The study assessed the involvement of rural households in oil palm fruits post-harvest activities (PHAs) in Ondo State, Nigeria. Specifically, examined their perception towards involvement in oil palm fruits PHAs; identified oil palm fruit PHAs respondents were involved in; determined their level of involvement in those activities and identified constraints associated with their involvement. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 processors from selected 3 LGAs in Ondo State. Data were collected using structured interview schedule and summarized with percentages, means and standard deviations while correlation and chi-square analyses were used to draw inference on hypothesis. Results showed that the majority (63.3%) of the respondents had favourable perception towards involvement in oil palm fruits PHAs. The majority of the processors were mostly involved in marketing of palm oil (86.8%), storage of palm oil (80%) and packing of palm oil (60.8%). Also, more than half (61.7%) of the respondents had moderate level of involvement in oil palm fruit PHAs. Lack of modern processing unit (x̄ =2.96), inadequate access to credit facilities (x̄ =2.90), lack of adequate technology (x̄ =2.81) were the major constraints limiting respondents’ involvement in oil palm fruit PHAs. The result of correlation analysis showed that years of residence (r= -0.184), family size (r=0.200) and years of education (r=0.322) had significant relationship with respondents’ involvement in oil palm fruits PHAs. The study concluded that respondents had moderate involvement in oil palm fruits PHAs and recommended that the government at the grassroot should assist in providing modern processing and functional credit facilities.Keywords: Oil palm fruits, Postharvest activities, Involvement, Rural households

The study assessed the soil and water conservation (SWC) capabilities of male and female vegetable farmers on MicroVeg project sites in Southwestern Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used for sample selection. Capabilities was measured as a pooled score of respondents' responses to identified SWC technologies used on a three point Likert type scale. Data were collected from male and female vegetable farmers using quantitative and qualitative data instruments and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that both male and female vegetable farmers were knowledgeable in most of the SWC technologies investigated. However, male vegetable farmers' capability of SWC technologies was higher when compared to the females. There were significant differences between the male and female vegetable farmers' SWC capabilities (t =1.631; p≤ 0.01). Based on the key findings of the study, it was recommended that integration of a male-female perspective approach and policies that could bridge the gaps should be introduced as this will ensure female farmers unrestricted access to land and debunk the economic and socio-cultural factors responsible for this gap.

The study described the socio-economic characteristics of male and female rural entrepreneurs in Osun state, Nigeria, identified the enterprise characteristics on gender basis, examined the causes of entrepreneurship gap and suggested the strategies to bridging the gap with the view to enhancing rural entrepreneurship capability development. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 150 respondents for the study from four local government areas of the state. Data were described with percentages, means and standard deviation while independent t test was used for inferential purpose. Results showed that the mean ages of male and female entrepreneurs were 42.6±8.6 years and 42.3±12.1 years, respectively and the majority (76% and 81.3%) of male and female respondents were married with the mean year of education of 13.4 ± 3.7and 10 ±4.2 years, respectively. Gaps were identified in the enterprise characteristics of respondents such as business choice with 30.7% and 40% of males and females, respectively engaging in agribusiness and trading: with average staff strength at 3 and 1 person (s), mean capital investment at N 26,326 and N 14,013, mean income size at N 97,602 and N 35,698 and rate of exit at 59% and 53%. There was a significant difference in male and female entrepreneurs' motives (t= -2.616; p≤ 0.01), perception (t=2.918; p≤ 0.05), access to finance (t=3.921; p≤ 0.01), among others. The significant variables were responsible for the observed male-female gap and adequate extension education on rural entrepreneurship capability development is germane to providing necessary enlightenment capable of minimizing gender differences among the rural entrepreneurs.

The paper examined the perception of rural households about vitamin A biofortified cassava and its products in Osun State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 50 households’ members. Quantitative data were collected on the respondents’ personal and socio-economic characteristics, their awareness on vitamin A biofortified cassava, their perception about the crop and its products, as well as the constraints affecting its acceptability in the study area. Data were described using frequency counts, percentages, means and standard deviation and inferential statistics, like Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Chi-square analyses. Results showed that the respondents had a mean age of 52.62 ± 14.30, while 82% of them were married. 74% of the respondents had heard of Vitamin A bio fortified cassava, 64% had seen it while 44% had planted it with 54% having positive perception towards the crop and its products. Poor transport facilities (mean = 3.16) and difficulties in getting planting materials (mean = 2.36) ranked highest among the constraints affecting acceptability of the crop in the study area. There exist significant association between the respondents’ marital status and their perception about vitamin A biofortified cassava. It was concluded that majority of the respondents have positive perception towards vitamin A biofortified cassava and its products. It was recommended that extension personnel should create more awareness about the nutritional value of the crop and its products to enhance better food security status among rural households.

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