Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Greener Journal of  Agricultural Sciences Vol. 2 (6), pp. 251-258, October 2012

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 09111258

 

Impact of the National Special Programme for Food Security on Livestock Farmers in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria.

 

¹Oruche E.N., ¹Atala T.K., ¹Akpoko J.G. and

²*Chikaire J.

 

¹Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. ²Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

 

*Corresponding Author’s Email: rosafyne24 @ yahoo.com

Abstract: 

This study was designed to assess the impact of the National Special Programme for food Security on livestock farmers in Ideato South Local Government Area, Imo State. Sixty participating farmers from three villages where the NSPFS programme was implemented were interviewed to examine their socio-economic characteristics, level of living, level of awareness, adoption level and income level. Another sixty non participant farmers from the three villages where National Special Programme for Food Security (NSPFS) was not implemented were also interviewed making a total sample size of 120 livestock farmers selected from six villages. Data was generated from both participants and non-participants farmers through the use of a questionnaire and oral interview. Seventy percent of the farmers were males and about 50 percent were between 51 and 60 years. The study showed that there were differences between income, livestock production and level of living of participant and non-participant farmers. More than 80 percent of the participant farmers claimed that they adopted the livestock management practices introduced by the NSPFS. The overall assessment showed that there were great impacts of the programme on the income, livestock production and level of living of the participant farmers. The results of the study, therefore, showed that more awareness should be created. There was also need for the programme to be implemented to other villages in the study area. There should be adequate supply of inputs to the farmers as well as improved extension services to enhance production of livestock production in Ideato South Local Government Area. The programme should be extended to all the 774 Local Government Areas of the Country.
 
Key words: Food security, livestock, extension, programme, Nigeria.

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