American International Journal of Agricultural Studies

CAN CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECT INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES?: EVIDENCE FROM FARMERS IN ENUGU STATE NIGERIA

Sat, 04 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The need to analyze the changes that the effect of climate change brings on the income-generating activities of farmers in Enugu state necessitated this study. The study examined farmers' socio-economic characteristics, described the perceived climate change effects, analyzed changes in income-generating activities, and evaluated the link between socio-economic factors and income-generating activities. Primary data were collected from 120 respondents using well-structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson product-moment correlation. The results showed that the majority (73.3%) of the respondents were male farmers. Results of the study also showed that reduction in productivity (89.2%), change in farming pattern (77.5%), and soil degradation (65.0%) were the most perceived effects of climatic change among the respondents. The result also revealed strong negative change in income-generating activities in the areas of goat/sheep rearing (-33.4), fishing (-32.5), rabbit rearing (-15.0), and basket weaving (15.0), while petty trading (+23.4), hair barbing (+18.3) and food vending (+15.8) had strong positive change in the study area. The study revealed that socio-economic characteristics such as marital status, household size, and years of farming experience are correlated with positive income-generating activities. The study recommends that farmers should prioritize positive income-generating activities that correlate with their socio-economic characteristics. The study also recommends the implementation of crop rotation and organic manure as one of the ecological practices for climate change mitigation.

JEL Classification Codes: Q00, O13.

GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND LIPID PROFILE OF ARCHACHATINA MARGINATA (GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL) FED VARYING LEVELS OF RIPE EGGPLANT FRUITS BASED DIETS

Kenechi Celestina Umezinwa , Chioma Jane Aniekwe , Foleng Harriet Ndofor — Sun, 05 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The performance of African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata) fed ripe eggplant fruits was studied using eighty-four (84) juvenile (four months old) Archachatina marginata for eight (8) weeks. The study evaluated the snails' growth performance and lipid profile (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides). The snails were divided into four treatment groups, with twenty-one (21) snails per group in a completely randomized design (CRD). Treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 had varying levels of ripe eggplant fruits at 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% inclusion levels respectively. Isocaloric and isonitrogenous feeds and water were provided ad libitum, while other management practices were strictly adhered to. The results showed no significant differences (P>0.05) in growth performance across treatments. The results also revealed that total cholesterol decreased (P<0.05) significantly as the levels of ripe eggplant fruits increased across treatments. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides, while high-density lipoprotein differed (P<0.05) significantly across treatments. The result also showed a linear increase in high-density lipoprotein ("good" cholesterol) as the levels of ripe eggplant fruits increased across treatments. Therefore, a 15% inclusion level of ripe eggplant fruits in the diet of Archachatina marginata reduces total cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein without any adverse effect on growth. The study recommends using ripe eggplant fruits to formulate diets for animals with high cholesterol content and high levels of low-density lipoprotein in their meat.

JEL Classification Codes: O13.

ASSESSMENT OF THE OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF FARMERS' COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

Sat, 11 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

To uncover the constraints and entry points for improving the operational performance of farmers' cooperative societies in southeast Nigeria forms the motivation for this study. Farmers' cooperatives have enormous potential to support economic growth at the rural and regional levels, building on the spirit of teamwork that is already common among the rural people. A decent number of qualities differentiate cooperative associations from other different entities. These comprise open and voluntary enrollment. Cooperative social orders are available to all citizenry with common interests. This study analyzed responses from two hundred and forty respondents selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Frequency, mean, Likert scale and ordered logit regression model were used for the analysis. The perception of members of farmers' cooperative societies on their operational performance showed that the cooperatives in the area performed well in terms of members' access to training, participation during decision-making, voting during elections, and leaders' emergence through the democratic process. The ordered logit regression result of the socioeconomic factors to the operational performance of the farmers' cooperatives showed that membership strength, Age of the cooperatives, access to free input, access to training, and access to infrastructural facilities were statistically significant and positively related to farmers' cooperatives level of operational performance. Thus, the study recommends that Cooperative societies supply their members' goods and services for improved income and savings investment, improved productivity, and bargaining power through maximum utilization of economies of scale and cost and risk sharing.

JEL Classification Codes: O13.