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 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
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.