Palm kernel agar: An alternative culture medium for rapid detection of aflatoxins in agricultural commodities

The feasibility of using palm kernel agar (PKA) as an alternative culture medium to desiccated coconut agar (DCA), the conventional medium for the recovery of aflatoxigenic fungi from mixed cultures andthe detection of aflatoxigenic fungi and direct visual determination of aflatoxins in agricultural commodities was assessed. The medium recovered aflatoxigenic fungi in 48 h from mixed cultures andagricultural commodities in 58 h as compared to 62 h obtained for the two treatments on desiccated coconut medium. Aflatoxigenic fungi were detected in all the agricultural commodities except for onions with maize having the highest value of 13.18% (w/w) followed by melon (10.97), yam flour (10.23) and groundnut (8.52) as against 11.48, 10.0, 6.92 and 8.52% (w/w) obtained for DCA. All aflatoxigenic strains produced a characteristic yellow pigmentation on a pink background and blue or blue green fluorescence of palm kernel agar Under long wave UV light (366nm) as against the white background of DCA, which often interferes with fluorescence with corresponding yield of aflatoxins. This shows that the medium is able to efficiently detect aflatoxin production through direct visual observation of fluorescence. Palm kernel agar (PKA) can therefore be routinely used as an alternative culture medium for screening aflatoxigenic fungi and direct visual determination of aflatoxins in agricultural commodities since it is faster and has a unique pink background for easy identificatio

Socio-Economic Characteristics and Level of Awareness and Perception on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Programme (REDD+) by Rural Communities in Akure Forest Reserve, Nigeria

Rural communities around Akure forest reserve depend mostly on forest and its products for their livelihoods, which results in its high rate of deforestation. Meanwhile, the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation programme (REDD+), one of the international forest-governance initiatives to address sustainable forest  anagement and climate change mitigation has been introduced to the reserve. This research investigated the socio-economic status of the communities in Akure forest reserve, level of dependence on the forest resources and their level of awareness and perception about the REDD+ project. Six communities were selected randomly from around the reserve which were in the readiness phase of the REDD+ project. Data were collected through household survey with the use of semi-structured questionnaire administered to 120 respondents (household heads) selected randomly from the communities as well as information from 6 key informants (village heads). Descriptive Statistics and Chi Square test were used in the analysis of the data and the result showed that the main income-generating activity in the communities was farming accounting for 70.8% of the respondents. This affirms that the high level of the households’ dependence on forest resources is traceable to their socio-economic characteristics. Considering the level of awareness of REDD+ project, results revealed that the level of awareness of the key informants about REDD+ was very high (83.3%) while it was very low at the local community level with only 35% of the respondents being aware of the REDD+ project among which 23.3% found it beneficial. Therefore, to enhance the level of effectiveness of REDD+ project implementation, there should be an increase in the level of awareness in the communities. Keywords: Forest Communities, Awareness, REDD+ Project, Rural livelihood, Deforestatio

Socio-Economic Characteristics and Level of Awareness and Perception on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Programme (REDD+) by Rural Communities in Akure Forest Reserve, Nigeria

Rural communities around Akure forest reserve depend mostly on forest and its products for their livelihoods, which results in its high rate of deforestation. Meanwhile, the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation programme (REDD+), one of the international forest-governance initiatives to address sustainable forest management and climate change mitigation has been introduced to the reserve. This research investigated the socio-economic status of the communities in Akure forest reserve, level of dependence on the forest resources and their level of awareness and perception about the REDD+ project. Six communities were selected randomly from around the reserve which were in the readiness phase of the REDD+ project. Data were collected through household survey with the use of semi-structured questionnaire administered to 120 respondents (household heads) selected randomly from the communities as well as information from 6 key informants (village heads). Descriptive Statistics and Chi Square test were used in the analysis of the data and the result showed that the main income-generating activity in the communities was farming accounting for 70.8% of the respondents. This affirms that the high level of the households\u2019 dependence on forest resources is traceable to their socio-economic characteristics. Considering the level of awareness of REDD+ project, results revealed that the level of awareness of the key informants about REDD+ was very high (83.3%) while it was very low at the local community level with only 35% of the respondents being aware of the REDD+ project among which 23.3% found it beneficial. Therefore, to enhance the level of effectiveness of REDD+ project implementation, there should be an increase in the level of awareness in the communities