Assessing Sustainability Drivers in Agribusinesses under the APPEALS Project in Cross River State, Nigeria: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Obuo, P. O., Ohen, S. B., Odok, G. N., Ukpabuku, J. U, Uzoigwe, A. E.

Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Calabar

PMB, 115 Calabar, Nigeria

obuopeter@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

 This study employs Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to examine the sustainability drivers in agribusinesses supported by the APPEALS project in Cross River State, Nigeria. Exploratory factor analysis eliminated some variables, resulting in seven key factors subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) which validated the model’s goodness of fit with acceptable indices (GFI=0.924, RMSEA=0.038, CFI=0.887). All retained factors, social safeguards, production management, grievance redress mechanism, stakeholders/institutions, production technology, local support policies, and marketing strategy were statistically significant with standardised loadings above 0.50. The extracted factors regression analysis revealed these factors collectively explain 74.1% of variation in agribusiness sustainability (R²=0.741, p<0.01). Marketing strategies had the strongest positive influence (β=0.316), followed by production technology (β=0.219) and social safeguards (β=0.218). Grievance redress mechanisms, despite significance, showed a negative impact, suggesting resource strains in conflict resolution may reduce sustainability. Additionally, probit analysis indicated that managerial attributes, years of experience, education level, and household size significantly increase the probability of agribusiness survival beyond three years. Notably, each additional year of manager experience increases survival likelihood by approximately 4.3%. This study highlights the multifaceted factors critical to sustaining agribusiness enterprises.

Keywords: Sustainability; Agribusinesses; Factor Analysis; Managerial Attributes

Assessing the Impact of Urban Trees on Temperature Reduction at UNIMAS, Kota Samarahan

Siti Astella Johari*, Emilda Edwin Samaie, Nurhidayah Kaluni, Clement Empaling, Rusmah Muhammad Ishak, Edwind Lasum, Sulastri Fitri Pandi

Faculty of Agrotechnology and Applied Sciences, i-CATS University College

Jalan Stampin Timur, 93350 Kuching

sastella@icats.edu.my

ABSTRACT

Urban trees in cities play an important role in giving aesthetic value to the surrounding buildings and lowering the surrounding temperature as well as giving benefits in terms of environmental, economic, and social. A study was conducted at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and four urban tree species were evaluated namely, Callerya atropurpurea, Callistemon virminalis, Tabebuia pentaphylla, and Mesua ferrea to assess their benefits in reducing air temperature. Physical characteristics such as tree DBH, tree height, crown diameter, and crown height of 24 sampled trees were obtained. Field measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity under tree canopies and open spaces were repeated on a sunny day. There were variations in air temperature reduction measured in the shade and in the sun at two different buildings. The air temperature in the shade could be reduced between 0.6°C and 4.4°C followed by the relative humidity being increased when in the shade as compared to in the sun (2.6% - 8.9%). The tree’s physical characteristics had the desired effect as shading and lowering the air temperature under a tree canopy. The results obtained will be useful for effective tree management in future planning.

Keywords: Urban trees; buildings; air temperature reduction; physical characteristics; relative humidity

Climate Change Analysis in China’s Media Outlets: Framing Strategies and Their Role in Sustainable Communication

Chunxiang Zhou1*, Kasim, Z. M.2, Mohd Hanafiah, H. A.3

1,2Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia

3Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia

katezhou66@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This study examines how the climate change discourse was framed in China’s media outlets between 2020 and 2022. This study compares the local newspaper (Sixth Tone) and state newspaper (China Daily) to investigate the framing strategies existing in each newspaper and explore the implications of these frames for sustainability communication. Seven dominant frames were identified: disaster, policy, technological, responsibility, opportunity, leadership, and cooperation. Through qualitative content analysis of these selected articles, the study reveals different framing strategies were adopted in the two newspapers. The local newspaper Sixth Tone favoured the disaster frame to highlight the urgency of the climate change issue and attract audience concern about it. However, the state newspaper China Daily preferred policy and technology frames which emphasise national plans and solutions. These differences reflect different approaches adopted by the local and state-run newspapers to shape sustainability communication. The findings contribute to analysing the role of framing strategies played in sustainability communication which helps shape public perception about climate change. It adds to climate change discourse research by exploring framing strategies employed in sustainability discourse during the pandemic period.

Keywords: climate change; framing strategies; sustainability communication; media discourse

The Influence of Human Resource Development and Organisational Culture on Job Performance in Higher Learning Institutions

Eileen Ting Jia Hui, Nur Constance Wah*

Department of Business Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak

wnconstance@unimas.my

ABSTRACT

The study explores the influence of human resource development (HRD) and organisational culture on job performance within the context of higher learning institutions in Kota Samarahan. This research delves into the dynamic relationship between HRD initiatives and the resulting impact on the job performance of academic and administrative staff. Employing quantitative research, the study focused on employees in UiTM, UNIMAS, and IPG. The study employs descriptive statistics analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to explore the relationships between variables. The results indicate that the most impactful variable is training and development as it has the strongest impact on job performance among employees. Likewise, two strategies need to be considered and enhanced are career development and the organisational culture since they have significant effects. The role of organisational development needs to be re-evaluated as it does not significantly influence the job performance. The findings of this research contribute valuable insights into the dynamics of human resource development and organisational culture within the context of public universities and their influence on job performance, offering practical implications for both academic and organisational settings. 

Keywords: Training and Development, Organisational Culture, Organisational Development, Career Development, Job Performance.

A Narrative Review of the Causes, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies of Flooding in Nigeria

*Musa Mustapha Danraka1,2 Sapura Bt Mohamad1 Siti Nur Hannah Binti Ismail1

Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Johor Bahru. Malaysia1

Department of Architectural Technology, School of Environmental Studies, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria. Kaduna State. Nigeria2

*danraka@graduate.utm.my

ABSTRACT

Floods are a prominent manifestation of natural hazards worldwide, and Nigeria is certainly not exempt from this reality. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the incidences, origins, ramifications, and strategies for alleviating floods in Nigeria. An examination of scholarly literature was conducted, utilising databases such as Google Scholar and Directory of Open Access Journals. The findings of this investigation reveal that copious and prolonged rainfall stands as the principal catalyst for flooding, often intertwined with anthropogenic activities, including deficient drainage infrastructure, inadequate solid waste management, and the rupture of dams and levees. The consequences of these floods are primarily evidenced by the destruction of residential dwellings and properties, loss of livelihoods, displacement of inhabitants, and devastation of farmlands. Significantly, loss of life remains an undeniable consequence of flooding. The extant structural measures employed for flood mitigation have proven to be inadequate, thus necessitating the adoption of non-structural strategies that are gaining traction. This study emphasises the necessity of implementing an efficient community-based response system to prevent and manage floods in Nigeria and calls on governmental bodies such as the National and State Emergency Management Agencies at all levels to adopt a more proactive approach in addressing instances of flooding.

Keywords: Flood; Flood control; Flood impact; Flood mitigation; Nigeria