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The study investigated the livelihood of female household heads (FHH) in rural communities of Osun State. Specifically, it described the personal and socioeconomic characteristics of female household heads, identified their livelihood sources and investigated the problems faced their sources of external assistance/support. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 respondents to whom structured questionnaires were administered to elicit requisite information. Frequency counts, percentage, means and standard deviation were used for data analysis. The results showed that the female household heads were mainly widows (55%) and the mean age and household size were 50.46±13.07 and 5.46±2.09, respectively. The major livelihood sources were petty trading (97.5%), crop processing (57.5%), farming (48.3%) and reselling of farm produce (22.2%). Financial difficulty was a paramount problem identified, followed by lack of contact with extension agents (71.7%) and gender discrimination in obtaining land on lease for farming (39.2). Majority (65.8%) of FHH did not have external sources of financial assistance while 21.7% were supported by their children. The study concluded that livelihoods of FHH were diversified mainly within agriculture and trading enterprises.

This study examined the socio-economic factors underlining arable crop famers' use of mobile phones for agricultural-related purposes in Iwo Agricultural Development Program (ADP) Zone of Osun State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 150 arable crop farmers from whom primary data were collected with structured interview schedule. Data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least square regression analysis. Findings from this study revealed that most frequently used applications include voice call (99.3%), calendar (96.7%), calculator (96%) and torch light (95.3%). Most of the farmers strongly consented that mobile phones facilitated timely access to needed services (𝑋̅ = 4.74), eased production decision making (𝑋̅ = 4.54), enhanced increased income and profit (𝑋̅ = 4.50) and accessing personalized information about new farming techniques (𝑋̅ = 4.44). Major constraints identified for limiting the usage of phones for agricultural purposes were poor internet access (𝑋̅ = 3.73), inadequate electricity to charge t he mobile phone (𝑋̅ = 3.55), poor network access (𝑋̅ = 3.54) and high charges on services (𝑋̅ = 3.41). Gender (b= 4.337; P˂ .01), level of education (b= 16.358; P˂ .01), years of farming (b= 0.513; P˂.05), information sources (b= 0.645; P˂.01) all jointly had positive influence on farmers' use of mobile phones for agricultural information. It was recommended that higher capacity of female and arable crop farmers with lower level of education should be energized to utilize their mobile phones for enhancing their production activities.

The study assessed using an e-learning device, ‘Opon-Imo’ for agricultural subjects among secondary school students and teachers in Osun State, Nigeria. It determined the teachers’ and students’ extent of use of ‘Opon-Imo’ for agricultural subjects, ascertained their perception towards its value as a learning/teaching aid, and the challenges faced with its use. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 150 students and corresponding 12 teachers instructing them on the agricultural subject(s) to give a total of 162 respondents sampled. Data were collected with a validated questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that students occasionally used ‘Opon-Imo’ as reference material to seek answers to assignments (x̄= 3.1 ± 0.9) just as the teachers often utilised the modules as a reference point while explaining class notes to the students (x̄= 3.5 ± 0.8). (Most (58%) of the students were indifferent about the values of ‘Opon-Imo’ as a learning aid for agricultural subjects, whereas most of the teachers (58.3%) had a favourable disposition towards it for their teaching activities. As a challenge, teachers noted students’ misuse of the device for entertainment purposes instead of use as a learning aid (x̄= 3.16). It was concluded that teachers validly used ‘Opon-Imo’ to a greater extent for agricultural educational purposes and were more positively inclined to its educative usefulness than the students. As such, effective measures have to be developed to make the students aware of the value of this learning aid for their career in agriculture.

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