Ife Journal of Agriculture

DETERMINANTS OF WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT IN AGRICULTURE: EVIDENCE FROM RURAL NORTHERN NIGERIA

2026-05-04T12:52:53+00:00

Women’s empowerment is widely recognised as a critical pathway for improving agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods, yet evidence on the drivers of empowerment among women farmers in Nigeria remains limited. This study examines the determinants of women’s empowerment in agriculture among rural farmers in Northern Nigeria using the aggregated individual empowerment index of the Abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI). The analysis draws on representative survey data collected under the 2018 Nigeria Baseline and Varietal Monitoring Survey, covering rural households across six northern states and three agro-ecological zones. Descriptive statistics were used to contextualise the socioeconomic characteristics of rural women farmers, while ordinal logistic regression was used to identify the drivers of empowerment. The results reveal substantial heterogeneity in women’s empowerment, with inadequacies in access to productive resources, control over income, and time allocation. Household characteristics, asset ownership, access to infrastructure and markets, and labour availability emerged as significant determinants. The findings underscore persistent structural constraints facing rural women farmers in Northern Nigeria. To overcome this, it advocates for interventions that strengthen women’s ownership of productive resources, reduce time burdens, and enhance intra-household decision-making power as important components of gender-responsive agricultural and rural development policies.

BASIC ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS FOR SUSTAINABLE PIG FARMING ENTERPRISE: THE CASE OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

2026-05-04T12:31:10+00:00

Pig farming has the potential to lift many rural households out of poverty and enhance the consumption of animal protein. This study investigated the basic entrepreneurial skills required for sustainable pig farming in Osun State, Nigeria. It specifically described respondents’ personal and socio-economic characteristics, investigated their entrepreneurial skills levels, examined their perception towards pig farming, and identified the constraints limiting their entrepreneurial capabilities. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 165 respondents for the study, and an interview schedule was used to collect relevant data. Data collected were analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics, including means, standard deviation, and Pearson product-moment correlation analysis. The results revealed that the mean age of respondents was 43 ± 10.90 years, while their mean annual income from pig farming was ₦495,151 ± ₦592,474. The majority (93.9%) of the respondents possessed high entrepreneurial skills in pig farming. The majority (87%) had a positive perception towards pig farming as an enterprise, while limited access to credit (75.8%) and risk of disease outbreaks (69.7%) were among the significant constraints affecting their entrepreneurial capabilities. At p ≤ 0.01, age (r = 0.194), family size (r = 0.196), and herd size (r = 0.316) had positive and significant relationships with the entrepreneurial skills of respondents. The study concluded that most of the respondents possessed several entrepreneurial skills required for a successful and sustainable pig farming enterprise despite the enterprise's constraints. It recommended the provision of low-interest loan schemes, adequate veterinary services, and basic infrastructural facilities by relevant agencies.

ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE PRODUCTION UNDER ANCHOR BORROWERS PROGRAMME IN SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA

2026-05-04T12:18:44+00:00

The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) is a key agricultural policy initiative designed to enhance smallholder productivity in Nigeria. However, limited evidence exists on its economic impact on maize production. This study, therefore, investigated the economic performance of maize farmers participating in the ABP in Southwest Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 210 maize farmers (beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries) across selected agricultural zones and local government areas in Ogun and Osun States. Data were obtained through semi-structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis, and the stochastic frontier production function. The results revealed a predominance of male farmers among both beneficiaries (75%) and non-beneficiaries (92.5%). Most of the respondents were married, with a mean age of 55.1 years (beneficiaries) and 51.32 years (non-beneficiaries), and an average household size of 7 persons (beneficiaries) and 7 persons (non-beneficiaries). The average farm size was larger for beneficiaries (7.68 ha) than for non-beneficiaries (5.05 ha). Beneficiaries recorded higher total revenue and net farm income (₦309,895.83/ha and ₦178,191.50 /ha) compared to non-beneficiaries (₦279,207.92/ha and ₦142,619.30/ha, respectively). Technical efficiency was also higher among beneficiaries (0.82) than non-beneficiaries (0.78). Fertilisers significantly improved efficiency among both groups (beneficiaries β=0.57, p < 0.01) and non-beneficiaries (β=0.36, p < 0.010). Participation in ABP (β = -4.86, p < 0.1), gender (β = -2.99, p < 0.1), and cooperative membership (β = -2.73, p < 0.05) significantly reduced inefficiency, while farm size (β= 0.12, p < 0.05) and extension visits (β = 2.77, p < 0.1) increased inefficiency. The study concludes that participation in the Anchor Borrowers Programme positively influences profitability and technical efficiency in maize production. Policy efforts should therefore encourage broader inclusion and address inefficiency drivers to enhance programme impact.

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS, ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION AND BLOOD PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKS FED DIETS CONTAINING BREWER-DRIED GRAINS AS REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE-SOYA

2026-05-04T12:00:47+00:00

This study evaluated growth performance, economics of production and blood indices of broiler chicks fed diets in which brewer dried grain (BDG) partially replaced maize-soya as energy-protein ingredients. One hundred and twenty-day-old unsexed broiler chicks were randomly distributed to four dietary treatments. A control diet (T1) containing maize and soya as main energy and protein ingredients was formulated. BDG replaced 30%, 40%, and 50% of combined maize and soya in diets T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. Each treatment had three replicates of 10 birds, and the trial lasted for 28 days. Growth performance indices, body weight changes and feed intake were measured. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed significant effects (p < 0.05) of BDG inclusion on growth performance and economic indices. The final body weight (FBW), daily weight gain (DWG) and daily feed intake (DFI) decreased with increasing replacement level of maize and soya with BDG. Birds had higher average FBW (g/bird), DWG (g/bird), Feedcost per kilogram feed (Fc/kg feed (N)) and Feedcost per bird (Fc/bird (N)) on 0% BDG diet. The FBW and DWG were significantly similar on 30% and 40% BDG replacement. Packed Cell Volume (PCV%), white blood cell (WBC x10³/ul), Platelets (x10³/ul), Lymphocyte (%), Heterophils (%), Eosinophils (%), Mean Corpuscular Volume (fl), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (%) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (pg) were influenced by BDG. However, BDG had no effect on Haemoglobin (g/dL) and Red Blood Cell (x10⁶/uL) concentrations. The study concludes that up to 40% of maize-soya can be economically replaced with BDG in broiler starter diets without adverse effects on growth or health.

UTILIZATION OF INDIGENOUS PRACTICES AMONG HORTICULTURAL FARMERS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA: A GENDER APPROACH

2026-05-04T13:08:10+00:00

This study provides a gendered assessment of the utilization of indigenous practices in enhancing the productivity of smallholder horticultural farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. Using a quantitative methodology, data were collected from 162 horticultural farmers, with Chi-square tests and Probit regression employed for inferential analysis. Results revealed significant gender disparities in crop specialization: men dominated fruit production, while women focused on leafy and fruit vegetables. Chi-square analysis indicated statistically significant gender differences in the application of indigenous practices in nursery management, fertilization, pest and disease control, harvesting, processing, and storage. While informal sources like peers and family were most common, Radio/TV emerged as the only significant formal source for learning these practices, though twice as many men as women utilized it. The Probit regression model indicated that women’s competence in indigenous practices increased their productivity by 25.5 percentage points. The study concludes that indigenous knowledge systems, when mastered, empower women to overcome resource constraints and improve yields, despite persisting disparities in access to learning tools. Consequently, the study recommends that interventions and policies aimed at bridging the gender-gap in horticulture productivity should strengthen gender-responsive extension systems to broaden women’s access to formal learning networks and training opportunities.

ADAPTIVE CAPACITY OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS TO CLIMATE CHANGE: A SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD APPROACH FOR RURAL NIGERIA

2026-05-04T12:39:30+00:00

Agricultural production in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa is generally at the center of multiple risk factors: natural, ecological, climate change, social, and economic. Climate change compounds the problem. Hence, several concepts and frameworks have emerged in the literature to analyze farmers' vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and resilience. The study utilized the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) to analyze the distribution and determinants of farmers' adaptive capacity. Data were sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics and subjected to a multi-criteria decision and Tobit regression analyses. Access to community infrastructure, asset ownership, social capital, and support from family members were the highly weighted indicators of farmers' adaptive capacity upon which farm households were classified. The results show that, in comparison to the other distribution patterns, rural Nigeria has a disproportionately low adaptive capacity. Male-headed households had poor adaptation ability, whereas farm households associated with urban areas showed moderate adaptive capacity. Nonetheless, compared to households with poor adaptive ability, fewer households have intermediate adaptive capacity. The Tobit Regression showed that the following factors were statistically significant in increasing farmers' adaptive capacity: school feeding program (p < 0.01), government economic support programs (N-power) (p < 0.05), e-wallet input subsidy (p < 0.05), growth enhancement scheme (p < 0.05), remittances from overseas (p < 0.05), tractor use (p < 0.01), and livestock ownership (p < 0.01). Years of schooling (p<0.01), farmers' cooperative (p<0.01), and saving cooperative (p<0.01) are other statistically significant factors. However, small farmers' adaptive capacity was reduced by being male headed (p<0.01), utilizing a plough (p<0.01), and losing a household job (p<0.01). The study revealed the structure of farm households' poor adaptive ability in rural Nigeria, and the need for institutional support to increase adaptive capability.

CHALLENGES FACING CHICKEN PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT IN GANGLOTA, LOFA COUNTY, LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA

2026-05-04T12:23:09+00:00

Poultry production, particularly chicken rearing, plays a vital role in improving food security, nutrition, and household income in sub-Saharan Africa. Chickens provide affordable sources of animal protein through meat and eggs and generate quick returns due to their short production cycles and relatively low investment requirements. In Liberia, poultry farming is increasingly viewed as a promising avenue for rural development and poverty alleviation. However, despite this potential, chicken production remains constrained by several structural, economic, and technical challenges that hinder its sustainability. This study aimed to identify the key challenges affecting chicken production and management in Ganglota District, Liberia. A total of 52 poultry farmers were randomly selected and interviewed using structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results revealed that the majority of farmers (78.8%) practised free-range production systems, while 15.4% engaged in small-scale confined rearing and only 4.7% operated large-scale poultry enterprises. The most frequently reported challenges included thievery and insecurity (59.6%), lack of veterinary and extension services (56.0%), high input costs (51.2%), limited access to modern poultry technologies (69.0%), credit constraints (55.2%), inadequate market access (63.0%), and poor water availability (61.5%). The study concludes that poultry production in Ganglota is dominated by low-input systems that face significant management and institutional barriers. It recommends increased government support through affordable feed provision, strengthened extension and veterinary services, improved access to credit, and promotion of modern rearing technologies to enhance productivity and sustainability in the sector.

EFFECT OF INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON RURAL SMALL-SCALE YAM FARMING IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

2026-05-04T12:06:09+00:00

The decline in yam production has been worrisome among small-scale yam farmers; however, the effect of the adoption of indigenous agricultural practices in yam production is yet to be adequately investigated. This study, therefore, investigated the effect of indigenous agricultural practices on rural small-scale yam farming in Ondo State. The multistage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of 150 yam farmers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed with descriptive statistics (frequency distribution counts, mean and standard deviation) and probit regression analysis. The results revealed that 69.3% of small-scale yam farmers were male, with an average age of 47.01±9.03 years, and the mean household size was 7.0±2.0 people, and 52.6% had no formal education. Common indigenous agricultural practices employed included mixed cropping, bush fallowing, use of organic fertilisers/manure, mulching, making of heaps and mounds, and communal labour arrangements. Findings showed that many farmers indicated that the application of indigenous agricultural practices in yam cultivation increases yam productivity. The probit regression analysis revealed that age of farmers, education, household size, non-farm income, access to inputs and cultivated farm size significantly influence adoption of indigenous agricultural practices at 5% level of significance. Indigenous agricultural practices were reported to improve soil fertility, structure, health and drainage, leading to an increase in yields. The study recommends that increased awareness about indigenous practices and improved access to finance and inputs be provided to support small-scale yam farmers.

UTILISATION OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR MAIZE DISEASE MANAGEMENT BY MALE AND FEMALE FARMERS IN SOUTHWESTERN, NIGERIA- AN EX-ANTE APPROACH

2026-05-04T11:52:11+00:00

Studies have shown that digitalisation will change the agri-food chain, and the use of digital technologies will help diagnose and prevent losses due to crop diseases. However, some digital technologies are pushed to potential users. The study analysed male and female farmers’ use of digital technologies for the management of maize diseases using an ex-ante approach. This refers to a method used to make informed decisions or predictions about the outcomes of using digital technologies for maize disease management. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 456 maize farmers for the study. An electronic interview schedule (Kobo Collect) was used to collect the quantitative data from the respondents. Percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to describe and summarise the data. Results show that the majority (79%) of male and (63.5%) female farmers were aware of the use of digital technology in agriculture. The majority of male and female farmers (83% and 84.6%), respectively have used the WhatsApp digital platform. There was variation in the male and female farmers’ knowledge of WhatsApp as revealed by their mean score (3.46 ± 1.52 and 3.15 ±.1.65 respectively. The male farmers (87.3%) had a high response, and about (58%) of female farmers had a low response to digital technologies usage for maize disease management. Male farmers possessed more economic and social power than the female farmers. Hence, it is predicted that male farmers will respond to digitalisation by substitution, while female farmers will respond by adding digitalisation to conventional maize disease management. Strategic efforts should be made on capacity-building programs on various digital tools that are related to agriculture, as this could bridge the gender gap and enhance quick access to information on available innovations in agriculture.