The study examined the risk attitudes among tomato farmers in Taraba State. Specifically, it investigated the determinants of tomato production output, explored the risk attitudes exhibited by the farmers, and identified the key factors that shape their willingness to take risks. Purposive, snowball, and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 150 respondents. Data were gathered through structured questionnaire and analyzed using percentages, mean scores and multiple regression analysis. Findings revealed that the average tomato yield was 19,830.70 kg/ha, with an average farm size of 2.54 hectares. Labour was identified as the primary input in tomato farming. Most respondents were experienced tomato farmers in their economically active years and had attained some level of formal education. On average, farmers had two contacts with extension agents. Land availability, fertilizer use, and irrigation costs significantly influenced tomato output. In terms of risk behaviour, 17% of the farmers were risk-preferring, while 38% were highly risk-averse. Risk attitudes were significantly influenced by factors such as age, education level, farming experience, and access to training. It was recommended that both government and private sector stakeholders ensure timely provision of inputs like fertilizer and offer adequate training to enhance tomato production.

This study examined the accessibility and perceived relevance of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among maize farmers in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State. A sample size of 124 respondents was selected from the population using multi-stage sampling procedure. Data collection was carried out using a structured questionnaire, and analysis using frequency, mean statistics, and binary logistic regression. The results indicated a high level of awareness among respondents regarding television (58.9%) and radio (66.9%) as sources of agricultural information. Moreover, radio ( = 2.66) emerged as the most accessible medium. The most relevant ICT to the respondents was radio ( = 2.68), while major constraints to the use of ICTs were lack of electric power supply/power failure ( = 2.88) and financial difficulties ( = 2.88). The binary logit regression's Chi2 was statistically significant at the 1% probability level (Sig. = 0.000), suggesting that the respondents' socioeconomic status had a major impact on their degree of access to ICTs. Based on these results, it was suggested that farmers be provided with agricultural information via radio and television, with the government providing the infrastructure required for ICT use.

This study assessed the adaptation strategies to climate change effect on groundnut production in the study area. A multi- stage sampling procedure was used to select 119 respondents. Data collected were analysed using frequency, mean and standard deviation. Results on awareness of climate change revealed that the majority (93.3%) were aware of climate change. Results also revealed that heat stress causing low pods formation had a mean value of ( =3.78) ranking 1st, excessive heat which reduces pollinators causing low yield of groundnut recorded a mean value of ( =3.47) and ranked 2nd. About 89.1% of Farmers practiced intercropping of groundnut with pigeon pea and other crops and similarly 89.1% of them applied insecticides and pesticides as adaptation strategies. A good proportion of the Farmers acknowledge the existence of climate change and their perceived effect on groundnut production was multifaceted. The study also showed that Farmers were proactive in adapting to climate change such as the use of insecticides and pesticides. These findings highlight the importance of supporting Farmers in their effort to adapt to climate change. The study therefore recommended that an improved variety of groundnut and fertilisers be made available to farmers at subsidised rate by the Agricultural Development Programs.

This study assessed farmers' knowledge of health hazards associated with herbicide use in Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to ascertain farmers’ knowledge level of health hazards associated with herbicide use and the constraints faced by farmers in accessing information on health hazards associated with herbicide use. The influence of farmers’ socio-economic characteristics on knowledge of health hazards associated with herbicide usage was equally tested. A structured interview schedule was used to obtain information from 180 crop farmers. Frequency, percentages, mean, factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. Findings reveal that 43.0% of the farmers had low knowledge of health hazards associated with herbicide use. Perceived constraints to assessing information on health hazards associated with herbicide usage were lack of radio programmes on health hazards associated with herbicide use (0.815), too much technical information on the users’ guide (0.788), and conservative attitude of farmers (0.607) among others. The number of years spent in acquiring formal education (t=3.483; p=0.001), farm-size (t=4.804; p=0.000) and membership of social organizations (t=2.005; p=0.047) had significant positive influence on farmers’ knowledge of health hazards associated with herbicide use. Farmers’ poor knowledge on health hazards associated with herbicide use should be addressed by extension agents using more innovative ways of reaching out to farmers in their local languages.

The study ascertained the constraints to small-scale fish farming in Akuku-Toru Local Government area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The study employed a multi-stage sampling procedure in the selection of 80 respondents. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire. Percentages, mean score, and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. The major constraints faced by small-scale fish farmers were seasonal fluctuations ( = 4.32), inadequate funding and inputs for fish farming ( = 4.29), oil spillage and water pollution ( = 4.22), and inadequate amenities for efficient fish farming ( = 3.58). Major Strategies to enhance fish production were: government intervention for good transportation and storage system. ( = 4.00), adequate funding and supply inputs for fish farming ( = 3.98), and prompt provision of basic amenities ( = 2.63). Conclusively, seasonal fluctuations, inadequate funding, oil spills, and water pollution were serious challenges faced by the small-scale farmers. However, small-scale fish farmers recognised adequate funding, training, and government intervention as key strategies to improve fish farming. The study recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture, with other extension service providers, be strengthened to reach small–scale farmers for a sustainable increase in fish farming.

The study assessed the impact of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Southeast, Nigeria. Quantitative data were explored using a cross-sectional survey hinged on the difference-in-difference, a retrospective causal-comparative impact evaluation design. All ABP beneficiaries and non-beneficiary smallholder farmers constituted the population for the study. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select a representative sample size of 381 for the beneficiaries and 384 for the non-beneficiaries. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule. The collected data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, t-test and DiD estimator. The findings show that the ABP intervention did not significantly (β = 78,874; t = 0.02) impact the livelihood assets of smallholder farmers on the whole, though it had an impact on some human (level of education: DiD=0.04) and financial assets (level of access to credit: DiD=0.01). The Project Management Team should critically review the programme’s design and implementation to ensure it better addresses the factors that influence livelihood assets.

The study assessed gender-based constraints in accessing agricultural resources in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 120 respondents. Data were collected from the respondents through interview schedules and analysed using means, and regression analysis. Results revealed that male respondents faced constraints such as lack of collateral (x̄ = 2.62), inadequate finance (x̄ = 2.60), unfavourable government policies (x̄ = 2.80), and lack of access to credit (3.08). Female respondents encountered constraints such as lack of collateral (x̄ = 2.82), land tenure system (x̄ = 3.00), inadequate finance (x̄ = 3.20), discriminatory social norms (x̄ = 3.22), and lack of access to credit (x̄ = 3.14). Males exhibited high accessibility to information (x̄ = 3.52), labour (x̄ = 2.94), land (x̄ = 3.80), agrochemicals (x̄ = 3.36), improved cuttings/seedlings (x̄ = 3.40), and credit (x̄ = 3.80), while females demonstrated high accessibility to information (x̄ = 3.26), labour (x̄ = 4.00), agrochemicals (x̄ = 2.80), and improved cuttings/seedlings (x̄ = 3.28). The study concluded that gender-based discrimination exists in resource access and government, NGOs, and community leaders recommended interventions to address social norms, tenures, and barriers. Therefore, implementing these recommendations is crucial to promoting equal access and control over agricultural resources for both genders.

This study investigated the adoption, energy productivity and challenges of zero-carbon energy (ZCE) among rural smallholder farmers in southeast Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 378 respondents. Data were analysed using percentages, mean, ranking statistics, and a single-factor productivity model. Findings show that the majority (97.4%) of the respondents were aware that ZCE could be used for farming activities, 15.0% knew about wind power, 6.0% were aware of hydropower, and 2.7% were not aware of any types of ZCE. Also, 90.0% of the farmers were aware of the major benefits of ZCE. Only 28.6% use photovoltaic solar energy, while major farming activities powered by ZCE were the lighting of the farmhouses (89.8%) and water supply (15.7%). The energy productivity of ZCE (4.1%) was higher than fossil fuel (1.8%). High installation costs and lack of credit/ subsidy for ZCE ranked 1st and 2nd as challenges to the adoption of ZCE. Extension officers should do more to educate farmers to use the ZCE options since they have higher energy productivity than fossil fuels.

The study assessed the effects of climate-smart agricultural practices on cassava farmers’ output in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 respondents. Data were analysed using percentages, mean statistics and correlation analysis. The results show that early planting was adopted by 100% of farmers. However, a lack of credit (78.33%) was ranked as the highest constraint. A statistically significant positive correlation (0.3131) was found between climate-smart agricultural practices and output. The study concludes that early planting practices are widely adopted, while lack of credit presents a significant challenge to adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices. Despite these challenges, CSA practices were found to have the ability to enhance cassava farmers’ output. To overcome these challenges, the study recommends implementing robust extension services, providing financial support, and offering education programmes to promote CSA adoption among farmers.

The study examined the influence of farmers’ farming experience and knowledge on their selection of climate change resilient strategies among female agripreneurs in the Mopani of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Frequency and percentage were used to gain insight into the distribution of their socio-economic characteristics. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to determine the influence of farming experience and knowledge in selecting climate change resilience strategies among female agripreneurs. The study revealed that female agripreneurs with a vast farming experience of more than ten years were well-capacitated in adopting biological, chemical, and environmental resilient strategies. Furthermore, it was noted that all groups of agripreneurs had incorporated environmentally resilient strategies for their reliability, cost-friendliness, familiarity, and workload. The study also revealed that female agripreneurs who opted for technological and biological knew pest and disease control and pest scouting, respectively. The study recommends that farmers with vast farming experience be climate change resilience champions within their regions, as their experience is instrumental.