Urban Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Dry Season Vegetable Production Technologies in in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the adoption of improved vegetable production technologies among urban farmers in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to ascertain the technologies adopted in dry season urban vegetable production, reasons for participation in the production, sources of information to the farmers, constraints to adoption of the technologies, and the socio-economic determinants of adoption of the technologies by the farmers. Data were collected from 125 randomly sampled urban farmers with the aid of semi-structured and validated questionnaire. The data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Multiple Regression analysis. The result showed that the production technologies adopted were use of improved crop varieties (69.5%), use of fertilizers (95.6%), irrigation (88.7%), mulching (62.6%) and seed treatment before planting (59.1%). It was also revealed that the reasons for participation in dry season urban vegetable farming included increased access to vegetable for household consumption (Mean = 2.92), income generation ( mean = 3.42), and employment creation (Mean = 3.11). The major sources of information on dry season vegetable production were informal interaction with neighbours/friends (35.7%), Extension Agents (EAs)(14.8%), the radio (12.5%)and the television (11.3%). The constraints included land scarcity (88.7%), lack of water for irrigation (70.5%) and poor awareness on dry season farming (50.6%). The socio-economic determinants of participation in dry season urban farming included major occupation, income level, length of time lived in the city, and access to land. The study concluded that dry season vegetable farming in Owerri Municipal was very useful for ensuring households’ access to vegetables, increased income generation and alternative means of employment.Key words: Dry season, vegetable production, Urban, Farmer

Renal Dysfunction and Hyperlipidaemia in Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients

Hyperlipidaemia and renal dysfunction in four groups of patients( hypertensive diabetics, hypertensive , diabetic patients and normal individuals)was assessed using biochemical markers such as Urea, Creatinine , Cholesterol, Triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C and Fasting blood sugar(FBS) . A total of 84 adults’ subjects aged between 20 and 65 years consisting of 22hypertensive, 22 hypertensive diabetics, 20 diabetics and 20 apparently healthy individuals (which served as control) were used for the study all within Aba Metropolitan.The investigations were done with serum and the biochemical parameters were assayed based on calorimetric method. However, the results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. From the results, it was observed that there was a significant increase in the serum levels of Urea and Creatinine in hypertensive diabetics compared to hypertensive, diabetics and control subjects (P<0.05).Although, there was a slight increase in the levels of Triglyceride and LDL-C in the same group compared to others. Equally indicated was that diabetics exhibited slight increase in Fasting blood sugar (FBS) compared to the other three groups (control Mmol/L; 4.32±0.60 vs 7.34±0.92 vs 4.90± 0.50 vs 10.80± 1.05, P<0.05). The study has established a renal dysfunction in hypertensives and diabetics. Equally noted was hyperlipidaemia in the groups studied. The study is therefore stressing the importance of controlling hyperlipidaemia in Hypertensive diabetics, Hypertensive and Diabetic patients, since it is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.Key words:Renal Dysfunction, Hyerlipidaemia, Hypertensives, Diabetics