Social media is a new trend in communication and a new platform for sharing, engagement and networking in all spheres of life including agriculture. This study analysed social media mainstreaming in e-extension services delivery by the Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in North CentralZone of Nigeria. Four ADPs of Kogi, Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa and Niger states that participated in the Research Extension Farmer Input Linkage (REFIL) activities in November 2017 were purposively selected and used for the study. Secondary data were generated from the REFIL reports and descriptively analysed. Result established insufficient field extension agents to effectively reach out to1.412 million farm families in the zone. Also, the result reveals zero exclusion of social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Chats, YouTube and Mobile phone tools in the ADPs communication strategies. ADPs communication targets dwelled more on old media such as radio (21%) and television (50%) were costly and achieved low projected targets. Mainstreaming social media in e-extension will be more effective to reach out to farm families and overcome observed field manpower shortage problems. Modern networking tools and proactive creative measures such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Chat, mobile phone tools of short message sending and voice call are recommended for inclusion in their communication strategies. In this regard, REFIL organisers and Federal Department of Extension should facilitate ADPs innovativeness and staff training on social media to improve competence and skills of actors in the agricultural value chain providers in extension delivery to the agribusiness community.
The study determined garlic grower’s perception on livelihoods’ vulnerability to climate variability, the coping strategies employed, and the relationship between the profile and their coping mechanism to climate variability. Correlational research design was employed in this study. The respondents were randomly selected from the registered list of garlic growers in the municipalities of San Jose, Magsaysay, Calintaan, Rizal, Looc and Lubang of Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. Survey, interview guide and observation with the garlic growers and farmer leaders were done. Result showed vulnerability to climate variability indicators that were always perceived were pest and disease, lack of water supply and low quality of crops. The coping strategies that was always practiced was irrigating the land more during dry season using water pumps, since garlic is usually planted in the months of December to April. However, respondents indicated they ‘never’ got crop insurance and do not let their land be leased or rented by other farmers. Further, age and farming experience have significant relationship with coping mechanism employed. Keywords: garlic, coping mechanism, climate variability, crop insurance
A probe was carried out to ascertain fisherfolk ownership of physical assets for fisheries activities in fishing communities' vis-à-vis implication of climate change around Kainji Lake. Interview schedule was employed to generate primary data from 165 respondents in eleven fishing communities on western side of the lake and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Information on personal characteristics revealed that most of the respondents were advanced in age, small scale artisan fisherfolk with many years of experience, self employed and married with children but had poor education. Physical assets owned fall into three categories of fishing asset (33.3%), fish processing asset (41.7%) and accessories (25%). Conspicuous assets owned were fishing net, wooden canoe, hook & line, fish drying net, improved banda and modified drum smoking kiln. Physical assets that use wood and fuelwood which impinged on climate change were fishing canoe, improved banda and modified drum smoking kiln. Correlates of improved banda and modified drum kiln were marital status and number of wives. It implies that marital family's ownership of fish smoking processing assets contributed to climate change problems through deforestation thereby causing desertification, soil erosion, destruction of ecosystem and weather variations with serious consequences on water bodies, fisheries, and livelihood in fishery around the lake. Worrisome is zero ownership of solar tent dryer which uses renewable energy of the sun and friendly to climate change adaptation. In view of prevailing evidence, adaptation to climate change is subject to modification of solar net drier to meet fish smoking needs. In alternative is exploration of biomass energy sources that is sustainable like rice husk for fish smoking as a mitigation strategy. , activities and rural income generation: evidence from a multicountry analysis.
Mobile phone is strategic in the current effort to improve advisory services delivery and effectiveness of information sharing toenhance aquaculture entrepreneurship for food security, and wealth creation in the country. This prompted the study of mobile phone gratification sought and obtained among table size aquaculture fish food producers through the application of Uses and Gratification Theory. In pursuit of the set objectives, primary data was generated from 100 respondents in Niger State, Nigeria which was analysed with descriptive and inferential statistic tools. Personal profile revealed dominance of aquapreneur by people in middle age categories with mean age of 42 years and 4.5year of experience. Respondents top gratifications sought from mobile phone usage were to be accessible, connected, job accomplishment and socialization whereas obtained gratifications in enterprise were to support adoption of technologies, timely information, linkage to customers, quick response, and access to inputs. It was revealed that respondents had positive antecedent to mobile phone services subscription relating to caller tone, music, news alert, sports, and health. Socio-economic variables that correlate with gratification sought and obtained were marital status, religion, and education at 0.05 level. In view of the finding on responsible usage of mobile phone in aquaculture enterprise, more investment is required develop mobile phone applications and services. To sustain and improve on the benefits derived, respondents need capacity building to acquire more knowledge and skills to effectively participate in advisory services.
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