Extension Services Strategies in Adaptation to Climate Change in Oyo State, Nigeria.

The paper examined the extension service strategies in adaptation to climate change in Oyo State Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 96 respondents. Descriptive statistics was used in analyzed the data collected for the study. Results show that impacts of climate change experienced by the respondents are shortage of water for human and live stock, Shortage of pasture for grazing animals and Reduction in household income result to high rate of school dropout. While respondents adopted enterprise choice, conservation agricultural practices and early warning system as the adaptation strategies to climate change in the study area. The perceived roles of extension agents in capacity building on climate change adaptation strategies are: use of demonstration methods in teaching farmers on the strategies to adapt to climate change, use of farmer to farmer extension strategies, and dissemination of innovation. The study find that low level of funding, change in government policy, difficult challenge in mobility and lack of access to information are the constraints that hindered adoption of adaptation strategies to climate change in the study area. There should be stability in government in order to influence continuity of any  planned programme for the sustainability of agriculture especially at this period that climate change is threaten  settlement, live and agriculture. Key words: Extension, Strategies, Adaptation, Climate change, Oyo State

Analysis of Extension Services in Forest Conservation in Ogun State, Nigeria.

The study to analyze extension services in forest conservation was carried out in Ogun State, Nigeria. The objectives were to identify extension services in forest conservation, examine perception of forest officers on effectiveness of extension services in forest conservation and identify constraints hindered extension services in forest conservation. Multistage sampling technique was undertaken following the state ministry of agriculture delineation of forest reserves across the state. A total of 68 forest officers were selected for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result shows that 83.8% of the forest officers were at their active age that fall between 31-45 years with high literacy level, 48.5% had between 11-15 years in service, 26.4% had between 5-10 years in service. Extension services rendered in forest conservation include education programme that emphasized forests officers knowledge related to forest conservation discipline with mean value of (2.73), create awareness through publication in relation to forest conservation with mean value of (2.60). Majority of the forest officer agree that extension services in forest conservation were effective, and major constraints to extension services in forest conservation were mentioned by forest officers. Therefore, the conservation of forests depends on how effective extension services are, for the forestry extension services to be effective the challenges facing the service must be seriously considered and funding of forestry extension programme should be such that has political will by given better materials and service as supportive provided for extension agents. Key words: Extension, Services, Forest, Conservation, Ogun State

Rural Dweller’s Perception of Impacts of Motorcycle(Okada) Services in Community Development in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone of Oyo State, Nigeria.

Rural dwellers’ are of opinion that impact of Okada services was a gradual development of the rural economy leading to poverty alleviation and food security. This study identifies factors affecting Okada services, impact of Okada services and constraints hindering Okada services in Community development. From the perception of the rural dwellers’ A 5-point likert -type scale containing pretested statements was used to measure the impacts, while constraints was measure by the use of A-3 point likert-type scale in three randomly chosen communities from 3 purposively selected Local Government Areas of Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone in Oyo State. The study found that majority of the rural dwellers are strongly agreed and agreed on the economy impacts, agricultural impacts, cultural impacts, societal impacts, health impacts and environmental impacts derived from okada services in rural community development. It thus demonstrated that the perception of rural dwellers’ on the constraints hindered okada services in community development were major constraints. The study also shows that rural dwellers’ socio-economic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, household size) influenced their perception of impacts of okada services in rural community development while, age, number of years in school, marital status, length of residence and household size Influenced their perception of constraints hindered okada services in community development. Therefore any measures seeking to influence the process of okada services should meet the rural dwellers perception of impacts of okada service in community development, government needs to take serious look at the deeper economic implications of the okada services with a view to ensuring that youth were discourage from okada services by enable them to benefit reliable employment opportunity for sustainability of future economy in all sectors. Key words: Rural dwellers’, Perception, Okada services, Community, Development

Effects of Non-wood Forest Products on Rural Household in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of non-wood forest products on rural households in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. It highlights; Socio-economic characteristic of the respondents, identify forest products available in the area, examine the effect of non wood forest products on rural household, analyze the determinants of level of income of the respondents and ascertained the constraints that hinder non-wood forest products based economic activities. Data were collected from the respondents with the aid of structured interview schedule guide and analyzed with descriptive statistics (frequency, percentages, mean and ranking) and regression and chi- square. Results showed that 87.5% of the respondents were within the age category of 30to59 years old and 53.3% were male, 88.3% were married, About 68.3% of the respondents years of experience on non wood forest products ranging from 6 to 15 year. 69.2% had household size of between 1 to 5, all (100%)  of the respondents indicated bush meat as the non-wood forest product available in the study area. About 48.3% of the respondents indicated collection and marketing of non-wood forest products as their economic activities. About 78.3% of the respondents indicated that income earned from non wood forest products economic activities ranges between N100 to N1000.00 per day. Even though respondents mentioned constraint hindered their non wood forest based economic activities. There was significant relationship between income determinants factors and income. Also significant relationships exist between rural household economic activities and constraints. Extension personnel need to be encouraged in order to disseminate appropriate information on forest protection, forest products harvesting technique and on economic and environmental value of forest. Keywords: effect, forest, non-wood forest products, rural household, Surulere, Oyo

Assessment of Perceived Corrupt Practices in Marketing of Agricultural Produce Among Women Marketers in Ogbomoso Agricultural of Oyo State, Nigeria

This study assessed the corrupt practices in marketing of agricultural produce among women marketers in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone of Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was adopted in the selection of respondents for the study; while structured interview schedule was employed to obtain data from fifty (50) women marketers from five selected markets in each LGA of the zone. Data collected were analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study revealed that (40.0%) of the sampled women were above 50 years of age; and most (70.0%) the women sampled were married and literate with different educational backgrounds and years of marketing experience. The Sampled women engaged in marketing of tomato/pepper (32.0%); rice/bean (32.0%); maize (26.0%); yam/cassava (38.0%); orange/pineapple (8.0%). The study identified different corrupt practices associated with marketing of agricultural produce in which adulteration of processed agricultural products ranked first with WMS of 2.36; while sales of poor quality produce ranked least with WMS of 0.20. There is significant relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics of women marketers and their perceived level of severity of identified corrupt practices associated with marketing of agricultural produce. The study therefore recommended that government should improve on her effort in standardizing the measurement unit and enforce its usage through the regulatory bodies set up for this task

Achieving Sustainable Development and Promoting Development Cooperation in Nigeria: Way Forward

The world today witnesses emerging new challenges, aggravated by multiple financial, economic, food and energy crises, which have threatened the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development reaffirmed the political commitments of the international community to pursue sustainable development, under the principles of Agenda 21, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, this is inline with the Millennium Development Goals objectives which focused attention on selected social and human development priorities. The main objective of the paper, is to evaluate the possible ways of achieving sustainable development and development cooperation in Nigeria. To achieved the above objective the researchers make use of questionnaires, Hypothesis are formulated which were analyzed using SPSS. Pearson Correlation Test were equally conducted to determine the correlation between economic development cooperation  and sustainable development in Nigeria.  Empirical economic modeling were established with the prior expectation to construct multiple regression. The paper recommended that, government should take steps to introduce price control on essential items to avoid persistence increase in price level, adequate measures should be put in place to cope with the effect of climate change, government as well should come up with policies that will encourage production and consumption of locally produce goods and services and discourage importation of essential items, Nigerian populace  should take a drastic measure to ensure that those to be elected as policies makers are of credible character and patriot that are capable of protecting the interest of the generality of the entire populace and finally the governments at all level should come up with economic recovery plans that is capable of salvaging the financial system and entire economy at large.   Keywords: Economy, Cooperation, Development, Strategy, Sustainability, Transformation

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of the root bark of Combretum sericeum in rodents

Combretum sericeum (Combretacae) is used traditionally in Northern Nigeria for the treatment of fever. In this study, the activities of the aqueous extract of the root bark of this plant against nociception andinflammation were investigated in mice and rats. The studies were carried out using acetic acid writhing, hot plate algesia and carrageenan induced inflammation in rats. The results showed that the extractexhibited significant (P < 0.001) anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in all the models used. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, glycosides alkaloids and anthraquinones. The intraperitoneal median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was found to be 177.48 mg/kg in mice. The observed activities might be the scientific basis for the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of fever. This study also paves way for the possible development of the plant extract as a phytodrug against pain and inflammatory conditions.Keywords: Combretum sericeum, anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, hot plate algesi

Preliminary studies on the behavioural effects of the methanol extract of Leonotis nepetifolia Linn stem in mice

Background: Leonotis nepetifolia Linn (Lamiaceae) is used in traditional medicine for its calming (tranquilizing) effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any scientific justification for this use. To achieve this purpose, we investigated the behavioural effects of the methanol extract of Leonotis nepetifolia stem (37.5, 75 and 150 mg/kg) in mice.Methods: Acute toxicity studies were carried out on the methanol stem extract of Leonotis nepetifolia to determine the LD50. The behavioural tests employed were diazepam-induced sleep onset and duration, hole board assay for exploratory activity, mouse beam walk assay for motor coordination, and the staircase test for the detection of anxiolytic compounds. Preliminary phytochemical screening was also carried out on the extract.Results: The intraperitoneal LD50 value was found to be 3.8 g/kg. The results showed that the extract significantly prolonged the duration of diazepam-induced sleep at the highest dose (150 mg/kg). There was no observable effect on exploratory activity and motor coordination at the doses tested (37.5, 75 and 150 mg/kg). The extract, however, at 150 mg/kg elicited a significant decrease in the number of rearings in the staircase test, an effect also observed in the group of mice injected with an anxiolytic dose of diazepam. The preliminary phytochemical  screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and   triterpenoids.Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that the crude methanol extract of Leonotis nepetifolia stem possesses some biologically active constituents with potential anxiolytic activity and thus may justify its traditional use as a tranquilizer.Keywords: behavioural; exploratory; Leonotis nepetifolia; motor coordination; anxiolyti