Rain water harvesting practices and their effects on the productivity of farming systems in the semi-arid areas of Nigeria have been investigated using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) technique. There was no dir...Rain water harvesting practices and their effects on the productivity of farming systems in the semi-arid areas of Nigeria have been investigated using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) technique. There was no direct water harvesting interventions by government agencies in the area. Farmers take advantage of naturally existing depressions and abandoned burrow pits close to their farmlands to harvest rain water for surface irrigation using petrol engine pumps. The reservoirs surveyed were found to be grossly inadequate in the drought period. Water budget analysis revealed that evaporation and seepage losses from reservoirs were high in both agro-ecological zone considered. The application of rain water harvesting practices was found to have increased farmers income by 61% and 125% in the Sahel and Sudan Savannah agro-ecological zones, respectively. Governments at all levels in these areas need to support these farmers in order to boost their production to achieve food security in these drought prone areas. Farmers lack timely access to farm credit and agricultural inputs; the indigenous water harvesting practices identified need to be enhanced with the aid of agricultural engineering extension services.展开更多
Farmers' evaluation and analysis of the factors determining the adoption of improved farm technology are essential to elicit what varietals characteristics motivate farmers to adopt or reject improved varieties and t...Farmers' evaluation and analysis of the factors determining the adoption of improved farm technology are essential to elicit what varietals characteristics motivate farmers to adopt or reject improved varieties and the technology. The main objective of the study was to elicit farmers' criteria for selecting rice varieties and the factors determining adoption of NERICA varieties in the study areas. The data used for this study were collected from 600 farmers in Ekiti, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Ogun, Ondo, and Taraba States of Nigeria through farming household survey conducted from August to September 2009. The main instruments for data collection were well-structured questionnaires administered in each state. This study utilized descriptive statistics, such as means, frequency and percentages; and Tobit regression model were used to analyze the data collected. The results revealed that field days attendance was very low in the study areas and was similar across states; and this may limit their participation in exchange of ideas and in sharing of knowledge and experience of improved technology. The small farm size and subsequently low output could adversely affect rice production in the country and thus prevent the country from attaining self-sufficiency in rice production. Farmers grow an assortment of both local and improved rice varieties and the most important criteria across the states were high yield, tillering and logging resistance. There was progressive increase in the proportion of land given to NERICA rice cultivation since 2004. This suggests that there is increase in the adoption rate of NERICA varieties across states. Level of formal education, farm size, access to credit, rice income, farm income and level of awareness of NERICA varieties positively and significantly determined NERICA rice adoption. Base on these, we recommend that government should aim at policies geared towards providing incentives to encourage all stakeholders to improve productivity in rice production. Incentives, such as provision of micro credit and implementation of subsidy on inputs like fertilizer and seed, would go a long way in boosting rice production in the study area.展开更多
According to the general trend of the global infonnation industry development, we should use the latest and best technology integration, starting from a high point at the same time with the actual situation; we should...According to the general trend of the global infonnation industry development, we should use the latest and best technology integration, starting from a high point at the same time with the actual situation; we should formulate a feasible development plan, implementing after repeated discussions of experts. In the study and formulation of a plan, we should be sure to consider things conducive to catch up with world advanced level, enabling urban and rural economic and social development. The construction of modern agriculture, development of the rural economy and increasing farmers' income is a major task of building a moderately prosperous societyin the new era. Information technology and marketing are important symbols of modern agriculture throughout the entire process and all areas of modem agriculture. Vigorously developing the information industry and promoting agricultural and rural economic information are important content of agriculture and rural work in the new era.展开更多
This exploratory research studied the contribution of homegardens to household income generation. In Burkina Faso, the Bieha department was purposively selected. The initial rapid rural appraisal was complemented by a...This exploratory research studied the contribution of homegardens to household income generation. In Burkina Faso, the Bieha department was purposively selected. The initial rapid rural appraisal was complemented by a household survey. Tools of data collection included observation, key informant interview, and focus group discussion. For the survey, eighty households were selected based on systematic sampling. Data was collected by individual interviews at household level, and for statistical calculations, the households were subsequently categorized as small, medium and commercial based on their homegarden size. It was found that all the surveyed households managed homegardens composed of trees, crops and animals. Majority of the farmers (43%) belonged to the small category due to land constraints. Generally, farms contributed more income than the plant component of homegardens. However, when the livestock component of homegardens was added, homegardens became far more important than farms and accounted for over 60% of income generation for all categories. It can be concluded that homegardens are important to rural people for food and cash income.展开更多
文摘Rain water harvesting practices and their effects on the productivity of farming systems in the semi-arid areas of Nigeria have been investigated using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) technique. There was no direct water harvesting interventions by government agencies in the area. Farmers take advantage of naturally existing depressions and abandoned burrow pits close to their farmlands to harvest rain water for surface irrigation using petrol engine pumps. The reservoirs surveyed were found to be grossly inadequate in the drought period. Water budget analysis revealed that evaporation and seepage losses from reservoirs were high in both agro-ecological zone considered. The application of rain water harvesting practices was found to have increased farmers income by 61% and 125% in the Sahel and Sudan Savannah agro-ecological zones, respectively. Governments at all levels in these areas need to support these farmers in order to boost their production to achieve food security in these drought prone areas. Farmers lack timely access to farm credit and agricultural inputs; the indigenous water harvesting practices identified need to be enhanced with the aid of agricultural engineering extension services.
文摘Farmers' evaluation and analysis of the factors determining the adoption of improved farm technology are essential to elicit what varietals characteristics motivate farmers to adopt or reject improved varieties and the technology. The main objective of the study was to elicit farmers' criteria for selecting rice varieties and the factors determining adoption of NERICA varieties in the study areas. The data used for this study were collected from 600 farmers in Ekiti, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Ogun, Ondo, and Taraba States of Nigeria through farming household survey conducted from August to September 2009. The main instruments for data collection were well-structured questionnaires administered in each state. This study utilized descriptive statistics, such as means, frequency and percentages; and Tobit regression model were used to analyze the data collected. The results revealed that field days attendance was very low in the study areas and was similar across states; and this may limit their participation in exchange of ideas and in sharing of knowledge and experience of improved technology. The small farm size and subsequently low output could adversely affect rice production in the country and thus prevent the country from attaining self-sufficiency in rice production. Farmers grow an assortment of both local and improved rice varieties and the most important criteria across the states were high yield, tillering and logging resistance. There was progressive increase in the proportion of land given to NERICA rice cultivation since 2004. This suggests that there is increase in the adoption rate of NERICA varieties across states. Level of formal education, farm size, access to credit, rice income, farm income and level of awareness of NERICA varieties positively and significantly determined NERICA rice adoption. Base on these, we recommend that government should aim at policies geared towards providing incentives to encourage all stakeholders to improve productivity in rice production. Incentives, such as provision of micro credit and implementation of subsidy on inputs like fertilizer and seed, would go a long way in boosting rice production in the study area.
文摘According to the general trend of the global infonnation industry development, we should use the latest and best technology integration, starting from a high point at the same time with the actual situation; we should formulate a feasible development plan, implementing after repeated discussions of experts. In the study and formulation of a plan, we should be sure to consider things conducive to catch up with world advanced level, enabling urban and rural economic and social development. The construction of modern agriculture, development of the rural economy and increasing farmers' income is a major task of building a moderately prosperous societyin the new era. Information technology and marketing are important symbols of modern agriculture throughout the entire process and all areas of modem agriculture. Vigorously developing the information industry and promoting agricultural and rural economic information are important content of agriculture and rural work in the new era.
文摘This exploratory research studied the contribution of homegardens to household income generation. In Burkina Faso, the Bieha department was purposively selected. The initial rapid rural appraisal was complemented by a household survey. Tools of data collection included observation, key informant interview, and focus group discussion. For the survey, eighty households were selected based on systematic sampling. Data was collected by individual interviews at household level, and for statistical calculations, the households were subsequently categorized as small, medium and commercial based on their homegarden size. It was found that all the surveyed households managed homegardens composed of trees, crops and animals. Majority of the farmers (43%) belonged to the small category due to land constraints. Generally, farms contributed more income than the plant component of homegardens. However, when the livestock component of homegardens was added, homegardens became far more important than farms and accounted for over 60% of income generation for all categories. It can be concluded that homegardens are important to rural people for food and cash income.