Academic Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research

UTILIZATION OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN FISHERIES SUPPLY CHAINS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Akinboye, O. A. — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The utilization of digital platforms for youth engagement in fisheries supply chains represents a significant advancement in addressing the complexities of this sector thus, the engagement of youth in fisheries supply chains is critical for the sustainability of and innovation of the fish farming sector. The study elucidates the various dimensions through which digital platforms are employed to empower young individuals, enhance their participation in fisheries and promote sustainable practices within the supply chain. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 166 respondents for the study. Primary data were collected with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentage, mean and weighted mean score (WMS) were used to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents while Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) was used to test the study hypothesis. The findings revealed that various types of digital platforms such as social media platforms (WMS=2.45), mobile applications (WMS=2.36), blogging and content creation platforms (WMS=2.33) and e-Learning platforms (WMS=2.27) were employed to facilitate communication, collaboration and participation among youth in fisheries. The types of engagement observed include fish farming (WMS=2.57), skill development (WMS=2.55), distribution and trading (WMS=2.52) and networking (WMS=2.47) within the fisheries supply chains while the effects of digital platforms such as increased access to information (WMS=2.08), opportunities for training and skill development (WMS=2.06), enhanced market access (WMS=2.01), stronger networks and collaboration (WMS=1.96) were significant, resulting in increased participation, enhanced knowledge transfer and improved access to market opportunities. There is a moderate level of digital platform utilization (59%) among the youth, indicating that while many youth are engaged, there is potential for broader outreach and impact. The benefits of utilizing of digital platforms for youth engagement in fisheries supply chains include enhanced communication and connectivity with stakeholders (WMS=2.15), greater visibility for youth initiatives (WMS=2.13), promotion of sustainable and innovative practices (WMS=2.12) and cost-effectiveness (WMS=2.10) within the sector. However, constraints such as digital literacy (WMS=1.99), cost barriers (WMS=1.98), fragmentation of information (WMS=1.95) and access to technology (WMS=1.92) hinder effective utilization of digital platforms for youth engagement in fisheries supply chains. A significant relationship exists between the types of youth engagement in fisheries supply chains (r=0.549; p=0.000) and the utilization of digital platforms for youth engagement in fisheries supply chains. In conclusion, the strategic utilization of digital platforms for youth engagement in fisheries supply chains offers a pathway to enhance participation, promote sustainability, economic viability, foster innovation and social cohesion within the sector thereby fostering a new generation of informed and empowered participants in the fisheries, ultimately contributing to the resilience and sustainability of global food systems.

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FISH FARMING IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Akinboye, O. A. , Tajudeen, S. O. — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the multifaceted effect of climate change on fish farming in Lagos State, Nigeria focusing on the interplay between the socioeconomic characteristics of the fish farmers and the adaptation strategies adopted by the farmers to mitigate the effect of climate change. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 150 respondents for the study. Primary data was collected with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentage, mean and weighted mean score (WMS) were used to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents while Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) was used to test the study hypothesis. The finding revealed that the most experienced climate change effects on fish farming were reduced dissolved oxygen level and water temperature changes, altered water quality and increased incidence of diseases and parasites while the level of effects of climate change on fish farming in the study area was high and the common adaptation strategies adopted by the farmers to mitigate the effect of climate change were the culturing of heat-tolerant fish breeds, implementation of climate-resilient fish farming practices and the use of advanced technologies for water quality control and environmental monitoring. A significant relationship exists between the fish farmers’ age, household size, years spent schooling and fish farming experience, and the level of effect of climate change on fish farming. The study concluded that climate change significantly undermines the sustainability and resilience of fish farming in the study area and it was recommended that investing in research and implementing biosecurity measures is crucial as climate change can exacerbate disease outbreaks.

UTILIZATION OF IMPROVED RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG RICE FARMERS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Aremu, P. A, Adewale, J. G. , Olaniyi, O. A — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The global demand for rice continues to rise due to population growth and changing dietary preferences. Improved rice production technologies offer significant potential to enhance yield, ensure food security and support sustainable agricultural practices. This study explores the utilization of improved rice production technologies among rice farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed for the selection of 133 rice farmers for the study. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, frequency counts, percentages, means, and Weighted Mean Scores (WMS) were used to describe the study’s objectives. In addition, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was used to test the study's hypothesis. The findings revealed that the mean age of rice farmers was 44 years, while the mean household size was 4 people and the grand mean number of years spent in formal school was 4.1 years. The mean year of experience in rice farming was 5.2 years, while the mean size of rice farm cultivated was 2.9 hectares and the mean annual income was #595,420. Knapsack sprayer, rice farming inputs and improved rice varieties were the types of improved rice production technologies utilized by the rice farmers on every occasion while poor access road and other infrastructure, lack of transport facilities and high cost of farm inputs and excessive weed, pest and disease infestation were the most strenuous and tough constraints encountered in rice farming Significant relationship was found between rice farmers age (r=0.310, p=0.000), household size (r=0.409, p=0.000), number of years of spent schooling (r=0.131, p=0.034), years of experience in rice farming (r=0.505, p=0.000), size of rice farm (r=0.470, p=0.000), and annual income (r=0.142, p=0.000) and utilization of improved rice production technologies among rice farmers. The study concluded that the successful utilization of improved rice production technologies holds the key to addressing the pressing challenges of food security and agricultural sustainability. It was recommended that there should be the implementation of comprehensive training programmes to educate the farmers on the benefits and practices associated with the utilization of improved rice production technologies.