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This study examined the adoption of climate-smart practices among arable crop farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to select two hundred and thirteen (213) arable crop farmers in the study area. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and Tobit regression. Findings showed that mixed cropping system (88.3%), planting of trees (77.3%) and changing planting date (79.8%) were the most adopted climate-smart practices in the study area. Also, 45.1% and 34.7% had high adoption and very high adoption of climate smart practices, respectively. The most severe constraints faced by arable crop farmers were high cost of input ( =2.78), inadequate training on climate-smart practices ( =2.74) and lack of finance ( =2.69).The coefficient of age (?=-0.01), farming experience (?=0.07), and access to extension (?=-0.07) influenced the adoption of climate-smart practices. It is recommended that training should be organized for arable crop farmers that will update their knowledge on climate-friendly practices in order to control the negative effects of climate change.

Background: The frequent conflict between nomads and farmers has been recently a major challenge in Nigeria, resulting in a huge economic setback which may have serious consequences on food security in Nigeria. There are limited studies linking to food security; hence, this study aims to examine the effect of the nomad–farmer conflict on food security among arable crop farmers in Iwajowa, Oyo State, Nigeria. Methods: Primary data was used for the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from 150 arable crop farmers through a multistage sampling procedure from two wards and three villages, which were randomly selected. The food security index (FSI) and Logit regression model were used for data analysis. Results: The result revealed that the majority (74.67%) of the arable crop farmers were affected by the nomad-farmer conflict. Most of the arable crop farmers (54.00%) were food insecure. The factors that predisposed the arable crop farmers to being affected by the conflict were access to water point, land tenure system, bush burning, and years of education at different levels. Being affected by the nomad–farmer conflict caused food insecurity along with age, sex, and household size. Conclusion: It was therefore concluded that arable crop farmers in the study area were mostly affected by the nomad-conflicts that influence food insecurity. Policy measures by the government aimed at reducing the conflict between arable crop farmers and nomads should include water supply and increasing farmers’ years of education

This study assessed the determinants of the strategies adopted by the arable crop farmers in coping with climate change in Osun state, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 arable crop farmers as samples for the study. Data for the study were collected with a structured interview schedule. Data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistical tools; frequency distributions, means, standard deviation, percentages, and Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Descriptive results reveal that most (87.5%) of the sampled farmers were male, and married (63.00%). The average age, household size, and years of formal education were 53.6 years, 10.15 persons, and 5.20 years respectively. Perceived significant variables influencing climate change were fluctuating rainfall patterns and extreme temperature with weighted mean scores (WMS) of 4.55 and 4.47 respectively. The major climate change adaptation strategy and constraint to adaptation were late or early planting, and unavailability of capital with WMS scores of 4.54 and 2.80 respectively. Significant factors influencing climate change adaptation strategies were age, household size, years of formal education, and farming experience. The study concluded that farmers were aware of the effects of climate change and have adopted coping strategies, especially planting their crops early or late in line with emerging rainfall patterns. Thus, extension services must be tailored towards awareness and adoption of improved agronomy practices and planting materials, especially early maturing and drought-resistant varieties of crops that would mitigate climate change effects on crop productivity. Also, farmers should be encouraged to insure their crops against failure due to the effects of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers are faced with the problem of food insecurity, which is driven by climate extreme events, soil degradation, economic instability, lack of sound agricultural policy, unstable political situation, herdersfarmers crisis, and other pressing challenges. Most notably, bio-security threats, and other unobserved events ravaging the agri-food system, and causing significant loss of farm output, disruption of food supply chain, as well as loss of returns and other economic damages. This research interrogated the effect of adoption of bio-security threats management practices on arable crop farmers' food security status in South-West, Nigeria, using cross-sectional research design, with the dataset elicited from 403 farmers drawn through a multi-stage random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution and percentages, cross-tabulation, and food insecurity experience-based scale for the continuum categorization of farmers' food security status. Ordinal logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effect of adoption of bio-security practices and other dynamics on the farmers' levels of food security status. Findings revealed that crop farmers were aware of bio-security threats, but with low adoption of bio-security threats management practices. Onethird of the farmers were also vulnerable to transitory and chronic food insecurity status. The odds ratio estimates of the ordinal logistic regression model also indicated that gender of the farmers (p<0.05), years of formal education (p<0.1), dependency ratio (p<0.01), farm size (p<0.05), adoption of bio-security (p<0.1), land ownership (p<0.1), and access to bio-security information (p<0.1) have significant influence on the levels of farmers' food security status in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The frequent conflict between nomads and farmers has been recently a major challenge in Nigeria, resulting in a huge economic setback which may have serious consequences on food security in Nigeria. There are limited studies linking to food security; hence, this study aims to examine the effect of the nomad–farmer conflict on food security among arable crop farmers in Iwajowa, Oyo State, Nigeria. Methods: Primary data was used for the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from 150 arable crop farmers through a multistage sampling procedure from two wards and three villages, which were randomly selected. The food security index (FSI) and Logit regression model were used for data analysis. Results: The result revealed that the majority (74.67%) of the arable crop farmers were affected by the nomad-farmer conflict. Most of the arable crop farmers (54.00%) were food insecure. The factors that predisposed the arable crop farmers to being affected by the conflict were access to water point, land tenure system, bush burning, and years of education at different levels. Being affected by the nomad–farmer conflict caused food insecurity along with age, sex, and household size. Conclusion: It was therefore concluded that arable crop farmers in the study area were mostly affected by the nomad-conflicts that influence food insecurity. Policy measures by the government aimed at reducing the conflict between arable crop farmers and nomads should include water supply and increasing farmers’ years of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the level of soil fertility management practices (SFMP) among arable crop farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling process was used in selecting 95 arable crop farmers Data were collected using a well-structured interview schedule and analysed using descriptive statistics and Person Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results showed that respondents’ average age was 47 years, mostly males (81%), married (85%) with an average farm size of 1.7ha who cultivated mainly yam (86.3%) cassava (82.1%) and maize (52.6%). The respondents had array of SFMPs predominantly cultural methods, inorganic fertilizers and organic manure in that order. The level of utilization was predominantly cultural methods of ridging across the slope with a weighted mean score (WMS) of 2.70 and mulching (WMS=2.50); inorganic fertilizers: urea (WMS=1.64) and NPK (WMS=1.45) and organic manure: poultry manure (WMS=0.84) and animal dung (WMS=0.77). The major source of information regarding SFMP was radio (85.3%), market-place (83.2%), and fellow farmers (80.0%). PPMC analysis showed that farm size (p=0.00), was significantly related to the level of SFMP. Conclusively, farm size influences the level of SFMP. It is therefore recommended that farmers should be enlightened to utilize relevant farming system techniques to improve on production of arable crops.

The study investigated Arable crop farmers’ perception of benefits of ICTs use by Extension agents in Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. Multiple stage sampling procedure was used to select 105 respondents for the study. Data were collected through the use of structure questionnaire from the respondents and descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency tables, and percentages were used to describe data while inferential statistical tools such as Chi-square, PPMC (Pearson Product Moment Correlation) were used to analyze the hypotheses of the study. The results showed that majority of the respondents were in the age bracket of 31-40 years, and more of them were males, with majority of them were married. The major sources of ICTs available to the respondents were radio, mobile phone and internet. Results revealed perceived benefit of ICTs by extension agents among respondents as majority strongly agreed perceived benefits were farmers can get remunerative price to their produce through ICT based market intelligence, weather forecasting through ICTs assist farmers in timely decision, using ICT to communicate to the farmers by the extension agent could affect the face to face interaction presently enjoy by the farmers, existing infrastructure of ICT is not enough to meet the needs of the farming community in rural areas where Farmers reside. There is significant relationship between socio-economic characteristic of the respondents and perceived benefits of ICTs use which implies that marital status, educational level, religion, other occupation and land acquisition were significant to the perceived benefits of ICTs use in the study area, also there is significant relationship between sources of ICTs and perceived benefits of ICTs use. It is therefore recommended that information exchange on agricultural related activities should be encouraged through the use ICTs so as to strengthening the perceived benefits of use of ICTs by extension agents among arable crop farmers.

Conservation practices are tools used to help conserve and improve natural resources necessary to maintain sustainable arable crop production. This study assessed the extent of use of conservation practices among arable crop farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used in selecting 200 arable crop farmers. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule. Percentages and mean statistic were used in presenting the results. Findings show that, the major conservation practices adopted by arable crop farmers were mulching (100%), crop rotation (100%), ridging (100%), bush fallowing (99.0%) and mixed cropping (99.0%). The most frequently utilized conservation practices were ridging (95.0%), mulching (91.0%) and mixed cropping (89.9%). Population pressure on land (x? =3.77) and availability of funds (x? =3.74) are factors influencing the effective use of conservation practices. The results further revealed that long term continuity of yield from land (x? =2.84), long term sustainability and productivity of land (x? =2.76), increased yields (x? =2.69) were reasons for conservation practices by arable crop farmers. It is therefore recommended that arable crop farmers should be extensively encouraged through access to land and funds to promote the adoption of conservation practices to enhance arable crop productivity.

This study examined the utilization of soil fertility management practices (SFMPs) among arable crop farmers in Osun state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling was used to select 160 arable crop farmers. Data were collected using a well-structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Person Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The results revealed that the majority of the farmers are married males, mostly aged 51 years old, with an average farm size of 2.6ha, and mainly growing maize (96.9%), cassava (91.9%) and yam (68.1%). The respondents use cultural methods, synthetic fertilizers and organic manure in that order as SFMPs. SFMPs are used at the following levels: cultural methods: ridging across the slope with a weighted mean score (WMS) of 2.81, rotational cropping (WMS = 2.66) and mulching (WMS = 2.47); synthetic fertilizers: NPK (WMS = 1.75) and urea (WMS = 1.27); organic manure: poultry manure (WMS = 0.77) and animal dung (WMS = 0.76). The major source of information for SFMPs was radio (95.6%). PPMC analysis showed that age (r = 0.20*; p = 0.01) and farm size (r = 0.16*; p = 0.04) are significantly related to the utilisation of SFMPs. In conclusion, the respondents were small scale farmers who mostly utilize cultural methods of SFMPs and are mainly influenced by crop type as a function of age and farm size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up till now there is shortage of empirical evidence on volume of loan received that generates big push for the farmers and the bank to curtail abuse of fund and its determinants. The purpose of this study is to examine the agricultural bank credit intervention and the application of big push theory among beneficiaries in Nigeria so as to make advocacy for a bailout intervention. A total of 295 beneficiaries were randomly selected. A questionnaire was developed, and data collection was undertaken by means of a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, regression model and t-test analysis were used to analyze the data. The mean age of beneficiaries was 46 years old. The respondents had an average household size of 6 persons with 79.3% of the beneficiaries being literate with one form of formal education or the other. About 65.4% of the beneficiaries did not subscribe to membership of farmers groups. The beneficiaries had 13 years’ experience in arable crop farming. The average farm size was 1.57 ha. This tells us that the beneficiaries were small scale farmers. The result reveals that the region of big push was between $244.34-$977.37 The variables that had positive and substantial relationship with big push in the model were age of respondent, years spent in farming, education, farm size, cooperative membership, household size, collateral requirement and marital status. The outcome of the t-test indicated that there was much impact after benefiting from agricultural bank credit loan scheme in the area. The foremost constraints were collateral requirement and high interest rate. Loan acquisition procedure by agricultural bank credit should be made easier as well as the threshold of farmers financial management ability should be considered during disbursement of loan to farmers for effective utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The study was undertaken to ascertain effectiveness of use of ICTs by extension agents and arable crop farmers in Ido local government area Oyo State. Multiple stage sampling procedure was used to select 105 respondents for the study. Data were collected from the respondents through the use of structured questionnaire.. Descriptive statistics such as; mean, frequency table, and percentage were used to analysed data while inferential statistical tools such as Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment correlation (PPMC) were used to tested the hypotheses of the study. The result of the study showed that majority of the respondents were in the age bracket of 31-40 years, which could be categorized as adults, and more of them were males, while majority of them were married. Result revealed the level of ICTs used by extension agents for arable crop farmers were radio (97.1%), mobile phone (92.4%) and internet (81.9%).The result further shows major constraints militating the effectiveness of use of ICTs were network problem in the study area. There is no significant relationship between constraint and level of ICTs used by the arable crops farmer in the study area. It is therefore recommended that government should ensure that farmers should have access to and use ICTs by putting policies in place to ensure all rural area have access to ICTs tools,also awareness on the use of ICTs should be intensify among arable crop farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to ascertain the socioeconomic and geospatial traits responsible for little or no usage of tractors for land clearing and cultivation by rural farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. Data were obtained on the study objectives with use of interview guide, in-depth discussion and field observation a randomly selected 247 arable crop farmers. The obtained data were subjected to frequency count and binominal analysis of variance. Results showed factors such as farmers’ inability to afford tractor acquisition and/or hire tractors services (prop = 1.00, p < 0.05) as the major economic traits encumbering tractor usage for land preparation. The social traits included inadequate available of tractors to serve the farmers (prop = 0.76, p < 0.05), and farmers’ apprehension of possible destruction of soil structure and/or farm land (prop = 0.64, p < 0.05) as a result of tractor usage for land preparation. The geospatial traits were stump/tree distribution (prop = 0.97, p < 0.05) and land fragmentation (prop = 0.92, p < 0.05). It was thus concluded that both socioeconomic and farm geospatial traits interactively encumbered farm tractorisation in the study area. It was recommended that farmers should be supported technically and financially by stakeholders in agro-development so as to enable them to afford tractor usage for land cultivation.

The study assessed agricultural credit accessibility by arable crop farmers in Odo-Otin Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. Multi stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 120 arable crop farmers. Primary data were collected with the aid of a well-structured interview schedule and subjected to frequency counts, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) analyses. The results revealed that the mean age of the arable crop farmers was 53.04 years ± 13.48 years, majority (75.8%) were male and majority (85.8%) were married. Majority (83.3%) were at moderate level of farm credit accessibility. The major constraints to accessing credit in the study area were delay in approval/disbursement (X̅ =4.85) and lack of collateral (X̅ =4.58). Results of the hypothesis showed significant association between accessibility of farm credit and sex (χ2=14.219, p=0.001) and level of education, the results also showed positive and significant relationship between accessibility of farm credit and age (r=0.527; p= 0.000) and household size (r=0.426, p= 0.000) of the arable crop farmers. It was concluded that there was moderate level of credit accessibility by the arable crop farmers. Also, sex, level of education, types of arable crops grown, land acquisition pattern, age, household size, farming experience and farm size were the determinants of credit accessibility by the arable crop farmers. It was recommended that the arable crop farmers should increase their scale of farming in order to have better access to farm credit and that government should provide enough farm credit at low interest rate for the arable crop farmers in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the perception of climate change among arable crop farmers in Akinyele local government area of Oyo state, Nigeria using a well-structured questionnaire for data acquisition. Descriptive and inferential (chi-square) statistics were used to analyze the data.. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (50.8%) were between the ages of 40-49years and majority of them (85.8%) are married with household size of 7-10 persons. The study further revealed that (33.3%) of the respondents had no formal education while, (42.5%) of the respondents had a farming experience of 16years and above. However, it also shows that majority of the respondents are aware of the effect and causes of climate change. Significant association exists between marital status (x2=68.426, P=0.000), family size (X2=25.777, P=0.012) and perceived effect of climate change. The study therefore recommended that the government and extension agents should enlighten the women farmers more about climate change and should also help in making them adapt excellently to climate change.

Climate change effect on agricultural productivity is very glaring. There is an advocacy for arable crops farmers to take advantage of the Nigeria meteorological services (NIMET) as part of adaptation strategies against climate change. Having an insight into the constraints to access and utilization agrometeorological services is worthwhile for agricultural extension programme planning. This study evaluated assessed the constraint to access and utilization of agro-meteorological service among arable crop farmers in Delta State Nigeria. The agro-meteorological services that were most made available to them ranged from daily weather forecast to seasonal weather condition. The farmers mostly accessed and utilized daily weather forecast, seasonal rainfall prediction, information on crop stages performance and general weather condition. However, untimely release and transmission of the needed information was the major constraint to utilization of agro-meteorological services. The farmers’ socioeconomic attributes such as level of formal education, household size, farm size, extension contact and membership of farmers’ association influenced the utilization of agro-meteorological services. It is concluded that the level of access to and utilization of agro-meteorological services is low as a result of the constraints experienced by the farmers. It was recommended that agrometeorological services information need to be disseminated timely and the information be simplified before dissemination to farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the perception of climate change among arable crop farmers in Akinyele local government area of Oyo state, Nigeria using a well-structured questionnaire for data acquisition. Descriptive and inferential (chi-square) statistics were used to analyze the data.. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (50.8%) were between the ages of 40-49years and majority of them (85.8%) are married with household size of 7-10 persons. The study further revealed that (33.3%) of the respondents had no formal education while, (42.5%) of the respondents had a farming experience of 16years and above. However, it also shows that majority of the respondents are aware of the effect and causes of climate change. Significant association exists between marital status (x² =68.426, P=0.000), family size (X² =25.777, P=0.012) and perceived effect of climate change. The study therefore recommended that the government and extension agents should enlighten the women farmers more about climate change and should also help in making them adapt excellently to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conceptualised to determine the influence of social inclusion on rural-rural migrant arable crop farmers' level of agricultural production. A sample of 254 rural-rural migrant arable crop farmers identified by key informants. Findings revealed farmers had a mean age of 45 and were mostly married females who had completed secondary education, had an average of 15 years farming experience. Average farm size was 2.5ha and annual mean crop output ranged from 1000 to 25,000 kg (1–25 metric tons). Most had membership in farmers' groups and contact with two extension agents monthly. Their level of social inclusion at a community level was lower (inclusion index = 0.68) than at the farmers' group level (inclusion index = 0.85). Social inclusion of rural-rural migrant farmers achieved significance to level of crop output at the farmers' group level. Socioeconomic attributes, such as gender, marital status, level of formal education, years of farming experience in host communities, and monthly extension contact, contributed to farmers' level of social inclusion. It is recommended that social inclusion of rural-rural migrant farmers in their host communities should be encouraged and sustained; social inclusion of migrant farmers in farmers' groups should also be sustained and encouraged by the public agricultural extension agency and related non-governmental organisations, with those in communities that had not subscribed to membership of such groups encouraged to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low income of the arable crop farmers is sine qua-non to abject poverty associated with most of the farmers; hence the study evaluated the determinants of poverty among arable crop farmers using sustainable soil management techniques (SSMT) in Imo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 209 arable crop farmers for this study. Information on the objectives of this study was elicited from the sampled respondents through a well structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, Foster-Greer Thorbeck (FGT) model and the Logit model. Results showed that the mean per capita consumption expenditure among the farm households was N360.30 ($1.81) with a poverty line of N240.20 ($1.21) per person, per day. The incidence of poverty among the farm households increased with advancing age of the household heads. Poverty headcount, gap and severity were 0.766, 0.614 and 0.713, respectively. Variables such as age of farmer, education, household size, access to micro credit, net farm income, extension contacts and participation in agricultural workshop were significant and important determinants of poverty levels among arable crop farmers in the area. Hence, polices on income savings, diversification and redistribution should be encouraged amongst the arable crop farmers to drive poverty reduction in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addressing the problem of land degradation as well as enhancing sustainable food production, agroforestry was advocated among the arable crop farmers in the area. The study was thus conducted to investigate the determinants as well as the constraints of agroforestry technology adoption in Ondo State, Nigeria. Data collected from a multi-stage sampling procedure were analysed with the aid of descriptive statistics and double hurdle model. Findings revealed that the mean age, farming experience, level of education, and plot age were 58.6 ± 13.3, 31.9 ± 13.8, 7 ± 6.3, and 30.3 ± 10.5, respectively. While the number of adult male and extension contact increased the intensity of agroforestry adoption, value of livestock reduced the technology adoption. This implies that varying factors affect farmers' decision to adopt and intensity of use. The major constraint of agroforestry practice in the area is insecure land tenure. Policy thrust that would enhance farmers' access to extension service and redistribute land should be put in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to examine the impact of sustainable soil management techniques on land productivity of arable crop farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Despite various efforts to produce basic foods for the increasing population in Nigeria, the track record of performance over the years has proved abortive. This stems from the use of variant unsustainable soil management techniques which are concomitant to soil erosion, nutrient depletion and decline in food production. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 209 arable crop farmers. Objectives of this study were elicited from the sampled respondents through a well structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, average treatment effect (ATE) and local average treatment effect (LATE) models. Results showed that farmers in the area have varied knowledge of sustainable soil management techniques (SSMT). The PSM and IPSW estimates were N141.14 and N97.06 respectively while the LATE by WALD and IV were N152.26 and N158.17. This implies that the use of SSMT has an impact on the productivity of land per unit increase in rent. Hence, farmers at all level should be encouraged to practice efficient soil management techniques in order to improve the productivity of the land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed arable crop farmers’ utilization of agro-meteorological services in Oyo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed for this study. Oyo State was stratified into rainforest and savannah. One local government each was randomly selected from each of the vegetation zones, which were Iddo and Ogbomoso north. List of arable crop farmers was obtained from the selected LGAs from where 02% and 03% of the population were randomly selected to give a total sample size of 167 respondents. Data were presented with descriptive and analysed inferential statistical tools: Chi-square and PPMC. The results reveal that the majority of respondents were males (83.6%), Christians (62.5%) and had formal education (79.0%). About 36.2% were between 50 and 59 years and 65.8% had a farm size of 1-5 acres. Maize and cassava were the most cultivated crops, Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP) was the only communication channel used. More than half (66.4%) of the farmers were aware of seasonal rainfall prediction, untimely access to information was the most severe constraint (1.23) and the used of agro-meteorological service was slightly above average (54.6%). Farm size (r=0.162) and family size (r=0.309: p≤0.05) were significantly related to utilization of agro-meteorological services. The scale of agro-meteorological service utilisation requires deliberate agro-meteorological extension education services and timely delivery of agro-meteorological information to farmers.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the determinants of arable crop farmers’ awareness to causes and effects of climate change in south western Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – Using primary data, 150 arable crop farmers in Ogun State were selected through a multi stage sampling technique. Survey method was used to elicit information on farmers’ socioeconomic, production characteristics, and their level of awareness to causes and effects of climate change. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, environmental awareness index (EAI), and Tobit regression analysis. Findings – Most (81.08 percent) of the arable crop farmers were males with an average household size of eight persons, farming experience of 24 years and farm size of approximately 1 ha. The computed climate change EAI showed that only 47 percent of the respondents were aware of causes of climate change, while 68 percent were aware of its effects. Results further revealed that age, income from secondary occupation (p < 0.10), marital status, household size (p < 0.05), years of farming experience, frequency of extension contact, land size in hectare, and farm revenue (p < 0.01) were the determinants of respondents awareness to causes and effects of climate change. Practical implications – The study recommended among others that, awareness should be created among arable crop farmers on climate change causes and effects for appropriate mitigation actions to be taken for improved agricultural productivity. Originality/value – The study provided new empirical evidence on the awareness level of respondents to causes and effects of climate change on their production activities and livelihood in general. Implications for policy will be to provide a public education program that will target females, the poor, the illiterate, and the people in the economically active age group among others in order to create awareness and provide information and adequate knowledge on the causes and effects of climate change for proper mitigation and adaptation options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreased funding for public agricultural extension has spurred calls for private initiatives to complement government efforts to ensure sustainable food security in developing countries. This study assesses arable crop farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for extension services in Niger State using three Local Government Areas as a case study. The Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) was adopted to determine the amount that arable crop farmers are willing to pay for extension services. Primary data on the socioeconomic variables, reasons for payment, and amount willing to pay were collected from 120 farmers and summarized using descriptive statistics. Results showed that mean age and mean farm size of arable crop farmers is 46.4 years and 3.7 hectares (ha), respectively. About 60% of the farmers are willing to pay for extension services, provided their farm income would increase and extension services are relevant and meet their perceived needs. The amount which farmers are willing to pay for extension services is [image omitted]15,133.84 (Nigerian Naira) per farmer per year through the yam grower association, cooperative societies, and the service providers themselves. The study concluded that arable crop farmers' participation in funding extension services as private initiatives depends on economic values derived by farmers and the services' relevance to the farmer's situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]