Constraints Affecting ICT Utilization by Agricultural Extension Officers in the Niger Delta,Nigeria

Abstract

The study focused on constraints affecting the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for agricultural extension activities by Agricultural Extension Officers in Nigeria's Niger Delta Region. Data were derived from 160 extension officers affiliated to both public and private extension organizations in four states of the Niger Delta. Findings revealed important specific constraints to include: poor ICT infrastructure development, high cost of broadcast equipment, high charges for radio/television presentations, high cost of access/interconnectivity and electricity power problems. The use of Factor Analysis aided to crystallize identified constraints into three factors of ‘poor enabling environment’, ‘lack of access’ and ‘dissemination of unrelated information’. Against the background of several national government initiatives to develop the infrastructure base of the country, recommendations are proffered to ameliorate ICT use constraints.     

Scaling-up Sustainable Land Management Practices through the Concept of the Rural Resource Centre: Reconciling Farmers' Interests with Research Agendas

Abstract

Purpose: Formal agricultural research has generated vast amount of knowledge and fundamental insights on land management, but their low adoption has been attributed to the use of public extension approach. This research aims to address whether and how full participation of farmers through the concept of Rural Resource Centre (RRC) provides new insights for the development of alternative and farmers-based extension methods.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Using the Concept of RRC, this research assesses the role of farmers in on-farm demonstrations and scaling-up of land management practices, and investigates effective ways to enhance beneficial interactions between researchers, extension workers and farmers in view of improving adoption.

Findings: The findings suggest that farmers can effectively participate in demonstrations and scaling-up of agricultural practices. This participation is enhanced by judicious incentives such as higher crop yields that motivate farmers and influence adoption. The current success of the approach stems from the fact that farmers, extension workers and researchers jointly implement the activities and their different aims were achieved simultaneously: scientific results for researchers, better agricultural practices for extension workers, and economic success and free choice for farmers.

Practical implications: This research concludes that farmers have the capacities to play an innermost role in demonstrations and scaling-up of agricultural practices. However, there is a need to build and strengthen their capacities to facilitate their participation and contribution.

Originality/Value: The article demonstrates the value of the preponderant role of farmers in on-farm demonstrations and scaling-up practices by exhibiting the beneficial interactions between researchers, extension workers and farmers.     

公共服务均等化视角下上海体育游憩空间扩展机制

通过文献资料法等,阐述城市体育游憩空间的概念界定和理论内涵;介绍城市体育游憩空间的评价体系;分析上海城市体育游憩空间的演化模式,扩展中的困境、因素、总体思路和动力机制;同时给出上海城市体育游憩空间精明增长的对策和建议。     

基于可拓物元模型的我国海洋油气业安全评价及预警机制研究

运用运筹学理论和方法,建立海洋油气业安全评价的可拓物元模型,对2001～2007年海洋油气业的安全度做出评价。结果表明,2001年我国海洋油气业安全状态处于较安全,2003年处于临界安全,2007年处于较不安全,产业安全整体水平有变低的趋势,目前处于较不安全级别,系统不够稳定。海洋石油勘探污水入海量、海洋油气业产值的增加和从业人员增长等因素是我国海洋油气业产业安全的主要限制因素。基于海洋油气业安全指标体系,提出建立我国海洋油气业安全的预警机制。     

拓展学生思维 创新数学教学

新课程标准提供的是课堂教学的基本框架,发掘教材内涵,激发学生思维,使学生主动学习、主动探索,这是课堂教学改革的精华所在。本文要从数学课堂教学上去探究：如何激发学生思维的积极性,培养发散思维和打破思维定势,使学生自觉地树立创新意识,培养其创新能力,从而达到创新数学教学的目的。     

生态学视角下基于熵权可拓模型的山西省人才聚集预警研究

基于生态学的理论视角,结合熵权和物元可拓模型的相关理论,以山西省为例,从生态学的角度构建人才聚集预警的指标体系,建立人才聚集预警熵权可拓模型对山西省2006—2013年的人才预警状况进行实证分析,结果表明:山西省人才聚集处于中度预警状态,制度生态因子、社会生态因子、经济生态因子的推动作用促进山西省人才聚集预警度呈现转好的局面,文化生态因子和教育生态因子阻碍了人才聚集的平衡性发展,出现了向低等级转移的趋势。为防止山西人才聚集的非经济现象更加突出提供理论依据,为山西省人才聚集的良性发展提供参考性意见。     

初中数学课堂教学中“问”的艺术初探

高效课堂教学模式的探究,以精心设置的问题引导学生展开讨论,打开知识的缺口,点燃学生智慧的火花,让学生明确每个知识的形成过程,增强学生对知识的理解。教学中以“问”引其疑、以“问”启其思、以“问”增其识,是一种行之有效的教学方法。     

高原号春小麦品种的培育与推广

春小麦是甘肃省、青海省及我国北方春麦区的主要粮食作物。西北高原生物研究所培育出22个高原号春小麦品种,这些品种在我国春麦区推广应用后,新增产值约8亿元。本文从高原号春小麦品种在推广应用中产生的社会经济效益角度,阐述了这些品种在解决“三农”问题中发挥的重要作用,介绍了培育、推广高原号春小麦采取的主要措施,并提出了四点建议,以使其发挥更大的作用。     

对半无限长弦振动的讨论

本文先用延拓方法和达朗伯公式,然后用正确解的过程求出半无限长弦定解问题的角。     

弹塑性断裂的内参量热力学分析——Ⅰ.线弹性裂纹体的裂纹扩展

本文在内参量热力学的理论框架内详细讨论了线弹性裂纹体的裂纹扩展问题。对线弹性断裂力学中所涉及到的各种能量关系作了统一的整理,其中包括Irwin的弹性能释放率——裂纹扩展力,Griffith的脆性断裂准则,以及Irwin-Kies的柔度公式和Paris的位移公式。本文以中心裂纹体为例,详细计算了裂纹扩展的稳定性,并区分恒载荷和恒位移两种情况,对材料断裂韧性测试中所遇到的失稳扩展,稳定扩展以及进发现象提供了理论说明。