The study investigated the prevalence and consequences of insecurity on livelihoods of rural households in Enugu State, Nigeria. A three-stage random sampling technique was used to select a total of 108 respondents from nine communities for the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with mean and percentages. The study revealed that looting of farm produce (54.6%), communal fights (76.9%), armed robbery (51.9%), rape (50.7%), kidnapping (58.3%) and cultism (65.7%) were the forms of insecurity prevalent in the study area. The result further reveals that poor road network (𝑥̅ = 3.3), corruption (𝑥̅ = 3.2), poor security system (𝑥̅ = 3.2), absence of basic infrastructural facilities (𝑥̅ = 3.2), feeling of marginalization (𝑥̅ = 3.1), grazing on arable cropland (𝑥̅ = 3.1), rural poverty (𝑥̅ = 3.1) and high level of rural unemployment (𝑥̅ = 3.1) were perceived to be immediate causes of rural insecurity Loss of livelihoods/income (𝑥̅ = 3.5), loss of lives (𝑥̅ = 3.4), disruption of supply and distribution of agricultural inputs and outputs (𝑥̅ = 3.4), destruction of crops (𝑥̅ = 3.3), displacement of households (𝑥̅ = 3.2), prevention of farming activities (𝑥̅ = 3.1) and decline in patronage of commercial riders (𝑥̅ = 3.1) were the major consequences of rural insecurity. Insecurity had negative consequences on the rural livelihoods in Enugu State, and thus, efforts should be made by security agencies in reduction or curbing occurrences of insecurities in the State.

This study assessed the perceived effects of farmer participation in utilization and conservation of forest resources in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. Data were collected from 150 farmers randomly selected, using structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using both Yakubu et al.; AJAEES, 35(4): 1-9, 2019; Article no.AJAEES.51231 2 descriptive (percentages, frequencies and means) and inferential statistics (multiple linear regression). Result of the analysis indicated a low participation of farmers in forest conservation. The farmers however, had a positive perception on the fact that community participation in forest conservation increases job opportunities (X = 4.65) and reduces poverty (X = 4.16). Result of the linear regression analysis revealed that age had a negative (-0.009142: p < 0.01) and significant relationship with farmers' perceived effect of community participation in utilization and conservation of forest resources, while household size (0.0169081: p < 0.05), education (0.0503444: p < 0.1) and farm size (0.1228889: p < 0.1) all had positive and significant relationships with farmers' perceived effects of community participation in utilization and conservation of forest resources. It was concluded that farmers' participation in conservation of the forest was very low. The need for sensitization of the farmers on the importance of participation in forest conservation by all the stakeholders was recommended. Original Research Article

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