Impact of IFAD – Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme on the Farm Incomes of the Marginalized and Vulnerable Participants and Non-Participants in Katsina State, Nigeria

The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of IFAD – Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme on farm incomes of the marginalized and vulnerable participants in Katsina State. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 432 respondents for this study. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and data collected was based on 2002  and 2015 cropping seasons, the year for before was 2002 and after was 2015. The structured questionnaire was pre-tested before it was administered to the farmers that were sampled.  The tools of analysis employed to analyze the data were double difference model and paired t-test. The results of double difference estimator revealed that IFAD-CBARDP had a positive impact on the participant’s farm income based on the positive mean value of ₦ 3696.176 with the farm income of the participants significantly different from that of the non-participants at 5% level of significance. It was concluded that the IFAD-CBARDP has achieved its goal of increasing the farm incomes of the participants in the period of study and has succeeded in targeting the marginalized and vulnerable participants in its farm technical efficiency. Keywords: Impact, IFAD-CBARDP, farm income, katsin

An Assessment of the Durability Properties of Binary Concrete Containing Rice Husk Ash

Waste is one of the major problems facing the present generation, that is why two of the basic actions towards sustainability specified in rio agenda 21 are minimization of total waste production and maximization of environmentally sound waste and recycling. The study evaluates the durability properties of binary concrete containing rice husk ash. The durability properties of the binary concrete was assessed using abrasion resistance and water absorption tests, then exposure to magnesium sulfate. Results show that the binary concrete has higher compressive strength, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, resistance to magnesium sulfate and low water absorption. It was concluded that the binary concrete can find application in a magnesium sulfate rich soil because of its higher resistance to magnesium sulfate. It is recommended that the Nigerian institute of building (NIOB) should incorporate the use of rice husk ash as a pozolan in to the national building code because of its ability to improve some properties of concrete. Keywords: Waste, Rice Husk Ash, Sustainability, compressive strength and durability

Socio-Economic Factors Influencing the Participation of the Marginalized and Vulnerable Farmers in the Ifad – Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme in Katsina State, Nigeria

The objective of the study was to evaluate the socio economic factors influencing the participation of the marginalized and vulnerable farmers in the IFAD – Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme in Katsina State. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 432 respondents for this study. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and data collected was based on 2002  and 2015 cropping seasons, the year for before was 2002 and after was 2015. The structured questionnaire was pre-tested before it was administered to the farmers that were sampled. The tools of analysis employed to analyze the data were descriptive statistics and probit model. It was identified that there were 29% unemployed youth among the participants, while there were 47% elderly among the non-participants of the IFAD-CBARDP. It was found that (32% and 31%) of the participants and non-participants respectively of the IFAD-CBARDP were within the age bracket of 31– 40 years while majority (97%) of both categories of farmers in the study area had some form of educational qualification. It was discovered that age, gender and household size were the significant factors that influence farmer’s participation in the IFAD-CBARDP at 1% and 5% levels of significance. It was concluded that the IFAD-CBARDP has achieved its goal of increasing the farm incomes of the participants in the period of study and has succeeded in targeting the marginalized and vulnerable participants in its farm technical efficiency. Keywords: Socio economic, IFAD-CBARDP, farmers, katsin

Subjective reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and sociodemographic predictors of vaccination in Nigeria: an online survey

The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective reasons for hesitancy to receive COVID-19 vaccination and the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccination uptake. An online social media survey was conducted among the general Nigerian population using a self-developed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression with crude and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p value of less than 0.05. A total of 576 participants with a mean age of 31.86 years participated in the study. 28% (n = 158) received one or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Teachers were significantly less likely than health professionals to be vaccinated (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.16–0.69). In addition, unemployed people (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.15–0.89) were less likely to be vaccinated than government employees, and those of intermediate socioeconomic status (AOR = 0.47 95% CI 0.26–0.88) were less likely to be vaccinated than were those of high socioeconomic status. Five main themes emerged regarding participants’ subjective reasons for hesitating to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: fear related to vaccine content (e.g., efficacy), negative effects on the body (e.g., blood clots), distrust of the system/government (e.g., politics), psychological concerns (e.g., anxiety), and misconceptions. Sociodemographic variables and vaccine misconceptions were found to play an important role in COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Nigeria

Fractional order analysis of unsteady pressure-driven flow in an annulus with momentum slip

Nearly all deformed materials possess both elastic and viscous properties through concurrent storage and dissipation of mechanical vitality. This type of novel functional fluid undergoing deformation is crucial in describing hydrodynamically the general behavior of the fluid. Thus, the working fluid carries memory attribute stored in the particles. The fractional order model for circumferentially pressure-driven flow of viscous fluid in an annulus with momentum slip is investigated theoretically. In particular, an exponentially decaying/growing pressure is considered. For the purpose of this study, the Atangana–Baleanu fractional order model is employed. A solution approach to the fractionalized model is by utilizing Laplace transformation and Tzou’s algorithm for numerical Laplace inversion. It was found that a decisive factor in boosting the speed of flow is suppressing the memory effect of the fluid particle. Also, the instability of the flow can be controlled by enhancing the memory effect

Are fear of COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake? A population-based online survey in Nigeria

This study examined the association between COVID-19 and fear of contracting COVID-19 and reasons for vaccination refusal. A population-based online survey was conducted via social media in Nigeria using the Fear of COVID-19 scale and items related to vaccination refusal/hesitancy items. Individuals aged 13 years and older were invited to participate. Data were analysed using binary logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) at a p-value of less than 0.05. The study enrolled 577 individuals with a mean age of 31.86 years, 70% of whom were male and 27.7% of whom had received at least one dose of the vaccine against COVID-19. None of the variables on the Fear of COVID-19 scale significantly predicted vaccine uptake in multivariate analysis. However, individuals who were fearful of COVID-19 were more likely to be vaccinated in bivariate analysis (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.06-2.63). The most significant factors among the vaccination refusal items associated with COVID-19 vaccination were doubts about vaccination (adjusted OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.57-4.17) and misconceptions about vaccine safety/efficacy (adjusted OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.24-3.71). These results suggest that uptake of the vaccine against COVID-19 in Nigeria can be predicted by factors associated with vaccination refusal, but not by fear of COVID-19. To contain the pandemic COVID-19 in Nigeria, efforts should be made to educate people about the efficacy of the vaccine and to increase their confidence in vaccination

Prevalence of anxiety and depression among the general population in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

202205 bckwVersion of RecordOthersHong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; InnoHKPublishe