Measurement of farm level efficiency of home gardens in Uyo, Nigeria: A stochastic production frontier approach

To investigate the farm level efficiency of home vegetable gardens in Uyo, a stochastic production function which incorporates a model for the technical inefficiency effects was used. Using farm-level data from 80 home gardeners obtained through structured questionnaire, the parameters were estimated simultaneously with those of the model of inefficiency effect. Variables included in the model for the efficiency effects were land, family labour, fertilizer, hired labour, manure and capital. Asymptotic parameter estimates were evaluated to describe efficiency determinants using the maximum likelihood estimation technique. Results reveal that the most important resource inputs were family labour, land, manure and hired labour and were significant at (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.10). Results further reveal a mean technical efficiency of 0.80 suggesting that output from home gardening could be raised by 20 percent using resources and technology available

Perceived Impact Of Malaria On The Productivity Of Rice Farmers In Ini Local Government Area Of Akwa Ibom State

Health and nutritional status affect the capacity to learn, which in turn determines productivity and economic growth. This paper employs a cross-sectional set of data from 120 rice farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. These data were collected with the aid of questionnaire using simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistical tools were used for data analysis. Findings reveal that local, religious, and cultural beliefs; poverty status, literacy level and ignorance of diagnosis were factors that influenced the treatment of malaria in the study area. The study shows that the farmers were not using the insecticide-treated bed nets (ITBNs) as a measure of malaria control. Results further reveal that as perceived by the farmers, malaria frequently disrupts land clearing and weeding operations on the farm. Keywords: Perceived impact, Malaria, Productivity, Rice FarmersGlobal Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp. 35-3

Silver Uptake and Reuse of Biomass by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Chlorella emersonii

Studies were carried out on the recovery of bound silver and reuse of Chlorella emersonii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass for further silver uptake after they were placed in contact with 20mg/l silver for 30 minutes to allow for maximum binding. It was found that 0.16M nitric acid gave the best recovery rates of silver. We conclude that, although both organisms were amenable to reuse in further binding of silver, Chlorella emersonii was more efficient than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Both organisms lost efficiency in metal uptake after two cycles of silver uptake and reuse of biomass. Metals may be more amenable to recovery and purification following biosorption than through chemical removal which has been reported elsewhere. Keywords: Biogeotechnology, Silver uptake, Reuse of biomass, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Chlorella emersoniiBio-Research Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 317-31

Household responses to malaria: cost implications in Anantigha area of Calabar South lga of Cross river state, Nigeria

A study of household responses in terms of types and costs of treatment of malaria was carried out in Anantigha area of Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State. A total of 180 households wereinvolved in the survey. Households had an average of 25 episodes of malaria per year with treatment costing an average of 10% of the total household income. The people had a good knowledge of the disease with resultant prompt response to malaria. Preventive measures include, use of insecticides and mosquito nets. Out of the 108 persons interviewed in the survey, 51% engaged in self medication, 28% used hospitals and health centres and 11% used traditional methods (use of herbs and roots) and 10% did noting since they could not afford the cost. Lthe results showthat the malaria parasite in the area is Plasmodium falciparum. Although malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, the costs of treatment has not been well documented. Knowledge of the cost of treatment and health-care seeking behaviour of people will form baseline data for more research in the control of malaria in the community

The Effect of Drying Conditions on the Antidiabetic Activity of the Ethanolic Leaf Extract OFof Vernonia Amygdalina

Ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina were obtained by maceration from the freshly -harvested leaves, leaves dried in the shade, and leaves dried at 40 °C in the hot air oven. Solvent removal was achieved with the aid of a rotary evaporator. White albino rats of both sexes weighing 90-145 g were used. Diabetes was induced with alloxan given i.p. at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight. The animals were randomized into 8 groups of 5 animals per group. After a 12 hr overnight fast, each group treated as follows: group 1 received 50 mg/kg of fresh leaves extract; group 2 received 50 mg/kg of shade-dried leaves extract; group 3 received 50 mg/kg of oven-dried leaves extract; group 4 received 100 mg/kg of fresh leaves extract; group 5 received 100 mg/kg of shade-dried leaves extract; group 6 received 100 mg/kg of oven-dried leaves extract; group received Glibenclamide 10 mg/kg while group 8 received 2 ml/kg distilled water. Fresh blood obtained from the rat tail vein was analyzed for blood glucose level at 0, 1,2,4,6,8,12 and 24 hr from the time of administration with a glucometer. Free access to both food and water was allowed immediately after drug administration. Analysis of variance of the results was carried out with Microsoft SPSS® software at a 5 % level of significance. The results show that at 50 mg/kg dose of extract, the hypoglycemic activities were in the order: shade-dried leaves extract > fresh leaves extract> glibenclamide (10 mg/kg)> oven-dried leaves extract > water. The hypoglycemic effects of the leaves extracts were significant up till 6 hr; thereafter the blood glucose started rising again. Hypoglycemic activity significantly (p<0.05) increased with increase in extract dose. Thus, the shade-dried leaves extract was more effective weight for weight than either the oven-dried or fresh leaves extracts as an antidiabetic agent when compared weight per weight.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Vernonia amygdalina, drying conditions, blood glucose-loweringNigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 8 No 1 pp. 12 - 1