Women’s Accessibility to Resources of Agricultural Productivity in Borno State, Nigeria

This study set out to investigate the extent of women’s accessibility to resources of agricultural productivity in Borno state, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained from primary sources by the use of structured questionnaire. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 266 women farmers. The data obtained from the study was analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics. The results showed that the respondents had mean age of 39.5 years, mean farming experience of 17.2 years, while mean family size was 10 persons. Over 80% of the respondents were married. Furthermore, the findings showed that the respondents had the highest access to farm income, farm management decision making powers, farm land and off farm income. However, their access to extension services, education, cooperatives, production inputs and credit were limited. It was recommended among others that agricultural input distribution should be gender sensitive to afford women increased access to resources. Keywords: Women, Access, Productive resources, Productivity

Women’s accessibility to resources of agricultural productivity in Borno state, Nigeria

This study set out to investigate the extent of women’s accessibility to resources of agricultural productivity in Borno state, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained from primary sources by the use of structured questionnaire. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 266 women farmers. The data obtained from the study was analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics. The results showed that the respondents had mean age of 39.5 years, mean farming experience of 17.2 years, while mean family size was 10 persons. Over 80% of the respondents were married. Furthermore, the findings showed that the respondents had the highest access to farm income, farm management decision making powers, farm land and off farm income. However, their access to extension services, education, cooperatives, production inputs and credit were limited. It was recommended among others that agricultural input distribution should be gender sensitive to afford women increased access to resources. Key Words: Women, Access, Productive resources, Productivit

Identification of Factors that Influence Technical Efficiency of Food Crop Production in West Africa: Empirical Evidence from Borno State, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to examine the determinants of food crop production and technical efficiency in the guinea savannas of Borno State, Nigeria. A stochastic frontier production function, using the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) technique was applied in the analysis of data collected from 1086 sample farmers in 2004. The MLE results reveal that farm size; fertilizer and hired labour are the major factors that are associated with changes in the output of food crops. The effect of land area on output is positive and the coefficient found to be significant (p = 0.01). Fertilizer and hired labour have positive effects on output and their coefficients are significant (p = 0.01). Mean farmers’ technical efficiency index was found to be 0.68. Farmer-specific efficiency factors, which comprise age, education, credit, extension and crop diversification, were found to be the significant factors that account for the observed variation in efficiency among the farmers. The implication of the study is that technical efficiency in food crop production could be increased by 32 percent through better use of available resources, given the current state of technology

Causes and Measures for Controlling Loan Default among Agricultural Cooperatives in Bune State, Nigeria

The studies analyzed the causes and measures for controlling loan default among agricultural co-operatives in Benue State of Nigeria. Data were collected from 130 respondents using structured questionnaire, and was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result shows that factors responsible for loan default were classified into Institutional, Client-related, Geo-economical, and Market related factors. Late disbursement of (92.31%), lack of loan monitoring (76.92%), inadequate loan appraisals (69.23%), and lack of clear cut policy on lending (69.23) were the institutional factors responsible for loan default. Lack of integrity (80.77%), poor business practice (78.46%), and loan diversion (50.0%) were client-related factors. Death of client (70.77%), economic downturn (55.38%), and natural calamity (52.31%) were geo-economic factors, while, lack of market information (81.54%), market location (49.23%) and wrong economic decision (40.77) were market related factors. The result also showed that obtaining information on borrowers\u27 integrity (92.23%), and training of borrowers on the terms and conditions (82.54%) were main measures to control loan default in the study area. Information on client integrity, and training of borrowers on terms and condition of loan before loan are granted were found to be best measures to control loan default. It was recommended that sound and flexible lending policies measures which must be reviewed frequently by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives (BAAC) be put in place in order to curtail bureaucracies involved in the management approvals and disbursement of agricultural loan should be formulated. This will ensure early disbursement of funds to co-operative members

Determinants of Choice of Storage Systems for Root and Tuber Crops in Benue State, Nigeria

Determinants of Choice of Storage Systems for root and tuber crops in Benue State of Nigeria were examined. The specific objectives were to determine the factors affecting choice of storage systems by root and tuber crop farmers; and determine the relationship between choice of storage systems and farm productivity. Data were collected from 288 root and tuber crop producers in eight Local Government Areas and 32 wards, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data collected were analysed using logit model and Mann-Whiney U test. The results indicate that total output, gender, educational level, household size, and farm size significantly affect the choice of storage systems by root and tuber crop producers. The results also reveal that the output of farmers who utilized only the local storage systems exceeds those who utilized both the local storage systems in addition to the modern storage techniques. It was recommended that strategies and policies aimed at encouraging root and tuber crops farmers to adopt a particular storage technique should take into consideration their socio-economic characteristics. Also research efforts aimed at improving the effectiveness of the local storage systems using locally sourced materials should be encouraged

Analysis of Channel and Structure of Cattle Marketing Intermediaries in Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria

This study determined the Marketing Channel and Structure of Cattle among Intermediaries in Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Objectives of this study area to examine the marketing channel for cattle; determine the marketing structure of the intermediaries and identifying the major constraints in cattle marketing in the study area. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select 123 respondents in Mubi International Cattle Market. Primary data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire from the market. Descriptive statistics and Gini-coefficient were used in analyse the data of this study. The result shows that 87% sell live cattle, 13% sell butcher pieces, while 61.8% and 27.6% sell their cattle in secondary and terminal markets respectively. About 73% had their major source of trading cattle in north-east and 26% are from other countries (Cameroon, Chad and Niger). Gini- coefficients of 0.5673, 0.6340, 0.452 and 0.5719 were obtained for wholesalers, retailers, butchers and brokers respectively, while Respondents indicates that insurgency (insecurity) (78%), inadequate market information (74%), inadequate credit facility (73.2%), cost of transportation (72.4%), double charges by market officials been the least (48.8%) were some of the major constraints. The study recommended that good roads, better and cheap means of transportation should be provided to the marketers through their cooperatives

Isolation, Partial Purification and Characterization of Proteases from Aspergillus niger under Solid-State Fermentation

Proteases are enzymes with highly specialized proteolytic functions. They are ubiquitous, being found in all living organisms, they are essential for cell growth and differentiation. Besides their physiological functions and roles in living organisms, they also show great importance in various industries. The shortage of plant and animal proteases to meet the present world demand of industrial enzymes has directed increased interest in microbial proteases. Several researchers have reported on protease production from various sources. However, little is known about protease production using A. niger under solid-state fermentation. This present investigation was carried out to isolate and screen fungi from soil samples for the production, optimization, and characterization of protease. A. niger was identified morphologically and screened for protease production. Soli-state fermentation was carried out and crude protease was harvested. The effect of pH on protease activity was assayed, and different temperatures were used to test for protease activity. Also, the kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax) of the crude enzyme were also determined. The results of this investigation revealed that the optimal pH and temperature of the enzyme were 8.0 and 40°C, respectively. The enzyme was found to be more stable at alkaline pH than acidic pH. It also retained 80% of its activity at 50 o C for 60 minutes. Protease activity was revealed to be highest at substrate concentration 1.0 mM. All these data suggest that the selected strain of A. niger can significantly produce protease enzyme under solid-state fermentation

Spatial price efficiency of maize in Bomo State, Nigeria

No Abstract. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Physics Vol. 14 (1) 2008 pp. 25-3

Burden of Disease in Patients with Mild or Mild-to-Moderate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Group A or B): A Systematic Literature Review

Alexandrosz Czira,1 Sneha Purushotham,2 Ike Iheanacho,2 Kieran J Rothnie,1 Chris Compton,3 Afisi S Ismaila4,5 1Value Evidence and Outcomes, R&D Global Medical, GSK, Brentford, UK; 2Evidera, London, UK; 3Global Medical, GSK, London, UK; 4Value Evidence and Outcomes, GSK, Collegeville, PA, USA; 5Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaCorrespondence: Alexandrosz Czira, Value Evidence and Outcomes, R&D Global Medical, GSK, 980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS, UK, Tel +44 7788 351610, Email [email protected]: Patients with mild or mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), defined as Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) group A/B, are regarded as having a lower risk of experiencing multiple or severe exacerbations compared with patients classified as GOLD group C/D. Current guidelines suggest that patients in GOLD A/B should commence treatment with a bronchodilator; however, some patients within this population who have a higher disease burden may benefit from earlier introduction of dual bronchodilator or inhaled corticosteroid-containing therapies. This study aimed to provide research-based insights into the burden of disease experienced by patients classified as GOLD A/B, and to identify characteristics associated with poorer outcomes.Methods: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify evidence (burden of disease and prevalence data) relating to the population of interest (patients with COPD classified as GOLD A/B).Results: A total of 79 full-text publications and four conference abstracts were included. In general, the rates of moderate and severe exacerbations were higher among patients in GOLD group B than among those in group A. Among patients classified as GOLD A/B, the risk of exacerbation was higher in those with more symptoms (modified Medical Research Council or COPD Assessment Test scales) and more severe airflow limitation (forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted).Conclusion: Data from this SLR provide clear evidence of a heavier burden of disease for patients in GOLD B, compared with those in GOLD A, and highlight factors associated with worse outcomes for patients in GOLD A/B.Keywords: COPD Assessment Test, COPD, disease burden, GOLD A/B, modified Medical Research Council, systematic revie