A case of osteogenesis imperfecta type II, a diagnosis made almost too late in a resource poor setting

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of type I collagen (COL I), characterised by excessive bone fragility with low bone mineral density (BMD). Type II is associated with extreme bone fragility leading to intrauterine or early infant death.Objective: To highlight a case of OI type II and the need for an early detection of this rare bone disorder through non invasive prenatal diagnosis.Case Report: We report a case of a full term male neonate with progressive respiratory distress from birth. He was seen in children’s emergency room two hours after vaginal delivery in a peripheral clinic. Pregnancy and delivery were uneventful and the baby was born to non-consanguineous, monogamous parents. On examination he was dyspnoeic, cyanosed with malformed and fractured upper and lower limbs. A working diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta type II was made and baby was placed on oxygen via face mask. However respiratory distress worsened and baby died at 6 days of life.Conclusion: Antenatal ultrasonography might have led to diagnosis in utero. If detected prenatally a more appropriate management can be instituted to reduce morbidity and mortality

Rural Women's Attitude Towards Adoption Of Improved Crop Production Practices In Aguata Agricultural Zone, Anambra State, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine attitude of the rural women towards the improved crop production practices. Structured questionnaire was administered to one hundred randomly sampled women from twenty communities in the study area. Data analysis was by the use of frequency, percentages and mean. Findings showed that attitude of rural women towards adoption was favourable. Majority of the respondents disagreed that there is no information about improved production practices (mean = 2.78). Rural women disagreed that improved crop production practices are not really meant for me (mean = 2.96) Respondents disagree that they are comfortable with their traditional methods (mean = 2.81). Rural women agreed that improved crops normally lose their taste after harvest (mean = 3.02). Respondents agreed that improved crop production practices are very costly (mean = 3.33). Respondents agreed that improved crop production practices are complex to adopt (mean = 8.21). Respondents agreed that chemical involved in improved crop production normally hasten the spoilage of crop after harvest (mean = 3.12). Respondents agreed that improved crop production practices wastes a lot of time (mean = 3.33). Respondents agreed that improved crop production practices started and discontinued lead to soil degradation (mean = 3.18). It is obvious that women appreciate improved crop production practices and the need to avail them of adequate inputs cannot be overemphasized. Keywords: Rural Women's Attitude, Adoption, Improved Crop Production PracticesGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 50-5

Marketing Of Local Spices In Owerri Municipal Of Imo State, Nigeria

This study examined the marketing of local spices in Owerri municipal of Imo State, Nigeria. The objectives were to examine the costs and margins of the selected spices and analyze the effect of socio-economic variables on the income of the traders. Data for the study were collected from three markets in Owerri municipal (Ekeonunwa, Relief and New market). The spices investigated were Uziza (Piper guineese), Ehuru (Mondora myristica) and Dawadawa (Parkia biglobosa) because they are the most preferred local spices used by the inhabitants of Owerri municipal. Questionnaire was used to collect information from randomly sampled respondents. The type of data collected included socio-economic characteristic of the spices traders, purchase and sales transactions, marketing cost and marketing margins, regression analysis was used to analyze the influence of socio-economic variable on the traders income descriptive statistics such as means, percentages and charts were used to analyze the costs and margins of the selected spices. The result showed that gender, marital status, occupation, trading experience household size, purchase location storage cost, total loading cost, total off-loading cost, total packaging cost and total purchasing cost influenced income of spice traders. The major problems affecting the traders are lack of capital, transportation problem, lack of market information and poor storage facilities. Policy measures were recommended in form of micro- credit facilities and improvement of social infrastructure in the areas of purchase and sale. Keywords: marketing, local spicesJournal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 7 (1) 2007: pp. 101-10

Costs And Returns Of Recommended Cassava/Maize Technology And Farmers' Indigenous Practices In Rivers State Of Nigeria

This study performed a comparative costs and returns analysis of recommended cassava/maize technology and farmers' indigenous practices in Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 105 small scale farmers were involved in this study. Information collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics; cost and returns analysis were performed on the two different production methods. The result showed that the net returns from improved technology is N96198.3/ha while that of the farmers' indigenous practice is N76.252.2/ha. The gross margin from the improved technology is N966.55.2/ha and that of the farmers' indigenous practice is N76.704/ha. The benefit cost ratio for the improved technology is N1.86 while that of the farmers' indigenous practice is N2.2. For the increased adoption of the cassava/maize technology the input delivery system should be overhauled. Keywords: cost and returns, recommended technology, farmers' indigenous practicesJournal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 7 (1) 2007: pp. 43-4

Costs and returns analysis of improved and alternative cassava production technologies in Enugu State, Nigeria

There has been scientific research into new technologies. Increased Agricultural Productivity depends on the acceptability of the innovations and the willingness to invest on them. For farmers to adopt and successfully use improved farming techniques, effective agricultural extension service is needed. This will go a long way in helping the Nigerian government to address the national food question. The specific objectives of the study was an analysis of the costs and returns of improved and alternative technologies available in the study area by farmers and their level of adoption of the new technologies. Data were collected from a random sample of 250 farmers and 30 extension Staff in the three (3) agricultural zones of Enugu State. Data collected were analyzed with Descriptive Statistics and Cost and Returns analysis principle. The result showed that the improved cassava technologies is more profitable when compared to the farmers alternative technology. The ratio of the gross margin of improved cassava technology to the gross margin from the farmers alternative technology was found to be 3:1. This implied that the improved cassava technologies is three times more profitable than the farmers alternative technology. This holds some promise for the improved cassava technologies and has implication for farm level investment by the farmers in the study area. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(1) 2006: 67-7

Determinants Of Adoption Of Improved Cassava Production Technologies Among Farmers In Enugu State Of Nigeria

The broad objective of this study was to isolate the determinants of improved cassava production Technologies in Enugu State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample of 250 farmers from 10 local government Areas of Enugu State. Data were collected by personal interviews using questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the field data The identified cassava production technologies at different stages of adoption by the respondents are use of improved cassava cuttings, use of herbicides/pesticides, Alternate row/crop geometry in a cassava /maize/yam intercrop, planting distance, use of fertilize, machinery, weeding interval, harvesting time, improved storage and processing and planting angle. The overall mean adoption score and index was 0.96 and 0.191 respectively. The low level of adoption was attributed to cost of the technologies, its inappropriateness, scarcity or non-availability of the extension agents in the study area. The results also showed that level of Education, age of farmers, farm size, farm income and extension visits were the major determinants of cassava production technologies at 5% level of significance. Keywords: Adoption, improved cassava production technologiesGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 2 (1) 2006: pp. 37-4

Poverty Alleviation Through Rural – Urban Linkages : Lessons And Implication For Development In Nigeria

One of the main aspects of rural poverty is the lack of access to basic infrastructure and services. Governments tend to develop infrastructure and provide services to the urban areas mostly because of economies of scale. Linking urban and rural areas is one of the core elements of urban and rural poverty alleviation. There are three related aspects of poverty, which include income poverty, access poverty and power poverty. The alleviation of income poverty can only be sustainable if the poor themselves initiate and sustain the income generating activity. The poor also need access to essential infrastructure and services. This paper posits that rural–urban linkages have implication for poverty alleviation. The linkage helps to strengthen the balance of political power between urban and rural areas and an improved capacity to seize economic opportunities in a globalizing economy. The empowerment of rural communities is of the process of decentralization, the redistribution of government function to lower levels of government, the move towards good governance and the growing emphasis on community participation in decision making Keywords: poverty alleviation, participation, empowermentGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 84-9

Evaluation of repayment performance of informal loans beneficiaries in Okigwe agricultural zone of Imo state, Nigeria

No Abstract.International Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Systems Vol. 1 (4) 2007: pp. 324-32

An Overview of Benefits of Organic Agriculture as a Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy for Nigeria

Organic agriculture is a holistic production management which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It emphasis the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account conditions requiring locally adapted systems. Organic agriculture is not only a specific agricultural production system, it is also a systematic and encompassing approach to sustainable livelihoods in general, where due account is given to relevant factors of influence for sustainable development and vulnerability, be this on physical, economic or socio-cultural levels. Organic agriculture has a long tradition as a farming system and it has been adapted for many climatic zones and local conditions. Again, it is a recognized potential as a development strategy for rural communities. It reduces the vulnerability of the farmers to climate change and variability. Organic agriculture comprises highly diverse farming systems and this increases the diversity of income sources and the flexibility to cope with adverse effects of climate change and variability such as changed rainfall patterns. This lead to higher economic and ecological stability through optimized ecological balance and risk-spreading. Organic agriculture is an adaptation strategy that can be targeted at improving the livelihoods of rural populations and those parts of communities that are vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change and variability