Information is very important for sustainable agricultural development. In order to increase

This study assessed an electronic wallet (e-wallet) system and determinants of cassava farmers' participation in off-farm activities in Abuja, Nigeria. A sample of 67 cassava farmers was selected through a multi-stage sampling technique from six selected agricultural extension blocks. Primary data were used. Data were collected using a well-structured and well-designed questionnaire. The analytical tools used were descriptive statistics and maximum likelihood estimates using the logistic regression model. The results indicated that an electronic-wallet is an innovative, motivational mobile phone technology, the first in sub-Saharan Africa to distribute mobile phones to farmers which bring fertilizers, improved seeds, financial services, and agricultural information tips to farmers, and this increases yields and output. The electronic wallet system targeted 20 million farmers with an intention to distribute 10 million mobile phones to farmers in 4 years. In 2014, 1,000 agro-dealers and fourteen million five hundred farmers were registered on the electronic wallet system respectively. Also, one million two hundred farmers have also received inputs via the electronic-wallet system. The electronic-wallet system added an estimated 30-40 billion dollars to Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product in 2014. Furthermore, the result shows that the age of most sampled cassava farmers fell between 36 and 50 years. About 94% of sampled cassava farmers were male. Off-farm income has the potential to improve the income of farmers. These types of activities undertaken by cassava farmers off the farms include: Olugbenga Omotayo Alabi et al. 400 trading, etc. Farmers' age, farming experience and number of off-farm activities were significant variables influencing farmers' participation in off-farm activities at P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.10; and P ≤ 0.01 respectively. The coefficient of Nagelkerke (R 2 ) value was 0.751.This shows that the explanatory variables explain the level of participation of cassava farmers in off-farm activities at 75% level of confidence. The coefficient of Cox and Snell determinant (R 2 ) value was 0.547. Off-farm employment is an alternative strategy and has potentials to improve the income and well-being of farmers. The study recommends that government and nongovernment organizations should introduce innovations, motivations, interventions, policies that improve crop production and support the off-farm sector in order to create job opportunities so that poor households can participate and benefit directly.

The study was conducted in Lapai, Niger State, North central Nigeria to determine the profitability of improved maize variety (SAMMAZ 17) in cooperative farmer's fields. Demonstration plots were cited in three cooperative farms where the improved variety and a local variety were planted. All agronomic practices were carried out uniformly and simultaneously on the plots. In addition, structured questionnaires were administered to 20 members of each of the cooperative farms. Participants were selected by means of simple random sampling techniques to solicit information on the performance of SAMMAZ 17 maize variety on their farms. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers, while gross margin analysis was used to compare the profitability of maize varieties. The results revealed that maize farmers were mostly male and small-scale in operations. The local maize variety supported high Striga infestation with low yield of 1.7 t/ha, while SAMMAZ 17 yield was 4.4 t/ha under less Striga infestation. The gross margin production of SAMMAZ 17 maize variety was N 254,127.40, while the gross margin for the production of farmer's maize variety was N 102,517.90. Based on these findings, SAMMAZ 17 was found to be profitable and is therefore recommended for planting in Striga endemic fields in North Central Nigeria.

This study addresses the economic analysis and pattern of agrochemicals use among smallholder crop farmers in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 144 small-scale crop farmers interviewed for the study. Descriptive statistics and farm budgeting techniques were used for data analysis. The result shows that a typical small-scale crop farmer in the study area is, on average, a 31-year-oldmale with 11 to 20 years of farming experience. These groups of farmers also cultivate 0.78 hectares and have a household size of 8. Herbicides are the predominant agrochemical used during the survey; it was mostly applied both before and after crop emergence. Usually, pesticides were applied without following safety instructions. Users of agrochemicals obtained a total gross margin of USD 1,469.95 per hectare with a profitability ratio of 1.22 which indicates that farming is a profitable business in the study area. The study recommends to increase awareness on farmer safety measures when handlingagrochemicals; and to establish educational programs that will educate farmers on how to safely use agrochemicals.