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The study examined

The study examined the linkage behaviour and practices of agencies in the agricultural innovation transfer sub system in Southeastern Nigeria. A total sample size of 210 respondents purposively selected from ADPs(60), LGs(60), profit NGOs(60), non-profit NGOs(30) were used. Data were collected by the use of questionnaires; and analyzed using percentage, mean scores, and factor analysis. The study revealed poor linkage dynamics among the agencies. Majority (72.2%) ADPS of the respondents indicated strong linkages with research institutes, but linkages with agencies in the transfer subsystem were either weak or not in existence. The LGs as well as profit NGOs had either weak or no linkage with most agencies in both innovation generation and transfer subsystems. Non-profit NGOs(50.0%) reported somewhat strong linkages with research institutes; while (61.5%,65.5%and 50.0%) indicated that linkages with universities of agriculture, colleges of agriculture and para-veterinary firms were not in existent, respectively. The major linkage mechanisms that existed among the agencies were use of bulletin, annual reports, and magazine. Factors constraining linkages among the agencies were policy related, organizational, attitude-related, and motivational. The study concludes that operational and structural mechanisms should be put in place to facilitate strong and effective linkages for efficiency of resource use and cost effectiveness through synergies and complementarities of efforts. Government should entrench linkage mandate in policies establishing research-extension system to encourage and facilitate public-public and public-private linkages in the subsystem. Existing institutional framework for linkages between research and extension system should be re-visited to evolve more dynamic arrangements and to create mechanism for increase participation of private agencies. Also policy makers should invest on orientation and building linkage leadership among administrators and extension practitioners to stimulate innovation culture.

Herders-farmers' conflict is wide spread and a formidable challenge to livestock production in Nigeria. The study examined challenges faced by pastoralists in conflict with farming communities. A total of 72 Fulani pastoralists from transit camps were used. Data were collected by use of structured interview schedule, focus group discussion and personal observation and analysed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The majority (95.8%) of pastoralists were male, married (80%) with mean age of 39 years and average household size of 11 persons. Herding was mainly for prestige and commercial purposes with average farm size of 240 cattle. Conflicts between pastoralists and crop farmers were caused by socio-economic, security, production practices and institution related factors. Consequently, pastoralists had the problems of insecurity of human and animal lives, displacement and economic losses leading to poor productivity. Therefore, we recommend that all stakeholders (government, nongovernmental organizations, extension agencies, rural institutions among others) should intensify efforts to build cooperative and peaceful coexistence between farmers and pastoralists through public enlightenment, education and campaign in agrarian communities. Government and NGOs should promptly intervene with aids/compensation to reduce vulnerability, persistence and further spread of conflict of pastoralist-farmer conflict in communities.

Acceptance of new agricultural technology can lead to significant increase in productivity, income and improve livelihood of rural poor farmers in Nigeria. The study assessed adoption behaviour of the beneficiaries of Multinational (New Rice for Africa) NERICA Rice Dissemination Project in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique in a multistage sampling procedure was used to select 52 beneficiary rice farmers. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule and analysed using mean score, adoption index, multiple regression and factor analysis. The results revealed that majority (80.4%) of rice farmers were males, average age of the farmers was observed to be 40years and average farming experience of the famers was found to be 19years. Also, results showed high adoption score for planting distance, early planting, late planting and harvesting duration (61%), fertilizers use (95%) and herbicides use (75%), while water efficiency methods (26%) and improved rice varieties (48%) of the NERICA disseminated technologies had low adoption. Regression analysis indicated that only age and number of years spent in school influenced adoption decisions of rice farmers. The perceived serious constraints to adoption of improved NERICA rice technologies were menace of birds on rice field (M = 4.96), menace of grass cuter (M = 4.47), high cost of labour (M = 3.41), poor access to road (M = 3.61) amongst others. Also, the perceived not serious constraints to adoption of improved NERICA rice technologies were lack of sufficient land (M =1.96), untimely availability of improved NERICA rice varieties (M = 1.92), inadequate knowledge about rice processing techniques (M = 1.78), inadequate access to NERICA rice varieties (M = 1.59) and incompatibility of innovations conflict between technology and norms of the people (M = 1.59). Therefore, the study recommends that researchers should increase farmers' participation and interaction of local and ecological knowledge to enhance generation of socially, economically and ecologically adaptable rice varieties.