Post-harvest losses of banana affect the economic wellbeing of farmers in Africa especially in Boyo Division in the North West region of Cameroon where majority of the producers are smallholders’ farmers. The study analysed post-harvest losses of banana and its effect on the economic wellbeing of farmers in Boyo Division. Three hundred and eighty respondents were selected from three out of four sub-divisions in Boyo Division using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data was obtained from the respondents with the aid of questionnaire and focus group discussions. The data obtained was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that 61,055 bunches of banana were harvested, 21,107 bunches sold, 16,751 bunches used by farmers’ households while 23,197 bunches were lost at post-harvest stages in 2019/2020. This quantity lost was suffered at the farm level, transportation, storage, ripening, processing and sale stages with most losses (11-20) suffered at the farm level. The study further revealed that farmers expected an estimated net amount of 10,570,036 FCFA while an estimated net amount of 2,213,759 FCFA was achieved with post-harvest losses. The study therefore, concludes that post–harvest losses of banana have a positive correlation on farmers’ economic wellbeing and recommends sensitization and training of farmers on post-harvest management techniques.

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This study analyzed farmers' perceptions of the contribution of farm-radio broadcasts to yam production. Data collected from 200 randomly selected farmers in Benue State, Nigeria using a structured questionnaire showed that 94.0% considered hours of broadcasts (8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.) suitable, 98.5% were satisfied with the language of broadcasts, 97.5% found the contents adequate, and 88.5% utilized the messages. The paired sample t test showed significant differences between yield of yams before and after listening to radio (p < .01), indicating farm-radio broadcasts' contribution to productivity. It is recommended that farm-radio broadcasts be intensified and sustained to enhance output and food security.

This study examined staff perception of intranet in enhancing organizational communication in Nigeria Custom Service (NCS). Data were collected from 134 randomly selected respondents using a questionnaire. They were management staff (7.5%), senior staff (41.8%) and junior staff (50.7%). Their age was distributed as 44.8% (18 to 35 years) and 55.2% (36 to 58 years). With regards to computer literacy, 91.8% were computer literate, 95.5% use the internet regularly. 92.5% were ignorant of NCS use of intranet facility. Communication challenges were fear (71.6%), speculations (54.5%), wrong information (65.7%) and inadequate information (55.9%). 75% of respondents considered intranet as effective in management and 91.8% felt it can be used to enhance job performance by providing organizational news. 85.1% considered it important for disseminating staff postings, 81.3% for sending circulars and verifying information, and 73.9% for enabling group discussions, publishing monthly orders and serving as a complaint mechanism for aggrieved staff. Logit regression showed that computer literacy, internet usage and awareness have significant effect on respondents' perception of intranet effectiveness at 1% level. Chi square test showed that intranet has the capacity to enhance efficient organizational management (X 2 cal. = 99.34 > X 2 tab = 0.020). It was recommended that Nigeria Customs Service should strengthen the use of intranet for efficient internal communication and for the Nigerian agricultural extension service organization to adopt intranet for effective organizational management.

Musa spp. generally known as bananas and plantains are staples to many in Africa. However, pre-harvest losses of these crops for the past two decades are alarming. The paper reveals that pre-harvest losses of bananas and plantains since 2002 ranges from 20.7-100% in Sub-Sahara Africa with most countries recording 50% losses and above. The paper further categorised the causes of pre-harvest losses of Musa spp. into natural, agronomic, biotic and human-induced constraints. Among these categories, human-induced constraints are seen to cause the highest pre-harvest losses as they influence the occurrence of other constraints. Some of the primary natural and agronomic constraints are storm, drought, and irregular/mixed cropping and over dependent on sward suckers and rainfall respectively. Fusarium wilt, Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW), banana bunchy top disease, black sigatoka and cigar-end rot are some of the biotic constraints reported in most producing countries in the region. Pests such as banana weevils, nematodes, mealy-bugs and white grubs are equally identified as potential causes of Musa pre-harvest losses while some human-induced constraints are farmer-grazier conflicts, weak extension system and poor inputs. The paper revealed that in Rwanda, pre-harvest losses of bananas led to an increase (14-64%) of the number of households who were unable to eat their preferred meal in all the months of the year while in Tanzania, the food situation of 53.8% of the households were reported to be very bad. Meanwhile in Cameroon, insufficient food was reported in 81% of the producing households in Boyo Division. It is therefore, concluded that in order to minimise pre-harvest losses and enhance the food security status of the producers and consumers in the region, proper propping, pruning, crop rotation and above all integrated pest and disease management techniques should be practiced while Musa research centres should be decentralising, extension delivery systems revisited and disease-free planting materials provided to the farmers.