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This paper focused on redefining agricultural extension practice in Nigeria in response to the challenges of climate change. We reviewed 58 articles from research databases that were in line with our inclusion criteria for adequate understanding of the current state of agricultural extension practice in Nigeria and climate change concerns. The review identified the effects of climate change on agricultural extension practice, ascertained the training needs of agricultural extension workers towards climate change resilience, highlighted the strategies for repositioning the Nigerian agricultural extension system for climate change resilience and ascertained the opportunities and barriers for agricultural extension system towards building climate change resilience. Results show that climate change has adversely affected agricultural extension practice in Nigeria by worsening its operational environment. Changes in rainfall pattern have made it cumbersome for effective implementation of extension advice in real time. Training needs of extension workers for climate change resilience among others include the need to bridge digital divide, implementation of strategies for a better interface with development partners and optimization of the use indigenous mitigation strategies for climate change. The review recommends that essential strategies that must be in-cooperated in the extension service delivery in Nigeria should include adoption of new scenario thinking in communicating resilience building, establishment of emergency management unit by the agency, encouraging the involvement of the private sector in the extension service, transferring of research results on best affordable resilience practices to farmers as well as ensuring that government and other agencies are kept abreast with farmer's feedback on their challenges in building climate change resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education and farming experience of farmers are considered the most important factors in allocation of inputs during production process. This study, therefore, aimed at evaluating effect of education and farming experience on technical efficiency of rice farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A sample of 300 rice growers was drawn randomly using a multistage sampling procedure through a well-organized pretested interview schedule. Stochastic frontier models (SFM-1 and SFM-2) were utilized to investigate effects of farm inputs and socioeconomic factors on rice production. Results of SFM-1 explicated that all the regressors except irrigation numbers were highly significant with the estimated coefficients of 0.369, 0.047, 0.060, 0.246 and 0.098 for labor hours, tractor hours, chemicals, urea and irrigation numbers respectively. Results of inefficiency's model exposed that education and farming experience had a significant and adverse influence on technical inefficiency, age had a positive significant effect on farmers' technical inefficiency whereas tenancy status and primary source of income were found insignificant. The mean technical efficiency of the sampled farmers was estimated at 0.74, ranged between 0.52 and 0.99. The estimated production model showed the highest coefficients for labor hours and urea, it is therefore suggested that rice growers can rise their rice output by increasing labor hours and urea application during the production process. Inefficiency effects model showed a negative and significant relationship of inefficiency with farmers' education and farming experience, so government is recommended to facilitate farmers with formal as well as informal education and proper trainings regarding rice farming for efficient utilization of available resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study looked at profitability of maize crop and estimated growers' technical efficiency in central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Stochastic Frontier analyses were conducted over primary data, collected from randomly selected 119 maize growers. Profitability analysis confirmed high net-return for hybrid maize as compared to local maize crop. The estimated Stochastic Frontier Model-1 showed that maize yield is positively affected by hybrid seed cultivation, irrigation, organic and inorganic fertilizers application. The model predicted mean technical efficiency of 85% with a maximum possible of 97%. This indicates that 12% increase in yield is possible with the existing production technology. Results for the Stochastic Frontier Model-2 identified head's formal education, farming experience and level of involvement in agriculture and combined family structure as important factors significantly reducing inefficiency in maize production. The study recommends formal education and agricultural training for maize growers, provision of subsidy for hybrid seeds and chemical fertilizers and price support for their produce during harvest season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at estimating and examining technical efficiency of maize farms in Southern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. It utilized the primary data collected from 320 maize farms randomly selected through multistage sampling. Parametric technique of stochastic frontier production function was estimated to model output of maize growers. Results of stochastic frontier model revealed that tractor hours, labor and FYM positively and significantly affected yield of maize. Average technical efficiency was predicted to be 0.68 ranging from 0.31 to 0.91; implies that an average maize farm can increase yield by 33 percent with existing technology. Technical inefficiency effect model identified that education and farming experience has negative and significant effect on farmers' inefficiency. It is recommended that maize farmers need to be provided with formal as well as informal education, agricultural trainings and credit on easy terms for purchase of costly inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most complex problems faced by the world today is climate change. Agriculture in many ways is affected by climate change and has impact for productivity of crops particularly in rainfed areas. Climate change related research remained a poorly investigated area in KP and instant study filled that gap by investigating farmers' perceptions and adaptation about change in climate and impact of change in climate on wheat productivity in Lakki Marwat. A combination of multi-stage sampling and simple random sampling used to select five Union Councils (UCs), one village council from each UC and one village from each village council. Out of 611 households (HHs), 180 head/elders selected through random sampling process were interviewed. The secondary data, spread over 30 years from 1984 to 2013 pertaining to temperature, precipitation, area under cultivation and yield of crops was collected. Analytical models used are Logit Model and ARDL Model. Regarding farmers perceptions, results show that age of farmers, farming experience and education level of the farmers are positively and significantly, except education, associated with perception regarding climate change. However, size of HH, farming types and area under cultivation are negatively associated. Whereas association is insignificant in respect of farming types and area under cultivation. Regarding farmers' adaptation, results show that the coefficient of age of farmers and farming experience are positive and significant. The coefficient of household size, cropping date, mulching and crop varieties were found positive but insignificant while coefficient of intercropping is negative but insignificant. The results pertaining to impact of temperature and precipitation on wheat yield suggest long run relationship among the variables. Temperature is negatively and significantly related. The precipitation is positively and significantly related. Short run relationship implies that around 73% deviations from long-term equilibrium are adjusted every year. Based on objectives of the research study and field findings recommendations offered include; farmers awareness drive to enhance capacity to strengthen local resilience, participation of farming community in formulation of policies, making meteorological information available to farmers, Design research plans to evolve wheat varieties addressing changing climatic challenges, construct water harvesting structures for high efficiency irrigation and further research to estimate range of temperature and precipitation within which crops under study perform better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite several investments programmes by the Nigerian Government and development institutions over the years to bridge the gender gap in schooling among children and increase enrolment in schools, most children are still found outside the walls of the classroom especially in rural areas. This research assessed how inequality in gender as it regards schooling among children affects the income as an indicator of livelihood of farming households in Kwara state, Nigeria. A sampling technique comprising of three stages was used to randomly select 200 farming households in the study area. Data were collected using questionnaire and were analyzed using the Gini-coefficient and the Ordinary Least Square method. The result showed an overall gini-coefficient for gender inequality in schooling of 0.35, with the value for boys and girls at 0.35 and 0.49 respectively. Mother's education, age of the household heads, marital status, dependency ratio, farm size and the average time spent by the children on the farm were found to significantly influence children's access to schooling. While increase in schooling cost, average years of schooling of the children affects the farm income. It was thus recommended that parents should be sensitized on the future benefits of sending their children to school. More so, credits should be made more accessible to farming households. This might help in the establishment of mechanized farm system thus reducing the need for manual labour and improving the children's opportunities of schooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory approaches to agricultural extension service delivery emphasize the need for accountability of extension to the end users. This study analysed farmers' perception of the accountability of agricultural extension services rendered in Oyo State, Nigeria. Structured interview schedule was used in eliciting information from 195 farmers in rural communities across the four agro-ecological zones in the study area using a two-stage random sampling technique. Data used for the study were analysed using descriptive statistics, Likert scale and the regression analysis. The study revealed that farmers perceived the level of accountability of extension tofarmers in the study area as poor. Level of education, access to training and membership of farmer-groups negatively influenced accountability at p<0.05. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that agricultural extension policies that will ensure accountability of extension tofarmers should be put in place. Farmers should also be enlightened in order to create awareness as to their rights as clientele in the extension process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]