Development of Hydropower Turbines Powered by Dam Overflow

The epileptic power supply in most rural areas in Nigeria and its attendant negative impact on the economy of the Nation, Agricultural productivity and huge rural emigration, is a serious source of concern. This necessitated the development of two hydro-power turbines powered by the overflow (which was rather considered a waste) from University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) dam. A portion of the overflow was channeled into a Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe and the flow rate was calculated to be 0.017m3/sec using the bucket method. The change in elevation between the overflow and the point of usage was reported to be 4m. The flow (Q) and Head (h) were typical values for many streams and rivers in different rural areas of Nigeria, hence its suitability and adoption for this study. Two turbines viz: Pelton Wheel (PW) and Cross Flow (CF) were developed and tested. The PW generated a speed of 538.4rpm and a torque of 46.2kNm at off load condition while the CF generated a speed of 330.1rpm and a torque of 39.07kNm at the same condition. During loading – when the alternator had been connected to the turbine - the PW turbine speed and torque became 392.0rpm and 36.5kNm respectively, while that of the CF became 197.7rpm and 25.0kNm respectively. A belt and pulley mechanism was used to deliver the rotational speed to the alternator and this increased the alternator speed from the PW and CF turbines to 1768.6rpm and 879.24rpm respectively. The speed from the PW was enough to power the alternator as the alternator only requires 1500rpm to function optimally. The PW was thus adjudged the most suitable for use

Measurement of agricultural mechanization index and analysis of agricultural productivity of farm settlements in Southwest Nigeria

The levels of agricultural mechanization on some farms in two states in Southwest of Nigeria were measured and the productivity of each of the surveyed farms was analyzed. Factors that lead to profitability of farm activities and whole farms were deduced.  Structured questionnaire was used to establish the socio – economic characteristics, educational level, and technical knowhow of the farmers.  The inventory of the farm machinery was also established at each of the farm settlements visited.  Agricultural mechanization index was used to evaluate the level of agricultural mechanization while the level of productivity for each farm settlement was determined as an inverse of the work output of the explicit factors involved in production function (capital or machine and labour).  Profitability of activities was measured in terms of gross margin and of whole farms.  This was measured subjectively as net benefits of physical productivity (crop yield) and the returns from the resources used during production activities.  The results of the farm mechanization index revealed that the average level of mechanization in Ogun and Osun States was 31.3% and 28.6%, respectively and the average level of mechanization in the two States was 30.6% while the total productivity ranges between 0.0115 ha/kWh and 0.0951 ha/kWh.  The average physical productivity (crop yield) on maize ranges between 1.2 to 1.7 tons/ha and that of cassava was about 11.5 tons/ha in the two states.  The sustainability analysis of the schemes indicated that inconsistency in agricultural mechanization policy, lack of favorable conditions for full integration of agricultural mechanization, lack of essential infrastructure and financial credits among other variables explained the observed low spectrum in the scale of production.Keywords: agricultural mechanization, mechanization index, agricultural productivity, farm settlement, farm machinery, settlement, sustainability Citation: Olaoye, J. O., and A. O. Rotimi.  Measurement of agricultural mechanization index and analysis of agricultural productivity of farm settlements in Southwest Nigeria.  Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal. 2010, 12(1): 125-134.&nbsp

Optimization of the Operational Conditions for Cross Flow Turbine Developed for Power Generation

In a bid to optimize the performance of a Cross Flow Turbine designed and fabricated by Oyebode (2014), the performance evaluation of the turbine at various conditions was carried out using a portion of the overflow from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) dam. The Dam has a net head of 4 m, flow rate of 0.017m3 and hence theoretical hydropower energy of 668W. The turbine was tested and the optimized value of operating conditions namely; angle of inclination of the water jet (15o above tangent, tangential and 15o below tangent), height of water jet to impact point (200mm, 250mm and 300mm) and length of the water jet to impact point (50mm, 100mm and 150mm) were pre-set at their various levels while testing the Turbine. The measured outputs were Turbine Speed, Turbine Torque, Alternator Speed as well as the output voltage. The optimum values of the process output or measured parameters were determined statistically using a 33X2 factorial experiment in three replicates. An optimum turbine speed of 330.09 rpm was achieved by pre-setting 250mm height to impact point, 100mm length to impact point and the water jet 15º below tangent. Same combination also yielded an optimum turbine torque of 39.07kNm. During loading (i.e. when the alternator becomes connected to the turbine), an optimum Turbine Speed of 197.66rpm was achieved by pre-setting 250mm height to impact point, 100mm length to impact point and the water jet 15º below tangent. Same combination also yielded an optimum Turbine Torque of 25.02kNm, optimum Alternator speed of 879.24rpm and an optimum output voltage of 4.05V. The results therefore show that the turbine must be set at these operational conditions for it to perform optimally. Key words: Micro hydropower, Cross Flow turbine, Power generation, Dam overflo

Determinant of Aquaculture Technologies Adoption among Fish-Farmers in Obafemi – Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to assess the determinant of aquaculture technologies adoption among fish-farmers in Obafemi – Owode local government area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained from 224 fish farmers with an interview-schedule guide and field observation using simple random sampling and snow-balling sampling techniques during 2008 culture period. The study revealed that majority of the respondents were male (78.6%) within active age group of 41-50 years (47.0%), had primary education (51.0%), with household size of 7-8 persons (35.7%), farming as primary occupation (71.4%), fish farming experience of 3-4 years (40.0%) and belonged to fish farmers organization (51.4%). The major constraints in aquaculture were lack of access to appropriate land (31.4%), non-availability of micro-credits (97.1%), lateness in the supply of technological packages (75%), lack of infrastructural facilities (75%) and spatial factors to extension services and inputs (67.1%). The result of chi-square analysis showed that only sex (0.672, p<0.01) and extension agents (0.060; p<0.01) had significant association between socio-economic information variables and aquaculture technologies adoption. Based on the findings of this study, the following were therefore recommended: In an enterprise where a large proportion of the fish farmers were literate, adoption of disseminated improved innovation by extension agents will be embraced, high proximity to extension and communication services as well as aquaculture inputs will be enhanced if farmers formed themselves into cooperative societies, provision of rural infrastructures, as well as credit facilities should be provided by government.  Participatory development of technologies between researchers and farmers are essential factors for adoption of new fish farming technologies.   &nbsp

Sunmonu: Development Of Management Tool And Computerization Of Mechanized Aquacultural Farm Operations

ABSTRACT A management tool for mechanized aquacultural farm operations was developed. The specific operations for mechanized aquaculture farm operations were identified to include; concrete culture/breeding tank design, water quality management, fish record, feed records, feeding, cost simulation, economic analysis of operations and general report on various individual operations. The management tool was a computer programme developed in Visual Basic. The versatility and object oriented capability of Visual Basic was exploited. Appropriate design consideration for concrete culture/breeding tank design was adopted following establishment and standard procedures. Water quality management, feed composition and nutrition requirements were based the minimum acceptable data as recommended for rearing catfish Wayne (2004). Two different sets of production cycle data were obtained from an existing farm, Icon Fishery, Ganmo, Kwara State, Nigeria to validate the programme. The developed management tool was used to stimulate similar production cycle following the prevailing operation condition at Icon Fishery Farm. The result of the actual data from the Icon Fishery show of a profit of N 426,191 in the first data analyzed while in the second data a deficit of N 206,649 was obtained the results of the predicted data also indicated profit of N 485,958 was for the first data analyzed with similar category of data used for the real life data from Icon fishery and a loss of N 70,402 was obtained for the second set of data following the same procedure for the first data analyzed. Data analysis was carried out to determine whether there was a significant difference between observed data results and simulated data results using the method described b

SIMULATION OF CASSAVA GRATING SYSTEMS FOR COTTAGE INDUSTRIES

The paper presents a simulation of cassava grating system. Processing of gari is a job for women but its techniques of operation have witness measures of changes in Nigeria. There exist versions of mathematical graters that are powered either by electric motors or small internal combustion engine. This paper describes mathematical model that simulates optimum cassava grating system for various processing cottage capacity and the power source used in the cottage industry. A computer program written in a basic language computes the appropriate size of grater for a given processing cottage capacity and the source of power required at various cost associated with grating operation ;fixed cost, variable cost and timeliness cost; system’s hour requirement; cost of the system and the least cost grating system. The model thus developed was tested on some selected gari processing cottage industries with varying processing cottage capacities. The cost requirement and the associated components of grating system for grating cassava at varying cottage processing capacity up to about 10 ha of crop service area was evaluated  in Bida, Nigeria. The least cost involved for different system was determined

ANALYSIS OF MULTIMEDIA CHANNELS OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO FISH FARMERS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Fish farmers in Nigeria lack adequate information and their production capacity is low. The study ana- lyzed the multimedia channels of information available to fish farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. Multi- stage sampling techniques was used to select 120 fish farmers in the study area. Primary data were obtained with interview schedule. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Most of the farmers (97.5%) were male and married. Many (43.3%) had primary education while 30.9% had no formal education. Majority (76.1%) had radio sets while 45.3% and 28.3% had television and phone respectively. Farmers’ accessibility to information was high in radio (79.2%) and extension agents (73.3%) but low in television, flyers, trainings, phone, internet and fellow farmers. Most of the farmers (85.0%) preferred extension agents, radio (71.6%) and television (68.3%) as their source of information on fish farming. Majority (80.0%) preferred Yoruba as the language of broadcast and pub- lications, 16.7% preferred English while 3.3% preferred Igbo. Most (83.3%) of the farmers regarded lack of electricity as the foremost constraint to their access to information on media. Other constraints identified were non-relevance of information to farmers’ felt needs (73.3%), feedback problem (60.0%), inadequate fund (40.8%) and illiteracy (23.3%). Chi-square analysis showed a significant association 2 at p ≤ 0.05 between farmers’ choice of information channels and age (π=19.60), educational level 2 2 2 2 (π=39.82), years of farming (π = 20.48), income (π = 34.03), and media related constraints (π = 6.92). The study established that age, educational level, years of farming, annual income and con- straints experienced by the farmers played significant roles in their choice and use of information channels, and that, farmers have more access to extension agents as channel of information. It was recommended that more information on fish farming should be provided through the multimedia and be based on farmers’ felt needs. More extension workers should be employed and trained while phone-in radio and television programmes should be regularly aired and viewing centres and radio groups established in strategic locations

The Use of Fibre Waste as Complement in Concrete for a Sustainable Environment

One of the many challenges faced in developing world is the issue of waste management. Organic fibres forms major percentage of waste produced from agricultural products and should be of great concern. Fibres have been used to reinforce composites concrete to obtain lighter weight, reduce shrinkage effects which serve to reduce environmental waste. Natural fibre is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable, thereby eliminate pollution, promote biodiversity and conservation of natural resources and thus environmentally friendly.This paper focuses on utilization of some fibres as solid wastes for making economically-friendly and affordable green environment. Three fibres: Jute, Oil palm and Polypropylene fibres were used as complement in concrete and its suitability, durability and influence on the properties of concrete were assessed. The percentages of fibre used were 0.25 and 0.5 of cement content by weight. A total of 84 concrete cube specimens were prepared for standard tests which include compression test, slump test and compaction factor test. The compression test was carried out at concrete ages of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. As the percentage of the fibre increases, the tendency for fibre to ball up becomes higher in water. The test results showed that for Jute and Oil palm fibres, the optimum fibre content was 0.25% and for Polypropylene fibre, the optimum fibre content was 0.5%. They all yielded increase in strength when compared to the control specimen and has proven to reduce reasonable environmental waste pollution. Keywords: Environmental Pollution, Fibre, Concrete strength, Jute, Waste reductio

Use of Lactobacillus plantarum

Kunun-aya is a traditional nonalcoholic beverage in the northern part of Nigeria, normally prepared from cereals. In this investigation Lactobacillus plantarum, isolated from fermenting kunun, was applied as starter culture during production of kunun-aya from varying combinations of sorghum and tigernut. The quality attributes of the product indicated increase in ash and protein contents of product inoculated with starter culture (PISC) over the uninoculated control sample (UCS). The highest values of 4.43% and 6.95% were recorded for ash and protein, respectively, in the product from fifty percent each of sorghum and tigernut (50SOR/50TIG). Titratable acidity was higher in PISC compared to UCS; the 50SOR/50TIG sample had the highest value of 0.92. The PISC recorded reduced counts of Salmonella, coliforms, and Staphylococci. The SCIS were preferred by panellists in the sensory attributes of appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and general acceptability. It was concluded that the use of L. plantarum as starter culture in the production of kunun-aya was advantageous as a result of enhanced nutritional, sensory, and microbial qualities recorded compared to UCS. Reduction in Salmonella, coliforms, and Staphylococci in PISC may be of public health significance. This on quality improvement of the traditional beverage has not been previously reported

MICRO-ORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKED PRAWN (Macrobranchium spp.) IN SELECTED MARKET LOCATIONS IN ABEOKUTA METROPOLIS OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study is aimed at isolating and characterizing micro-organisms of Macrobranchium spp. gotten from markets in Abeokuta. Twelve different samples of whole smoked prawns (Macrobranchium spp.) were purchased from two different locations each in six major markets (Itoku, Omida, Iberekodo, Lafenwa, Panseke and Olomore) within the Abeokuta metropolis in Ogun State. Their microbial load was analyzed using Mac-Conkey agar (MA), Deoxycholate citrate agar (DCA), Nutrient agar (NA), and Mannitol salt agar (MSA) for bacteria isolation while Potato Dextrose agar (PDA) was used to isolate the fungi in the microbiology laboratory of the department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Staphylococcus aureus and Citrobacter spp (22.22% each) dominated the samples while the fungal specie that occurred most frequently in the samples was Aspergillus niger (31.03%). The total bacterial counts for all the samples ranged from 9x102 to 1.0x103 cfu/g and fungal count were between 21%-90% in terms of frequency of occurrence. These microorganisms cause food spoilage and poisoning and the occurrence of such microorganisms may be as a result unhygienic handling of prawns during processing as some of the microorganisms may be post-harvest contaminants. Adequate cooking could help in reducing microorganism of smoked prawn.Â