International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension

International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 8 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Socio-cultural participatory monitoring and evaluation indicators used in adopting improved cassavas by Western Kenya communities

Tana P. O.¹*, Onyango C.², Ochola W. O.² and Omolo P. O.¹

¹Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kibos, P. O. Box 1490, Kisumu, Kenya.

²Egerton University, P. O. Box 536, Noro, Kenya.

Accepted 15 October, 2019

Abstract

Cassava production is critical to household food security in Kuria and Migori Districts. The adoption of improved cassava varieties has been low largely due to non-participatory extension approaches (GOK, 2006). Participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) at the community level is a relatively new approach and there has been considerable lack of emphasis on community-based monitoring and evaluation indicators during the development of technologies in Kenya. This study investigated the socio-cultural monitoring and evaluation indicators used by the Kuria and Luo communities in adopting improved cassava varieties in the two districts. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from farmers. Socio-cultural community-based participatory monitoring and evaluation indicators for selection and adoption of cassava varieties in the two districts were identified. The study found significant and non-significant differences in some of the socio-cultural indicators. The adoption of improved cassava varieties was found to be low in the two districts. The identified community-based participatory monitoring and evaluation indicators would help in enhancing cassava technology development, packaging and dissemination strategies by researchers, extension agents and farmers. The study recommends incorporation of local indicators during development and dissemination of technologies by research institutions as this would help in enhancing the uptake of new technologies developed.

Key words: Socio-cultural, participatory monitoring and evaluation, indicators, cassava.

International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 7 (12), pp. 001-006, December, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Performance evaluation of agricultural inputs in crop production of Zahak Payame Noor university agricultural faculty farm by linear programming

Issa Piri¹, Majid Dahmardeh¹*, Mehdi Dahmardeh², Abolfazl ghadiri³ and Habib piri³

¹Department of Agriculture, Payame noor University, 19395-4697, Tehran, IR of Iran.

²Agriculture Agronomy Department, Zabol University, Zabol. Iran.

³Department of Accounting, Ferdowsi University. Tehran, IR of Iran.

Accepted 16 May, 2019

Abstract

Farm management is one of the most critical factors in production and marketing of agricultural crops. In a broad description, management is defined as making decision process through which the limited resources are allocated to competent items in such a way that the determined goal can be achieved. Generally, organizing and controlling the resources of an agricultural unit toward the maximum potential benefits and expected revenues is the main task of farm manager. Furthermore, by increasing population and demand for agricultural crops and relative resource shortages, it will be obvious that efficient input utilization is essential. Today, management science using mathematical programming especially linear programming encourages managers for much more efficient decisions in the field of allocating limited resources to competent activities. Hence, linear programming technique serves as a means for choosing the highest performance items; that is, the items having the highest output to input ratio. Since decision making is crucial in management process, if the linear programming parameter (facilities, limitations, performance and costs) are estimated accurately, the results will have a profound effect on the decision making of the production unit.

Keywords: Inputs, agriculture, production, linear programming.

International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 7 (12), pp. 001-009, December, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Microfinance and gender in the context of millennium development goals (MDGs) in Nigeria

Abosede, Adebiyi Julius¹* and Azeez, Bolanle Aminat²

¹Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. Nigeria.

²Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Accepted 25 July, 2019

Abstract

Issues in client targeting are two in nature; gender targeting or poverty targeting (Brau and Woller, 2004). The nature of target to some extent will determine the ‘best practices’ in conjunction with local specific situation. In the first issue of gender targeting, the question has always been whether to lend to women or men in the context of which will give wider reach and benefit the society. This position was examined in the context of what are contained in recent literature with respect to microfinance activities in Nigeria using Chi-square non-parametric method of analysis to test the hypothesis differentials. It has, therefore, not been universally confirmed that extending microfinance to women alone or more than men will benefit the society more than otherwise. What has been observed was that giving more microfinance access to women will definitely empower them, but without examining the implication of that on the African social structure. Also when this is examined in context of targeting the poor, fundamental problem of still defining the purpose of microfinance as poverty alleviation is raised. This study recommends that gender distribution characteristics should not be a determinant of modus operandi of microfinance institutions in Nigeria, but rather the choice of poverty targeting, which is one of its target.

Key words: Microfinance, gender, millennium development goals.

International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 7 (11), pp. 001-007, November, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of entrepreneurial agricultural activities of youths in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Gwary, M. M.¹, Kwaghe, P. V .¹, Ja’afar- Furo, M. R.² and Dennis, A.¹

¹Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri State, Nigeria.

²Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 September, 2019

Abstract

The study analyzed the entrepreneurial agricultural activities of youths in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire administered to 100 youths, randomly sampled across the study area. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools in the forms of frequencies, percentages and correlation analysis. Result of the study revealed that all most all (91%) of the youths had a least secondary education with a high proportion (46%) within age bracket of 27 to 32 years. Majority (55%) were males, singles were 61% and those involved in farming as a primary occupation constituted 63%. Result of paired correlation analysis between socio-economic characteristics and level of involvement in agriculture by the respondents indicated a significant and positive relationship with age (r = 0.424), gender (r = 0.265), marital status (r = 0.474), family size (r = 0.654), farm size (r = 0.265), primary occupation (r = 0.271) and years of schooling (r = 0.440) all at 1% level of significance. Result of rank correlation between ranking of constraints by male and female youths in their agricultural enterprises, revealed a high degree of agreement (r = 0.842). The respondents indicated lack of capital as their major constraint of their agricultural enterprises. It was recommended that financial institutions need to be encouraged by the government to provide assistance to the youths and that the youth themselves should engage more in other non-agricultural enterprises to generate supplementary incomes.

Key words: Entrepreneurial, youth, agriculture, Adamawa State.