No abstract

Problem Statement: Less than half the rice consumed in Nigeria was produced locally. Following the sudden rise in the price of imported rice since 2007, Nigerians, no doubt, have faced great risk of increase in the number of hungry by many millions of people. This study unveiled the challenges faced by rice consumers in a rice producing region in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Approach: Five hundred respondents were randomly selected and examined in 16 of the 69 residential quarters which constituted the 6 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the study region. Data analysis was carried out using simple descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages. Results: Research findings revealed that: (i) the level of consumption of Igbemo rice was high (ii) the product was characterized by contamination (iii) quantity made available in the markets has reduced largely as (iv) production was predominantly seasonal. Conclusion: Policy interventions were advocated based on research findings for improved food security in the region

Most governments in developing countries (DCs) now pay greater attention to food security, for self-reliance in certain staple food, particularly rice. This paper, therefore, considers the promotion of rice production in a growing town in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Two hundred and sixty four dwellers were randomly selected in the existing 21 residential quarters in the study area (Igbemo) and interviewed, out of which 170 were rice farmers. Data analysis was carried out using simple descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution and percentages, the Pearson Moment correlation test and the multiple linear regression models. Results show that most of the rice farmers (i) embrace local technology, (ii) operate on subsistence scale, (iii) realise low yield, (iv) earn low income and (v) lack institutional support to sustain production. Suggestions for policy measures were offered based on research fi ndings.

Urban centers in Nigeria are becoming dysfunctional – a situation that threatens ourenvironmental values. This study, examines the pattern, process and problems of thesesocieties which experience rapid urban development pressure on account of highpopulation growth and decentralization of governance in the form of states and localgovernment creations. The study adopts extensive review of literature and findings revealthat Nigeria records very high level of urbanization and pollution, lacks effective culturaland physical planning policies, mismanages its urban open spaces, without adequatepersonnel to plan and organize the urban environments. Recommendations were madeon ways of restoring these environmental values through effective planning of urbancenters in Nigeria.

Land pricing has produced a new order of residential density arrangement in Nigeria urban centres. There is a noticeable variation in land prices with the levels of residential density distribution in Akure, Nigeria. The research looked at the emergent residential density pattern in Akure, as a result of the pricing profile of land especially at the periphery of the city where three residential estates were randomly selected. With the use of GIS and IKONOS Imagery, the total number of buildings in the three estates was 5,104 [Oke-Ogba -2,723; Obele -2117 and Alagbaka -264] out of which 10 percent, representing 510 were sampled. The Pearson Moment Correlation test revealed a significant correlation between Price and year of land purchase and the development, area of land, income of owners and household size. Policy measures were set forth for the development of mechanism for density mix that will fill the vacuum created due to rising land price in the city.