This study examined the poverty status of farming households in Central Zone of Plateau State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting the respondents. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and were analysed using both descriptive (percentage and mean) and inferential statistics (Foster, Greer and Thorbecke and Logistic regression). The results revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 40 years, most of the respondents were married with an average number of 5 persons per households, and relatively low-income level but well educated, it was also confirmed that the average annual income of the respondents was ₦148,855 generated as a result of relatively large farm sizes as indicated by the average farm size of 3.8ha. The finding further reveals that inadequate government support, non-accessibility to improved seeds alongside poor road network/reserves and inadequate healthcare facilities were the major causes of poverty among the respondents. The poverty status was found to be at a moderate poverty line with (2/3 MPCI) of ₦99,236.36 and a core poverty line (1/3 MPCI) of ₦49,618.18, while the poverty incidence and severity were found to be at 0.505 and 0.299 respectively. Some of the major constraints identified in the study area were; inadequate access to funds, security issues and inadequate seminars/workshops. Emanating from the findings it can be concluded that the factors influencing poverty statutes of the farming households were income, education level, age, household size and farming experience. Based on the constraints highlighted the study recommends, the need for government and other relevant stakeholders such as financial agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide support through provision of loans, grants, trainings and seminars on the use of novel technologies in agriculture to foster and boost production among the farming households most especially in the rural settlements.

The study examined the adoption of integrated striga management for Africa (ISMA) technology among small scale maize farmers in Bauchi and Kano States, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 508 respondents from the study areas. Data were collected through the administration of questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that average age of the beneficiaries and the non-beneficiaries were 39 and 38 years respectively. Majority (88.7% and 86%) of the total beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the ISMA project in the study area were male with an average household size, farm size and farming experience of 11 people, 3 hectares and 18 years, respectively. The results of the logistic regression revealed that, level of education and major occupation were negative and significant in influencing the likelihood of adopting ISMA technology p<0.01 while distance to sources of technology was positive and significant at the same level. The major constraints to the adoption of ISMA were, inability to differentiate desmodium from other weeds and non-availability of materials relating to ISMA technology. It can be concluded that, level of education, major occupation and income were the factors influencing the likelihood of adopting ISMA technologies in the study area.  Based on the constraints highlighted, the research recommended; more on farm trials to be conducted by extension agents in order to build the capacity of the farmers on the technology and materials for ISMA technology should be made available to the farmers by the government and other relevant agencies.

The research examined the contributions of Fadama II in the provision of rural infrastructure in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A total of 120 respondents were randomly selected from eight Fadama community Associations in the various parts of the Local Government Area. Data were collected through administration of questionnaire using a five-point Likert-scale. The data collected were analyzed using a combination of statistical models, including descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean. The inferential statistics used include regression analysis and cross tabulation Chi-square. The analysis shows that the average age of the respondents was 38.37 years, 80.2% of the respondents were male with only 19.8% of them female. Most (88.6%) of the total respondents were married with the remaining respondents falling into the class of divorced and widowed. Majority of the respondent had formal education with an average household size and occupational experience of 12 persons and 19.43 years, respectively. The regression analysis also reveals that infrastructure provided by Fadama II was significant at P<0.001 in improving the occupational activities of the respondents. The Chi-square cross tabulation results of asymptotic Chi-statistic was significant at P<0.001 on the contributions of infrastructure; culverts, feeder-road, water source and market structure, only funds was not significant. Therefore, it can be concluded that the infrastructure provided has positive contribution on the respondents, even though it is not provided in sufficient quantity. In view of the above the need for more funding in the area of infrastructural development cannot be overemphasized. This is because sufficient provision of infrastructure will improve the life of the rural dwellers, reduce rural-urban migration and alleviate poverty.