ABSTRACT
Flood disasters in developing countries are not solely driven by climate change but are often intensified by poorly planned infrastructure and weak water governance. This paper explores how infrastructural systems, originally designed to enable development, have exacerbated flooding in Pakistan and Nigeria’. Drawing on academic literature, government reports, and disaster assessments, the study analyzes three major events; Pakistan’s 2010 and 2022 floods and Nigeria’s 2022 flood to evaluate the paradox of progress where infrastructure becomes a source of vulnerability. In Pakistan, the canal irrigation network established in the 1840s and later expanded under the Indus Basin Development Programme disrupted natural river dynamics, contributing to over 1,700 deaths and the displacement of nearly 8 million people in 2022. In Nigeria, downstream flooding linked to water releases from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam caused over 500 deaths, displaced approximately 790,000 people, and affected more than 1.4 million nationwide. Findings reveal that mismanaged infrastructure through levee breaching, sediment buildup, insufficient maintenance, and poor alignment with natural hydrology transforms manageable rainfall into humanitarian disasters. The paper recommends hydrologically sensitive infrastructure design, wetland and mangrove conservation, equitable land-use enforcement, and basin-wide water governance.

ABSTRACT
This study investigates the impact of insecurity on food scarcity among arable crop farmers in the North Central Zone of Nigeria. It provides a thorough analysis of the security challenges farmers face, the implications of these challenges on agricultural productivity, and the strategies they adopt to cope. The research identifies the most prevalent forms of insecurity in the region, including crop theft (88.9%), crop destruction (76.4%), banditry and armed attacks (69.4%), farmer-herder conflicts (68.1%), the Boko Haram insurgency (66.4%), and kidnapping (64.2%). These security threats have led to a significant decline in household income, with 43.3% of farmers earning between ₦20,000 and ₦50,000 monthly during periods of insecurity, compared to 35.8% before insecurity escalated. The study establishes a direct relationship between insecurity and food scarcity, with 33.3% of farmers reporting severe food shortages and 30.6% frequently reducing food variety due to these shortages. Furthermore, factors such as climate change, postharvest insecurity, household size, and other socioeconomic variables are found to significantly affect agricultural productivity. In response, farmers have adopted strategies like seeking financial assistance (76.4%), reporting incidents to authorities (73.6%), and engaging in local security groups (69.4%). Paired samples analysis confirms that insecurity has substantially reduced crop yields, underscoring its detrimental effect on agricultural output. The study calls for urgent policy interventions to address the complex challenges posed by insecurity, to safeguard food security in the region.

ABSTRACT
This study investigated the determinants of extent and intensity of improved rice variety (IRV) utilization among small-holder farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, a significant rice-producing region in the South-East. Recognizing the crucial role of IRVs in enhancing agricultural productivity, the study aimed to determine the current utilization patterns and identify factors influencing the intensity of IRV utilization. A multi-stage and purposive sampling technique was used to select 120 small-scale rice farmers (cultivating < 3 ha). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Intensity of Improved Rice Variety Utilization (IIRVU) Index. Farmers' perceptions of influencing factors were assessed using a 3-point Likert scale and mean score analysis. Results indicate a high extent of IRV utilization, with FARO 44 (86.67%), ITA 306 (73.33%), MAS 11 (68.33%), and NERICA 8 (60.33%) being the most extensively adopted and utilized varieties. FARO 44, in particular, demonstrated significant post-adoption utilization, consistent with prior research attributing its preference to early maturity and high yield potential. The average rice land area sown with IRVs was 0.78 hectares, representing 60.94% of the total rice cultivated land. This indicates a moderate intensity of IRV utilization, suggesting a substantial integration of modern rice cultivation practices, yet also highlighting continued reliance on traditional varieties. Key factors significantly influencing the intensity of IRV utilization included availability of improved seeds (mean = 2.60), farm location (mean = 2.63), quality of rice (mean = 2.48), cost of improved seeds (mean = 2.40), access to credit (mean = 2.38), and land type (mean = 2.40). The physical accessibility of seeds emerged as the most critical determinant. These findings underscore that economic and logistical challenges, rather than solely awareness, are primary impediments to increased IRV utilization. Therefore, to further enh

ABSTRACT
This study evaluated risk analysis and market participation among women cassava marketers in Anambra and Imo States, Nigeria. The objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of women cassava marketers, describe the level of market participation by women cassava marketers and analyze risk attitudes and management strategies adopted by women cassava marketers in the study area. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to collect data from 368 respondents (182 in Imo and 186 in Anambra). Data were analyzed descriptive statistics, Likert scales, and participation index. Market participation showed Imo State had a participation index of 0.40 (moderate), Anambra 0.33 (low), and pooled 0.37 (low). Imo marketers (91.21%) had high participation, compared to 72.58% in Anambra. Key marketing activities, stakeholder decision-making (µ =4.2), value addition (µ =4.0), and cooperative sales management (µ =4.3) showed high participation. Regulatory activities and committee roles also highlighted Imo’s more proactive market environment. Risk attitude result indicated Imo women marketers as more risk-taking (70.33% risk-takers) than Anambra (45.16%). Risk management strategies varied: Anambra favoured early production (µ =2.72) and selling at high prices (µ =2.59), while Imo primarily used early production (µ =3.0). Based on these findings, the study recommended the need to develop financial products and strengthen cooperative networks, improving transportation infrastructure and urban-rural linkages, tailoring extension services to risk management strategies, fostering mentorship programs within marketing associations, and promoting technology adoption and risk-smart interventions for women marketers, especially those with large households.

ABSTRACT
This study examined gender and food security status of smallholder upland and swamp rice farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It aimed to: (i) describe the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers by gender; (ii) determine their food security status by gender; and (iii) estimate the effects of socioeconomic factors, technology gap, and economic efficiency on food security outcomes across gender and production systems. Study Design, Place, and Duration: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The study was conducted in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, between January and August 2025. Methodology: A multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 rice farmers, stratified into upland and swamp systems and by gender. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) food security index, and binary logit regression. Results: Food insecurity was widespread, with 66.7% of households classified as food insecure. Gender and system-based variations were observed: food insecurity was highest among male swamp rice farmers (85.2%), followed by female swamp (68.5%), female upland (55.6%), and male upland (47.2%) farmers. The severity index was also highest for male swamp farmers (FGT₂ = 0.180). Binary logit regression revealed significant predictors of food security: education (β = -0.534, p<0.01), farming experience (β = 0.320, p<0.05), age (β = -0.165, p<0.10), and technology gap (β = -0.026, p<0.10) for male upland farmers. For female swamp farmers, age was positive (β = 0.140, p<0.10), while farming experience (β = -0.247, p<0.05) and technology gap (β = -0.203, p<0.10) negatively affected food security. Conclusion: Food insecurity among rice farmers in Ebonyi State is alarmingly high, with significant gender and ecological system disparities. Targeted, gender-responsive interventions addressing education, technology access, and institutional barriers are vital to improving household food security in both upland and swamp rice syst

ABSTRACT
This study examines the impact of agricultural extension services on farmers’ access to affordable agricultural inputs during economic shocks, evaluates the accessibility and effectiveness of extension services in supporting smallholder farmers amid economic disruptions, and analyzes constraints affecting extension performance in reducing the adverse effects of input inflation and unstable markets. Data were collected through structured surveys administered to a stratified random sample of 425 smallholder farmers. Sampling ensured representation across various agro-ecological zones vulnerable to economic shocks. Multiple linear regression with interaction terms revealed that extension services significantly improve access to affordable inputs (β = 0.45, p < 0.01), with stronger effects observed among farmers with higher education levels and credit access. Ordered logistic regression indicated that extension accessibility and perceived effectiveness positively influence farmers’ likelihood to adopt recommended practices during economic disruptions (OR = 1.68, p < 0.05), controlling for demographic and socio-economic factors. Factor analysis of 20 identified constraints extracted four key factors—Institutional and Staffing Constraints, Economic Constraints, Logistical Access Issues, and Policy/Input System Failures—with high loadings on variables such as lack of qualified staff (0.78), rising input prices (0.73), poor road infrastructure (0.76), and weak input supply chains (0.71). These findings highlight multifaceted barriers limiting extension service effectiveness during economic shocks. The study concludes that strengthening extension capacity, stabilizing input markets, improving rural infrastructure, and enhancing policy coordination are essential. Recommendations include investing in extension personnel, regulating input prices, expanding rural ICT and transport infrastructure, and fostering public-private partnerships to build resilience and ensure sustainabl

ABSTRACT
Abstract: This study examines cassava disease detection using four convolutional neural network (CNN) models: ResNet50, InceptionV3, AlexNet, and VGG16. Cassava, a staple crop in Africa, is threatened by Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) and Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD). A dataset from the Lacuna Project, collected in Ugandan farmer fields, was used to train and evaluate these models, yielding accuracies of 90 percent, 88 percent, 85 percent, and 87 percent, respectively. A Flask web application was developed for practical deployment. This work builds on prior SVM and CNN approaches, offering a detailed comparison to enhance agricultural diagnostics for smallholder farmers.