This study ascertained information needs of rice farmers on inorganic fertilizer use. One hundred and twenty rice farmers purposively selected from Ebonyi State, Nigeria constituted sample for the study. An interview schedule was used to collect data while percentage, mean scores and factor analysis were used for data analysis. Findings indicated that the majority (92.5%) of the respondents obtained information on inorganic fertilizer use from families and friends, all (100%) the respondents obtained fertilizer from the markets while 98.4% had no training on inorganic fertilizer use. Important areas that respondents required information on inorganic fertilizer use for rice production were on how to get fertilizer easily (x̄ =1.89), how to detect good or bad fertilizer (x̄=1086) among others. Institutional, technical, logistic and health constraints limited the farmers from using inorganic fertilizer in rice production. Provision of fertilizer subsidy by government (99.2%) and increase in accessibility of fertilizer by farmers (98.3%) were some of the strategies for improving inorganic fertilizer use on rice production. Extension should furnish farmers with information and training on where to get good fertilizer easily and how to use them in rice production. Key words: Rice farmers, inorganic fertilizer, information needs

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Aim: To ascertain knowledge and adaptation strategies of eggplant (Solanum melongena) farmers to the effect of bacterial wilt disease in Nsukka Agricultural zone of Enugu state, Nigeria.   Study Design: Multi-stage and Simple Random Sampling Design/Technique were used in the study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka Enugu State, Nigeria. The study took place between October 2017 and September 2018. Methodology: One hundred and eight eggplant farmers were selected from three blocks and nine circles for the study. Percentage and mean scores were used to present the data. Results: Findings reveal that the majority (96.30%) of the respondents had high knowledge on eggplant bacterial wilt disease. Some of the major effects of bacterial wilt disease on eggplant as perceived by the respondents were reduction in yield/output (x̅=2.84) and reduction in quality of harvested eggplant (x̅=2.81). Some adaptive strategies employed by the respondents to the effect of bacterial wilt disease were use of fertilizer (97.20%) and early planting of eggplants (96.30%). Constraints to egg plant farmers’ adaptation to bacterial wilt disease were: drudgery involved in controlling the disease (x̅=2.83) and high cost of good/disease free planting material (x̅= 2.80). Proper weeding (84.30%) and fumigation of the entire farmland before cultivation (79.60%) were some of the possible solutions to the destructive effects of bacterial wilt diseases. Conclusion: The respondents had high knowledge on bacterial wilt disease, which helps them to adapt to the deleterious effects of the disease on their eggplants.  Recommendation: The study recommends that governments and non-governmental organizations should invest in eggplants research in order to solve farmers’ problems; through evolvement and provision of resistant variety, recommended agronomic practices and agrochemicals of eggplants to farmers. Dissemination of output of the research through extension will boost the capacity of the farmers in order to adapt and overcome the disease. Policy Implications: The investments on eggplants should be innovative and it should explore possible production and management strategies that not only boost but also, make eggplant enterprises sustainable. Policy must be focused on educating eggplant farmers on improved production and management practices on eggplant enterprises. This can be disseminated by agricultural extension workers and other relevant institutions. Policy must also focus on specific and pragmatic programs such as input supply programs (improved seeds, resistant varieties, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides etc.) at affordable or subsidized prices. This must be designed in such a way that it identifies the right pathways to get to the eggplant farmers on appropriate time.

This study investigated farmers’ use of sustainable production practices for yellow pepper crop in the Nsukka agricultural zone, Enugu State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 135 farmers and interview schedule using structured questionnaires was employed for data collection. Data generated were analysed with SPSS software using frequency and percentage, mean scores, standard deviation, factor analysis, and logistic regression. Findings revealed that the majority (91.1%) of the yellow pepper farmers had moderate knowledge on sustainable production practices and that some of the practices used were mass selection (97.0%), use of poultry manure (95.60%), use of improved varieties of yellow pepper (94.0%), crop rotation practices (91.10%), and minimum use of agrochemicals (78.50). Among the factors considered to be potential determinants of farmers’ use of sustainable production practices, only sex was statistically significant, at 5% level. Also, findings indicated that technical, institutional, and economic constraints affected farmers’ use of sustainable production practices. Furthermore, results indicated that sustainable production practices could be enhanced through the use of improved seeds (85.5%), access to credit facilities (77.8%), access to extension services (71.8%), and training of farmers (68.9%). The study therefore recommends that government and private sectors should provide services that will facilitate the development of sustainable production practices of Nsukka yellow pepper crop, as this will have a long-term effect on productivity and the production environment.

The majority of the farmers (73.3%) sourced land through lease/purchase, and capital resources through personal savings (78.3%). The ratios of marginal value product (MVP) to marginal factor cost (MFC) show that no input was efficiently allocated by the arable crop farmers. Results on the effects of the amount of farm resources mobilized and used on arable crop productivity show a positive significant relationship with some variables at 1% level. Also, lack of finance, lack of land, poor road network etc were constraints on farm resources mobilization and allocation efficiency among arable crops farmers. Thus, the study concluded that the amount of farm production resources mobilized was little and farmers were ignorant of proper use. Therefore, the government and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector should organize regular workshops/seminars to educate arable crop farmers on the effective and efficient use of resources to achieve the best output.