Estimating solar radiation in Ikeja and Port Harcourt via correlation with relative humidity and temperature

This paper is part of the Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Energy and Sustainability (ESUS 2015). http://www.witconferences.comRelative humidity and temperature data are more readily available to obtain from observatories than sunshine hour data. In this work, 10 years (1986–1987, 1990–1997) monthly average measurement of relative solar radiation, daily temperature range, relative humidity and the ratio of minimum to maximum temperature were used to establish the coefficient of eight models for estimating solar radiation in Ikeja and Port Harcourt. Coefficient of correlation (R), Mean Bias Error (MBE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Percentage Error (MPE), t-statistic and the rank score were used as performance indicators. In Port Harcourt, the equation producing the best result with MBE, RMSE, MPE and t-statistic value of −0.1078, 0.9850, −0.4373% and 0.3653, respectively, is given by: Rs/Ro = 3.266 − 0.306(RH)0,5. In Ikeja, the equation producing the best estimation with MBE, RMSE, MPE and t-statistic value of 0.1590, 1.0110, 2.0559% and 0.5281, respectively, is given by: Rs/Ro = 2.042 − 2.136(θ)

BASELINE RADIATION IN GOLD MINING AREAIN ERINMO OSUN STATE, NIGERIA.

oai:ojs2.ijagri.org:article/2The mining of gold facilitates the release of radioactive minerals from the host rock into the environment and the gold miners would be exposed to gamma radiation due to radionuclide contaminants associated with the gold. Twenty samples of soil were collected from different illegal gold mining locations in Erinmo in Osun State of Nigeria and were counted using the high purity germanium detector. The radionuclide’s identified in all the samples with reliable regularity are 238U ,232Th and 40K. The 238U concentrations in soil range from 9.01 ± 1.7 – 35.4 ± 3.7 BqKg-1 with an average of 21.9 ± 2.1 BqKg-1 . The mean specific activitiesfor 232Th range from 10.9 ± 2.8 – 37.5 ± 4.6 BqKg-1 with an average of 23.4 ± 2.9 BqKg-1 and the mean specific activities for 40K in soil ranged from 99.0 ± 12.3 – 182.8 ± 18.5 BqKg-1 with a mean of 136.5 ± 18.2 BqKg-1 . The uranium and thorium specific activities fall within the earth crustal mean for normal environmental, hence no uranium or thorium deposit could be said to be in Erinmo. The total absorbed dose rate in air for Erinmo in Osun State ranged between 15.4 nGyh-1 and 47.2 nGyh-1 with an average of 30.7nGyh-1 . The average value of the absorbed dose rate obtained in this work represents 55.8% of the world average of value of 55.0 nGyh-1 . The external hazard indices are in the range of 0.10 to 0.29 with an average of 0.19. The annual effective doses are in the range of 0.019 mSvy-1 to 0.058 mSvy-1 with an average value of 0.038 mSvy-1 which is lower compared with the world average value of 0.07 mSvy-1

INVESTIGATION OF GOAT MEAT CONSUMPTION IN RELATION TO MARKET POTENTIAL AMONG MAJOR STORES IN EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

There is low commercial availability of goat meat in retail outlets such as supermarkets and butcheries due to the limited supply and cultural beliefs in many nations of the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to find potential customers for goat meat if it were made readily available in retail outlets. Two hundred respondents from cities and towns (Port Elizabeth, East London, Mthatha, King’s Williams town, Grahamstown, Alice, Butherwotth, Fort Beaufort, Queenstown, Craddock, Adelaide, Port Alfred, Stutterheim, and Peddie) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, were randomly selected and interviewed using structured Google form questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Participants answered questions about goat meat consumption in relation to other meats. Factors limiting the consumption of goat meat were also investigated. About 66% of respondents had positive views of goat meat, while 23.5% were neutral. Only 10.5 % had unfavourable views concerning goat meat. The availability of goat meat in the market was the most limiting factor for 60% of the respondents, while 15% said price was their limiting factor. Other factors limiting goat meat consumption were personal preferences, religion, aversion to testing, price of goat meat, aversion to smell, and fattiness, with 15%, 9%, 6.5%, 5%, 4%, and 0.5% of respondents, respectively. About 46% of the total respondents preferred goat meat from a supermarket or butchery, and only 6.5% preferred vendors. Only 26% preferred live goats, while 61.5% preferred a portion of meat from slaughtered goats. The chi-square test also revealed a significant association (P0.05). Although demand for goat meat is expected to rise as people receive more information on nutritional benefits and cooking methods, it could be concluded that consumers are willing to consume it and that there is market potential for it as a major store product

INVESTIGATION OF GOAT MEAT CONSUMPTION IN RELATION TO MARKET POTENTIAL AMONG MAJOR STORES IN EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

There is low commercial availability of goat meat in retail outlets such as supermarkets and butcheries due to the limited supply and cultural beliefs in many nations of the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to find potential customers for goat meat if it were made readily available in retail outlets. Two hundred respondents from cities and towns (Port Elizabeth, East London, Mthatha, King’s Williams town, Grahamstown, Alice, Butherwotth, Fort Beaufort, Queenstown, Craddock, Adelaide, Port Alfred, Stutterheim, and Peddie) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, were randomly selected and interviewed using structured Google form questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Participants answered questions about goat meat consumption in relation to other meats. Factors limiting the consumption of goat meat were also investigated. About 66% of respondents had positive views of goat meat, while 23.5% were neutral. Only 10.5 % had unfavourable views concerning goat meat. The availability of goat meat in the market was the most limiting factor for 60% of the respondents, while 15% said price was their limiting factor. Other factors limiting goat meat consumption were personal preferences, religion, aversion to testing, price of goat meat, aversion to smell, and fattiness, with 15%, 9%, 6.5%, 5%, 4%, and 0.5% of respondents, respectively. About 46% of the total respondents preferred goat meat from a supermarket or butchery, and only 6.5% preferred vendors. Only 26% preferred live goats, while 61.5% preferred a portion of meat from slaughtered goats. The chi-square test also revealed a significant association (P0.05). Although demand for goat meat is expected to rise as people receive more information on nutritional benefits and cooking methods, it could be concluded that consumers are willing to consume it and that there is market potential for it as a major store product

PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS GOAT MEAT AND MILK CONSUMPTION IN THE EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

The increasing demand by the teeming human population on animal agriculture for their daily animal protein intake requires every livestock, including goat products, to be on the menu list. Dismally, consumer acceptance and consumption of any product hugely rest on their behavioural attitudes. This study aimed to assess consumer perception of goat milk and meat in some areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on socio-demographic and economic characteristics and perceptions about goat meat and milk consumption. Also, information about consumer attitudes, their familiarity towards goat products and their awareness of the nutritional qualities of the animal’s product were gathered. Data from the 386 consumers selected randomly in Amathole and Buffalo city municipalities were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. Consumption of animal products was affirmed by 95.5% of the respondents. Respondents’ knowledge of goat milk breeds and their willingness to consume the product were 28.6% and 41.7%, respectively. Apart from the goaty odour (29.1%), about 55.8% of the respondents had no specific reason for not consuming goat milk. Many respondents (68.3%) consumed goat meat and had no specific reason for this high consumption pattern other than seeing it as just any other meat (42.2%). Most respondents did not know the specific nutritional benefits of consuming goat milk (42.7%) and meat (70.4%). There was a significant and positive association (P<0.05) between the age of respondents, whether they knew about goat milk, consumption of goat milk and the nutritional benefits. There was a significant association (P<0.05) between the educational level of the respondents and goat milk knowledge and their willingness to consume goat milk. The study findings indicate that a larger proportion of the respondents consumed goat meat and milk. However, there is potential for increasing the percentage of consumers for these products through education about their health benefits

PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS GOAT MEAT AND MILK CONSUMPTION IN THE EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

The increasing demand by the teeming human population on animal agriculture for their daily animal protein intake requires every livestock, including goat products, to be on the menu list. Dismally, consumer acceptance and consumption of any product hugely rest on their behavioural attitudes. This study aimed to assess consumer perception of goat milk and meat in some areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on socio-demographic and economic characteristics and perceptions about goat meat and milk consumption. Also, information about consumer attitudes, their familiarity towards goat products and their awareness of the nutritional qualities of the animal’s product were gathered. Data from the 386 consumers selected randomly in Amathole and Buffalo city municipalities were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. Consumption of animal products was affirmed by 95.5% of the respondents. Respondents’ knowledge of goat milk breeds and their willingness to consume the product were 28.6% and 41.7%, respectively. Apart from the goaty odour (29.1%), about 55.8% of the respondents had no specific reason for not consuming goat milk. Many respondents (68.3%) consumed goat meat and had no specific reason for this high consumption pattern other than seeing it as just any other meat (42.2%). Most respondents did not know the specific nutritional benefits of consuming goat milk (42.7%) and meat (70.4%). There was a significant and positive association (P<0.05) between the age of respondents, whether they knew about goat milk, consumption of goat milk and the nutritional benefits. There was a significant association (P<0.05) between the educational level of the respondents and goat milk knowledge and their willingness to consume goat milk. The study findings indicate that a larger proportion of the respondents consumed goat meat and milk. However, there is potential for increasing the percentage of consumers for these products through education about their health benefits