The study was carried out to investigate risk management and determinants of farm output among small scale poultry farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Cross sectional data were collected from randomly sampled 120 poultry farmers with the use of a well-structured questionnaire. The data collected were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, chart and ordinary least square (OLS) multiple regression analysis. The results of the study showed that production, financial, marketing, technological and human risks are the major sources of risks encountered by the poultry farmers. Disease outbreak, high cost of medication and vaccines, insufficient fund, lack of quality feed and fragility of poultry products are some of the risk situations in poultry farming in the study area. Risk management practices among the farmers are enterprise diversification, marketing and production strategies. The result of the multiple regression model (R 2 = 0.96) revealed that age, household size, stock size, capital input, farming experience, location, cost of medication and cost of labour (p<0.01) are the major determinant of farm output among poultry farmers.This shows that better risk management determines higher farm output. Based on the above findings, the study recommends that there should be adequate institutional supports in form of credits facilities, sales of day old chicks, quality feed, vaccines and drugs in government stores to poultry farmers for improved productivity.

This study provided empirical information on determinants of climate change adaptation among farming households in Southwest Nigeria using Heckman's double stage selection approach. Three states were randomly selected across southwest Nigeria: Ekiti, Ogun and Oyo States. Data were collected in two phases. The first phase was rapid rural appraisal of the selected states while the second phase was detailed survey using a structured questionnaire administered to 360 randomly sampled farm units. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and Heckman's double stage selection model. The result of the analysis showed that there was relatively high level of awareness of climate change among the farmers. Major sources of information about climate change among the farmers include personal observation and extension agents. From the result of the Heckman double stage selection model, variables that significantly influenced the first decision of whether or not to adapt to climate change include: gender, experience, extension visits, farm size, income, credit access, number of farm labourers and dependency ratio. On the other hand, variables that significantly influenced extent of adaptation to climate change include: gender, experience, education, extension visits, farm size, income, credit access, number of farm labourers and dependency ratio. Based on the findings, the study therefore recommends farmers' sensitization programmes on indicators of climate most especially those indicators with low indices. Effort should be made by government at all levels towards capacity building of the farmers through improved education, extension visits, increased farm size, increase in income and improved access to credit.

The study ascertained the determinants of households’ preference for beef to pork in Umuahia Metropolis of Abia State, Nigeria. Using multi-stage random sampling procedure, data were collected from eighty household heads for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive  statistics, ordinary least square and probit regression analysis. Findings from the study showed that beef was most preferred with 63.75% of  households indicated preferences for beef to pork while 36.25% of households preferred port to beef. The study also revealed age of household head, and price of meat negatively influenced meat consumption while household size and average monthly income had positive influence and the R2 was 0.675 which implied 67.5% of the variation in the meat consumption was explained by the independent variables. From the probit regressionmodel the results showed age of household heads and price of pork had a negative coefficient and were significant at 10% and 5% level of probability respectively, while household size, education level, and household income had positive coefficient and were significant at 1%, 5%, and 1% level of probability, respectively. The Chi square was 135.485 which indicated the goodness of fit for the equation and was significant at 1% level of probability. The study recommended beef marketing as a good venture in the study area; beef was most preferred meat in the study. Hence, it is recommended that unemployed persons should be encouraged to venture into beef marketing; also, there is huge potential for pork marketing in the study area. Key words: preferences, household, beef, pork

The study examined the contributions of men and women to farming decisions among rice producing households in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select 120 rice producing families. Husband and wife involved in rice production as a unit were interviewed and data were collected using questionnaire. Collected data were analysed with mean, standard deviation, chart and z-test. The result showed that the mean contribution of men in pre-harvest decisions (x̅ =3.54 ± 0.18) was higher than that of women (x̅ =2.43 ± 0.24). On the other hand, the mean contribution of men in decision-making in post-harvest activities (x̅ =2.54 ± 0.48) was relatively low compared to that of women (x̅ =3.47 ± 0.16). There was a significant difference in the level of contributions of men and women to decision-making in pre- and post-harvest activities. Improved commitment to helping farmers gain more access to farm-related information to make informed decisions about their farming business is recommended.