Production relationships among compound and non-compound farms in Imo state, Nigeria

A research article comparing the productivity capacity between compound farms and non-compound farms in Nigeria.The objective of the study are to examine and identify the pattern of resource allocation, compare the productivity and efficiency in compound and noncompound farms, and make recommendations for enhanced performance in the two farm types. The sample size comprised 240 farmers who were sampled using the multi-stage sampling technique. Structured questionnaires were used in the collection of primary data. The Chow F-test and profit function analysis were adopted in determining and comparing the pattern of resource allocation, productivity and efficiency among the two groups of farmers. The results show that more aggregate resources were allocated to non-compound farms. Resources such as labour and capital have higher marginal value products in non-compound farms while seeds, fertilisers and agro-chemicals were equally productive in two farm types. The existence of resource use disequilibria was apparent in the two farms. Farmers were not equally technically efficient in both farm types. However, the farmers were economically more efficient in the compound farms. It is recommended that a bio-waste hitherto not being utilised to the non-compound farms to increase their fertility and hence economic efficiency be formulat

Consumption of Animal Protein in Adamawa State: An Empirical Analysis

This study examined the consumption of animal protein in Adamawa State, specifically the consumption of meat, fish, milk and egg. The socio-economic characteristics, the income and expenditure distribution, the level of expenditure on major animal proteins as well as the variables influencing household consumption of major animal proteins were analyzed. One hundred and sixty "“ one households were randomly sampled from ten wards in the two Local Government Areas. Data were collected with structured questionnaires. The analytical tools include the arithmetic mean, percentages, income elasticity, marginal propensity to consume (MPC) and multiple Regression analysis. The results show that about 86% of the household heads were males, 94% were between 21 and 60 years, 81% were married. 78% were civil servants, 95% received education. Also, about 91% of the household had between 1 and 10 people in their domain, while income distribution indicated that about 86% of the household earned an average income of not more than N28, 000.00 per month. Fifty-two percent (52%) of the household expenditure was on carbohydrate, while 37% was spent on major animal protein products. The regression analysis indicated that education (at 5%), total household expenditure on food (at 1%), marital status of the household head (at 1%) and gender of the household head (at 1%) were the major determinants of household expenditure on the major animal protein products. The study recommends the reduction on income taxations, introduction of informal education and intensification of family planning education

A comparative study on the strength characteristics of Grade 25 and Grade 30 rice husk ash blended cement concrete

Rice husk ash (RHA) is an agricultural waste which is a pozzolanic material that can be blended with cement in producing concrete. This research presents investigation carried out on the comparative strength characteristics of concrete produced with grade 25 and grade 30 cement blended concrete using a replacement level of 10% rice husk ash as substitute. Two mix ratios (1:2:4 and 1:1.12:3.01) were used. A total of 60 cube size of 150mm were cast, tested and their mechanical properties determined. The RHA was made in the laboratory by burning the husk obtained from Ifo in Ogun State Nigeria using an Electric furnace, with the temperatures of the furnace at about 700°C. The results showed that the compressive strength at 28 days decreased as the percentage replacement of Portland Limestone cement (PLC) with RHA increased from 0% to 10% respectively with compressive strengths of 29.78 N/mm2 to 21.56 N/mm2 for grade 25 concrete and 32.12 N/mm2 to 26.82 N/mm2 for grade 30 concrete. It was concluded that RHA replacement in concrete can be used for the production of concrete for light structural works in the development of sustainable and green structures

Comparative Analysis of Economic Efficiency between Low and High External Input Technology Agriculture in a Harsh Macroeconomic Environment of Imo State, Nigeria

The study compared economic efficiency among smallholder farmers who practiced low external input technology [LEIT] and high external input technology [HEIT] agriculture in a harsh macroeconomic environment typified by inadequate fertilizer subsidy in Imo State, Nigeria. Cross sectional data generated from 160 smallholder farmers randomly selected from 2 out of the 3 agricultural zones in Imo State were used. Profit function was used in analyzing the data. Results showed that the LEIT farmers achieved higher level of economic efficiency relative to their HEIT counterparts, although the difference is statistically non significant. It is therefore recommended that in the face of escalating costs of fertilizer, organic manure could be used. Appropriate policies should be put in place by the government to encourage livestock rearing so as to effectively utilize their bye product-organic manure. Household refuse or bio-degradable from the cities could be channeled to farms to serve as organic manure

Resource productivity and efficiency among cassava farmers in Rivers State, Nigeria

In this study, resource productivity and efficiency of cassava farmers in Rivers State were determined. Cross- sectional data generated from 200 cassava farmers randomly selected from ten out of the fifteen upland Local Government Areas were used. Multiple regression analysis was used in analyzing the data. Results of data analysis showed that farmland and capital inputs were more productive. The results further showed that the farmers allocatively inefficient in the use resource inputs. It is therefore recommended that policies and programmes geared towards making more lands available be put in place. Credit facilities should also be extended to these cassava farmers to enable them purchase improved planting materials and hire more farm hands.Key words:Resource efficiency,productivity,cassava,farmer

Conventional and unconventional feedstuffs in poultry diets: a case study of maize/sorghum based brewers dried grain (MSBDG)

In this study,four experimental diets were prepared in a way that Diet 1 (LD1 - control) contained no maize / sorghum – based brewers dried grains (MSBDG), Jackbean and cassava root meal. Diets 2 (LD2), 3 (LD3) and 4 (LD4) contained various combinations of MSBDG, jackbean, and cassava root meal which completely replaced maize. Other ingredients were included at the same level for the four experimental diets namely LDi, LD2, LD3, and LD4. The birds were weighed at the beginning and end of the trial. Eggs were collected twice daily; morning and evening. All the eggs collected during the period of the experiment were weighed. Feed intake was determined by obtaining the difference between the quantity of feed offered and the quantity of feed remaining in the morning of the following day. The feeding trials lasted for 16 weeks. Routine vaccination and necessary medication were carried out to keep the birds healthy. A total of 98 samples were collected from each treatment (LD1, LD2, LD3, and LD4). Data was analyzed using simple regression analysis. The result showed that among all the four diets tried, diet number 3 (LD3) appears to be the best. It is therefore recommended that in the event of escalating cost of maize; maize / Sorghum Based Brewers Dried Grain (MSBDG), Jackbean and cassava root meal in the ratio of 10:20:20 could be used to replace maize completely for layers. This will result in a drastic reduction in the cost of feed which tend to constitute over 90% of recurrent expenditures of poultry farmers.Key words: Feedstuffs, conventional and unconventional, poultr

Experimental Study on the Morphology of Keratin Based Material for Asbestos Free Brake Pad

This research was carried out to investigate the friction and wear of automotive materials using a pad on disk type friction tester to study the synergistic effects of bagasse (residue from sugarcane) and cow hooves dust (keratin based material). The friction materials were based on a simple formulation with three ingredients (phenolic resin, cow hooves dust and bagasse). Friction stability, hardness, compressive strength, flame resistance and oil absorption were measured. Microscopic observation of the friction material showed that the cow hooves adhered to the bagasse providing heat resistance and strength to the friction film at the rubbing interface. The beneficial synergistic effect from the two fibrous ingredients however was significantly diminished when only one of them was employed