Browsing by Author "Ngegba, Mohamed Paul"

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Assessing efficiency of action aid Sierra Leone (AASL) extension services in Sierra Lione
(Science Press, 2018-09-09) Ngegba, Mohamed Paul
This paper investigated the participation of the beneficiaries of agricultural extension services run by Action Aid Sierra Leone (AASL) — A British-based non-profit and non-governmental organization. The study was conducted in Wonde Chiefdom (which is in Bo District, Sierra Leone) where all the 10 rural communities with AASL extension services were targeted. Out of the total 8291 of beneficiary household in the 10 communities, 250 were randomly covered in the survey, involving both quantitative and qualitative data. The study showed that AASL uses an integrated holistic approach to community development. Most of AASL extension services rendered were on child sponsorship (90.0%), women’s rights advocacy (78.8%), gender awareness creation (69.6%) and adult literacy (67.6%) programs. Beneficiary participation was high (96.0%) in the provided services and facilities. It was concluded that AASL should involve multi-stakeholders and encourage similar partnerships in the introduction of agricultural extension services and the associated facilities in the investigated Chiefdom.
Assessing the Characteristics of Rural Savings Systems and Their Impacts on Rural Livelihoods of Selected Districts of Sierra Leone
(Book Publisher International (a part of SCIENCEDOMAIN International), 2022-11-01) Ngegba, Mohamed Paul
Rural community savings systems are the most expected self-help groups in African, Asian, Caribbean, and Indian countries. Rural Community Savings systems are one of the solutions to empowering their members to generate more income in many parts of West African countries. This study attempts to assess the characteristics of rural community savings systems and their impacts on rural livelihood in selected districts of Sierra Leone. The researchers adopted three objectives, (1) identify the personal and socio-demographic characteristics of rural dwellers (savings members and non-savings members) that influence participation in rural community savings systems, and (2) identify the factors, operational conditions and modalities of the savings systems, and (3) assess the impact of the rural community savings systems on the livelihood of rural dwellers in selected districts of Sierra Leone. The study adopted a cross-sectional design. The population consists of savings members and non-savings in Bo, Bombali and Kenema Districts. The population size was 897, of which 810 savings with an equivalent of 810 non-savings, giving a sample size of 1,620 rural dwellers. Two sets of pretested questionnaires and focus group guides with a reliability of 0.75 were administered using KoBoCollect v.1.14.0a software; analysed data using simple frequencies, logit regression and propensity score match models. Participation in the savings program positively impacted various rural community. The study reveals a positive and highly statistically significant relationship between the age of the savings member and their Participation in RCSS at a one percent significance level (P=0.008). All other things being constant, as the ages of the savings member increase, they are more likely to participate in the rural community savings system. Household size has a positive and statistically significant relationship with the probability of Participation in the RCSS (P=0.000) at a one percent significant level. This result reveals that as household size increases, their exposure to consumption shock also increases, making them more likely to use microfinance resources to normalize their exposure to shocks and risks. Respondents' livestock ownership showed a positive and statistically significant relationship with the probability of participating in savings groups at a 5 percent significance level (P=0.008). In the logit regression, contrary to expectations, microenterprises' ownership had a statistically significant negative probability of borrowing from savings groups. Respondents owning microenterprises were fewer borrowers. Moreover, they participate more in savings groups compared to those who do not own microenterprises. The type of loan, livestock ownership, and receipt of income from temporary employment affect participation. Participants' access to electricity, microenterprise ownership, and adversative events significantly influence the decisions to participate in savings groups. Rural community savings systems should conduct basic training on savings and financial management within their communities to raise awareness. 2. Rural community savings groups should conduct in-service training programmes to fully explain the guiding characteristics of the operations of the rural community savings systems. Operational modalities are appropriately monitored for their efficacy and let membership be committed to guiding roles of the savings groups in achieving the main objectives. 3. The savings system should set out sharing time to enable members to use their share outs best and make more efforts to cater for those categories of rural dwellers, reducing the dependency rate within the rural communities. 4. The rural community savings systems should strategize to include many non-saving members in the organisation, and implementation programmes should, on a large scale, address the fundamental financial intermediation of the rural communities in Sierra Leone.
Characteristics of Rural Community Savings Systems and Impacts on Rural Livelihood in Selected Districts of Sierra Leone
(Sciencedomain International, 2022-07-23) Ngegba, Mohamed Paul
This study attempted to investigate the characteristics of rural community savings systems and their impacts on rural livelihood in selected districts of Sierra Leone. The researchers adopted three objectives, (1) identify the personal and socio-demographic characteristics of rural dwellers (savings members and non-savings members) that influence participation in rural community savings systems, and (2) identify the factors, operational conditions and modalities of the savings systems, and (3) assess the impact of the rural community savings systems on the livelihood of rural dwellers in selected districts of Sierra Leone. The study adopted a cross-sectional design. The population consists of savings members and non-savings in Bo, Bombali and Kenema Districts. The population size was 897, of which 810 savings with an equivalent of 810 non-savings, giving a sample size of 1,620 rural dwellers. Two sets of pretested questionnaires and focus group guides with a reliability of 0.75 were administered using KoBoCollect v.1.14.0a software; analysed data using simple frequencies, logit regression and propensity score match models. Participation in the savings program positively impacted various rural community welfare indicators. The recommendations include conducting basic training or in-service training on savings and financial management and guiding characteristics of the operations of the savings system.
Evaluating the Efficiency of Action Aid Sierra Leone (AASL) Extension Services in Sierra Leone
(Book Publisher International (a part of SCIENCEDOMAIN International), 2022-06-22) Ngegba, Mohamed Paul
The beneficiaries of agricultural extension services provided by Action Aid Sierra Leone (AASL), a British-based non-profit and non-governmental organization, were explored in this article. Researchers targeted all ten rural areas receiving AASL extension services in the study, which was done in Wonde Chiefdom (in Bo District, Sierra Leone). Two hundred fifty beneficiary households in the ten areas were randomly selected for the survey, including quantitative and qualitative data. The study revealed that AASL takes a holistic, integrated approach to community development. Child sponsorship (90.0 percent), women's rights advocacy (78.8%), gender awareness creation (69.6%), and adult literacy (67.6%) programs received the majority of AASL extension services. Beneficiary involvement in the given services and facilities was high (96.0%). To introduce agricultural extension services and associated facilities in the researched Chiefdom, AASL should include multi-stakeholders and encourage similar partnerships. For successful community development programs, extension agents should be available when technical advice on-farm operations are needed.
Implications of Prevalence and Intensity of Soil-Transmitted Helminthes (STHs) on Rural Farmers’ Productivity in Selected Districts of Sierra Leone
(Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 2023-03-31) Ngegba, Mohamed Paul
Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH) are among the most prevalent parasitic diseases that impair childhood physical and mental growth, hence hindering economic development. The study was a cross-sectional-designed survey, conducted in three districts in Sierra Leone between December and March 2022 on 625 individual farmers to determine: 1) the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths; 2) the intensity of soil-transmitted helminths; 3) the effect of the prevalence and intensity on farm productivity, and 4) the implication of these effects on agricultural extension service delivery and the rural livelihood of the selected districts. Stool samples were collected from male and female farmers in fifteen chiefdoms in the selected districts and analyzed using the Kato-Katz technique. A total of 625 individuals were included, among whom 172 (27.0%) were vegetable farmers, 224 (35.8%) were tree-crop farmers and 226 (36.2%) were rice farmers. The result indicates a prevalence of parasitic infection among farmers shown by 58.4% eggs/ova in stool from the three districts. STH prevalence is higher in Bo (64.0%), Koinadugu (56.9%), and Kailahun (51,7%). STH infections, in various ways, affected extension services, delivery and the livelihoods of individual farmers. The recommendation is that farmers and children be periodically dewormed for STH infection in rural areas.
Production Structure, Yield Dynamics, and Technical Efficiency of Ginger Farming Systems in Sierra Leone
(2026-06-09) Ngegba, Mohamed Paul
Ginger production plays an increasingly important role in rural livelihoods in Sierra Leone, yet empirical evidence on its structural characteristics, productivity dynamics, and efficiency performance remains limited. This study examines the production structure, yield determinants, spatial productivity differences, and technical efficiency of ginger farming systems in two major producing districts Kenema and Kailahun. Data were collected from 160 smallholder farmers using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, multiple regression, and efficiency analysis. Results indicate a predominantly smallholder system characterized by low educational attainment and small farm sizes averaging one acre, with balanced gender participation. Yield analysis reveals significant spatial variation, with Njaluahun Chiefdom outperforming Nongowa Chiefdom (t = -5.21, p < 0.001). Regression results show that education, household labor, organic input use, and access to extension services significantly influence productivity. Efficiency analysis further indicates that only 11.2% of farmers operate at full efficiency, while the majority remain below optimal performance, reflecting substantial productivity gaps. Overall, the findings demonstrate that ginger production is constrained more by inefficiencies in resource use and weak knowledge systems than by resource scarcity. Strengthening extension services and promoting efficient input use are therefore critical for unlocking productivity gains and improving smallholder livelihoods.