International Journal of Agricultural and Home Economics Education
Welcome to the International Journal of Agricultural and Home Economics Education (IJAHEE) The International Journal of Agricultural and Home Economics Education (IJAHEE) is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, and open-access scholarly journal dedicated to advancing knowledge, innovation, and pedagogy in the fields of agriculture, home economics, and related technical and vocational disciplines. IJAHEE serves as a global platform for academics, researchers, practitioners, and educators to publish high-quality work that informs teaching, improves livelihoods, and fosters sustainable development. IJAHEE is proudly published by the International Journal of Vocational and Technical Education Review (IJVOCTER), an organisation devoted to promoting excellence in education, skill development, and applied research across vocational and technical disciplines. Aims The International Journal of Agricultural and Home Economics Education (IJAHEE) aims to: Advance academic scholarship in agriculture, home economics, and vocational education. Provide a credible and inclusive platform for the dissemination of innovative research and practical solutions. Promote knowledge sharing that supports sustainable development, human capacity building, and quality education. Foster global and interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, educators, and policy actors. Objectives The specific objectives of IJAHEE are to: Publish peer-reviewed, high-quality research that contributes to curriculum development, instructional methods, and evidence-based practices in agriculture and home economics education. Encourage vocational and technical innovations that address local and global challenges such as food security, nutrition, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability. Support the development of educational models and policies that enhance skills acquisition and lifelong learning in the areas of agriculture and family sciences. Serve as a knowledge hub for interdisciplinary discourse among scholars, practitioners, and students in agriculture, education, home management, and consumer sciences. Promote the inclusion of underrepresented voices, indigenous knowledge systems, and context-specific solutions in academic publishing. Facilitate the practical application of research findings in schools, farms, training centres, and community development programmes. Scope IJAHEE accepts original research articles, review papers, and short communications related to a wide range of themes within the overlapping domains of agriculture and home economics education, including but not limited to: Agriculture and Agribusiness: Mechanised agriculture, sustainable crop production, horticulture, farm management, agronomy, agroforestry, agricultural marketing, and innovation systems. Animal and Veterinary Science: Livestock production, poultry farming, veterinary health, and animal nutrition. Agricultural Engineering and Technology: Bio-resource engineering, precision agriculture, and digital tools for farm management. Forensic Applications in Agriculture: Security of produce, traceability, and investigative methodologies in agricultural systems. Food and Nutrition: Dietetics, food safety, food preparation, wellness education, and food systems sustainability. Home Economics and Family Life: Housing and interior design, clothing and textiles, family resource management, parenting, and aging. Consumer and Financial Literacy: Personal and family finance, savings culture, consumer rights, and household economics. Education and Pedagogy: Curriculum development, instructional strategies, teacher education, practical skill delivery, extension education, and e-learning in vocational contexts. Submissions that bridge theoretical inquiry with real-world application, particularly those with policy relevance or community-based outcomes, are especially encouraged. Open Access and Licensing IJAHEE operates under an open-access model, ensuring that all published articles are freely and permanently available online without financial or access restrictions. This supports the democratisation of knowledge and maximises the reach and impact of research outputs. All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This licence permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium—even for commercial purposes—provided the original authors and source are credited. To view the full license, visit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Editorial and Peer Review Process All manuscripts submitted to IJAHEE undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review conducted by qualified experts in the relevant field. The editorial team ensures that each article meets high standards of originality, academic integrity, relevance, and methodological soundness. The process is transparent, constructive, and timely. Why Publish with IJAHEE? Broad Visibility: The open access model ensures global reach and accessibility. Interdisciplinary Strength: Integrates agriculture, education, home economics, and social sciences. Academic Excellence: Peer-reviewed content that adheres to high scholarly standards. Practical Relevance: Research that informs policy, practice, and vocational training. Supportive Platform: Committed to inclusivity and the promotion of emerging scholars. Join the IJAHEE Community IJAHEE invites researchers, educators, policymakers, and development professionals to contribute to the growth and transformation of vocational and technical education through high-impact publishing. Together, we can shape sustainable futures through the application of knowledge, innovation, and education. Explore. Publish. Learn. Impact. IJAHEE—Bridging Research and Practice in Agriculture and Home Economics Education.
All articles published in the International Journal of Agriculture and Home Economics Education (IJAHEE) are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Under this license, authors retain full copyright of their work, and users are permitted to: Share—copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format Adapt—remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially Provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and source, a link to the license is included, and any changes made are clearly indicated. This open license ensures maximum visibility, accessibility, and impact of published research by allowing it to be freely used, cited, and disseminated without restriction. For more information, please visit the official license page: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
School Environmental Factors Determining the Academic Performance of Agricultural Science Students in Secondary Schools in Bayelsa State
The study investigated school environmental factors determining the academic performance of Agricultural Science students in secondary schools in Bayelsa State. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The targeted population of the study was all SS2 and SS3 agricultural science students in government secondary schools in Bayelsa State. A sample size of four hundred and fifty (450) agricultural science students from twenty-five (25) schools was randomly selected. Hence, the sampling technique adopted for the study was the simple random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was the “School Environmental Factors and Students Academic Achievement Questionnaire (SEFSAAQ)”. It was validated by three experts, two from the Test and Measurement unit of the Department of Counselling and Educational Psychology and one from the Department of Agricultural Science Education, Faculty of Education, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State. To ascertain the reliability of the instrument, the Cronbach Alpha statistical tool was used and a reliability index of 0.79 was yielded. The study contained four specific objectives and four research questions. The research questions were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The study found that school security factors determine the academic performance of agricultural science students in secondary schools in Bayelsa State. It therefore recommended that government should provide adequate security facilities and personnel in secondary schools in Bayelsa State.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kurotimi Dorin Ikpaikpai , Prof. Koku K. Obiyai (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effect of Cooperative Learning Strategy on Students’ Academic Achievement in Home Economics in Anambra State
This study investigated the effect of Cooperative Learning strategy on students’ academic achievements in Home Economics. The study which adopted a quasi-experimental, pretest post-test non-equivalent control group research design was carried out in Anambra state. Two research questions and two hypotheses respectively guided the study. A sample of 125 secondary school (Upper basic eight) students drawn from two public co-educational secondary schools in the State. This was used for the study using purposive sampling technique. One intact class each was sampled in each of the two sampled schools which were assigned into one experimental groups and one control group. Data were collected using a 25-multiple choice questions titled: Home Economics Achievement Test (HEAT). The instrument was developed by the researcher and subjected to face and content validation. The validation was carried out by three experts, two in Home Economics Education and one in measurement and evaluation all from Michael Okpara university of Agriculture Umudike, Abia state Nigeria. The instrument was tested for reliability by subjecting it to analysis using Kuder Richardson (K-R20) formula to determine the internal consistency which yielded an index of 0.81. Before and after the treatment that lasted for eight weeks, the copies of the instrument were administered to the students by their regular Home Economics teachers. The data collected from the students were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the null-hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study showed among others that Cooperative Learning had statistically significant effect on students’ academic achievements in Home Economics than the use of lecture method. It was also found that gender had no significant effect on the mean achievement of students taught Home Economics using Cooperative learning strategy. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teachers should use Cooperative Learning instructional strategy regularly in teaching Home Economics to the students especially the less-achievers than the use of conventional lecture method.
Copyright (c) 2025 Odinye Anthony Chukwunonso , Esiowu, Afoma Priscilla (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Factors Contributing To Effective Classroom Management by Agriculture Teachers at Secondary Schools in Eswatini
Effectiveness on classroom depends on several factors. Unfortunately, paucity of studies has been conducted on classroom management by agriculture teachers. Therefore, the study sought to determine factors that contribute to effective classroom management by secondary schools agriculture teachers in Eswatini. A predictive research design was used. The target population was agriculture teachers in Eswatini. A simple random sampling was used to draw 180 respondents for the study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire validated by four lecturers in the Department of Agricultural Education and extension. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was r=.83.The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and multiple regression. The findings revealed that factors for effective classroom management by agriculture teachers were setting rules, lesson planning, class size, teaching methods, among others. The findings further revealed that effective classroom management can be predicted from discipline, learner activities, lesson preparation and reinforcement. Therefore, the study concluded that effective classroom management rests mainly on setting classroom rules and student discipline. Thus, recommendation was that every teacher must be equipped with rules and disciplinary measured to be effective in classroom management. Further studies should be conducted on the rules and procedures needed in the teaching and learning of agriculture for effective classroom management.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alfred F. Tsikati, Mavimbela Gcinaphi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Perceived Impact of Crop Farmers-Herders’ Conflict on School Enrolment and Infrastructural Facilities of Primary Schools in Doma South, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
The study was carried out to identify the perceived impact of Crop farmers and herders’ conflict on school enrolment and infrastructural facilities of primary schools in the rural communities of Doma South, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. It was guided by two objectives, and two research questions. The study adopted survey design with a population of 400 respondents drawn from four electoral wards of Doma South, Doma L.G.A. Nasarawa State. Sample size for this study was 270 respondents comprising of 130 crop farmers, 120 herders and 20 primary school head teachers. Multistage random sampling was adopted to determine the sample size. The instrument for data collection was Farmer-Herders Conflict Questionnaire (CFHQ). CFHQ was validated by three experts. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. Results revealed that crop farmers-herders were involved in conflict in Doma South. It further revealed that the crop farmers-herders conflict has impacted negatively on the school enrolment and infrastructural facilities of primary schools in the rural communities in Doma South, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The study recommended among others that immediate reconstruction, building of primary schools, homes and other infrastructures damaged during conflict in the study area by the relevant authorities. This will motivate the parents to send their words back to primary schools in the conflict affected areas.
Copyright (c) 2025 Omaku D, S., Ezhim, I. A., Ademu, A (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Attitudes of Secondary School Agriculture Teachers towards Lesson Planning
Lesson planning is the key requirement for effective teaching; thus, every teacher training programme should prioritize it. However, little research has been conducted on lesson planning by teachers in Eswatini. Therefore, the study sought to investigate the attitudes of agriculture teachers towards lesson planning in Eswatini. The study was a descriptive survey targeting secondary school agriculture teachers in Eswatini (N=363). A sample of 180 secondary school agriculture teachers was randomly drawn from the population. A valid questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was 74% reliable. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings of the study revealed that agriculture teachers considered lesson planning to be important as it saves the teacher from haphazard teaching, promotes orderliness, is the heart of effective teaching, and makes the teachers feel confident. On the contrary, the agriculture teachers considered lesson planning to be tedious and time consuming. The study recommended that schools should provide periodic refresher courses and a template that can reduce the energy and time needed for lesson planning.
Copyright (c) 2025 Phetsile Francis , Alfred F. Tsikati (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Technology Skill Needs Of Business Lecturers for Effective Teaching in Colleges of Education in Enugu, Nigeria
This study sought to determine the technology skill improvement needs of lecturers of business education for effective teaching of students in colleges of education in Enugu State, Nigeria. To achieve these objectives, four research questions were answered by the study while four null hypotheses were tested at 0. 05 level of significance. The study made use of action group design approved by the function of industry model. The population for the study was 88 respondents comprising: Lecturers from the Departments of Business and Computer Education from tertiary institutions and hi-tech bankers from marketing units of commercial banks in Enugu State. The instrument for data collection is questionnaire. The instrument was validated by three experts: The reliability coefficient of 0.83 was obtained through Cronbach Alpha method. The data collected was analysed using weighted mean, and improvement need index (INI) to answer the research questions while ANOVA was used to test the null hypotheses. It was found from the study that lecturers of business education from the colleges of education in Enugu State needed improvement in 21 computing skills, 28 online commerce skills, 9 e-collaboration skills and 14 online security skills. This revealed a wide skill needs gap, suggesting that lecturers of business education have not been effectively imparting the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to students in the area of digital technologies for office jobs. It was therefore, recommended that the identified technology competency skill items be utilized to retrain the lecturers through workshops and in-service training.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammadu Madu-Saba Babalulu, Lynda Chineze Ezechukwu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Predictive Relationship between Management Techniques, Managerial Networking Strategies and Effective University Education in South East, Nigeria
The study investigated predictive relationship between management techniques, managerial networking strategies and effective university education in South East, Nigeria. Correlational research design was used for the study. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. All 415 respondents comprising 361 Heads of Department and 54 Deans of faculties/colleges in federal public universities in South-East. Census method was adopted, hence there was no sampling. Management Techniques and Managerial Networking Strategy Questionnaire” (MTMNSQ) and “Effective University Education Questionnaire” (EUEQ) were used form data collection. MTMNSQ and EUEQ were validated by three experts from the field of educational administration and planning. Cronbach alpha method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instruments. The analysis yielded a reliability index of .74 for MTMNSQ and .88 for (EUEQ). The 411 copies of the questionnaire were administered with the help of four briefed research assistants. Research questions were answered using Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient, while the hypotheses were tested using Linear Regression analysis at 0.5 level of significance. Findings revealed that there was a high positive and significant relationship between management techniques, managerial networking strategies and effective university Administration in South-East Nigeria. Based on the finding of the study, the researcher recommended that, Deans and HODs as university administrators should often challenge old ways of doing things and encourage staff to undertake management techniques that would foster effective university administration.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ogedi, P. O. (Ph.D.), Ajuzie, C. O. (Ph.D.) (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Functional Properties of Composite Flours Used in Breakfast Meal Formulation for Young Children
The purpose of the study was to determine the functional properties of composite flours used in breakfast meal formulation for young children. The study adopted experimental design. Flours were produced from the various local foodstuff used for the study which included corn, date, sweet potato and bonga fish. Six samples of the breakfast meal was formulated at different ratios. Standard laboratory analytical method of Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) procedure was used to determine the functional properties of the samples. The functional properties analyzed were water absorption capacity (WAC), oil absorption capacity (OAC), swelling index (SI), foam capacity (FC), gelation temperature (GT) and bulk density (BD). The results on the functional properties shows the samples contained a reasonable and recommendable good amounts of WAC (1.93-3.00), AOC (1.79-2.41), BD (0.51-0.62), FC (17.63-20.87), SI (2.95-3.87) and GT (85.65-87.52). The result obtained showed that the functional properties of the breakfast composite flours are appreciable and the formulations are suitable to be used as meal for young children. The study recommends amongst others that the samples should be further characterized to determine their suitability for various applications, such as food formulation, nutritional supplementation, and pharmaceutical development.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ifeanyichukwu, Obioma Irene, Ezema, Priscila Nnenna, Nwakpadolu, Glory Mmachukwu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Professional Competency Improvement Needs of Agricultural Education Lecturers in Computer-Based Instructional Delivery in Universities in South-South Nigeria
The study examined the professional competency improvement needs of Agricultural Education lecturers for computer-based instructional delivery in Universities in South-South Nigeria. The study had 3 (three) purposes, in line with these purposes, 3 (three) research questions were answered and 3 (three) hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study was 101 comprising of 69 mala and 32 female Agricultural Education lecturers in universities in the area. Census sampling techniques was used for the study because it was manageable for the researchers hence all the population was used. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Professional Competency Improvements Needs of Agricultural Education Lecturers in the Adoption of Computer Based Instructional Delivery in Universities Questionnaire (PCINAELACIDUQ). The reliability of the instrument was established through Cronbach alpha method and it yielded an internal consistency of 0.85 and 0.81 for need and performance categories respectively. Data for the study was collected by the researchers and six research assistants. 98 copies representing 97% of the instrument were retrieved (68 from male and 30 from female agricultural education lecturers) for analyses. Data for the study was analyzed using mean, improvement need index (INI). It was found from the study that Agricultural Education lecturers need professional competency improvement in: basic computer skills and installation (18 item); MS word (17 item) and MS excel (15 items). It was further concluded that Agricultural Education lecturers need professional competency improvement in 50 items in computer-based instructional delivery in Universities in South-South Nigeria. Among the recommendations made were that; Lecturers should individually seek improvement in the identified competency areas of basic computer application through workshops, capacity building programs, conferences so that they can effectively teach their students; school management should organize retraining or in-service training for Agricultural Education lecturers using specialized resource persons in computer application to impact skills in the identified areas of need in MS word and that the identified professional competency needs in MS excel should be enshrined into the curriculum used in universities where upcoming lecturers are trained.
Copyright (c) 2024 Akpan Ekaette Matthew, G. N. Ubah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Lecturers’ Perceptions on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence Technology into Agricultural Education in Universities in Southeast Nigeria
This study explored lecturers’ level of awareness, perceived potentials, and anticipated barriers on the integration of AI technologies into Agricultural Education. A sample of 56 lecturers from universities in Southeast Nigeria participated in this descriptive exploratory study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, and the findings were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that a substantial portion of Agricultural Education lecturers had limited awareness of AI technologies, with 44.29% demonstrating no awareness and 24.06% having slight awareness. However, 17.5% showed moderate awareness, 8.86% had high awareness, and 5.29% were very aware. While there was a general moderate awareness of integration of AI technologies, there were variations in awareness levels for specific technologies. Among others, results of this study also indicated that lecturers recognized AI's capacity to enhance program efficiency, improve educational content, offer personalized learning experiences, tailor content to individual needs, and enhance assessment methods. However, lecturers perceived several barriers to integrating AI technologies into Agricultural Education. These barriers included a lack of technical infrastructure, initial acquisition costs, financial constraints, resistance from peers, lecturers' lack of training, concerns about data privacy and security, the displacement of traditional teaching methods, students' limited awareness, regulatory and compliance challenges, difficulty finding AI-based educational resources, student resistance to AI methods, ethical dilemmas, lack of institutional support and policies, and the time and effort required for planning and implementation. Based on the findings of this study, researchers recommend the need for government and university administrators to provide a comprehensive training and capacity building of lecturers, and necessary infrastructures that would enable the integration of emerging AI technologies into Agricultural Education.
Copyright (c) 2024 Olorkor N. (PhD) , Gideon, Nwabueze Monday (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Implementation of Curriculum Recommendations by Agricultural Science Teachers in Secondary Schools in Northern Cross River State, Nigeria
The study was designed to assess the implementation of secondary school curriculum recommendations by Agricultural Science teachers in Northern Cross River State and provide implication of the findings on national development and global relevance. The study was guided by five specific purposes and it adopted a survey research design. A structured questionnaire containing 56 items was administered on a sample of twenty- five (25) most senior Agricultural Science Teachers drawn from twenty-five sampled secondary schools using a combination of multistage cluster, purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data generated was analyzed using simple percentage and mean to answer research questions. The result of the study showed that, all the six instructional facilities are provided for the whole class; four out of fifteen instructional facilities are provided to students at moderate extent; only five out of thirteen crops are moderately produced in secondary schools in the study area and that six out of eight animals are not produced at all in the study area. The study concluded that Curriculum recommendations on the manner in which instructional facilities should be provided for students to undertake Agricultural science practical is not followed by agricultural science teachers in the study area. Among the implications of the findings of this study was that majority of secondary school students in the study area will not be interested in offering agricultural science since curriculum recommendations are not adhered to by agricultural science teachers to make teaching learning process interesting, meaningful and practically oriented.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ayang, F. A. , Ukelina, C.U. , Evey, C. K. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Agricultural Science Teachers’ Attitude and Teacher-Student Relationship as Determinants of Students’ Disruptive Classroom Behaviour in Senior Secondary Schools in Umuahia, Abia State
Disruptive students’ classroom behaviour is disadvantageous to academic society since it interferes with the education development of other students and inhibits the skill of teachers to teach efficiently. This study was thus, conceived out of the need to make available empirical facts on the relationship between teachers' attitude, teacher-student relationship and students’ classroom behaviour in Umuahia, Abia State. 4 specific objectives guided the study. 4 null hypotheses were tested at 0.05level of significance. Correlational study design was adopted. A sample size of 357 respondents comprising 17 teachers and 340 students were selected using multi-stage sampling technique and was used for the study. Two questionnaires titled Teachers’ Relationship and Attitude Questionnaire (TRAQ) and Students’ Disruptive Classroom Behaviour Questionnaire (SDCBQ) were used for the study. The reliability of the instruments was determined using pilot testing method of reliability where a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of .84 and .81 was respectively gotten for the two instruments. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and linear regression were used to analyze the collected data to answer the research questions and test the hypotheses respectively. Teachers’ attitude and teacher-student relationship were found to have a very low negative relationship with students’ disruptive classroom behaviour.
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Agriculture and Home Economics Education https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analytical study of Farm Management Practices among Maize Farmers in Benue valley of Adamawa state, Nigeria
This study investigates factors that influences farm management practices among maize farmers around Benue valley of Adamawa state with a particular notion on pesticide usage in controlling both predominant weeds and pests found in the study areas. Maize is among the most essential cereal crops that is widely cultivated in North Eastern Nigeria, it is cultivated and consumed as a staple food and is regarded as the second most cultivated crop after rice. However, the most common pesticides used are Organochlorine, Organophosphates and Pyrethroids. Hence, these pesticides are used to avert damages and loss of crops so as to increase yield and create food security for the nation for sustainable development in all life ramifications. However, lack of appropriate knowledge on good farm practices on pesticide management practices (GPMP) by the farmers in these areas of study was alarming. Therefore, a survey was conducted using structured questionnaire which was validated through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed. The adequacy or reliability was measured by Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin. Which the value of KMO is greater than 0.5 or 0.6 the sampling is considered adequate. The sample respondents are 292 maize farmers in four areas of the study which comprises Chigari, Dasin-Hausa, Gurin and Lake-Gerio all along Benue valley in order to access primary information on their pest management practices in maize. The analytical results indicated that 84.9%of the farmers generally lack adequate knowledge of good pest management practices and risk involved in misusing deleterious chemicals, it has been recommended that there is need for the government (state or local) to engage into campaign through promotion of a sustainable platform hazardous-free agricultural practices for all to reduce if not eliminate all life threatening chemicals (pesticides) that causes both acute and chronic diseases among farmers and consumers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to harness a better understanding on the level of correct and safe pesticide usage among maize farmers in North Eastern Nigeria so as to create a sustainable agriculture and ensure food security.
Relationship between Moderating Influence of School Variables and Academic Achievement of Agricultural Education Students in Taraba State University, Northern Nigeria
The study aimed at identifying relationship between school variables and academic achievement of Agricultural Education Students in Taraba State University, Northern Nigeria. Three research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The study was carried out in Taraba State University, Jalingo, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design. The population for the study comprised of 46 Agricultural education students from the Taraba State University in Taraba State. There was no sampling technique used for the study because of the manageable size of the population. A 50-skilled item questionnaire tagged: moderating influence of school variables and academic achievement questionnaire (MISVAAQ) was developed by the researchers and used for data collection. Three experts from Taraba State University validated the instrument. For both face and content validity. Cronbach alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistence of the instrument. A reliability coefficient of 0.81 was obtained. Forty-six (46) copies of MISVAAQ were administered to Agricultural Education Students (respondents) which were duly completed and retrieved and analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while Regression and PPMCC were used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The study revealed that: the moderating roles of classroom climate show significant influence on student’s academic achievement in soil science in Taraba State University in Northern Nigeria. The result therefore shows that there is significant influence of moderating roles of teacher effectiveness on field dependent student’s academic achievement in soil science in Taraba State University in Northern Nigeria. It was concluded that health services and structures with facilities do not statistically and significantly influence students’ academic achievement in soil science in Taraba State University, Northern Nigeria.
Causes, Preventive Strategies and Impacts of Conflicts between Crop Farmers and Herders on Agricultural Production in Adamawa State, Nigeria
The study assessed impact of conflicts between farmers and herders on agricultural production in Adamawa state, Nigeria. Three specific objectives, three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. A survey research design was adopted for this study. The area of the study was Adamawa state, located in North East zone of Nigeria. The population of this study was 136,347 respondents comprising of 230 community leaders, 94,937 crop farmers and 41,180 cattle herders. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 48 community leaders, 260 crop farmers and 76 Herders, making a total sample of 384 respondents selected to participate in the study. The instrument used for data collection was a 30-item researchers’ developed structured questionnaire tagged: Farmers Herders Conflicts Structured Questionnaire (FHCSQ); face validated by three experts, field tried using 20 farmers, 20 herders and 4 community leaders outside of the areas of the study; Cronbach Alpha gave a reliability coefficient of 0.92. The FHCSQ was administered to the respondents by the researchers, assisted by two assistants who interpreted the questionnaire items to the farmers and herdsmen in Hausa and Fulfulde Languages for those who cannot read and write and also helped them in ticking the right options as chosen by the respondents. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions 1 to 3; Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 levels of significance. The results showed that conflicts between farmers and herders had impact on agricultural productivity: causes (overall mean = 3.67), effects on livelihoods (overall mean 3.89) and preventive measures (overall mean = 4.25). There was significant difference in the mean responses of farmers, herders and community leaders on the factors causing farmers’ and herders’ conflicts (p = 0.004 ≤ 0.05), but no significant differences in their responses about its impact on livelihoods (p = 0.053 > 0.05) and ways of preventing (p = 0.378 > 0.05) it in Adamawa State. It was recommended among others that farmers and herders should adhere to their boundaries, discourage land tenure system and bush burning, plant trees to cushion the effects of climate change in the state; Cattle tracks and grazing reserves should be maintained, create new ones to cater for increasing herds and legislations controlling open grazing should be enforced.
Barriers and Enablers of the Implementation of Students’ Practical Workshop for Acquisition of Entrepreneurial Skills in Fisheries in Public Senior Secondary Schools in Abia State
This study examined the implementation of the Students' Practical Workshop (SPW) in Fisheries in public senior secondary schools in Abia State, Nigeria. The aim was to identify the barriers and enablers affecting SPW in Fisheries education, with the intent to enhance practical skill acquisition among students. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study targeted students, teachers, and administrators involved in SPW across 50 purposively selected public senior secondary schools in Abia State. A total of 200 participants, including 100 fisheries students, 50 fisheries teachers, and 50 school principals, were conveniently sampled. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews with six respondents and a structured survey questionnaire titled "Students Fisheries Workshop Barriers and Enablers" (SFBE-21), which was validated and tested for reliability with a Cronbach's alpha value ranging from 0.86 to 0.91. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, while quantitative data were examined using descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations. The qualitative analysis identified two main themes regarding SPW implementation: limited practical experiences and insufficient implementation. Quantitative findings supported this, with the majority of respondents indicating a low or very low extent of SPW implementation. Barriers identified included lack of infrastructure, inadequate funding, and low student engagement and interest, with lack of infrastructure being the most significant. Conversely, enablers identified included well-maintained infrastructure, high teacher competence, adequate financial support, and collaborative partnerships, all of which received high mean scores from respondents. Thus, this study argues that effective implementation of SPW in Fisheries requires addressing the identified barriers while leveraging the enablers. Thus, improving infrastructure, providing adequate funding, enhancing teacher competence, and fostering collaborative partnerships are essential steps towards enriching practical education in Fisheries. These measures can ultimately enhance the quality of education and better prepare students for future employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the field of Fisheries.
Effects of Ethno-Science Teaching Strategy on Students’ Academic Achievement in Agricultural Sciences in Secondary Schools in Abia State
The study investigated the effects of ethno-science teaching strategy on the academic achievement of students in Agricultural Sciences in Secondary schools. Two research questions were posed and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The Quasi-experimental design was employed. A sample of 132 Agricultural Science students which comprised 63 students randomly assigned to the Control group and 69 students randomly assigned to the Experimental group was used for the study. The 63 Agricultural Science students randomly assigned to the Control (Lecture group) comprised 25 students from schools located in the Urban Areas and 38 students from schools located in the Rural Areas. The 69 students assigned to the Experimental (Ethnoscience) comprised 24 students from schools located in the Urban Areas and 45 students from schools located in the Rural Areas. The sample of the study was drawn from 4 secondary schools selected from two Local Government area from One Education Zone. A content validated Agricultural Science Achievement Test (ASAT) was administered to both groups of students before and after the experiment. The reliability coefficient for the instrument was 0.79 which was derived using the Kuder-Richardson (KR-20) formula. Mean and standard deviations were used to answer research questions and ANCOVA statistics was used to test the null hypotheses. Findings revealed that ethno-science had a significant effect toward enhancing the academic achievement of students in Agricultural Science and school location was not a significant factor on students’ academic achievement in Agricultural Science. Based on the findings, it was recommended that ethno-science should be adopted in teaching and learning process of Agricultural Science in secondary, since it was effective in enhancing the academic achievement of students. Also school location should not be a discriminating factor when adopting ethno-science teaching strategy.
Copyright (c) 2023 International Journal of Agriculture and Home Economics Education https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Retraining Needs of Lecturers in Disease Prevention and Control Practices in Small Ruminants in Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria
The study determined the retraining needs of lecturers in disease prevention and control practices in small ruminants in colleges of education in North-central Nigeria. Four research questions were answered, four hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance, and four objectives guided the study. The population for the study was 182 lecturers. All the population was used because the size was small and manageable; hence, there was no sampling. A 102-item structured questionnaire (LRNDPCPQ) was used for data collection. The instrument and content were validated by five experts. The Cronbach alpha (α) method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument items, which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.91 and 0.89, for need and performance respectively. Data collected was analysed using standard deviation to answer research questions (NPI) and the Need Performance Index for performance. The findings revealed that agricultural education lecturers needed retraining in disease prevention practices, in disease control measures, in identifying materials for disease prevention, and in treatment practices; therefore, it was recommended that agricultural education lecturers be trained and retrained through seminars, workshops, and short-term retraining courses to make up for their deficiencies in disease prevention and control practices in the colleges of education.
Motivational Mechanisms for Encouraging Youths to Study Agricultural Education in the Tertiary Institutions in Abia State
The study assessed motivational mechanisms for encouraging youths to study agricultural education in tertiary institutions in Abia State. The study was guided by three specific purposes, three research questions and three hypotheses. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study comprised of 15 Agricultural Education Lecturers and 103 Agricultural Education Students from Michael Okpara university of Agriculture Umudike and National Teachers Training Institute. Simple random sampling was used to select 5 Agricultural Education lecturers and 25 Agricultural Education Students each from the institutions making a total population of 10 Agricultural Education lecturers and 50 Agricultural Education students. The instrument used for data collection was 22-item “Motivational Mechanisms for Encouraging Youths to Study Agricultural Education in The Tertiary Institutions” (MMEYSAE). The instrument was subjected to face validation by the three Experts. The reliability of the instruments was determined using Cronbach alpha statistic which yielded an overall reliability index of 0.83. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study among other things showed that the various factors that discourage students from agricultural education programs include lack of funds to establish agricultural enterprises and irrelevant outdated curriculum. Also, various intrinsic motivation factors like personal interest and self-concept can help to encourage youths to study agricultural education in the tertiary institutions. Finally, extrinsic factors such as, provision of loans without collateral and provision of agricultural machines for commencement of commercial agriculture after graduation. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that Government in collaboration with non-governmental organizations should find ways to provide extrinsic and extrinsic motivational mechanism for youths to study agricultural education.
Challenges Faced by Agricultural Education Students with Entrepreneurial Projects
All students at the Faculty of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences at University of Eswatini, Luyengo Campus are required to take additional entrepreneurial courses in order to address issues of graduate unemployment. Unfortunately, the achievement of this initiative has not been fully realized yet. There is no study conducted on the challenges faced by Agricultural Education students with entrepreneurial projects at the University of Eswatini. Thus, this study sought to investigate the challenges faced by Agricultural Education students with entrepreneurial projects at the University of Eswatini. The study was a descriptive-correlational survey design employing questionnaires for data collection. A census comprising of 88 students in the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension of Year 3 and 4 students was used. The instrument was validated by three experts from the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension; and one from Consumer Sciences. Pilot-testing was done using 30 students from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management. Findings indicate that the students have the following challenges: lack of cooperation amongst the members, inadequacy of tools and machinery, debtors unable to pay on time, theft of produce in the farm, and so on. Thus, the success of the entrepreneurship is hindered by the challenges that have been identified in the study. Therefore, the recommendation made is that the university supervisors should work closely with the students doing the entrepreneurship projects so that they can assist in tackling the challenges.
Development of Training Manual in Turkey Production for Lecturers in Colleges of Education in North-East, Nigeria
The study was on development of Training manual in Turkey Production for Lecturers in Colleges of Education in North-East, Nigeria. Three specific objectives guided the study while three research questions were answered and three corresponding null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted instrumentation research design and was conducted in North-East, Nigeria. The population for the study was 454 and the sample size for the study was 213, which was determined using Taro Yamane formula. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled: Development of Training Modules in Turkey Production Questionnaire (DTMTPQ) with 45 structured items statement. The instrument was validated by five experts. The validated instrument was trial-tested on 30 respondents in Benue State in North-central, Nigeria. The score obtained was subjected to reliability test using Cronbach Alpha method, which yielded reliability coefficient of 0.93. The researcher administered 213 copies of the questionnaire and retrieved all of them for analysis. Data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answered research questions and t-test statistics to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that eight instructional methods are suitable, twenty-nine instructional materials/facilities were necessary and all the eight evaluation techniques were appropriate for turkey production manual. The study further revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean ratings of the responses of the respondents on suitability of instructional methods and instructional materials/facilities necessary for turkey production. There was however, statistical significant difference in the mean ratings of the respondents on appropriateness of the evaluation techniques. It was recommended among other that: The developed manual should be made available to Agricultural Education Lecturers by school administrators for utilization in teaching and learning of turkey production.
Production of Locally Woven Textiles for Poverty Alleviation in Makurdi Local Government Area
This study investigated the production of locally woven textiles for poverty alleviating in Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State. A survey research design was used for the study. Five research questions guided the study. The population for this study comprised 550 local weavers and dyers. A sample size of 352 were purposively selected and used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researchers from the review of literature. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count, simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings showed that narrow loom was majorly used for the production of local fabrics, the white and black colour of Tiv traditional woven textile fabrics were produced in large quantities representing 45% compared to Idoma and Igede tribes in the state. Majority of local weaver had difficulty in getting initial capital to start production, most of the local weavers adopted a strategy of constant supply of woven fabrics in the market in order to alleviate poverty. The study concluded that the Tivs have high regard for locally woven fabric which forms the bed rock for their cultural celebrations. More than half of the local weavers earn between N50, 000 to N55, 000 Per annum representing 86% of the local weavers. The study recommend among others that jobless youths to learn basic narrow loom fabrics production skills of local woven fabrics in order to earn a living for themselves.
Influence of Agricultural Public Relations on Secondary School Students’ Interest, Choice and Achievement in Agricultural Science in Benue State, Nigeria
Agricultural science taught in secondary schools is faced with challenges of lack of interest and low enrolment due to lack of awareness on the prospects it holds to students. The main purpose of this study was to investigate Influence of agricultural public relations on secondary school students’ interest, choice and achievement in agricultural science in Benue State, Nigeria. The study was guided by four objectives, questions and null hypotheses. The study adopted correlation design. The total population for the study was 11,381 consisting of 347 teachers of Agriculture, 24 Guidance Counsellors and 11,010 Upper Basic 9 students with sample size of 386. The three instruments used for data collection were titled Agricultural Public Relations Questionnaire (APRQ), Agriculture Achievement Test (AAT) and Interest Inventory in Agriculture (IIA) were validated by five experts for face and content validity and were trial-tested on 30 respondents. Split-half, Cronbach-Alpha and Kuder Richardson 21 methods of reliability were used to obtain reliability coefficients of 0.988, 0.990 and 0.713 for APRQ and IIA /AAT respectively. The data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient-PPMCC (r) to answer the research questions and null hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed moderate to high positive relationship between Agricultural Public Relations and choice/ students’ interest in Agricultural Science. The study recommended creating ingenious activities that will pique students’ interest in agriculture and presenting carefully package information to students and public that is very appealing to attract them to agricultural science.
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Factors Influencing the Utilization of Research Findings by Agricultural Education Lecturers in South-East Nigerian Universities
The study determined factors influencing the utilization of research findings by Agricultural education lecturers in South-East Nigerian Universities. Five objectives guided the study, five research questions were posed and five hypotheses were tested for the study. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The target population of the study was 56 persons made up of 34 male and 22 female lecturers of Agricultural Education in 6 public universities in South-East Nigeria. The study used universe or census; hence there was no sampling. A structured questionnaire titled: Factors Influencing the Utilization of Research Findings Questionnaire (FIURFQ) was used as instrument for data collection. This instrument was adapted by the researcher from review of related literatures. The internal consistency of the FIURFQ was determined at an acceptable reliability index of .87 using Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient method. Data collected for the study were analyzed using descriptive statistic such as mean and standard deviation. Mean was used to answer research question while standard deviation was used to determine degree of responses. Independent Sample t-test was used to test the 4 stated hypotheses at 0.05-level of significance. The study identified 7 economic factors, 4 environmental factors, 12 lecturer-related factors, 3 political factors and 12 research-related factors influencing the utilization of research findings by Agricultural education lecturers in South-East Nigerian Universities. It was recommended among others that government through the Ministry of Education and University administrators should ensure the establishment of enab ling academic environment and policies that would facilitate utilization of research findings by lecturers to facilitate teaching and learning.
Factors Influencing Research Utilization
Perceived Contribution of Stakeholders to the Teaching and Learning of Agriculture in Eswatini
The success of every organisation including schools depends on the effectiveness of stakeholder contribution. Unfortunately, no research has been conducted on the contribution of stakeholders in the teaching and learning of Agriculture in Eswatini. Thus, the purpose of the study was to determine the stakeholders’ contributions to the teaching and learning of Agriculture in Eswatini. The study was a descriptive survey, and purposively sampled 27 schools from high performing and low performing categories in order to have a representation. All the 64 agriculture teachers from these schools participated in this study. A questionnaire was used in data collection. Three experts from the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension and two agriculture teachers validated the questionnaire. Thirty agriculture teachers not involved in the study were used in pilot testing to establish inter-item reliability using Cronbach’s Alpha and the reliability coefficient was .82. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that the head teachers contributed to the teaching and learning of Agriculture in Eswatini by sharing their visions and providing necessary resources. Agriculture teachers contributed by learning continuously and attending classes. Learners contributed through self-discipline and active involvement in the learning process. The Ministry of Education and Training contributed through supporting the school initiative. Parents contributed by showing interest on learners’ academic affairs. Lastly, community contributed by providing material and financial assistance to needy students. Therefore, the study recommended that stakeholders should collaborate with schools to assist the teaching and learning of Agriculture in Eswatini.
Determination of Quality Assurance of Agricultural Education Lecturers in Soil Conservation for Effective Teaching of Students in Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria
The study determined the quality assurance of Agricultural Education lecturers in soil conservation for effective teaching of students in colleges of education in North Central Nigeria. Three objectives guided the study, while three research questions were answered and three corresponding null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The entire population of 239 respondents made up of 47 Soil Science lecturers, 26 Agricultural Education lecturers in all the public universities in North Central Nigeria and 166 Agricultural Education lecturers in all the fourteen public Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria were used for the study. A 118 –item structured questionnaire titled: Quality Assurance of Lecturers in Soil Conservation Questionnaire (QALSCOQ) developed by the researcher from literature reviewed, was used to collect data from the respondents. Each QALSCOQ item was divided into two categories of required and performance. The required category had a 4 response options of Highly Needed (HN), averagely Needed (AN), Slightly Needed (SN) and Not Needed (NN). The performance category also had 4 response options of High Performance (HP), Average Performance (AP), Low Performance (LP) and No Performance (NP). The questionnaire items were face validated by five experts. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach alpha method and coefficients of 0.91 and 0. 93 were obtained for needed and performance categories respectively. 239 copies of the QALSCOQ were administered on the respondents with the help of five research assistants but only 229(95.81% copies of the QALSCOQ administered were retrieved and analyzed. Weighted mean and Need-Performance Index (NPI) were used to answer the research questions while chi-square statistic was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that Agricultural Education lecturers are of low quality assurance in 48 measures in soil erosion prevention and 49 techniques in manure preparation and application and 21 practices on crop rotation techniques for effective teaching of students in Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria. The study further revealed that Agricultural Education lecturers significantly possess low quality assurance in soil erosion prevention, manure preparation and application and crop rotation techniques for effective teaching of students in Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, it was therefore recommended amongst others that; Agricultural Education lecturers in Colleges of Education should utilize the findings to seek for sponsorship from their administrators in order to attend retraining programme for their capacity building in soil conservation.
Methods of Receiving In-Service Training for Junior Secondary Agriculture Teachers in Eswatini
The purpose of the study was to identify methods of receiving in-service training for Junior Secondary Agriculture Teachers in Eswatini (Swaziland). The study was a descriptive survey using simple random sampling to get Agriculture Teachers (n=180). The target population was all Junior Secondary Agriculture Teachers in Eswatini (N=340). A self-administered questionnaire was used for collecting data. One lecturer from the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension and two agriculture subject inspectors established the face and content validity of the questionnaire. The reliability coefficient was 0.92. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Findings of the study revealed that field trip, workshop, demonstration and seminar were the most method used; and workshop was the preferred method of in-service training for Junior Secondary Agriculture Teachers in Eswatini. Therefore, this study recommended that workshops should be used to provide in-service training to Junior Secondary Agriculture Teachers in Eswatini.
Assessment of the Availability and Functionality of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Facilities for Teaching Agricultural Education in Colleges of Education in North-East Nigeria
The purpose of the study was to assess the availability and functionality of information and communication technologies (ICT) for teaching agricultural education in colleges of education in North-East Nigeria. The research design used for the study is survey research design. Three research questions guided the study. The area of the study was North-East Nigeria. The population for the study was 216. Census was adopted because the size of the target population is defined, accessible and manageable. The instruments used for data collection is a checklist. The reliability coefficients of the sub – sections of the instrument were computed using Cronbach Alpha method. An reliability index of 0.87 was obtained. The research questions posed were answered using average and percentages. Findings of the study revealed availability of ICT facilities for Agricultural Education Programme, few ICT facilities are adequate and functional for Agricultural Education Programme, among others. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that management of colleges of education should endeavor to provide enough functional ICT facilities proportional to the number of students for effective teaching and learning of Agricultural Education, Lecturers should undertake training in the use of ICT facilities for effective instructional delivery, an enlightenment campaign should be carried out to sensitize Agricultural Education Lecturers to develop positive attitude towards the use of ICT facilities in teaching Agricultural Education among others.
Influence of Demographic Variables on Crop Farmers’ Adoption of Agricultural Technology in Gombe State
The study determined the influence of demographic variables on crop farmers’ adoption of agricultural technology in Gombe State. Three specific objectives which are in line with three research questions and three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A Descriptive Survey Design was used for this Study. The population of the study comprises all the 22,682 registered crop farmers in Gombe State as at 2020 farming season. A total of 320 crop farmers out of the entire population formed the sample size of the study; they were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. A 6 item structured questionnaire was used in collecting data. The data collected were analysed using both descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation to answer research questions, while simple linear regression was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significant. The result indicated that, male crop farmers adopted agricultural technology faster than their female counterparts; also farmers’ adoption of technology is proportionate to their level of educational qualification. More so, the result showed that membership to cooperative society influenced crop farmers’ adoption. However, all the corresponding null hypotheses were rejected, as there was a significant positive influence of the variables under study on crop farmers’ adoption of agricultural technology. It was concluded that, gender, education level and membership to cooperative society had significant positive influence on crop farmers’ adoption of agricultural technology. It was recommended that, State Governments should increase awareness campaign programme for educating crop farmers, so as to improve their level of adoption of agricultural technology.
Measures for Controlling Soil Erosion in Schools Located Along the River Niger in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
The study examined the measures for erosion control in school environment in Bayelsa State Nigeria. Three specific objectives and three research questions guided the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. sample for the study comprised 150 respondents, made up of 75 teachers of agriculture and 75 teachers of geography. A 32-item questionnaire, structured on a 4-point response option was used in data collection. The data collected were analyzed using weighted mean score while t-test statistics were used for testing the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study found 10 causes, 10 adverse effects and 12 measures for controlling erosion in school environment. There was no significant difference in the mean ratings of the responses of teachers of agriculture and geography teachers on the measures for erosion control in school environment. Based on the findings of this study, researchers recommend that erodible sites near school environment should be piled, and wind-break plants should be cultivated on the windward side of the school environment.