An Inductive Power Transfer through metal object

The principle of Inductive Power Transfer (IPT)is very old but it is rarely used for transferring power from source to load via a conductive medium. This is because normally the medium restricts the power transfer due to losses or the shielding effects. However, for low energy applications, an acceptable amount of power could be transferred from the source to the load and it will be of great benefit to oil and gas as well as manufacturing industries to explore. This paper aims at finding the amount of power transferred, the losses and efficiency for a given configuration (metallic pipe) using an analytical model involving equations governing the mechanism of IPT and experimental validation of the derived analytical model. The maximum efficiency of the system for a stainless steel pipe at frequencies of 40Hz to 100Hz is obtained from experimental validation when the load at the output is about 5.55Ω. © 2013 IEEE

Agricultural Credit Utilization among Small Scale Women Farmers in Selected Wards Of Bida Local Government Area Of Niger State, Nigeria

The study investigated agricultural credit utilization among small-scale women farmers in selected wards of Bida Local Government Area of Niger State. The specific objectives were to: identify the major sources of credit to small-scale farmers ; and determine the benefit (if any) which small-scale women farmers had derived after acquiring credit for their farm operations. Data were collected from one hundred respondents randomly selected from five wards with the aid of structured interview schedule. Statistical tools used for data analysis were frequency distribution, percentage and student t-test. Up to fifty-six percent of the respondents claimed that they obtained their credit from various sources for their farm operations. The results showed that t-calculated (17.581) was greater than t-critical (1.9842) at 1% level of significance. Similarly, a total of 47.0 % of the respondents opined that their farm produce increased their income which ranged between N31,000 - N40,000 after acquiring credit from the Cooperative Bank. It was concluded that small-scale women farmers’ income increased when they had access to credit facilities from banks. Therefore, it was recommended that the regulatory body responsible to oversee the activities of (NACRDB) monitor regularly the disbursement of agricultural loan to women farmers at the appropriate planning season with reasonable interest charge and that extension agents should ensure that the loan is utilized for only agricultural purposes

Agricultural Credit Utilization among Small Scale Women Farmers in Selected Wards Of Bida Local Government Area Of Niger State, Nigeria

The study investigated agricultural credit utilization among small-scale women farmers in selected wards of Bida Local Government Area of Niger State. The specific objectives were to: identify the major sources of credit to small-scale farmers ; and determine the benefit (if any) which small-scale women farmers had derived after acquiring credit for their farm operations. Data were collected from one hundred respondents randomly selected from five wards with the aid of structured interview schedule. Statistical tools used for data analysis were frequency distribution, percentage and student t-test. Up to fifty-six percent of the respondents claimed that they obtained their credit from various sources for their farm operations. The results showed that t-calculated (17.581) was greater than t-critical (1.9842) at 1% level of significance. Similarly, a total of 47.0 % of the respondents opined that their farm produce increased their income which ranged between N31,000 - N40,000 after acquiring credit from the Cooperative Bank. It was concluded that small-scale women farmers’ income increased when they had access to credit facilities from banks. Therefore, it was recommended that the regulatory body responsible to oversee the activities of (NACRDB) monitor regularly the disbursement of agricultural loan to women farmers at the appropriate planning season with reasonable interest charge and that extension agents should ensure that the loan is utilized for only agricultural purposes

Farmers Perception of Sources of Information in Relation to Adoption of Improved Rice Technology by Farmers in the Inland Valley Swamps of Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the fanners perception of information sources and adoption of rice technology and its relationship with farmers socioeconomic characteristics in the inland Valley Swamps (IVS). Using survey research, a pre-tested structured interview scheduled was used to collect information from 500 rice farmers that were randomly selected from four States including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from the Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. About 96% of the respondents adopted fertilizer application and only 29.8% adopted iron toxicity control. The results of the PPMC analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between adoption and household size involved in farming (r =0.095; p < 0.05), and extension contact (r =0.31;p < 0.05). The result of the Chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship between adoption and religion(X2 = 9.94;p < 0.05), ethnic group (X2 =8.57;p < 05 ), awareness of technology ( r = 0.392, p < 0.05) and information source (X2 = 59.49; p < 0.01). This study revealed that extension publication, television and newspaper are considered as not important sources of agricultural information while extension agents, demonstration/SPAT, neighbour/friends, radio, field-day andparents are important sources of agricultural information. The study also revealed that the sources ofinformation awareness variesfrom technology to technology. It is recommended that, the extension agents be encouraged and effort be made to emphasize andpopularize the use of mediated information sources and extension research methodology in order to increase the extension coverage area which is likely to increase adoption

Farmers Perception of Sources of Information in Relation to Adoption of Improved Rice Technology by Farmers in the Inland Valley Swamps of Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the fanners perception of information sources and adoption of rice technology and its relationship with farmers socioeconomic characteristics in the inland Valley Swamps (IVS). Using survey research, a pre-tested structured interview scheduled was used to collect information from 500 rice farmers that were randomly selected from four States including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from the Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. About 96% of the respondents adopted fertilizer application and only 29.8% adopted iron toxicity control. The results of the PPMC analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between adoption and household size involved in farming (r =0.095; p < 0.05), and extension contact (r =0.31;p < 0.05). The result of the Chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship between adoption and religion(X2 = 9.94;p < 0.05), ethnic group (X2 =8.57;p < 05 ), awareness of technology ( r = 0.392, p < 0.05) and information source (X2 = 59.49; p < 0.01). This study revealed that extension publication, television and newspaper are considered as not important sources of agricultural information while extension agents, demonstration/SPAT, neighbour/friends, radio, field-day andparents are important sources of agricultural information. The study also revealed that the sources ofinformation awareness variesfrom technology to technology. It is recommended that, the extension agents be encouraged and effort be made to emphasize andpopularize the use of mediated information sources and extension research methodology in order to increase the extension coverage area which is likely to increase adoption

AGRICULTURAL CREDIT UTILIZATION AMONG SMALL SCALE WOMEN FARMERS IN SELECTED WARDS OF BIDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated agricultural credit utilization among small-scale women farmers in selected wards of Bida Local Government Area of Niger State. The specific objectives were to examine small-scale women farmers, to identify the major sources of credit to small-scale farmers and to determine the benefit (if any) which small-scale women farmers had derived after acquiring credit for their farm operations. Data were collected from one hundred respondents randomly selected from five wards with the aid of interview schedule administered by the researchers. Statistical tools used for data analysis were parentages, frequency distribution and student t-test. Up to fifty-six percent (56%) of the respondents claimed that they obtained their credit from various sources for their farm operations. The results show that t-calculated (17581) was greater than t-critical (1.9842) at 1% level of significance. Similarly, a total of 47% of the respondents opined that their farm produce increased their income which ranged between N31,000- – N40,000 after acquiring credit from the Cooperative Bank. It was concluded that small-scale women farmers’ income had increased when they had credit facilities from banks Therefore, it is recommended that banks are monitored regularly to disburse agricultural loan to women farmers at the appropriate planning season with reasonable interest charge and that extension agents should ensure that the loan is utilized for only agricultural purposes

Information and Training Sources Used by Rice Farmers in North Central Nigeria

The study investigated the information and training sources used by rice farmers in North central, Nigeria. A total of 320 respondents were selected and interviewed using structured interview schedule. The respondents were of two categories, the participants and non-participants of the intervention programme. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentages, mean, ranking and chi square. Majority (80.6%) of the non-participants had been cultivating rice for more than 20 years and it was only few (10%) of the participants that had been cultivating rice for more than 20 years, majority (91.3%) of the participants had above 2.5 ha and only about 33.1% of the non-participants had rice farm size above 2.5 ha. Many of the non-participants (57.5%) had up to 3 different plots of rice farm, while the majority of the participants (51.3%) had up to 2 different plots for rice farming. Non-participants and participants claimed that other farmers (93.1%) and USAID/Market field officers (100%) respectively were their main sources of information. Training perception indicates that selection of high yielding varieties with the mean score of 3.95 ranked 1st, selection of healthy seeds with a mean score of 3.92 ranked 2nd and fertilizer use ranked 3rd as the most relevant improved technologies on which training was received. The study also reveals that training was positively associated with adoption, the result of the paired mean difference between the output (35.863 ) and income (149113.8) of participants and non-participants showed clearly significant mean deference. Implying that training and adoption of improved rice package had a positive and significant effect on output and income. It was recommended that frequent training of the rice farmers in the study area should be given top-most priority so that the farmers can obtain adequate information and, consequently, obtain optimum yield from the adoption of improved rice packages

Information and Training Sources Used by Rice Farmers in North Central Nigeria

The study investigated the information and training sources used by rice farmers in North central, Nigeria. A total of 320 respondents were selected and interviewed using structured interview schedule. The respondents were of two categories, the participants and non-participants of the intervention programme. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentages, mean, ranking and chi square. Majority (80.6%) of the non-participants had been cultivating rice for more than 20 years and it was only few (10%) of the participants that had been cultivating rice for more than 20 years, majority (91.3%) of the participants had above 2.5 ha and only about 33.1% of the non-participants had rice farm size above 2.5 ha. Many of the non-participants (57.5%) had up to 3 different plots of rice farm, while the majority of the participants (51.3%) had up to 2 different plots for rice farming. Non-participants and participants claimed that other farmers (93.1%) and USAID/Market field officers (100%) respectively were their main sources of information. Training perception indicates that selection of high yielding varieties with the mean score of 3.95 ranked 1st, selection of healthy seeds with a mean score of 3.92 ranked 2nd and fertilizer use ranked 3rd as the most relevant improved technologies on which training was received. The study also reveals that training was positively associated with adoption, the result of the paired mean difference between the output (35.863 ) and income (149113.8) of participants and non-participants showed clearly significant mean deference. Implying that training and adoption of improved rice package had a positive and significant effect on output and income. It was recommended that frequent training of the rice farmers in the study area should be given top-most priority so that the farmers can obtain adequate information and, consequently, obtain optimum yield from the adoption of improved rice packages

Capacity Building Needs of Farmers for Safe Agro-chemical Use/Application in Niger State, Nigeria

In order to determine the capacity building needs of farmers for safe agro-chemicaluse in Niger State, the study examined awareness of safety measures for agrochemical usage, sources of awareness, practice of safety measures and training needs of farmers. One hundred and twenty farmers were randomly selected from three local government areas in the state. Validated interview schedule with reliability coefficient of 0.89 was used to collect data. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. All the respondents were aware of wearing of protective clothing and avoiding drinking/eating during spraying, safety measure such as avoiding off label use (7.50%) had low awareness level. The major sources of awareness were friend/relatives (55.00%). The most widely practised safety measure was avoiding ingesting or inhaling chemicals (91.67%), while the least practised safety measure was avoiding off label use (2.50%).Reasons given for not practicing some safety measures include heaviness of protective clothing (17.50%) and unreadable nature of instruction labels (14.17%). Major areas of training needs of the respondents were application (61.67%) and handling (52.50%) of agro-chemicals. A positive significant correlation existed between education (r =0.461), farming experience (r = 0.337), farm income (r = 0.307) and practice of safety measures. It was therefore recommended that enlightenment campaign should be carried out in the State to raise awareness level for safe use of agro-chemicals in the agricultural transformation programme, while the characters of the instruction labels should be boldly written to facilitate reading and practice of safety measures

Capacity Building Needs of Farmers for Safe Agro-chemical Use/Application in Niger State, Nigeria

In order to determine the capacity building needs of farmers for safe agro-chemicaluse in Niger State, the study examined awareness of safety measures for agrochemical usage, sources of awareness, practice of safety measures and training needs of farmers. One hundred and twenty farmers were randomly selected from three local government areas in the state. Validated interview schedule with reliability coefficient of 0.89 was used to collect data. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. All the respondents were aware of wearing of protective clothing and avoiding drinking/eating during spraying, safety measure such as avoiding off label use (7.50%) had low awareness level. The major sources of awareness were friend/relatives (55.00%). The most widely practised safety measure was avoiding ingesting or inhaling chemicals (91.67%), while the least practised safety measure was avoiding off label use (2.50%).Reasons given for not practicing some safety measures include heaviness of protective clothing (17.50%) and unreadable nature of instruction labels (14.17%). Major areas of training needs of the respondents were application (61.67%) and handling (52.50%) of agro-chemicals. A positive significant correlation existed between education (r =0.461), farming experience (r = 0.337), farm income (r = 0.307) and practice of safety measures. It was therefore recommended that enlightenment campaign should be carried out in the State to raise awareness level for safe use of agro-chemicals in the agricultural transformation programme, while the characters of the instruction labels should be boldly written to facilitate reading and practice of safety measures