Browsing by Author "Godson-Ibeji, C. C."

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    Addressing corruption practices in agricultural sector to make agriculture demand-driven in Nigeria
    (Spring Journals, 2016-11) Godson-Ibeji, C. C.; . Ogueri, E. I.; Chikaire, J. U.
    Agriculture is one aspect of Nigeria’s economy that should not be neglected or even marginalised. Not only that agriculture is the major source of food for people and livestock, it also provides earnings to farmers and raw materials for industries as well as providing over sixty-five percent employment to the teeming population of Nigerians. In spite of all these advantages over other professions such as law, medicine, engineering and others, yet, people in Nigeria still express phobia for agriculture as an enterprise. Corruption in agricultural sector is an impediment which, when fought and eliminated will make agriculture demand-driven in Nigeria. This paper therefore takes a cursory look at some aspects of corrupt practices in agricultural sector and their attendants’ effects on agricultural productions. It concludes among other suggestions that to fight and eliminate corruption in agricultural sector and achieve the implementations of the Nigerian agricultural transformation agenda (ATA) as well as make agriculture demand-driven in Nigeria, those actors who perpetuate the nefarious acts of corruption in the sector should be reprimanded by the law and made to face the penalties.
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    Challenges facing semi-urban fish farmers use of information and communication technology devices in Imo State, Nigeria
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2015) Chikaire, J. U,; Ani, A. O,; Ogueri, E. I.; Godson-Ibeji, C. C.
    The study examined the challenges semi-urban fish farmers face in their use of information and communication technology devices in Imo state. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire from 210 fish farmers selected randomly from a list of 2300 fish farmers obtained from fish farmers cooperative office in Owerri, the state capital. Data collected were analyzed using statistical tools such as percentages and mean. Results showed that majority (37.6%) are within the active age of 41-50, 58.6% are males, 50% have secondary education, with 11-15 years of fish farming. The respondents have frequent access to radio, telephone (mobile), television, magazines and newspapers. The results of the analysis further showed that the fish farmers need information on feed formulation, water management, disease management, fingerlings, processing and drug use. The challenges faced by the fish farmers include erratic power supply, low level of education, language barrier, low income, and lack of skills in ICT. In view of the following it was recommended that communication companies and service providers improve their network coverage. Government should also improve in their provision of electricity and make power steady.
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    Climate change adaptation needs/priorities of rural women farmers in flood plain areas of Owerri agricultural zone of Imo State, Nigeria
    (Jomard Publishing, 2017) Chikaire, J. U.; Anaeto, F. C.; Ajaero, J. O.; Godson-Ibeji, C. C.
    Adaptation is key to surviving the menace of climate change. This paper investigates adaptation needs/priorities of rural women farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to ascertain rural women farmers awareness of climate change, identify perceived effects of climate change on rural women farmers, examine adaptation needs of these women and determine adaptation strategies used by rural women. Data were collected with structured questionnaire from 180 rural women farmers randomly selected from a list of 1800 registered women farmers with the Owerri ADP office. Results showed that the rural women were very much aware of climate change as indicated by high mean responses to certain signs such as increase in temperature. (M = 2.31), unpredictable heavy rainfall (M = 2.51), unpredictable heavy winds (M = 2.45) among others. Climate change affects rural women by increasing their work load, reducing their food portions, loss of farm assets, increase rate of diseases/illness. In adapting to climate change, the rural women farmers need as a matter of urgency to find alternative livelihood options (M = 2.68), safer areas to relocate (M = 3.31), access to credits/market (M = 3.34) among others. To adapt, they employ strategies such as crop rotation, planting early maturing crops, engage in off-farm activities, cooperative farming.
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    Perceived rural interventions for meeting the energy and agri-food needs of smallholder farmers in Imo State, Nigeria
    (Kosmos Publishers, 2020-12-09) Chikaire, J. U.; Godson-Ibeji, C. C.; Ogueri, E. I.
    The study examined rural intervention programmes for meeting the energy and agri-food needs of smallholder farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify energy sources available to farmers in the study area; examine energy and agri-food needs of respondents and ascertain perceived rural interventions for meeting the energy and agri-food needs of respondents in the study area. A total of 360 smallholder farmers were selected and interviewed.Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using percentages and mean. The available energy sources include human power (100%), mechanical power (70.5%), electrical power (66.6%), candles and kerosene (81.6%), charcoal/wood residues (78.8%). Energy is needed for cooking/preparing food (100%), crop production (100%), processing (88.5%) and the agri-food needs were to improve farmer livelihoods (66.6%), increase crop productivity (89.1%), reduction poverty (88.8%) among others. Rural interventions for meeting energy and agri-food needs included rural electrification programmes (M=4.09), standalone off grid energy solution (M = 3.91), agricultural mechanization (M=4.05), rural road /transport programmes (M=3.90) and training /retraining of both farmers and extension officers with mean of 4.08 and 3.41 respectively. Improved/clean energy facilities be provided to the rural populace by the relevant stakeholders – governments, donor agencies, NGOs, etc for improved livelihood and food security.