Gender Differentials in the Adoption of Drought-Tolerant Maize Varieties among Farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana

This study examined gender differences in farmers’ adoption of drought-tolerant maize (DTM) varieties in northern region of Ghana. Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers by gender; determined their rate of adoption of the DTM varieties; and analyzed the factors affecting the rate of adoption of the varieties. The study was conducted in the Northern region of Ghana. Simple random sampling technique was used to obtain data from 600 respondents, comprising 551 males and 49 females. Data were collected with the use of a survey questionnaire that contained questions on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics such as age, years of schooling, household size, farm size, access to credit, level of awareness and adoption of DTM varieties and extension contact, among others. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and probit regression model. The results for the entire respondents showed average values of 49.75 years for age, 10.8 for household size, with a significant difference (p<0.05) between male and female farmers for each of the variables. Average farm size of 3.38 ha, with a significant difference (p<0.01) between male and female farmers for the variables. The adoption rate of DTM was 13.3% in the entire sample with a significant difference (p<0.05) between male (13.4%) and female farmers (12.2%). The determinants of adoption of DTM varieties for both male and female farmers were age of the household head, education, source of seed, and level of awareness, specific to male farmers was educational status of the respondents while farm size was specific to female famers. It was concluded that policy strategies aimed at improving the uptake of DTM varieties must consider equality in male and female farmers’ access to resources such as credit, labour and land. Keywords: Gender, Drought-tolerant, Maize varieties, Adoption, Ghana. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-20-04 Publication date:October 31st 202

Assessment of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme: Focus on Faculty of Agriculture Students, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

The study assessed Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), using students of the Faculty of Agriculture, University ofMaiduguri as respondents. Structured questionnaire was used to collect datafrom randomly selected sixty students who participated in SIWES programme during 2003/2004 session. Data were analyzed using percentages, correlation analysis and ranking order methods. The majorfindings were that 61% of the respondents were male while 38.3% were females; 48.3% were members of Agricultural societies during their secondary school education. Crop Production techniques (AGF 401) was ranked by 53.3% of the respondents as the most preferred course, while the least preferred course was Workshop Practice (AGF 410) as indicatedby only 0.2% of the respondents. Inadequate practical facilities, transportation and funds were the major problems encountered in the implementation of the SIWES programme. It is therefore, recommended that policy should be formulated to ensure adequate provision of the requisite logistics to successfully implement the programme

Assessment of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme: Focus on Faculty of Agriculture Students, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

The study assessed Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), using students of the Faculty of Agriculture, University ofMaiduguri as respondents. Structured questionnaire was used to collect datafrom randomly selected sixty students who participated in SIWES programme during 2003/2004 session. Data were analyzed using percentages, correlation analysis and ranking order methods. The majorfindings were that 61% of the respondents were male while 38.3% were females; 48.3% were members of Agricultural societies during their secondary school education. Crop Production techniques (AGF 401) was ranked by 53.3% of the respondents as the most preferred course, while the least preferred course was Workshop Practice (AGF 410) as indicatedby only 0.2% of the respondents. Inadequate practical facilities, transportation and funds were the major problems encountered in the implementation of the SIWES programme. It is therefore, recommended that policy should be formulated to ensure adequate provision of the requisite logistics to successfully implement the programme

Causes of Farmer-Pastoralist Conflict in Borno State

This study ' examined the causes of Farmer-Pastoralist conflict in Borno State. It focused on the socio-economic characteristics of the pastoralists and arable cropfarmers. Farmers and Pastoralists Organization and their influence on, as well as, the problems militating against them. Structured Questionnaires were used to collect data from 120 randomly selectedfarmers andpastoralist in the study are. Data was analyzed usingfrequency distributions, averages, percentages and Chi-square (X~). It wasfound that 75% of thefarmers perceived inadequate grazing reserves as the major source of conflict while 71.7% of the pastoralists perceivedfarmers encroachment into stock routes and grazing reserves as the major cause of conflict. Results of the Chi-square analysis revealed that there is positive relationship between age of farmers and pastoralists and perceived causes of conflict. There was also a positive relationship betweenfrequency of meeting and a attitude offarmers-pastoralists. The major problemsfacing thefarmers-pastoralists include lack of well-defined stock routes, inadequate and poorly developed grazing reserves. It is therefore recommended that policy should be formulated to ensure adequate provision of stock routes and grazing reserves

Causes of Farmer-Pastoralist Conflict in Borno State

This study ' examined the causes of Farmer-Pastoralist conflict in Borno State. It focused on the socio-economic characteristics of the pastoralists and arable cropfarmers. Farmers and Pastoralists Organization and their influence on, as well as, the problems militating against them. Structured Questionnaires were used to collect data from 120 randomly selectedfarmers andpastoralist in the study are. Data was analyzed usingfrequency distributions, averages, percentages and Chi-square (X~). It wasfound that 75% of thefarmers perceived inadequate grazing reserves as the major source of conflict while 71.7% of the pastoralists perceivedfarmers encroachment into stock routes and grazing reserves as the major cause of conflict. Results of the Chi-square analysis revealed that there is positive relationship between age of farmers and pastoralists and perceived causes of conflict. There was also a positive relationship betweenfrequency of meeting and a attitude offarmers-pastoralists. The major problemsfacing thefarmers-pastoralists include lack of well-defined stock routes, inadequate and poorly developed grazing reserves. It is therefore recommended that policy should be formulated to ensure adequate provision of stock routes and grazing reserves

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions. © Copyright

Lipolytic enzymes and hydrolytic rancidity

Lipolysis, the enzymic hydrolysis of milk lipids to free fatty acids and partial glycerides, is a constant concern to the dairy industry because of the detrimental effcts it can have on the flvor and other properties of milk and milk products. However, free fatty acids also contribute to the desirable flavor of milk and milk products when present at low concentrations and, in some cheeses, when present at high concentrations. The enzymes responsible for the detrimental effects of lipolysis are of two main types: those indigenous to milk, and those of microbial origin. The major indigenous milk enzyme is lipoprotein lipase. It is active on the fat in natural milk fat globules only after their disruption by physical treatments or if certain blood serum lipoproteins are present. The major microbial lipases are produced by psychrotrophic bacteria. Many of these enzymes are heat stable and are particularly significant in stored products. Human milk differs from cows' milk in that it contains two lipases, a lipoprotein lipase and a bile salt-stimulated lipase. The ability of the latter to cause considerable hydrolysis of ingested milk lipids has important nutritional implications

The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator: development and validation of a tool for identifying African surgical patients at risk of severe postoperative complications

Background: The African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) showed that surgical patients in Africa have a mortality twice the global average. Existing risk assessment tools are not valid for use in this population because the pattern of risk for poor outcomes differs from high-income countries. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a simple, preoperative risk stratification tool to identify African surgical patients at risk for in-hospital postoperative mortality and severe complications. Methods: ASOS was a 7-day prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing surgery in Africa. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator was constructed with a multivariable logistic regression model for the outcome of in-hospital mortality and severe postoperative complications. The following preoperative risk factors were entered into the model; age, sex, smoking status, ASA physical status, preoperative chronic comorbid conditions, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. Results: The model was derived from 8799 patients from 168 African hospitals. The composite outcome of severe postoperative complications and death occurred in 423/8799 (4.8%) patients. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator includes the following risk factors: age, ASA physical status, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. The model showed good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.805 and good calibration with c-statistic corrected for optimism of 0.784. Conclusions: This simple preoperative risk calculator could be used to identify high-risk surgical patients in African hospitals and facilitate increased postoperative surveillance. © 2018 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Medical Research Council of South Africa gran