Determinants of Loan Repayment among Fish Farmers in Nigeria

In Nigeria, fish farming provides an important source of livelihood for fish farmers and also provides foreign exchange earnings. This study ascertained the determinants of loan repayment among fish farmers in Nigeria.. Primary data were obtained from 360 respondents in the study area by means of a set of structured and semi-structured questionnaire. This study used multi-stage random sampling technique to select 360 respondents from the study area. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistic and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple regression technique. The results indicated that semi-log production function had the best fit in explaining the relationship between loan repayment and independent variables used. The coefficient of multiple determinants (R2= 0.59) indicates that 59 percent of the variability in loan repayment is explained by the independent variables used in the model. The volume of credit granted to fish farmer, fish farming experience, fish farmers’ educational level, and fish farmers’ income exerted positive influences on loan repayment. Only 45.83 % of fish farmers in the study area repaid the loans. The major problems that lead to default in loan repayment by fish farmers were loan diversion, lack of skill, post-harvest losses and delay in loan approval 2.78%, 12.22%, 1.39% and 6.66% respectively. Micro-credit institutions should monitor and assess the repayment ability of borrowers on time with view to intervene at critical periods to prevent loan defaults. Extension agents should train fish farmers to use available resources efficiently and adopt new technologies to ensure increase productivity and loan repayment.Keywords: Fish production, Resource Use Efficiency, Agricultural credit, Loan repaymen

Differential sensitivity to pro-oxidant exposure in two populations of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus)

New Bedford Harbor (MA, U.S.A.; NBH) is a Superfund site inhabited by Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) with altered aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) signaling, leading to resistance to effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The Ahr is a transcription factor that regulates gene expression of many Phase I and II detoxifying enzymes and interacts with Nrf2, a transcription factor that regulates the response to oxidative stress. This study tested the hypothesis that PCB-resistant killifish exhibit altered sensitivity to oxidative stress. Killifish F(1) embryos from NBH and a clean reference site (Scorton Creek, MA, U.S.A.; SC) were exposed to model pro-oxidant and Nrf2-activator, tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ). Embryos were exposed at specific embryonic developmental stages (5, 7, and 9 days post fertilization) and toxicity was assessed, using a deformity score, survival, heart rate, and gene expression to compare sensitivity between PCB-resistant and PCB-sensitive (reference) populations. Acute exposure to tBHQ resulted in transient reduction in heart rate in NBH and SC F(1) embryos. However, embryos from NBH were more sensitive to tBHQ, with more frequent and severe deformities, including pericardial edema, tail deformities, small body size, and reduced pigment and erythrocytes. NBH embryos had lower basal expression of antioxidant genes catalase and glutathione-S-transferase alpha (gsta), and upon exposure to tBHQ, exhibited lower levels of expression of catalase, gsta, and superoxide dismutase compared to controls. This result suggests that adaptation to tolerate PCBs has altered the sensitivity of NBH fish to oxidative stress during embryonic development, demonstrating a cost of the PCB resistance adaptation