This study employed the gender responsive framework to assess the lack of gender inclusiveness in technology adoption in the rice production and processing value chain in Southwestern Nigeria. A situation analysis of the gender roles and state of gender based technology adoption in the sector was conducted and the capabilities of the rice production and processing R&D infrastructure to attend to the situation are assessed. The situation analysis reveals quite distinct gender roles in the sector and generally low technology adoption and awareness of technological solutions among women. On the capability self assessment scores designed to rate the public research institutions in enhancing gender inclusion in technology adoption, the institutions scored high on the gender balance of researchers but low in infusing gender considerations in the development and adoption of technologies for the sector. Private firms involved in the production of tools for the sector, however, scored very low on all aspects of capabilities to address gender issues in technology development and adoption. The study concludes that the use of the framework may shed more light on public action on developing gender responsive technologies in agricultural sectors and urges the development of policy mechanisms to enhance gender considerations in technology development, especially in the private firms, which seem to be more active in innovation systems that provide processing technologies for smallholders.
The benefits inherent in agrotourism as a tool for sustainable agricultural development have not been fully exploited in Nigeria. Therefore, this study ascertained the perception of agricultural students to participate in agrotourism. Students' perceptions of agrotourism and the relationship between their personal characteristics and their perceptions were examined. A two stage sampling procedure was used to select 217 respondents for the study. Data was obtained through the use of a well structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and the Chi square test. Results showed that 38.8% of the students were male, while 61.3% were female, with an average age of 22.3 years. The students showed a positive perception (x̄= 3.8) of agrotourism. The constraints to participation in agrotourism, in order of severity, were financial cost, insecurity, bad roads, non inclusion of agrotourism as part of the academic curriculum, and the low number of agrotourism sites. Students' sex (χ² 46.297; p = 0.005), age (χ² 179.837; p = 0.000), exposure to agriculture (χ² 103.224; p = 0.000), and parents' occupation (χ² 89.030; p = 0.002) had a significant relationship with their perception of agrotourism. The study concluded that students had a high level of willingness and a positive perception of agrotourism. The study, therefore, recommends the inclusion of agrotourism in the curriculum of undergraduate students, subsidise the cost of visiting agrotourism sites, and also ensure the safety of students during visits, which could serve as incentives to students' participation.
Cheese, the universally acceptable food, is subject to bacterial spoilage and needs preservatives as additives. This study examined the preservative potency of lime peel methanolic extract on West African soft cheese. The treatments include varying levels of lime peel extract (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 ml), which were introduced into coagulating milk, using a completely randomized design. The parameters studied include: cheese proximate composition, microbial count over a 3 day storage period and sensory values. Sodium apple was used as the coagulating agent for each 250 mL of milk coagulated for each treatment. It was observed that higher extract inclusion level increased the moisture and crude protein of cheese and decreased the fat content as well as microbial count.The prevalent bacteria in all the cheese samples include Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus sp and Escherichia coli. The control cheese, however, had the highest score for all the sensory parameters. This study recommends the inclusion of lime peel extract at 2ml per 250ml of milk in the process of cheese making.
This study investigated the economic potentials of soybean cake (Awara) processing in Dutsin Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria. The research focused on assessing profitability, evaluating input use efficiency, and examining the constraints faced by processors. A multi stage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 respondents from three key Awara processing clusters. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and efficiency ratio analysis. The results revealed that Awara processing is largely dominated by young women (x̄: 16years) most of whom had secondary education. Profitability analysis showed that the enterprise is economically viable, with an average daily production cost of ₦13,511.41 and a daily revenue of ₦18,533.00, resulting in a gross margin of ₦5,021.59. Based on the profit margin, estimates return of ₦1.40 was realized every ₦1 invested. Resource use efficiency analysis indicated that some inputs, particularly cabbage, are underutilized, while others like oil and spices are used inefficiently. The major constraints identified included limited access to capital, lack of warm storage facilities, fluctuating consumer demand, and unstable market prices. The study concludes that Awara processing is a profitable microenterprise that can significantly contribute to women’s livelihoods and rural development if adequately supported. The study recommends the promotion of training programs by Government and non governmental organizations to Awara processors in the areas so that there will be efficient use of resources and marketing distribution management. Investment in efficient and low warm storage facilities by Government and private investors to reduce Awara processing losses and improve commodity profitability in the study area.
This study investigated the effect of rural households’ livestock ownership on dietary diversity in Nigeria, using secondary data obtained from the 2018/2019 NLSS (Nigerian Living Standard Survey) data. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression were used for data analysis. The results showed that the majority (83.5%) of the household heads were males, approximately 57% were married, and 54.34% had a formal education. Also, an average of 79% and 61% are households kept chickens and goat. Approximately 40% of female headed households kept sheep as opposed to 10% in male headed households. The result revealed that 42% and 48.60% of the households had high and very high dietary diversity. Findings from the Poisson regression model analysis showed that livestock (chicken, goat and sheep) ownership (p<0.01), income growth (p<0.01) and higher educational status/qualification (p<0.01) significantly enhanced household dietary diversity. Inferences drawn from the study indicate that livestock ownership (poultry and small ruminants improves household dietary diversity among rural households in the country. It is therefore recommended that the government should support poultry and small ruminant livestock production to boost household dietary diversity. Strategies to raise household income and enhance access to formal education should be embraced to enhance food consumption diversity.
