Assessment of Tourists Flow and Revenue Generation in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess tourists’ flow and revenue generation from 1999 to 2009 in Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), north central Nigeria. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data collection was carried out through the use of structured questionnaire and oral interviews. Secondary data were collected from the park records and reports. Simple random sampling technique with 50% sampling intensity was used to draw representative samples from the staff population. In all, a total of 158 respondents were sampled. Data collected were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that KLNP is well visited, with a total number of 39,138 tourists and ₦40,135,223.85 revenue generated within the period under review. Fluctuation in tourists flow was discernible, with the highest number of tourists (5,593) recorded in 2005, while the lowest (1,143) was in 2003. About 97.5% of the visitors were local tourists. The highest revenue generation (₦ 5,445,198.96) was in the year 2009, while the lowest (₦ 1,705,524.00) was in 1999. There was no significant correlation between revenue generation from ecotourism and tourists flow across the years (N = 11; Pearson Correlation = 0.526; P = 0.096). Proceeds from ecotourism contribute to conservation activities and park management, especially in times of inadequate funding from the federal government. The authorities of KLNP would have to explore the full range of income generation opportunities in ecotourism. There is need to improve upon the state of facilities in the park and orient these towards meeting visitors’ needs and wants for improved revenue generation.Key words: Kainji Lake National Park, Ecotourism, Tourist flow, Revenue generatio

Rural Women Perception on Bushmeat Trade around Kainji Lake National Park, Niger State, Nigeria

The study examines the perception of rural women on bushmeat trade around Kainji Lake National Park in Niger state, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 rural women living around kainji lake national park in Niger state. Data were collected through a well-structured interview schedule and analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, 5 points Likert-type scale and chisquare. The result of the study revealed that majority (69.2%) of the rural women were married with large household sizes, 70.3% were in their middle age and 67.1% had just basic education. Also, majority (95.0%) of them had long years of working experience with low average monthly income less than U S $61. Moreover, they perceived benefits of trading in bush meat to include high return (1st), raising social status (2nd), and cheap access to animal protein (3rd). The study revealed further that respondents’ perceived knowledge were very high (2.5-3.0) on hunting and trading of bushmeat as not being a good livelihood activity, high (1.9-2.4) on unregulated hunting and trading of wild species as a factor that can destroy the environment while other opinions such as eating any wild animal meat be it endangered or not, extinction of wild species not contributing to disequilibrium of biodiversity, etc were rated low (1.3-1.8). There were significant relationship between education and years of working experience with respondents’ perception on bushmeat trade while age, household size, marital status and average monthly income were not significant. The perception exhibited by the rural women which was believed to be highly beneficial as a result of their generally low knowledge on the implication of the trade on biodiversity could encourage participation in bushmeat trade. Based on the findings, massive enlightenment campaigns need to be embarked upon by both governmental and non-governmental organizations to change their mindset on the implication of bushmeat trade.Key Words: Perception, Bushmeat, Rural Women, Trade, National Par

Effects of NPK Fertilizer Application on the Growth and Seed Yield of Cowpea in Ilorin, Southern Guinea Savanna Zone Of Nigeria

To forestall wastage and determine the optimum level of complete fertilizer needed for better production of cowpea, the application of NPK 16:16:16 fertilizer on the growth and yield of the crop was investigated. The field experiment was conducted on the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin. A medium-maturing cowpea variety IAR- 48 was tested with five NPK fertilizer rates viz: 200kgNPK/ha, 400kgNPK/ha, 600kgNPK/ha, 800kgNPK/ha and 0kgNPK/ha as the control. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, replicated twice. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, number of branches, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, weight of 100seeds and grain yield per treatment. All data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using GENSTAT package while separation of significant means was done using Least Significance Difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. Results showed that NPK fertilizer at the rate of 200kg/ha improved pod production, weight of 100seeds, pod weight and final grain yield per hectare. It could, therefore, be inferred that, subject to further research, if NPK 16:16:16 is applied at rate of 200kgNPK/ha or less, better yield and reduction in the cost of production will be achieved with cowpea variety IAR- 48 in Ilorin, a location in the Northern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria. Keywords: Complete fertilizer, cowpea, vegetative growth, yield potential and yield improvemen

Cowpea growth and yield performance as influenced by phosphorus nutrition in the southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria

The major constraint to increasing on-farm production of cowpea, getting the optimum yield and the widespread cultivation of the crop in the forest and savannah region is the limitation posed to it by phosphorus nutrition. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the optimum level of phosphorus for better growth and yield of cowpea. The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin. Five levels of phosphorus fertilizers (0kgP/ha,  30kgP/ha, 60kgP/ha, 90kgP/ha, 120kgP/ha) were used in the study and the experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Data on plant height, number of leaves, number ofbranches, number of flowers and number of pods were taken. All the data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance and significant means were separated using LSD with the aid of GENSTAT 5.2 statistical package. The results showed that phosphorus fertilizer at the rate of 30kgP/ha and 60kgP/ha could significantly improve number of leaves, number of branches, number of flowers and grain yield of cowpea at P < 0.05. It is therefore, recommended that application of phosphorus fertilizer at 30kg/ha be used to enhance grain yield because it is more economically viable than 60kgP/ha to achieve the same objective.Key words: Cowpea, phosphorus nutrition, soil fertility, growth and yield improvement

Stock density and fruit yield of African walnut, Plukenetia conophora Mull-Arg (Syn. Tetracarpidium conophorum) in tropical lowland rainforests of southwest Nigeria

Despite the huge socio-economic potentials of the African walnut, Plukenetia conophora Mull-Arg, there is a dearth of information on stock density and yield studies under different site conditions. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the stock density and fruit yields of P. conophora in three different habitats (i.e. less disturbed natural forest, recently disturbed natural forest and plantation forest) within Omo Forest Reserve (OFR) and Shasha Forest Reserve (SFR) of Nigeria. Stratified random sampling technique was used to carry out inventory survey. Fruit yields were determined by collecting fruit falls through double sampling approach. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the data at P = 0.05. Stock densities of P. conophora were 5.33+1.7stands/ha, 14.67+2.05stands/ha and 16.00+2.94stands/ha in OFR, while they were 7.33+0.47stands/ha, 14.67+1.25stands/ha and 10.67+04.7stands/ha in SFR for recently disturbed forest, less disturbed forest and plantation forest respectively. There were significant differences in number and distribution of species by forest types, but not between forest reserves. The mean yield of P. conophora/ha/yr was estimated at 7,800.00kg for OFR and 6,534.00kg for SFR. Yields from plantation area contributed more in OFR, while yields from less disturbed natural forest area were higher in SFR. Yields from recently disturbed natural forest were consistently lower in the two reserves. These results show that P. conophora thrives better in plantation and old re-growth forests. This information is pertinent towards improving the management of the species, increase its productivity and enhance benefits in a more sustainable manner to the rural populace

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation