The study analyzed the marketing of maize in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State and describes the socio-economic characteristics of maize marketers by determining the marketing margin, marketing cost, markup, operational efficiency as well as constraints faced by maize marketers in the area. Data used for the study were generated through the administration of structured questionnaire. A total of 120 respondents comprising of 40 maize wholesalers and 80 retailers, were randomly sampled from three purposively selected major maize markets. Descriptive statistics, Concentration Ratio, Gini Coefficient and Operational Efficiency Model were the analytical tools adopted for the study. The findings of the study revealed that maize marketing was efficient and profitable; N900 and N1200 per 100 kg bag for wholesalers and retailers, respectively in the study area. There also exists variation in marketing cost, marketing margin, marketing profit, and markup for both wholesale and retail maize markets. Gini Coefficients of 0.319 and 0.312 were obtained for wholesaler and retailer, respectively indicating high level of competition in the industry. Major problems facing both wholesalers and retailers are price uncertainty, high perishability of maize and seasonal nature of maize. However, insecurity and high capital requirement are considered as major constraints. It is therefore recommended that the challenges be alleviated to improve efficiency of maize market in the area.

Background: Land is the most important asset necessary for agriculture and factor of production for households in Nigeria. 85% of rural residents in the country depend on agriculture for their livelihood. The present study therefore analyse the determinants of land access and utilization for agricultural activities among farming households in Surulere Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria Methods: Population under the present study comprises of all peasant farmers in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State. The sampling procedure employed was multistage random sampling technique leading to the selection of 90 farmers. Data were obtained through the use of structured questionnaire while the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tool such as logistic regression model. Results: Majority (85.6%) of the respondents w er e m ale, had a mean age of 43 years, were married (74.4%) and have an average household size of 8 members. Most (86.7%) of the respondents engaged primarily in farming with an average experience of 19 years and cultivated an average farm size of 2.4ha. Family inheritance (61.1%) was the major mode of land access. Majority (63.3%) of the respondents used their land for agricultural purposes alone. The average land size was between 1.80-10.50ha with an average distance of 1.11km-5.0km from homestead. Result of probit regression model showed that income level (Z = 2.71) and farming experience (Z = 1.80) were significantly related to land access. Also, household size (Z = 2.39), farm right (Z = 2.10) and scale of production (Z= 4.06) were significantly related to land utilization Conclusion: Income level and farming experience influenced land access for agricultural activities while household size, farm land right and scale of production are determinants of land utilization

The study examined the perception of agricultural students towards computer based testing (CBT) in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 108 agricultural students of 200level across all the departments in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. However, the respondents have different perception toward CBT as mode of assessment newly introduced by the University management. There is significant relationship between some of the selected personal characteristics the respondents (such as department {(x2=68.481); age (x2=64.389); mode of admission (x2=166.056) and basis for supporting CBT examination (x2=33.333)} and their perception of CBT mode of examination. The study therefore recommends that CBT mode of examination should be encouraged and this innovation should cut across all other level apart from 100 level students. The academic staff members of different department and faculties should encourage the spread of the innovation across the University at large and the university management and department involved in the CBT examination should come together and provide solution to some of the associated constraints with CBT examination in LAUTECH as this would encourage its full adoption and its usage in the various departments and the entire University at large. Keywords: Perception; Agricultural Training; Students; Computer Based Test.

This study assessed respondents’ perception of fruits and vegetables consumption in the study area. Relevant data were collected from one hundred and twenty (120) randomly sampled households. Data were analyzed as appropriate. Results showed that 68.3% of the respondents were females, 96.7% had varying degrees of formal education while means of household size and monthly income were 4±2 persons and ₦57,500±23,300, respectively. Respondents had strong perception for the facts that vegetables can be easily incorporated into meals than fruits, fruits have more nutritional benefits than vegetables and too much consumption of fruits and vegetables lead to running stomach and watery stool ranking 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively but weak perception for the facts that fruits can be easily incorporated into meals than vegetables, excessive consumption of fruits and vegetables can cause stomach ulcer and fruits and vegetables are often costlier than real food items ranked 8th, 9th and 10th, respectively. Seasonality, availability and taste and preference were the major constraints to fruits and vegetables consumption in the study area. The study concluded that there were misperceptions on consumption of fruits and vegetables and recommended value re-orientation on nutritional and health benefits of fruits and vegetables consumption in the study area.        

The study assesses the attitude of senior secondary school students towards agriculture as a profession in some selected secondary schools in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State. One hundred respondents were randomly selected from five senior secondary schools purposively selected due to their questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed with the aid of frequency count, percentages and cumulative percentage while correlation analysis was used to test the hypothesis. The findings reveal the personal characteristic of the respondents sampled as well as their level of interest in agriculture as a profession. The statistical analysis performed on the respondents’ attitude towards agriculture as a profession revealed that there was significant relationship to the respondents’ gender, educational level father and mother’s occupation respectively while age and religion were statistically insignificant.