farmers that were not trained in IPM was done in the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme. Interview schedule was used to obtain data on respondents’ characteristics, cocoa yield and attitude of respondents towards IPM. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. The majority (60.8%) of the respondents were in the age bracket of 41 and 60 years while 89.2% of the respondents were males. The majority (73.3%) of trained and 56.7% of untrained had formal education. The total respondents result showed that 49.2% had favourable attitude. There was a significant relationship between both the attitude of trained respondents (X 2 =5.72, P<0.05) and their cocoa bean yield of and the attitude of untrained respondents (X 2 =5.64, P<0.05) and their cocoa bean yield. The mean yield of trained respondents (1436.3±1196.4 kg) significantly differed from that of the untrained respondents (1209.3±524.3kg), which shows that IPM training had much impact on farmer’s cocoa yield, hence, untrained farmers need training in IPM.

English

Problems militating against women development in rural areas revolve round their inability to develop themselves in their chosen economic activities. This study examined the beneficiaries&rsquo; perception of selected agricultural empowerment projects components targeted at women in rural communities of Ogun State, Nigeria. The projects were Cassava: Adding Values Africa (C:AVA), Justice, Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) Micro finance (MICRO) and National Programme for Food Security (NPFS), implemented by Justice Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) and Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP). Interview guides were used to elicit information from 139 randomly selected members of 16 purposively selected groups beneficiaries of selected women empowerment in the study area. The study revealed that the rural women predominantly had have high perception about the effects of the projects on their livelihood as 58.27, 72.66, 82.01, 90.65, 61.15 and 56.83% of the women perceived that the projects had improved their product packaging, access to credit facilities, knowledge and skills, business expansion, balanced emotion and increased income respectively. The data was subjected to Chi -Square analysis and the result showed that there is a significant relationship between the nature of occupation the women engaged in and the effect of the projects (x2&nbsp;=15.38, p&lt;0.05), while other socio-economic characteristics were not significantly related with the projects&rsquo; effect. It was inferred from this study that participants of the OGADEP and JDPM projects had high perception of the effects of the projects on their livelihood. This study recommended that governmental and non-governmental organizations of rural orientation should focus more on empowering rural women and other rural household members in order to transform rural communities. Key words: Beneficiaries, perception, empowerment, rural women

Attitude, Knowledge and Utilization of Family Planning Methods among Rural Women in Ogun State, Nigeria

This study examined the attitude, knowledge and utilization of family planning methods among rural women in Ogun State. Interview schedule was designed to obtain data from the respondents (rural women). Data were gathered from 120 rural women selected from the four zones of Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP). The data collected were analyzed using inferential statistics and descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentages and mean. The result shows that majority (80%) of the respondents were married, while most of them (68%) were within the ages of 20-35 years. The respondents’ sources of information on family planning were friends and spouses (77%), radio (62%), market place (74%) and health centers (88%). Also 68% of the respondents utilized pills, 48% utilize condoms, while 20% of the respondents utilize prolonged breastfeeding as their family planning methods. Significant relationship existed between respondents’ utilization and knowledge of family planning methods. Correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between factors militating against the utilization of family planning methods and knowledge of family planning methods. Keywords : Knowledge, Utilization, family planning, rural women

Socio-cultural factors influencing gender-based violence on agricultural livelihood activities of rural households in Ogun State, Nigeria

Relationships are socially and culturally constructed. A range of socio-cultural factors such as beliefs, norms, values, taboos, community, expectation, rules, laws and policies, economic and physical resources, technological and ethical factors influence an individual’s attitudes towards behaviour’s in and expectation about relationships. The objective of the study is to analyse socio-cultural factors influencing gender based violence on agricultural livelihood activities of rural household in Ogun State Nigeria. Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) has four zones. Multistage sampling techniques were used for this study to select 50% of the zones, blocks, circles and villages respectively. Thereafter, 5 respondents (women) were randomly selected from each village to give a total of two hundred and twenty respondents (220). The statistical tools that were used for analyzing the data include both descriptive statistics and relationship between variables were determined with Pearson Products Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) and chi square(x²). The correlation coefficient obtained from the statistical analysis shows that there was a significant relationship between the effect of domestic violence on women agricultural livelihood activities (r = -0.218**, p<0.01). The result of chi-square analysis shows that there is a significant relationship between the effect of domestic violence on women’s agricultural livelihood activities and religion (x2 = 70.29, p<0.05); and educational level (x2 = 43.80, p<0.05); occupation (x2 = 59.26, p<0.05) and member of social organization (x2 = 151.80, p<0.05). Women having alternatives for income generation or minimally viable livelihoods can make the difference between remaining in subservient relationship and destitution. Key words: Gender-based violence, agricultural livelihood, rural households.

Assessment of Domestic Violence among Women in Ogun State, Nigeria

This study assessed domestic violence among women in Ogun State. Data were collected using structured interview guide. Purposively sampling technique was used to select 220 respondents in two zones of Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Findings showed that the mean age of respondents was 48.73 years, while the mean household size was 6 persons. Also, 41% of the respondents were Christians. Few, (26.20%) of the respondents had primary education qualification while 30.80% were into farming. Only 43.60% of the respondents belonged to cooperative societies. 18% of the respondents experienced verbal abuse. Similarly, 49.23% of the respondents agreed that domineering attitude of men promote domestic violence. The most preferred coping strategies to ameliorate domestic violence was to remain silent (63.10%). Correlation analysis also showed significant relationship between women’s livelihood activities and coping strategies such as fighting back (r= 0.95), pleasing and placating the perpetrator (r= 0.82), remaining silent (r= 0.89), avoiding the perpetrator (r =0.81) at p < 0.05. It was concluded that domestic violence limits women’s potentials and hinders their full involvement in livelihood activities. Therefore, there is need for the patriarch structures that reinforce power imbalance between men and women to be dismantled. Furthermore, women should be empowered through training and access to social assets such as loans and credit.

Extension Personnel's Self-Esteem and Workplace Relationships: Implications for Job Satisfaction and Affective Organizational Commitment Foci

This study proposes relationships between job satisfaction, affective commitment (organization, supervisor and workgroup), and exchange relations with supervisor, organization and workgroup members among extension personnel. Perceived self-esteem (SE) is hypothesized to moderate relations between the social exchange foci and the corresponding commitment foci and global job satisfaction. One hundred and fifty-six extension personnel (i.e. 93.41% responses) from Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme in Southwest Nigeria provided the useable data for this study. The results of the multiple moderated regression analyses indicate that there are positive relations between job satisfaction and SE (β =0.30, p <0.0001), and relations with organization (β =0.62, p <0.0001). There are positive relations between SE and organizational commitment (β =0.58, p <0.0001), supervisor commitment (β =0.28, p <0.0001), and workgroup commitment (β =0.33, p <0.0001). The notion of most salient foci having the strongest effect on an individual's behavior received mixed support in this study. There is independence between workgroup commitment and relations with workgroup members (β =0.01, ns). The hypothesized moderating effect of SE on the predictors-criterions linkages is not supported by the results. The implications of the results are discussed.

Status of Job Motivation and Job Performance of Field Level Extension Agents in Ogun State: Implications for Agricultural Development

The field level extension agents (FLEAs) are the lifeline of the agricultural extension system in Nigeria. Their motivation and job performance are therefore important to achieving faster agricultural development in Nigeria. The study identified the factors motivating the FLEAs working with Ogun State Agricultural development programme (OGADEP) and associates the motivation factors with their job performance level. Eighty of the 126 FLEAs working with OGADEP were selected randomly. The study reveals that financial incentives, remuneration and salary and mobility of staff were the factors rated as the most important motivation factors. The rating also revealed a general low status of FLEAs motivation and job performance. Of the 14 factors identified, boss–subordinate interaction was the only significant predictor of job performance. None of the FLEAs personal factors related significantly with job performance. Policy action needs to consider the adequacy of financing of agricultural extension work in Nigeria in order to achieve sustainable agricultural development over time.

Effect of Private and Public Extension Services on Adoption of Promoted Cassava-Based Technologies in Ogun State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study examines the effect of public (Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP)) and private (Diocesan Agricultural Development Programme (DADP)) extension services on the adoption of promoted cassava-based technologies in Ogun State, Nigeria. While OGADEP bases its services on the training and visit system of extension, with the basic aim of disseminating technical information to farmers, DADP employs integrated extension services, in which extension services are complemented by input and loan/credit support. Information on the effect of both organisations' services on the adoption of cassava-based technologies was obtained from 160 cassava farmers, who were selected from the domains of both organisations through a multistage random sampling technique. These farmers' adoption of promoted cassava-based technologies was influenced by such factors as accessibility to the extension delivery methods and characteristics of the extension components. While agro-input support services and credit/loan grants were significant factors influencing the DADP farmers' adoption of the cassava technologies, the lack of these services and grants hindered the OGADEP farmers' timely accessibility to the necessary agro-inputs and, ultimately, their level of production. Adoption of the promoted technologies impacted the cultivation of improved cassava varieties, cropping patterns, and crop yield. A significant correlation exists between accessibility to extension service delivery methods and farmers' adoption of the technologies, as well as between the characteristics of the technologies and their adoption. The chi-square test reveals a significant relationship between the effect of the two agencies' extension systems and farmers' adoption of the promoted technologies. It is recommended that OGADEP input and credit-supporting agencies reduce or eliminate the bureaucracies involved in their input and credit/loan support services and that DADP intensify its established input and loan/credit support services to farmers.

The feasibility of private integrated agricultural extension services in Ogun State, Nigeria

Persistently poor funding of the government extension service in Nigeria has reduced its effectiveness to farmers. This has informed farmers\' desire for the private provision of services, even though this implies a financial contribution from them. However, their ability and willingness to take financial responsiblity for extension services has been in doubt. This study therefore aimed to determine the feasibility of a private integrated agricultural extension service (PIAES) in Ogun State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 240 small-scale farmers, extension workers and specialists and agro-allied industries through a structured interview schedule and questionnaire. The results of the study showed that majority (75.8 per cent) of the farmers were willing to pay for and patronize a PIAES, although most of them (80 per cent) have access to Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP) extension services. Extension specialists/workers and subject specialists (93.4 per cent) are willing to establish PIAES in Ogun State. Their access to the OGADEP does not have a significant relationship to their willingness to join a PIAES (r=.003, a>.05), but their access to input services, however, does (r=.421, a Key words: integrated agricultural extension, private agricultural extension service, private extension service Journal of Social Development in Africa Vol.20(1) 2005: 59-76

Farmers' involvement in agricultural problems identification and prioritization in Ogun State, Nigeria

The main objectives of the study were to determine the level of farmers involvement in their (farmers) agricultural problems identification and prioritization for research and extension intervention, the willingness of farmers to participate in their own agricultural problems identification and prioritization and to identify those constraints which prevent involvement of farmers in problems and need identification and prioritization. Using multistage random sampling, 240 farmers were selected. Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire and a structured interview schedule and analyzed through descriptive and regression analyses. The study concluded that the level of farmers' involvement in agricultural problems identification and prioritization was low, farmers were very willing to be involved in their agricultural problem identification and prioritization. Majority of the technologies disseminated were not based on farmers' identified problems and felt needs. Some of the constraints that might have militated against farmers' involvement were poor motivation and encouragement of farmers by researchers and extension officers, lack of adequate knowledge of research and extension processes, ineffective and inefficient linkages between researchers, extension agents and farmers and lack of formal education by farmers. The study recommended that the management of the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (Extension sub-programme), agricultural research stations and universities conducting agricultural researches in Ogun State, especially Yewa North, should initiate policies and processes that will mandate their personnel to involve farmers in participatory agricultural problem identification and prioritization and other stages of agricultural research and extension processes. Developmental policies should be implemented in a bottom-up approach rather than a purely top-down approach so that farmers' opinion would be known. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol.32 2003: 45-59

The Aftermath of the Withdrawal of the World Bank Counterpart Funding for the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in Nigeria

ABSTRACT The involvement of the World Bank in the funding of the Nigerian Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) has shown that a properly functioning extension service with positively disposed government policy can help transform agriculture in the country. This study used data from ninety-six (96) farmers and sixteen (16) extension officers of the Ogun State ADP to examine the implications and aftermath of the withdrawal of the World Bank counterpart funding of the Ogun State ADP. The study established that a large part (44.1%) of OGADEP funding was received from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) after the withdrawal of the World Bank fund. It also established a reduction in both State and Federal Government commitment to the funding of OGADEP following the withdrawal of the World Bank loan. The study also found that earlier emphasis on capital expenditure in the programme had now given way to recurrent expenditure arising from increases in the cost of maintenance of capital items. Descriptive statistics and rating were used to highlight the funding profile and expenditure patterns and performance of OGADEP extension services before and after the withdrawal of the World Bank funding arrangement. Null hypotheses were tested using the statistic-Wilcoxon (T) test based on ranked differences between the measures of matched pairs. The hypotheses tested in the study show that farmers access to extension services, the quality of extension officer's training and the overall performance of OGADEP are on the decline. Yet, 93.3% of the farmers and all the extension officers interviewed wants OGADEP retained as an extension agency. The study therefore recommends a comprehensive stakeholder involvement and private sector participation in the funding of the programme, involving all tiers of government, the private sector as well as the direct beneficiaries.