Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) is the most devastating disease of banana and plantain (Musa spp.). The disease spreads through the use of infected vegetative propagules and the banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa) is the virus vector. This study seeks to understand the gender dimensions and sociocultural aspects of banana seed (vegetative propagule) sourcing and sharing practices among men and women farmers, and its influence on BBTD spread and disease control efforts. Data were collected from 300 banana farmers (187 men and 113 women) in BBTD and non-BBTD areas in southwest Nigeria. The results revealed that seed sharing within the communities is a social responsibility with members expected to share banana seed with the needy mainly as gifts rather than sold for cash. Men farmers mostly sourced seed from old fields, while women sourced seed from relatives. Harvesting of banana seed was predominantly the responsibility of men with women as helpers. Both men and women farmers in the non-BBTD area cultivated larger farm sizes and harvested more banana planting material than farmers in the BBTD area. The existing seed sourcing practices among men and women farmers heighten the risk of BBTD spread. Awareness raising on disease spread through infected seeds should consider gender-differentiated roles and social practices to reduce its spread within communities.

The study investigated benefited from the use of ICTs in Northeastern Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 230 respondents. Data for the study were collected using interview schedule and analysed with percentages, mean and weighted score and Chi-square and PPMC at α0.05. Results show that the available ICT tools to the respondents were radio (97.4%), mobile phone (92.6%) and television (88.3%). The most perceived benefits of ICTs were keeping in touch with friends with (158.8) and provision of information on weather, disease outbreak and new agricultural techniques (141.7). However, the majority (54.3%) of the respondents had low level of benefit of ICT use. Constraint encountered using ICTs were high cost of maintenance (126.5), high call tariff (126.4) and language barrier (124.8). Significant relationship existed between respondents’ age (r= - 0.61), sex (χ2=56.50) and benefits derived from the use of ICTs. Respondents’ low level of benefit derived could be due to language barrier, high cost of tariff and maintenance. Developmental practitioners should continue the use of ICTs to propagate information to target audience while high priority should be given to local language when packaging such information. Keywords: ICTs, Rural farmer, new agricultural techniques, developmental practitioners, Northeast Nigeria

The study investigated listenership of the Farmers' Digest radio program on Joy FM (96.5) in Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria. A questionnaire was used to collect data on listenership of Farmers' Digest, preferred segment, listeners' perception, and factors limiting listenership of the program from 150 respondents. Farmers' Digest enjoyed wide listenership (56.3%) and a favorable perception (74.4%). Discussion (M = 1.79) was the most preferred segment and irregular supply of electricity (M = 1.64) was the most limiting listenership factor. Perception was significantly related to program listenership (r = .484). The program design should be sustained, while identified constraining factors should be mitigated for enhanced listenership.

The study assessed scriptwriters’ perception of use of soap opera for agricultural information dissemination in South-western Nigeria. A total of 30 scriptwriters were interviewed using questionnaire Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and linear regression at p=0.05. Findings reveal that lack of adequate fund (243.4) and lack of sponsors (226.6) were perceived constraints by scriptwriters to developing scripts for promoting agriculture using soap opera. The majority (93.3%) had favourable perception of the use of soap opera for promoting agriculture. There was a significant relationship between perceived constraints (r =0.12; p≤0.05) and scriptwriters’ perception of use of soaps for promoting agriculture, while age (β = 3.18, t = 12.05, p = ≤0.05) and being an actor (β = 1.96, t = 7.61, p = ≤0.05) were the main determinants of scriptwriters’ perception of use of soap opera in dissemination of agricultural information. Scriptwriters’ favourable perception is a green light for production of agricultural based soap in Nigeria if sponsorship is guaranteed. It is recommended that an adequate source of fund or sponsorship should be sourced for use of soap opera for agricultural information dissemination.Keywords: Scriptwriters, agricultural information, soap opera

This study assessed cocoa farmers’ participation in FBS activities in Osun State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to select 131 cocoa farmers. Information on respondents’ participation, knowledge, satisfaction, benefits and constraints to participating in FBS activities were collected through the interview schedule. Data gathered were analysed using mean, standard deviation, Weighted Score (WS) and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) at α0.05. Cocoa farmers’ farm size and years of farming experience were 3.82±5.71 and 21.50±13.61 respectively. They participated in classroom work and discussion (WS=156.5), benefited from improved knowledge of farm management and farm record (ˉx=1.00) and were satisfied with the training schedule fixing (WS=150.3). However, they were constrained by inadequate funds to use the knowledge acquired (WS=139.8). Respondents had a high level of participation (51.9%), knowledge (55.0%) and satisfaction (50.4%) about FBS activities. Significant relationships existed among respondents’ participation (r=0.041), satisfaction (r=0.321) and knowledge about FBS activities. Farmers’ participation in the FBS improved their knowledge of farm business management hence, should be continued to impact their livelihoods.

The study examined information and communication technologies usage among agricultural students of tertiary institution in Southwest of Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 300 agricultural students from tertiary institutions. Structured questionnaire was employed to elicit information on students’ socioeconomic characteristics, availability of ICTs, accessibility and purposes of ICTs usage. Data were subjected to percentage, chi-square, the Pearson Product Moment Correlation and the Analysis of variance at p=0.05. Findings revealed that the most available ICTs among students were internet and mobile phone (95.0%) respectively while they had access to mobile phone (Weighted Mean (WM)=0.58) and radio (WM=0.51), they used ICTs for information (WM=0.77), academics (WM=0.70) and entertainment (WM=0.70) purposes; with high level of availability (71.0%), access (56.7%) and ICTs usage purpose (51.3%) respectively. There were significant relationships between respondents’ monthly stipend (r=0.200), state of institution (χ²=8.000), religion (χ²=222.660), marital status (χ²=211.680), category of students’ programme (χ²= 320.4608), type of institution (χ²=56.000) and their purposes for using ICTs but with a significant difference across the states (F=23.821; p=0.00). Students used ICTs for information, academic and entertainment purposes based on their age and type of their institutions. Since ICTs are used for beneficial purposes, it is recommended that ICTs should be adapted, applied and incorporated into tertiary institutions’ curricula across the nation. Keywords: ICTs usage, undergraduate students, entertainment purposes, mobile phone, tertiary institutions.