A. I. KENNETH

This study examined the availability and utilization of digital tools among catfish farmers in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State. The specificobjectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, identify available digital tools, assess farmers’ awareness and utilization levels, andidentify the constraints affecting digital tool usage. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 120 catfish farmers, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to analyzetheobjectives, while multiple regression analysis was employed to test the hypothesis. Findings revealed that catfish farming in the area is dominated by middle-agedfarmers, with an average age of 42 years and 71.7% being male. The farmers werealso well educated, as 57.5% had tertiary education, while 26.7%had secondaryeducation. In addition, the respondents had 9 years of farming experience. Regarding the digital tools, mobile phones (98.3%), WhatsApp (85.8%), Facebook (83.3%), mobile banking (72.5%), and YouTube (69.2%) were the most readily availableandwidely known digital tools among the farmers. Awareness of digital tools wasgenerally high across platform ranging from 98.3% for mobile phones to 16.7%forPay-Per-Click (PPC) services of these tools was high for mobile phone, Whatsapp, Facebook, Mobile banking and YouTube. Utilization was greatest for basictoolssuch as mobile phones (4.60). Farmers reported several constraints affecting digital
tool use. The most pressing challenges included inadequate operating capital, highcost of ICT devices, unstable power supply, high internet subscription costs, andlimited digital literacy, all highlighted in the reported mean scores in the constraints section of the study. The regression model revealed that socio-economic characteristics significantly influenced digital tool utilization among the farmers, with the model producing0.001, indicating a strong overall relationship. Among the predictors, education level
(0.004), years of farming experience (0.027), annual income (0.021), and association membership (0.015) emerged as statistically significant determinants of utilization. Hence, the study concluded that although catfish farmers have high awareness of digital tools, utilization remains centered on simple and readily accessible technologies. Addressing financial, infrastructural, and capacity-related constraintswill be essential to enhancing digital adoption in aquaculture. The findings from the study recommends that the government agencies, NGO’s, and extension services should improve digital literacy training, better access to affordable devices andcredit, enhanced internet connectivity, and strengthened cooperative support systems to optimize digital tool utilization and boost aquaculture productivity in the study area.

The study analyzed the Information Needs On Lassa Fever Safety Practices Among Garri Processors And Marketers In Esan West, Esan Central And Esan North East, In Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the social economic characteristics of garri processors and marketers in the study area; ascertained respondents awareness of Lassa fever and Lassa fever safety practices; examined respondents access and preferred information sources on Lassa fever safety practices; examined information needs on Lassa fever safety practices; identified the constraints on access to information needs on Lassa fever safety practices. Data was was collected using random sampling method to will be used to select fifty (50) respondents from Esan West, Esan Central, Esan north East L.G.A making a total of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents. Data collected were analyzed by with Logit regression, multiple regression and pearson product moment correlation(PPMC) and Described with descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation for appropriate variables. Findings from this study showed that Majority (82.7 %) were females while (17.3%) 0f the respondents were males. Majority (78 % ) of the respondents were married. The garri processors and marketers mainly had secondary education (48.7%), majority of the respondents had 5-10 years experience in garri processing and marketing. The findings also xi shows that large proportion of garri processors and marketers had household size between 7-9 persons. The major constraints such as High level of illiteracy (mean=3.38) insufficient power supply to charge phones and watch television (mean=3.58), High cost of data (mean=3.13), Non-available information material on Lassa fever (mean=3.6) were the serous constraints affecting the access and use of information on Lassa fever safety practices. The results also shows that Radio (mean=3.57), television (mean=3.62), friends and family (mean=3.28), internet (mean=2.81) and Healthcare providers (mean=2.86) were the preferred information sources for Lassa fever safety practices among garri processors and marketers.

This study aimed at accessing the effectiveness of broadcasting media in disseminating agricultural information to maize farmers in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Edo state, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of maize farmers, identify the broadcasting media available and accessible to maize farmers, examine the perceived benefits of broadcasting media utilized, determine the effectiveness
of broadcasting media utilized, and identify constraints faced by maize farmers in the study area. Multi-stage and simple random sampling procedure was used in the selection of 150
respondents for the study. Primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentage, mean, and standard deviation
while the hypotheses were analyzed using Regression analysis. The findings revealed that 50.7% of maize farmers were female while 49.3% were male with a mean age of 48 years. Most (96.7%) of the respondents had access to electricity. Further findings show that broadcasting media was available to majority (61.9%) of the
farmers and not available to a notable minority (38.1%). Also, majority of farmers (60%) perceived broadcast media to be very effective while 40% did not. Major constraints faced by the farmers were, poor network signal coverage (x̄= 3.75), poor power supply (x̄= 3.56). The study recommend that agricultural broadcast programs should be developed by local radios and community TV stations since most rural farmers rely on them by designing programmes for AM/FM thereby enhancing accessibility to broadcasting media

This study examined the perception of final-year students in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, toward taking farming as a future livelihood. The study aimed to determine students’ interest in farming, identify factors influencing their perception, assess their attitudes toward farming relative to other career pathways, and highlight key constraints that may hinder them from choosing farming as a livelihood option after graduation. A total of 66 respondents were selected using a proportionate sampling technique, which ensured that each of the six departments was represented according to its share of the 218 final-year students in the faculty. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean) and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The socio-demographic profile revealed that respondents were predominantly male (90.9%), mostly young (87.9% aged 25 and below, with a mean age of 23 years), and single 97%). Most respondents originated from rural communities (63.6%), and exactly half (50%) reported having access to farmland. The findings indicated a generally positive perception of farming, with high mean ratings for statements suggesting that agriculture offers diverse career opportunities (Mean = 4.59), provides sustainable income (Mean = 4.35), and is becoming increasingly attractive due to technological advancements (Mean = 4.54). Students also showed considerable interest in pursuing farming, although their intentions were moderated by structural limitations. Major constraints identified included insufficient start-up capital (Mean = 3.28), limited access to formal credit (Mean = 3.06), inadequate storage facilities (Mean = 3.13), and high input costs (Mean = 3.03). The correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between certain socio- economic variables and perception. Residential background (r = 0.298; p = 0.016), access to land (r = 0.312; p = 0.011), and farming experience (r = 0.341; p = 0.005) were all significantly associated with students’ perception of farming as a livelihood, suggesting that rural upbringing, land availability, and exposure to farming enhance positive orientation toward agriculture. Conversely, sex, age, marital status and household size showed no significant effects (p > 0.05). The study concludes that while final-year agriculture students at the University of Benin perceive farming positively, key structural constraints, particularly inadequate capital, limited access to land, and insufficient equipment, must be addressed to encourage their participation in the agricultural sector. It is therefore recommended that policymakers address critical constraints of inadequate capital, limited credit access, insufficient storage facilities, and high input costs hindering graduates' agricultural participation

The study examined the use of food safety information practices among garri consumers in University of Benin communities, Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics of garri consumers, determined their level of awareness and sources of garri food safety information available and accessible, assessed the utilization of garri food safety practices, identified constraints inhibiting the use of garri food safety information, and examined the relationship between awareness, socio-economic characteristics, and the use of garri food safety information practices. A structured questionnaire was administered to 120 respondents, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, linear regression, and logistic regression. Findings revealed that nearly all the respondents (97.5%) were below 30 years, predominantly female (75%), unmarried (95.8%), and literate, with most being students (83.3%). The study showed a high level of awareness of general food safety issues such as knowledge of food spoilage, illnesses and hygiene but a low level of awareness of storage-related practices. Social media (90.8%) and television (74.2%) were the most common sources of food safety information, while extension agents, flyers/posters, food vendor/producer and health workers played minimal roles. Consumers showed high utilization of information from peers and social media but limited utilization of technical practices such as re-roasting and sieving. Regression results indicated a positive and significant relationship between awareness and utilization of food safety practices (p < 0.001), though awareness accounted for only 11.1% of the variation in utilization. Among socio-economic
characteristics, only the volume of garri purchased significantly influenced the use of food safety information (p < 0.05). The study concludes that while garri consumers in the study area are aware of food safety issues, awareness alone does not guarantee consistent safe practices. It
recommends that government agencies, universities, and health educators intensify targeted food safety campaigns, promote credible information sources, and strengthen enforcement of hygiene standards among garri sellers to ensure consumer safety and public health.

The study analyzed the Information Needs On Lassa Fever Safety Practices Among Garri Processors And Marketers In Esan West, Esan Central And Esan North East, In Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the social economic characteristics of garri processors and marketers in the study area; ascertained respondents awareness of Lassa fever and Lassa fever safety practices; examined respondents access and preferred information sources on Lassa fever safety practices; examined information needs on Lassa fever safety practices; identified the constraints on access to information needs on Lassa fever safety practices.
Data was was collected using random sampling method to will be used to select fifty (50) respondents from Esan West, Esan Central, Esan north East L.G.A making a total of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents. Data collected were analyzed by with Logit regression, multiple regression and pearson product moment correlation(PPMC) and Described with descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation for appropriate variables. Findings from this study showed that Majority (82.7 %) were females while (17.3%) 0fthe respondents were males. Majority (78 % ) of the respondents were married. The garri processors and marketers mainly had secondary education (48.7%), majority of the respondents had 5-10 years experience in garri processing and marketing. The findings also shows that large proportion of garri processors and marketers had household size between 7-9 persons. The major constraints such as High level of illiteracy (mean=3.38) insufficient power supply to charge phones and watch television (mean=3.58), High cost of data (mean=3.13), Non-available information material on Lassa fever (mean=3.6) were the serous constraints affecting the access and use of information on Lassa fever safety practices. The results also shows that Radio (mean=3.57), television (mean=3.62), friends and family (mean=3.28),internet (mean=2.81) and Healthcare providers (mean=2.86) were the preferred information sources for Lassa fever safety practices among garri processors and marketers.