This study analysed the dietary intake of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among rural dwellers depletes quality of agricultural labour, productivity and reduces quality of life. Uptake of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has not significantly reduced consequences of infection, as the effort is being compromised by poor nutritional intake. This study analysed the nutritional intake of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in rural communities of Benue State, Nigeria. Data was collected from 190 PLWHA randomly selected from members of two rural support groups with high prevalence of HIV in Benue State using interview schedule. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product moment correlation and Chi Square at 0.05. Mean age of respondents was 37.5±11.9, 58.9% were females while majority had secondary school education (46.6%). Diet diversity score (4.1±1.3) was low among majority (64.7%) of the respondents. Predominant food group consumed was tubers (80.0%) and cereals (55.3%). Iron (3.01) was the nutrient most consumed while vitamin B groups (1.15-1.60) were least consumed. However, age (r=-0.15) and uptake of ART (χ 2 =4.41) had significant relationship with nutritional intake. The study concluded that diet of PLWHA in Benue State was low in micronutrients, thus there is need for extension workers to be more pro-active in educating people living with HIV/AIDS in rural households on the need for good nutritional intake especially fruits and vegetables.

The study assessed the effects of capacity building on rural women involvement in Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)initiative in Rivers State, Nigeria. Respondents were leaders of rural women cooperative societies in Rivers State who were randomly selected from 23 Local Government Areas in the State. Structured questionnaire administration and Key Informant Interview was used to collect data while frequency counts, mean and percentages were employed to analyze the data collected. Results showed that the rural women interviewed were mostly adults, as majority (71.8%) were within the age range of 40 - 59 years. Majority (62.52%) were engaged in business/trading and other non-agricultural income generating activities, such as civil service (21.89%), income from pensions (3.13%), while 12.5% of the respondents had no other income generating activity aside farming. Some (40.63%) of the rural women had Senior Secondary Certificate as the highest form of education. Only 43.75% were aware of CSA, with 62.51% of them indicating low level of CSA knowledge. The major CSA management practices they know include mixed farming (50.0%), crop management practices (40.63%), application of indigenous knowledge and practices (25.0%) and soil management practices (25.0%). Approximately 84% have not attended CSA training before now. All the rural women (100%) used for the study upheld that CSA training is helpful in improving their CSA knowledge, imparted their readiness to adopt CSA practices (94%) and equipped them to be more involved in CSA initiative (100%). The major effects of capacity building on rural women involvement in CSA initiative are better knowledge of CSA for increased use of CSA practices (X̄ = 3.72), capacity to add value to their farm products (X̄= 3.69) and capacity to train others on CSA practices (X̄= 3.50). Regular training on CSA components by both government and private agencies could help in strengthening and sustaining rural women active participation in CSA initiative in the state and beyond.

This study sought to assess ADP’s effective use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination to farmers in Imo state, Nigeria. A total of  120 farmers were selected through multi-stage sampling technique. Interview schedule was used to elicit information on farmers’ accessibility of agricultural information through mass media, perceived level of use of mass media in receiving agricultural information among farmers and to determine the perceived effectiveness of ADP’s use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination. Data collected were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentages, mean, and PPMC to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The result shows that the majority (88.3%) of the respondents accessed agricultural information through radio. Perceived level of use of mass media in receiving agricultural information (58.3%) was low. Use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination by ADP (59.2%) was ineffective. There was significant relationshipbetween the perceived level of use of mass media in receiving agricultural information (r=0.64) and the perceived effectiveness of ADP’s use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination. The use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination in Imo State by ADP was  ineffective. This work recommends that ADP in Imo State establish their own indigenous mass media tools to ensure its effective use by extension agents and control of content for agricultural information dissemination. Keywords: ADP, Agricultural information dissemination, Mass media