Role of International Fund for Agricultural Development/ Community Based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme (IFAD/CBARDP) in Improving the Livelihood of Rural Women: A Case Study of Aliero Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria

This study examined the role of IFAD/CBARDP on improving rural women’s livelihood in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was adopted to select 80 IFAD participating women. Structured questionnaire was used in data collection. Descriptive statistics was used to present the data obtained. Majority of the women were married, and at active productive ages. Qur’anic education was the common educational status of the participants. The findings also reveal that all the IFAD participating women were provided with assistance based on needs and interest and the common assistance provided was the training on tailoring, knitting, soap and cream making and later the participants were provided with such machines. In addition, the participants were also provided cash loan. The programme has lead to improvement of the living standards of the participants after programme participation. Attitudinal dispositional test using 3 points Likert’s scale reveal that the participating women strongly agreed that the programme has improved their living standard, the loan was adequate, and all the assistance provided was based on their needs and interest. It is concluded that the participating women were involved in decision making, most especially on the assistance provided, and the management of the assistance. It’s recommended that effort should be geared towards increasing women participation in any intervention programme that could uplift the livelihood of the rural communities.Keywords: Role, IFAD/CBARDP, Poverty Reduction, participating women, Kebbi Stat

BET Surface Area Determination of Calcium Oxide from Adamawa Chalk Mineral Using Water Adsorption Method, for Use as Catalyst.

This paper describes a test procedure for determining the total surface area of chalk mineral using the water adsorption method. The test involves saturating the thermally treated chalk sample with saturated salt solution of known relative humidity, until the water vapor forms a monomolecular layer on the treated chalk sample surface. The results of the test are expressed as Specific Surface Area (SSA), which describes the surface area/unit mass of dry treated sample with units of m2g-1. The test results presented demonstrate the BET isotherm of chalk samples after being thermally treated at 700, 900, 1100 and 1200oC. Results for a number of different treated chalk samples are presented. The proposed method uses simple and inexpensive laboratory equipment, is relatively simple to perform, and allows for rapid determination of SSA. Keywords: specific surface area, chalk mineral, water vapor, BET isother

CLIMATE CHANGE VARIABILITY AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH EFFECTS AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Objectives: The study examined climate change variability and associated health effects among farming households in Ondo State, Nigeria. It specifically described the socioeconomic characteristics of the farming households, identified the health issues experienced as a result of climate change, and analyzed the determinants of health effect of climate change and other socioeconomic variables among farming households in the study area. Methods: One hundred and twenty respondents selected through multistage sampling technique were used for the study. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and logit regression model. Results: Majority (92.9%) of the respondents were male, married (82.1%) with a mean household size of six people and a mean age of 49 years. Headache (95.5%), dizziness (95%), malaria (92%), body weakness (91.1%), cough (81.3%), typhoid fever (67.9%), skin rashes (58%), and rheumatic pain (48.2%) were the major health problems experienced by the farming households as a result of climate change in the study area. The significant variables determining the health effects of climate change among farming households in the study area were temperature (p<0.01), relative humidity (p<0.01), rainfall (p<0.01), sunshine (p<0.01), pressure (p<0.10), sex (p<0.10), marital status (p<0.01), household size (p<0.10), farming experience (p<0.01), and income (p<0.05). Conclusion: The health and well-being of the farming households were compromised by the vagaries in climatic condition in the study area. Hence, agricultural extension workers should be empowered to accommodate health education and preparedness measures that take into account, differences in the level of exposure, perceptivity, and acclimation capacity of different households may help to alleviate health effects of climate change on farming households in the study area

Socio-economic Factors Influencing Extension Workers’ Effective use of Knowledge Management in Agricultural Extension Services

The study assessed the factors influencing extension workers effective use of Knowledge Management (KM) inSokoto State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling procedure was used to sample respondents from the study area andExtension Workers were selected from Sokoto Agricultural Development Project (SADP). Socio-economiccharacteristics were using structured questionnaire and a total of 188 respondents were sampled and data collectedanalysed using descriptive statistics and logit model as tools of analysis. The result of the study showed that 74.4% ofthe extension workers were male and majority (79.8%) were married. More so, 35% of the extension workers arewithin the age range of 31 – 40 years with household average size of 5-10 children. Majority (79%) of the extensionworkers had tertiary education. (35%) had experience ranging from 21-25 years on extension service delivery. About41% of respondents used motor cycle as a mean of transportation. Result of logit model shows that marital status,level of education, service experience, cosmopolitness and means of transportation had positive and significantrelationship with effectiveness of KM whereas household size and rank of extension workers had significant andnegative relationship with KM. It is therefore recommended that KM be encouraged and disseminated through topmanagement approach in SADP. This will avail quality and better extension service delivery by extension agencybecause the vast knowledge and experience garnered on effective extension service delivery by top managementofficer will be shared and passed on to junior officers. This will go in line with strengthening and improving thecapacity building of extension workers

Yield and Yield Attributes of Extra-early Maize (Zea Mays L.) as Affected by Rates of Npk Fertilizer Succeeding Chilli Pepper (Capsicum Frutescens) Supplied with Different Rates Sheep Manure

Field experiment was conducted in 2005 and 2006 to study response of extra-early maize variety (95TZEE-Y1) to rates of NPK (0, 40:20:20, 80:40:40 and 120:60:60 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1) and residual FYM (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1 applied to chilli pepper the previous season) in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria. Randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. Higher values for soil physical and chemical properties were obtained in plots supplied with manure the previous season with soil from 2006 experiment more fertile than for the first year, hence produced 21% more grain yield. All the applied NPK rates in 2005 and except 40:20:20 ha1 in 2006 had resulted in early maize crop as compared to control. Husked and de-husked cob and 100-grain weights and grain yield/ha were higher at 120:60:60 kg NPK ha-1. Maize grown in plot supplied with 15 t FYM ha1 the previous year matured earlier. Cobs and 100-grain weights and grain yield were highest in plot supplied with 10 t FYM ha1. The 10t FYM ha-1 had 69% and 68% more grain yield than the control in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Highest maize yield was obtained at 120:60:60 kg NPK ha-1 or 10t FYM ha-1. All the parameters measured significantly and positively related to each other when the two years data were combined

Influence of maturity stage on nutritive value of typha for ruminants

The study evaluated the influence of maturity on the nutritive value and fermentation parameters of Typha. Typha samples were collected at two different stages of growth, as indicated by the height of the plants: either 0.5 m (Low Typha; LT, age 3-6months) or 1.5 m (High Typha; HT, age 9-12 months). Samples were analyzed for chemical composition, and incubated in vitro with ruminal fluid from sheep to determine the main fermentation parameters. As maturity advanced, the dry matter, fiber and lignin content (25.30%, 70.40%, 47.30% and 10.58%) in the Typha increased, whereas the content of ashes and protein (12.18% and 12.24%) decreases. The changes in chemical composition caused a significant reduction in both the in vitro ruminal degradability after 96 h of incubation (38.6 and 22.9% for LT and HT, respectively) and the production of volatile fatty acids after 24 h of incubation (6.08 and 5.87 mmol/g dry matter incubated), indicating that the nutritive value of the Typha declines with advancing maturity. The results indicate that Typha plants for ruminant feeding should be preferably harvested at early growth stages

Simulation of Hydrodesulphurization (HDS) Unit of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited

This research was carried out to simulate the Hydrodesulphurization unit using ASPEN HYSYS with the aim of removing impurities such as Sulphur, Nitrogen and Oxygen in raw Kerosene. The simulation is based on conditions and parameters (mass flow rates, temperature and pressure readings) obtained from the Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) plant of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC). After the successful completion of the simulation, total removal of impurities was achieved as the concentration of sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen in mole fraction present in the treated Kerosene stream was approximately zero. The treated Kerosene composition indicated 0.0021, 0.3342, 0.3322 and 0.3315 mole fractions of n-C13, n-C14, n-C15 and n-C16 respectively. Key words: Simulation, Hydrodesulphurization, Aspen Hysys, Impurities

Drivers and risk factors for circulating African swine fever virus in Uganda, 2012-2013

We explored observed risk factors and drivers of infection possibly associated with African swine fever (ASF) epidemiology in Uganda. Representative sub-populations of pig farms and statistics were used in a case-control model. Indiscriminate disposal of pig viscera and waste materials after slaughter, including on open refuse dumps, farm-gate buyers collecting pigs and pig products from within a farm, and retention of survivor pigs were plausible risk factors. Wire mesh-protected windows in pig houses were found to be protective against ASF infection. Sighting engorged ticks on pigs, the presence of a lock for each pig pen and/or a gate at the farm entrance were significantly associated with infection/noninfection; possible explanations were offered. Strict adherence to planned within-farm and communitybased biosecurity, and avoidance of identified risk factors is recommended to reduce infection. Training for small-scale and emerging farmers should involve multidimensional and multidisciplinary approaches to reduce human-related risky behaviours driving infection.National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) (4760UG) and the Department of Production Animal Studies and the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/rvsc2015-10-31hb201

Pharmacognostic and Acute Toxicity Study of Burkea Africana Root

Burkea africana is a plant that belongs to then family Fabaceae; it is widely spread in tropical Africa including Nigeria. It is of valuable in  ethnomedicine especially in the treatment of antidote for venomous stings and bites, cutaneous and sub cutaneous parasitic infection, convulsion and pulmonary troubles. Despite the fact that roots of Burkea africana have several medicinal properties, no standardization parameter has been  assessed. Due to lack of standard parameters, proper identification and ascertaining quality and purity in the events of adulteration has been thwarted. The objective of the study was to establish some important pharmacognostic profile and safety margin of Burkea africana root with the hope of assisting in its standardization for quality, purity and safety. Elemental analysis was carried out using acid digestion method and phytochemical composition of the plants was evaluated using standard method. Acute toxicity was achieved using Lorke method to determine the LD50. Chemomicroscopical evaluation revealed the presence of cellulose, tannins, starch, lignin, calcium oxalate, suberin, aleurone grain and mucilage with the exception of calcium carbonate. The average moisture contents, total ash, acid insoluble, water soluble ash, alcohol extractive value and water extractive values in the powdered plant material were 3.8%, 7.5%, 4.43%, 8.07%, 25.0% and 20.33% respectively. In addition, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cu were found to be within the safety limit. Phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and triterpenes were detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The LD50 of Burkea africana was found to be greater than 5000 mg /kg and could be considered safe for consumption. Keywords: Elemental analysis, Burkea africana, Pharmacognostic, Phytochemica