Water hyacinth infestation: nuisance or nugget

(11 page document

Improved fisheries technologies and approaches for their dissemination: a case study of Niger State

Technology generation and dissemination are important components of rural transformation programmes. Nigerian fisheries sub-sector is still hampered by low productivity (especially in aquaculture) and low output (capture fisheries and post-harvest technologies). Research institutions and the Universities have made efforts in developing improved technologies to find solution to these problems, yet the level of adoption of the technologies remain low. This is due to a combination of various factors among which are faulty agricultural policies; institutional framework and unfavourable socio-economic environment. Niger State plays an important role in production in Nigeria and host the only research institute with the mandate in inland fisheries. It is important therefore to know the effectiveness of various extension approaches used in disseminating the technologies developed and their impact on adopters. Forty fishers were randomly selected in Shiroro L.G.A. of the Niger State and interviewed. The study probed into their socio-economic characteristics, traditional practices, extent of awareness and adoption for fisheries technologies and the effectiveness and impact of various approaches used by the extension organizations to disseminate the technologies. The results show that the economically active age group of the fishers was in the range of 20-50 years (87.5%). Males (95%) dominate the fisher population. 47.5% of the respondents have average household size of 6-10 and 57.5% were below primary school in educational attainment. Only 57.5% belonged to cooperative societies, while 90.0% of the fishers have no access to credit other than personal finance. Majority of fish-farmers (60%) operate at homestead level with pond size less than 50 square meter, stock under polyculture fishing methods are at subsistence level, while 67.5% of processors use mud-oven to cure, by smoking, freshly caught fish. Disseminated aquaculture technologies have low level of awareness (5-20%) and adoption (2.5-22.5%). For capture fisheries and post-harvest technologies awareness levels of 47.5-72.5% and adoption levels of 27.5-50.0% were recorded. Method demonstration (87.5%), result demonstration (75.0%) and field days (47.5%) are the major approaches used by the ADP. Respondents were of the opinion that method demonstration (65%), result demonstration (57.5%) and field day (30.0%) are effective. 62.5% of respondents had enhanced income due impact of extension activitie

An appraisal of the efficiency of fish marketing system in Lake Chad basin

Fish products from the Chad Basin Lake play important role in meeting fish protein needs of Nigeria: they contribute not less than 25% of the total domestic fish supply and are significant in determining the availability of processed products and reduction of post-harvest losses. Processors, marketers and consumers are the major actors in appraising a marketing system. The results show that most sellers (4-7.5%) are within the age range of 30-39 years. Desires for more earnings led the markets to diversify their business activities to food stuff trading (37.5%), dried meat/livestock sales (37.5%), farming (12.5%), and transportation (12.5%). 65% of traders dispose off their products mostly in the mornings and evenings, 70% of the products are sold smoked while 50% of products are sold to individual consumers. Lake Chad fish products have a long distribution chain. There is also a high degree of buyers and sellers concentration in the primary fish markets and secondary (urban) markets. The products have a vertical regional movement with southern traders (82.5%) dominating the business, thus making the products popular all over Nigeria. Product differentiation with imperfect pricing policy is common occurrence. Lake Chad fish marketing system has distortions that impede its efficiency, recommendations are made on how to ensure a better efficiency of the syste

Status of policies on fish hygiene in Nigeria

An examination is made of fish health policy formulation in Nigeria. Such policies are necessary to protect fish a living aquatic resources and also fish food at harvest because of the immense nutritional, social and economic benefits derivable by man from fish. Fish health policies must recognize the implications of aquatic environment pollution, the dangers of bad fishing methods and application of harmful fishing gears and appliances and post-mortem handling practice

Productivity indicators and best management practices situation in aquaculture industry in Nigeria

A study was conducted in February to March 2010 to analyzed constraints and identifies research priorities for development of aquaculture in Nigeria. It incorporated a cross-sectional analysis of participatory approach involving consultations with relevant stakeholders across the five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Consultations were made with Research Institutes and their training arms, the Fisheries Colleges; Universities, the Federal Department of Fisheries, Fish Farmers’ Organizations (especially Catfish Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, CAFAN), Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), National Special Programme on Food Security (NSPFS), Input Dealers, some private farmers and the private sector focused Catfish Farming Development Programme of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Extensive review of relevant literatures related to aquaculture development in Nigeria and global perspective was carried out. A component of the study was to analyze the situation of the industry in terms of productivity levels and best management practices compared with global standard. Findings reveal that the best practice ethics is not yet in place in the industry. This results in poorly designed fish culture facilities, improper management, low fish survival rate in hatcheries and production ponds, resulting in low productivity and poor returns on investment. The major constraints to the growth of the industry include low quality of consultancy services, high cost of imported feeds and drugs, high cost and scarcity of fast growing fish seeds, lack of access to finance, prevalence of diseases and pests, poor quality of consulting services and absence of guidelines to regulate conduct of business in the industry along the production and supply value chain. Although the Nigerian aquaculture industry boast of the largest manpower (in that sub-sector) in Africa; the quality of business development services are considered low. Research Institutes and Universities have regular funding problems for aquaculture research, poor infrastructures, and lack of exposures of staff to regular trainings to enable them be at par with global expertise on aquaculture development

Capture fisheries of Kontagora Reservoir, Niger State, Nigeria

A study of the capture fisheries of Kontagora Reservoir was carried out between January - December, 2007, using statistical frame and catch assessment survey methods. Five fish families comprising seven fish species were recorded. Hemichromis fasdatus, a cichlid was the most dominant species with mean value of 414.3 and 7715Kg in terms of number and weight respectively. Nineteen commercial fishermen were recorded, with the following fishing gears: gill net, cast nets, long lines, and Malian traps. The fishing craft included wooden canoe. The total mean catch of the fishermen were 4.40(1.36) kg/canoe or 167(52.64) fishes/canoe. The reservoir was productive in comparison with other smaller but productive African lakes. The monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) system was suggested for management consideration, with emphasis on registration of fishermen and their fishing equipment, enforcement of minimum mesh size of 3” and establishment of community based cooperative scheme

Comparative analysis of physicochemical characteristics of ABU and Zaria Dam

The physical and chemical parameters of ABU Dam and Zaria Dam were carried out between September and October 2009. The results obtained in the two water bodies were temperature 27.7 0C, pH (7.5 and 7.3), dissolved oxygen (5.8 mg/l and 5.0 mg/l), biochemical oxygen demand (1.74 mg/l and 2. 16 mg/l), alkalinity (58 mg CaC03/l and 49 mgCaCO3/l) P04-P (2.47 mg/l and 1.59 mg/l) NO3-N (3.67 mg/l and 3.47 mg/l), conductivity (54.70 ~ks-1 and 42.48 ~ks-1), total hydrocarbon (TH) (47.66 mg/l) and 48.00 mg/l) and total dissolved solids (32.68 mg/l and 25.35 mg/l) respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean values of the parameters (P>0.05) except conductivity and total dissolved solids. The water bodies were found to be neutral with high conductivity. All the properties in the water bodies were in conformity with international standards both for drinking and aquatic life

EFFECT OF GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND GREEN WORK LIFE BALANCE ON EMPLOYEE RETENTION IN SELECTED HOSPITALITY FIRMS IN LAGOS AND OGUN STATES, NIGERIA

Employee retention is a strategy of retaining talented employees with a specific end goal to meet business targets. Employee turnover is a symptom of deeper issues that have not been resolved. Hospitality Industry in Nigeria has faced several issues, including poor employee retention and low staff motivation. Part of the reasons for the poor employee retention and high turnover in the Hospitality Sector was owning to issues that border on green human resource management practices and green work life balance, and the inflexible nature of their job. Other certain reasons for poor employee retention include low pay, lack of development opportunities, and bad working conditions with greater efforts by staff and fewer receivables. Therefore, this paper examines the effect of green human resource management practices, green work life balance on employee retention of selected hospitality firms in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria. The data collected through the primary sources (questionnaire) were analysed using inferential statistics employing regression analysis. The study revealed that Green human resource management practices, green work life balance (green performance management, green employee relation, green disciplinary management, work family balance and work health balance) had a significant and positive effect on employee retention in hospitality firms in Lagos and Ogun states, Nigeria (Adj. R2 = 0.540, F (4, 669) = 176.897, p < 0.05).  Article visualizations

Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Clarias anguillaris (Family: Claridae) in Kontagora Reservoir, Niger State, Nigeria

Length – weight relationship of Clarias anguillaris (Fam: Claridae) in Kontagora Reservoir, Niger State, Nigeria, was studied from January, 2007 - December, 2007. The fish species was obtained using a fleet of graded gill nets comprising of nine multi filament gill nets mesh sizes. The parameters a and b of the Length – weight relationship of the form W = aLb and Condition factor C.F. = W 100 / L3 are presented for the fish species. The mean monthly condition factor values were high during the rainy season than the dry season, and the b value obtained was 3.477. The b value indicates positive allometric relationship, with the weight of the fish increasing as the fish grow in length. The high mean monthly condition factor of the fish species indicating their well being, shows that Kontagora Reservoir has favourable environment for the survival and growth of the species.Keywords: Length – weight relationship, Condition factor, Clarias anguillaris, Kontagora ReservoirNigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19(2): 299-30