Effects of trade liberalization on aggregate and agricultural sector employment in Nigeria

One deleterious problem plaguing most developing countries like Nigeria is unemployment and free trade has been identified as a panacea by many studies. However, proponents of protectionism argue that the agricultural sector should be shielded from international trade competition. Since the agricultural sector is a major employment driver in Nigeria, the objective of this study is to investigate the impact of trade liberalization on aggregate and agricultural sector employment in Nigeria. Using multiple linear regression (MLR) with trade and employment data from 1991 – 2020, the study found that although trade openness increased employment in the agricultural sector, it had no significant effect on total unemployment. Also, the agricultural share of the GDP does not significantly affect aggregate employment. Furthermore, foreign direct investments promote aggregate employment while having a negative impact on the agricultural sector employment. The study recommends that trade openness be promoted to further improve the agricultural sector

The importance of considering community-level effects when selecting insecticidal malaria vector products

BACKGROUND\ud \ud Insecticide treatment of nets, curtains or walls and ceilings of houses represent the primary means for malaria prevention worldwide. Direct personal protection of individuals and households arises from deterrent and insecticidal activities which divert or kill mosquitoes before they can feed. However, at high coverage, community-level reductions of mosquito density and survival prevent more transmission exposure than the personal protection acquired by using a net or living in a sprayed house.\ud \ud METHODS\ud \ud A process-explicit simulation of malaria transmission was applied to results of 4 recent Phase II experimental hut trials comparing a new mosaic long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) which combines deltamethrin and piperonyl butoxide with another LLIN product by the same manufacturer relying on deltamethrin alone.\ud \ud RESULTS\ud \ud Direct estimates of mean personal protection against insecticide-resistant vectors in Vietnam, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Benin revealed no clear advantage for combination LLINs over deltamethrin-only LLINs (P = 0.973) unless both types of nets were extensively washed (Relative mean entomologic inoculation rate (EIR) ± standard error of the mean (SEM) for users of combination nets compared to users of deltamethrin only nets = 0.853 ± 0.056, P = 0.008). However, simulations of impact at high coverage (80% use) predicted consistently better impact for the combination net across all four sites (Relative mean EIR ± SEM in communities with combination nets, compared with those using deltamethrin only nets = 0.613 ± 0.076, P < 0.001), regardless of whether the nets were washed or not (P = 0.467). Nevertheless, the degree of advantage obtained with the combination varied substantially between sites and their associated resistant vector populations.\ud \ud CONCLUSION\ud \ud Process-explicit simulations of community-level protection, parameterized using locally-relevant experimental hut studies, should be explicitly considered when choosing vector control products for large-scale epidemiological trials or public health programme procurement, particularly as growing insecticide resistance necessitates the use of multiple active ingredients

Design and methods for a quasi-experimental pilot study to evaluate the impact of dual active ingredient insecticide-treated nets on malaria burden in five regions in sub-Saharan Africa

Background:Vector control tools have contributed significantly to a reduction in malaria burden since 2000, primar‑ily through insecticidal‑treated bed nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying. In the face of increasing insecticide resist‑ance in key malaria vector species, global progress in malaria control has stalled. Innovative tools, such as dual active ingredient (dual‑AI) ITNs that are effective at killing insecticide‑resistant mosquitoes have recently been introduced. However, large‑scale uptake has been slow for several reasons, including higher costs and limited evidence on their incremental effectiveness and cost‑effectiveness. The present report describes the design of several observational studies aimed to determine the effectiveness and cost‑effectiveness of dual‑AI ITNs, compared to standard pyre‑throid‑only ITNs, at reducing malaria transmission across a variety of transmission settings.Methods:Observational pilot studies are ongoing in Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Rwanda, leveraging dual‑AI ITN rollouts nested within the 2019 and 2020 mass distribution campaigns in each country. Enhanced surveil‑lance occurring in select study districts include annual cross‑sectional surveys during peak transmission seasons, monthly entomological surveillance, passive case detection using routine health facility surveillance systems, and studies on human behaviour and ITN use patterns. Data will compare changes in malaria transmission and disease burden in districts receiving dual‑AI ITNs to similar districts receiving standard pyrethroid‑only ITNs over three years. The costs of net distribution will be calculated using the provider perspective including financial and economic costs, and a cost‑effectiveness analysis will assess incremental cost‑effectiveness ratios for Interceptor® G2, Royal Guard®, and piperonyl butoxide ITNs in comparison to standard pyrethroid‑only ITNs, based on incidence rate ratios calcu‑lated from routine data.Conclusions:Evidence of the effectiveness and cost‑effectiveness of the dual‑AI ITNs from these pilot studies will complement evidence from two contemporary cluster randomized control trials, one in Benin and one in Tanzania, to provide key information to malaria control programmes, policymakers, and donors to help guide decision‑making and planning for local malaria control and elimination strategies. Understanding the breadth of contexts where these dual‑AI ITNs are most effective and collecting robust information on factors influencing comparative effectiveness could improve uptake and availability and help maximize their impact

GROWTH AND YIELD OF BEETROOT (BETA VULGARIS) AS AFFECTED BY THE APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT SOURCES AND VARYING RATES OF NUTRIENTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN IN GIDAN KWANU, MINNA, NIGER STATE OF NIGERIA

Two experiments were conducted concurrently at the Horticultural Nursery of the Department of Crop Production, Federal University of Technology. Gidan Kwanu, Minna (latitude 6o 30’ N and Longitude 90 40’ E) during the dry season of 2016. The objective of the two trials was to determine the nutrient source and rates required in the production of beetroot (Beta vulgaris). The experimental treatment consists of three organic nutrient sources namely; cow dung, poultry manure and goat droppings at ratio by weight of 1:1:2 and 1:1:4 of sand: topsoil and organic nutrient. The experiments were laid arranged in completely randomized design.(CRD) and replicated thrice. Improved seeds of beetroot were soaked for 24 hours and sown at 3cm depth. Data were collected on growth parameters such as crop germination, crop vigor, plant height, number of offshoot, leaf area index, shoot girth, and fresh leafy yield. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were separated using Duncan multiple range test(DMRT). Result obtained indicated that 10t ha-1 poultry manure exhibited better growth performance of beetroot and resulted in higher fresh leafy yield than all other organic sources and rates. The study therefore recommends the application of poultry manure at the rate of 10 t ha-1 for beetroot farmers in the study area

Susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (Diptera: Culicidae) to Permethrin, Deltamethrin and Bendiocarb in Ibadan City, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract: This study was carried out to assess the resistance/susceptibility level of An. gambiae s.l, a major malaria vector in Ibadan metropolis, south west Nigeria, to two classes of insecticides approved by World Health Organization (WHO) for vector control. Anopheles larvae were collected from two communities (Ojoo and Bodija) within the metropolis and reared to adults. Two to three-day old, non-engorged female mosquitoes were exposed to discriminating dosages of 0.05% deltamethrin, 0.75% permethrin and 0.1% bendiocarb using WHO protocols and susceptibility test kits. Knockdown effect was recorded every 10 min and mortality scored 24 h after exposure. Species identification was by morphological characteristics only. The study revealed that the major malaria vector in Nigeria, An. gambiae s.l, were susceptible (mortality rate of 98.8%) to deltamethrin in Ojoo community, while Bodija recorded marginal susceptibility (87.5%). Both sites showed reduced susceptibility to permethrin and resistance to bendiocarb with 24 h post exposure mortalities ranging from 83.5 to 87.7% and 70.0 and 52.5%, respectively. The median Knockdown Time (KDT 50 ) from 22-44.2 min for the pyrethroids (permethrin and deltamethrin), while that of carbamates (bendiocarb) range from 35.2 to 49.5 min. Resistance recorded in the field populations of An. gambiae s.l in Ibadan to bendiocarb was not observed in same population exposed to the pyrethroids (deltamethrin and permethrin) but with differential susceptibility. Therefore Bendiocarb may not be suitable as alternatives to mitigate pyrethroid resistance. A rationalised use of these insecticides coupled with regular monitoring of resistance status is essential to improve and evaluate the efficacy of the current vector control tools (ITN and IRS)

Pyrethroids resistance intensity and resistance mechanisms in Anopheles gambiae from malaria vector surveillance sites in Nigeria.

Anopheles gambiae, An. coluzzii and An. arabiensis are the three major vectors of malaria in Nigeria. These mosquitoes have developed resistance to different insecticides. Insecticides resistance intensity assay was recently introduced to provide insight into the potential operational significance of insecticide resistance. Here, we present data on pyrethroids resistance intensity and resistance mechanisms from six vector surveillance sites (Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Anambra, Kwara and Niger) in Nigeria. Adult Anopheles reared from larval collections were tested using WHO insecticides susceptibility protocol with 1x concentration of permethrin and deltamethrin followed with intensity assays with 5x and 10x concentrations of both insecticides. Synergistic and biochemical assays were carried out and underlying resistance mechanisms determined following standard protocols. Anopheles gambiae constituted >50% samples tested in five sites. Permethrin and deltamethrin resistance was observed at all the sites. The Kdt50 varied from 15 minutes (CI = 13.6-17.2) in deltamethrin to 42.1 minutes (CI = 39.4-44.1) in permethrin. For both insecticides, Kdt95 was >30 minutes with 25% to 87% post exposure mortality at the different sites. The West Africa knock down resistance (kdr-w) mechanism was found at each site. Resistant An. gambiae from Lagos, Ogun and Niger synergized prior to permethrin or deltamethrin exposure showed significant mortality (89-100%) compared to unsynergized mosquitoes (Lagos, p = 0.031; Ogun, p = 0.025; Niger, p = 0.018). Biochemical analyses revealed significant increased levels of P450 enzymes in resistant Anopheles gambiae from Lagos (p = 0.038); Ogun (p = 0.042) and Niger (p = 0.028) in addition to GST in Lagos (p = 0.028) and Ogun (p = 0.033). Overall, the results revealed high pyrethroid resistance associated with increased activities of metabolic enzymes (P450 + GST) in An. gambiae and An. coluzzii from Lagos and Ogun. The presence of kdr + P450 conferred moderate resistance whereas low resistance was the case where kdr was the sole resistance mechanism. Findings thus suggests that elevated levels of cytochrome P450 enzymes together with GST were responsible for high or severe pyrethroid resistance