RISK ATTITUDE AND RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AMONG AGRIBUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS: CASE STUDY OF COCOA FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

The study empirically analyzed the risk attitude and risk management strategies among cocoa farmers in AbiaState, Nigeria. A Multistage sampling technique was used in the selection of sixty (60) cocoa farmers for thestudy. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correction and Ordinary Least Square Regressionanalyses were used to analyze the data. The results of the descriptive statistics showed that the respondents had amean age of 42 years, majority (88.3%) of them are male, many (75%) of whom were married, with householdsize of about 6 persons, farm size of 5 hectares, farming experience of 17 years, and majority (98.3%) literate. Therespondents had average farm income of ₦433,381, non-farm income of ₦64,337, extension contact of about 3times, and cocoa output of 10 bags of 200kg. Majority (78.4%) of the respondents were also risk-takers. The mostcommon risk management strategies used by the respondents were precautionary savings, intercropping and offfarmjobs. The major challenges faced by the respondents were: bad roads, pests and diseases, high cost of inputsand agrochemicals, and problem of middlemen. The results of the correlation analysis indicate a negative linearcorrelation between cocoa farmers' risk attitude and their risk management strategies in the study area. Theresults of the regression analysis showed that age, farm size, farm income, extension contact and credit were thesignificant determinants of cocoa farmers' output. The study therefore, calls for land reform policies to makemore land available to cocoa farmers for increased output and income. Need to strengthen extension to enablefarmer's access and process information on innovations that will enhance output of coco

Effect of Different Rates of Liming Materials on the Production of Groundnut (Arachis Hypogeae) In Owerri Southeastern Nigeria

This work evaluated liming effects on the production of groundnut. The field work was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD).Three lime materials (Calcium oxide, wood ash and palm bunch ash) were used at three rates (2,4,6tons ha- 1) and the control (Otonha-1) to give a total of 10 treatments. The treatments were replicated three times. Plant growth parameters collected at 2,4 and 8 week after planting includes% emergence at 2WAP; leaf area, plant height and number of leaves per stand at 4 and 8 WAP. Pod yield parameters per hectare. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis of (ANOVA). Results of the analysis showed significant difference at 5% probability level except for number of leaves at 4WAP which manifested at 8WAP. Soils of Owerri are acidic in nature and this could be as a result of parent materials, land use and climate. However, results of the post planting physiochemical analysis were promising at it showed considerable improvement in the soli system and the effective distribution and uptake of nutrient is an indication of the response of the crop due to liming. Highest performance of the crop was obtained from treated with 2 tons ha-1 of wood ash followed by palm bunch ash at 4tons ha -1 . The least performance was obtained from the control experiment. Key word: Lime and liming materials, groundnut production, soils of Owerri, Nigeri

Low External Input Agricultural Farming System for the Increase in Productivity of Resource Poor Farmers.

This paper examined the effect of low external input agricultural farming system on the productivity of resource poor farmer. The majority of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are small scale entrepreneurs whose farm operations are performed with low input agricultural technologies. Majority of the technologies comprised the refined indigenous knowledge system. Farm size, labour inputs, capital inputs, planting materials and organic manure are the main determinants of the gross income of LEIT farmers. Farmers preferences for low input system vary considerably depending upon the phase of crop production which include technologies for land preparation use of draught animals, natural/organic substitute for inorganic pesticides and fertilizers, seed multiplication technologies, simple irrigation and drainage method, low input processing. There is also a considerable interest among farmers for low input approaches for most phases of production. There is therefore the need for farmers to adopt these cost effective agricultural technologies since they are not only readily available, but also they do not require too much skills and also poses the capacity of making the process of rural development more sustainable. Key words: low external input agriculture, farming system, resource poor farmer

Determinants of Microfinance Sources by Micro and Small Enterprise (MSEs) Clusters in South-East Nigeria

The source of microfinance is important and at the centre of every enterprise survival, profitability and growth that can trigger achievement of the expected roles and objectives. The main thrust of this study, therefore, is to understand the determinants of the choice of microfinance sources and level of support from funds providers. The study employed multi-stage sampling technique in identifying clusters from three cities (Onitsha, Aba and Nnewi) of the South East, Nigeria and generated relevant data through instruments such as questionnaire, personal interviews and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs). Using logit regression, the study found that interest rate, repayment period, amount or volume of capital and proximity to enterprises as the major determinants of the choice of microfinance source used by MSEs in South East, Nigeria. The study concluded that microfinance providers should be located closer to MSEs’ location for quicker response to their financing needs to the extent of taking advantage of social capital existing within the clusters as a possible cushion for the physical collaterals and documentations often requested for loan approvals. The study recommends that microfinance policy framework and interventions should encourage providers to locate closer to the enterprise clusters with the appropriate regulatory guarantee for operators

Vascular effects of ketamine in isolated rabbit aortic Smooth muscle

The precise mechanism by which ketamine induces relaxation of vascular smooth muscle is not clear. The goal of this study was to further characterize the vascular actions of ketamine in rabbitaortic smooth muscles. Ring segments (2mm) of rabbit aortae were suspended in 20ml organ baths containing physiological salt solution (PSS) and isometric contractions were recorded at 370C and pH7.4. The medium was bubbled with 95% O2, 5% CO2, and rings were given an initial load of 2g. An equilibration period of 90 minutes was allowed. Three protocols were examined: (a) Effect of ketamineon baseline tension (b) relaxation-responses to ketamine following precontractions induced by 10-7M phenylephrine or high K+ (40mM) PSS and (c) Influence of presence or absence of endothelium on therelaxation response to ketamine. Ketamine produced relaxation of contractile responses induced by both phenylephrine and High K+. The respective maximum relaxation responses induced by ketaminefollowing precontractions by phenylephrine and high-K+ were 76.8 ± 2.3 and 71.2 ± 8.0 (p > 0.05). Ach-induced relaxation was observed only in rings with intact endothelium whereas ketamine-induced relaxation was observed in intact as well as endothelium-denuded rings; this suggests that ketamineinduced relaxation of rabbit aortic smooth muscle is independent of vascular endothelium

IMPROVISATION OF FURNACE FOR FORGING OPERATIONS IN TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN RIVERS STATE:IMPLICATION FOR VOCATIONAL COUNSELLING IN NIGERIA

The purpose of this research was to develop an improvised furnace to enhance students’ performance in forging operations in technical colleges in Rivers State. The study adopted research and development design. Forging is the art of shaping metals by hammering. Man has known this art since ancient times. Today machines have largely replaced the sweat and muscle of the blacksmith, who nevertheless remains indispensable for carrying out the jobs done by hand, necessary in steel and engineering works. The furnace was found to be valid for forging at 4.00 and reliable using steel with molybdenum at hardness of 164 HRC. Any temperature and harder having melting points above 8500c and 164 HRC respectively may be inserted directly into the flaming charcoal. The improvised furnace is a teaching material that is made up of a steel vessel hardened with carbon – molybdenum in the ratio of 0.20:0.68 percent respectively. It was lined with bricks and fired with charcoal, using an electric blower connected to a low voltage generator. This furnace was used to carry out various forging operations. Based on the findings of this study, the researchers recommended the government; technical college principals and relevant agencies should provide funds to procure the materials and components for designing and constructing these furnaces by the teacher for teaching forging in Technical Colleges in Rivers State. Also, constant power supply, generators, accumulators, anvils, steel vessels, pipes and electric blowers should be provided and distributed by the ministry of education to the Technical Colleges for construction of furnaces for effective teaching of forging in Rivers State. The industries, government, non-governmental agencies and private enterprises and communities should provide components and consumable materials necessary for teaching. These materials should be supplied directly to the individual Technical Colleges in Rivers State. Vocational counselors should guide students to take up occupation in forging

Growth and cost of producing Red Sokoto goats fed brewer’s dried grains and malted sorghum sprouts in Andropogon tectorum hay meal based diet

The growth and cost of producing Red Sokoto (RS) goats were evaluated using brewer’s dried grains (BDG) and malted sorghum sprouts (MSP) in complete diets containing Andropogon tectorum hay meal (ATHM). The experiment was conducted using a completely randomised design (CRD). Four diets designated T1, T2, T3 and T4 were formulated to contain 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% of BDG and 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% of MSP respectively. Twenty four (24) bucks averaging 13.5±1.5 kg were randomly assigned to the four diets in a 56-day feeding trial. Data on proximate composition of BDG, MSP, ATHM and the diets, growth indices as well as the cost of production were generated. The dry matter, crude protein and gross energy of the diets were in the ranges of 91.38 – 92.23%, 15.60 – 17.09% and 1.66 – 1.70MJ/kg DM respectively. Feed utilization parameters on growth did not vary (P>0.05) across the treatments. However, these values improved numerically as the level of MSP in the diets increased from T1 – T4. Cost evaluation showed that the total feed cost (N) and daily feed cost (N) were statistically similar (P>0.05) for the 4 treatments while cost/kg weight gain (N) differed significantly (P<0.05). T4 had the least cost/kg weight gain of N 320.64 as against N 500.69 in T1. It was concluded that increasing the levels of MSP and reducing the levels of BDG in the diets gave better performance results and also reduced cost of production in RS goats. Keywords: Performance; Complete diets; Red Sokoto goat

Implications of middlemen in the supply chain of agricultural products

This paper appraised the roles of middlemen in the distribution of agricultural products and the inherent implications to food security. The results showed that climate and weather are known limiting factors of production in agriculture. Also, middlemen intervention raise price for consumers. The result showed that farmers encounter high production costs in their efforts to boost production but hardly get fair pricing of their products from the middlemen, the bulk farm gate buyers. The real profit goes to the middlemen who buy up the farm products at almost give away prices and sell at outrageous prices to the consumers. This attitude of middle men have discouraged genuine investors getting into agriculture because of the marginal profit associated with it as the middle men cart away the bulk of the profits. Thus, the activities of middlemen seem to be a threat to food security

The role of the pedagogical content Knowledge in the learning of quadratic functions

This study investigates to what extent educators’ pedagogical content knowledge affects learners’ achievement in quadratic functions. The components of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) examined are: (i) mathematical content knowledge (MCK), (ii) knowledge of learners’ conceptions, and misconceptions, and (iii) knowledge of strategies. The participants were seventeen mathematics educators and ten learners from each educator’s class. The sample of educators was a convenient sample, while the sample of learners was selected by means of random sampling. A mixed method design was used to execute the study. Data about educators’ MCK, and knowledge of learners’ misconceptions were collected by means of a questionnaire. An interview was used to gather data about educators’ knowledge of strategies. Data on learners’ achievements and misconceptions was collected by means of a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the effect of each component of the educators’ PCK on learners’ achievements. The result indicates that the achievement of learners who are taught by educators who have strong PCK is higher than the achievement of learners who are taught by educators who have weak PCK.Mathematical SciencesM. Ed. (Mathematics Education

Is working from home a blessing or a burden? Home demands as a mediator of the relationship between work engagement and work-life balance

As COVID-19 pandemic made its incursion into the world of work in early 2020, many employees were compelled to work from home to slow down the transmission of the disease. Since then, it has been asked whether working from home is a blessing or a burden. We respond to this question by building on the Affective Events Theory to examine whether work engagement is related to work-life balance (WLB), and whether home demands mediate this relationship, using data from 219 knowledge workers drawn from universities in the South-eastern region of Nigeria primarily working from home when they were surveyed. Results of regression analysis using PROCESS macro showed that work engagement related positively to home demands; in turn, home demands related negatively to WLB. The results further revealed that work engagement related negatively to WLB and that home demands mediated the negative work engagement-WLB connection. Theoretical as well as practical implications of the study are discussed, limitations are highlighted, and suggestions for future research are outlined