EFFECTS OF THE SPECIAL RICE PROJECT ON QUALITY OF INPUTS USED FOR RICE PRODUCTION IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out in Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas of Kwara State. Through a two stage random sampling technique, 70 participants in Special Rice Project (SRP) were selected from 6 circles in Patigi Local Government Area (LGA) and another 32 participants were similarly selected from 3 extension circles in Edu LGA, making a total of 102 respondents. Data collected by means of interview schedule were subjected to descriptive, t-test and Pearson Correlation Statistics. The result of the study indicated that 86.7%, 91.3%, 90.3% of the participating farmers in SRP rated seed, her- bicide and fertilizer respectively, provided by SRP, to be of very good quality while 19.6%, 49% and 58.8% of them rated seed, herbicide and fertilizer used before they joined SRP to be of very good quality. Furthermore, the highest proportion of participants 90 (88.3%) produced 3 - 4 tonnes of paddy rice per hectare as opposed to 19 .6% of them who were able to produce 3-4 tonnes before SRP was implemented. Participants also recorded an average annual income of N338,700.00 (US$2,419.29) / annum, that is, US$6.63/day, as against N129,410.00 (US$9,24.4)/annum earned by them before SRP was implemented. Thus, participants earned about US$6.63/day, which is higher than poverty income level of US$2/day. The result of the t-test analysis indicated that a significant difference exists between the rice yield of participants before and after the introduction of SRP (t=4.537, p≤0.05). Also Pearson Correlation analysis shows positive, linear and significant relationship between quality of farm inputs used and yield of rice (r = 0.562, p≤ 0.05). Based on the evidence from the study, Special Rice Project has the potential to serve as a good channel of accessing quality farm inputs, increase farm yield and income of farmers and contribute to Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty level by 2015. It is, therefore, recommended that the activities of SRP are expanded to reach all categories of farmers in the country

Implications of Deceptive Practices of Poultry Input Suppliers on Poultry Production in Kwara State, Nigeria

Deceptive practices of poultry input suppliers are partly responsible for inability to meet the consumption of recommended animal protein (35g/person/day). The study examined the prevailing deceptive practices and effects on poultry production in Nigeria. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 70 small scale poultry farmers used as respondents. Data were analyzed using percentages and means. The respondents (68.6%) had a minimum of secondary school education and spent averagely 15.7 years in poultry production. The findings showed that deceptive practices include adulteration of feed ingredients, marketing of under‑weighed feeds, lack of proximate analysis of nutrient composition of feeds and use of old bags for packaging. The respondents (81.3%) agreed that deceptive practices delayed the start of growing period of the fowls. Similarly, 79.5% and 61% experienced low meat and egg production, respectively, resulting in expensive animal protein, increased production overheads (83.4%), lowered returns on investment (90.1%). The result of hypothesis indicated a positive significant relationship between the level of educational attainment of respondents and ability to identify deceptive practices in poultry production (R = 0.214, P ≤ 0.05) among respondents. Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and other relevant regulatory agencies should have a structure to regulate and award penalties to culpable individuals in these deceptive practices. Extension organizations should educate poultry producers on the concept of deceptive practices and its consequences. Keywords: adulteration; poultry feeds; egg production; poultry meat production

Studies on the Moisture Dependent Physical Properties of Cowpea

Cowpea is a very important legume in Nigeria that is being utilized to Substitute high-cost animal protein for low-income people. The knowledge of some physical properties of various moisture contents is of utmost importance in the design of its handling and processing equipment and machinery, which is the aim of this work, which studied the physical properties of IT99K-573-1-1 (SAMPEA14) variety of Cowpea within 8.77 to 21.58 % db moisture content. The properties studied include Major, Intermediate, and Minor diameters, Sphericity, Surface area, Specific gravity, Volume, Bulk density, 50-tap density, 100-tap density, 1250-tap density, seed mass, Angle of repose, Geometric mean diameter, and Arithmetic mean diameter. The obtained results indicate that the Size, Sphericity, Geometric, Arithmetic diameter, Surface area, and seed mass increase linearly with an increase in moisture content by 13.8%, 27.4%, and 16.1% for the size, respectively. While sphericity rises by 7.5% and geometric mean diameter, arithmetic mean diameter, surface area, and grain mass increase by 22.2%, 20.7%, 24.9%, and 16.11%, respectively. Specific gravity, density, and repose angle were inversely linearly related to moisture content. Regression equations for each of the properties related to the grains' moisture content were developed

SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS AND CONDOM USE IN SELECTED FISHING COMMUNITIES OF KAINJI LAKE BASIN, NIGERIA

This paper has highlighted the sexual behaviour and the use of condom among the fisherfolk in some selected fishing communities in the Kainji lake basin. The sample was taken from Yauri emirate in ten fishing communities. This finding revealed that 76.0% of the respondents were still in their active age, 15 – 45 years. 58.7% were into polygamy, sexually active with multiple relationships. 74.0% of respondents of them have heard of condom and its uses but the desire of respondents to protect themselves and use of effective measures like the condoms is lacking in the study area. 62.2% of respondents perceived the condom as a protective devise for individual against possible HIV infection during any sexual activity. There is a high level of knowledge about the condom and its protective role against infections but does not translate safe sex in the fishing communities. Various health programmes for the eradication of STIs diseases had not been well extended to fishing communities. However, some recommendations were made to fight against health related problems, especially HIV/AID

Rural farmers' perception of climate variabilities in Benue State of Nigeria

Climate change and severe weather events such as temperature shocks and declining rainfall often strongly impede sustainable farming development, especially where agriculture is rain fed and when other external shocks such as poverty, poor access to inputs and credit are common. This is the context in which rural farmers carry out their farming and other livelihoods activities. This study compares rural farmers’ perception of temperature and rainfall with the result of 30 years (1980-2009) meteorological records of temperature and rainfall, examines the farmers adaptation practices in response to climate change and the constraints to their adaptation. The study found an increasing trend in minimum and maximum temperature as well as rainfall amount. This validates the farmers’ perception of temperature and rainfall. Bush burning and Tree cutting were the perceived leading causes of climate change. Farmers mostly engaged in changing planting dates and change in house construction in response to climate change. Efforts that address poverty and provide access to agricultural support services like access to credit; farm inputs and weather forecasting service will help enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change. Farmers’ adaptive capacity could be enhanced through agricultural support services such as access to credit, farm inputs and weather forecastin

Densification behaviour of carob powder

The behaviour of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) powder relevant to its densification at low pressure was determined given different equipment aspect ratios (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5) and varying rates of deformation (5.5, 10 and 14.5 mm min-1). The effects of both parameters were examined through the analysis of variance and trends were fitted to observed mechanical responses using standard regression technique. Both aspect ratio and the time rate of deformation had highly significant effects on the material’s response to load. Strain rate and specific power requirement were power functions of the equipment’s aspect ratio, at all rates of deformation. These findings furnish insights on mechanical response in compressed food powders which are applicable in modelling related food handling and processing systems

Analysis of Climate Change and Rural Farmers’ Perception in North Central Nigeria

The perception of climate change as a hazard will influence people’s response to it. This study examined farmers’ perception of temperature and rainfall between 1980 and 2009, and how age, sex, education and household size correlated with climate change perception. Simple random sampling with proportionate representation was used to determine sample size (411) from a sampling frame of 6000 farmers. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection and this was supplemented with interview of key informants. Temperature and rainfall records of Makurdi Meteorological Station were used as proxy for the study area. Data were analysed using regression and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Results showed an increasing trend in temperature and rainfall amount, rainfall unpredictability, corroborated by majority of the farmers’ perception. Bush burning, tree cutting and sinful behaviour were ranked as leading causes of climate change. Sex was significantly related to climate change perception and adaptation. Age, sex education and household size had significant impacts on the farmers’ perception of climate change effect on social, biological and eco-system functions. In conclusion, rural farmers correctly perceived the changes in the climate. It was recommended that demographic attributes of farmers and farming communities should be incorporated into climate change awareness and adaptation policies