The study analyzed the budgetary allocations to the agricultural sector in Nigeria. The mean difference test, percentages and trend analyses were used to compare the allocations by the Federal and State levels of government. Results show that there was instability in the way budgets were allocated to the agricultural sector, and there was no significant difference between the allocations made to the sector by the federal and state levels of government. The study recommends that the government at all levels should ensure stability and increment in allocation to the agricultural sector to promote growth and development of the sector. The government should ensure proper monitoring and effective service delivery with regards to allocations to the agricultural sector, while farmers should ensure efficient use of allocated resources for agricultural development. Government should also ensure proper implementation of suitable agricultural policies that would promote increased investments and productivity in the sector.

Leafy vegetables are important delicacies in the diet of most people in Nigeria and have played important role in helping to solve food security problems mainly in the rural areas. This study was carried out to determine the influence of some socio-economic and environmental factors on technical efficiency of leafy vegetable producers in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria. The results show that leafy vegetable production in the study area is female dominated. The Maximum Likelihood Estimates (MLEs) of the Cobb-Douglas stochastic production frontier function indicated that age of vegetable producers have a negative and significant influence on their technical efficiency, while, educational level, farming experience, farm size, household size and soil quality have positive and significant influence on their technical efficiency. The study recommends the formulation and implementation of policies that would encourage establishment of Adult and Continuing Education in the State, and adoption of sustainable systems of farming that will enhance good soil quality and environmental sustainability, with adequate supply of inputs to promote efficient production of vegetables in the area.

This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Author CC carried out the survey, analysis and reported the results. Author IGU involved in proof-reading, updating the literature, managed the abstract, introduction, tables, references and general structure of the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Activities of the oil and gas (O&G) industry directly influence the natural potentials of the ecosystem and human livelihood. In particular, the impacts of crude oil extraction grossly interfere with the daily economic life of man and the natural environment. This study evaluates people's perception of the implications of crude oil extraction on agriculture and people's livelihood in oil producing rural communities in Nigeria with particular focus on the Niger Delta region, an area where most onshore and offshore crude oil extractions are carried out. The bias in this study came from the fact that crude oil is mainly either extracted or transported across rural communities in the region through water routes and/or arable lands, the population here almost solely depends on natural resourceswater and landfor their daily livelihood. Findings suggest that livelihood sources in the region are under evident direct threat of pollution and other impacts of the O&G industry. Results obtained from the descriptive analysis of 446 respondents indicate a perception of high impact of crude oil extraction on food prices (74.7%), food safety (60.5%), crop yield (48.2%) and animal production (28.3%). The results of the Ordered Probit regression analysis suggest that farmers and fishermen are more vulner able or mostly affected by impacts of crude oil extraction in the region. The study thus opined that adequate mitigation of negative impacts of crude oil extraction would promote improved food safety, affordable food supply and improved household income in oil producing rural communities. Therefore, the O&G industry should intensify its commitments towards mitigating undesirable implications of exploration and extraction activities by O&G companies in the oil producing areas. In a bit to mitigate prevailing livelihood problems in the Niger Delta region, there is a need for O&G companies and government to provide necessary compensations, trainings and other support to help the rural people sustain their livelihood. In addition, all stakeholders in the O&G industry should collaborate with academic and research institutions to promote research in agriculture towards achieving improved food production and food safety in areas affected by impacts of crude oil extraction.

This study examines the disparity in socioeconomic and poverty profiles of people in oil producing rural areas in Nigeria. The study involved a total of 446 respondents selected from fifteen rural communities in the Niger Delta region, where the bulk of Nigeria’s crude oil is produced. Inferences were based on the results from simple descriptive analysis involving percentages and cross tabulations. The results indicate a wide disparity in the socioeconomic characteristics and poverty profiles of people in the study areas. In particular, the results suggest poverty prevalence in oil producing rural areas particularly among farmers, fishermen and young people. The results also suggest an obvious impact of oil and gas extraction on agriculture and other traditional sources of livelihood in the rural areas. Thus, a reduction in environmental pollution would help to improve agriculture and other sources of livelihood of the rural people. The study also encourages government support and increased private sector investment in agriculture in the rural areas, while multinational oil companies are encouraged to promote agricultural development through increased financial support for rural farmers, training of the farmers and funding for agricultural research. In addition, the government and multinational oil companies are encouraged to guarantee efficient wealth distribution, provision of employment and sustainable human empowerment through viable skills acquisition programmes for young people in the rural areas.