Investigating the Effect of Fertilizer Subsidy on Agricultural Production and its Implication on Food Security in Nigeria (1981-2012)

The study examines the impact of government funded fertilizer subsidies on agricultural production in Nigeria. The data for this study are primarily time series data at macro level spanning from 1981 to 2012. Data on agricultural gross domestic product, exchange rate, crude oil price, capital, agricultural land, foreign direct investment into the agricultural sector and data on fertilizer subsidy costs were sourced from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) online Statistical data base of the United Nations, Penn world data of the University of Pennsylvania and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin and the National Bureau of Statistics, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), Federal Fertilizer Department (FFD), Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) and Farm management survey and advisory services. The Johansen approach to cointegration and error correction modeling was used in analyzing the data. The results show that capital, foreign direct investment into the Nigeria agricultural sector and fertilizer subsidy cost all have positive and significant effects on agricultural production in Nigeria. The coefficient for the error correction mechanism (ECM) is -1.234 which indicates that the deviation of agricultural production, proxy as gross domestic product (LAGDP) from the long-run equilibrium level is corrected by about 123% in the current period. This shows that the speed of adjustment of the Nigerian agricultural production to the state of equilibrium is very high (all things being equal). Keywords: Fertilizer, Subsidy, Cointegration, Nigeria, Agriculture

Effects of interacting variables on the release properties of chloroquine and aminophylline suppositories

Purpose: The individual and interaction effects of formulation variables on the release of suppositories were investigated using a 23 factorial experimental design. The variables studied were nature of base (B), type of drug (D), and presence of surfactant (S). Method: Suppositories were formulated with theobroma oil and Witepsol H15 as bases at ‘low' and ‘high' levels respectively. Chloroquine and aminophylline, both water-soluble drugs, were incorporated as active constituents at ‘low' and ‘high' levels respectively while Tween 80 was incorporated as surfactant in some of the formulations. Disintegration time and time taken for 50% of the drug to dissolve were used as assessment parameters. Results: The inclusion of surfactant in the suppository formulation proved to be the most significant variable in the formulation. The ranking for the individual coefficient values for the formulations was S>>B>D for disintegration time DT and S>>>D>B for the dissolution parameter t50. While the ranking for the interaction effects was B-D>B-S>S-D on DT and on t50 S-D>B-S>B-D. Conclusion: The results suggest that in formulating water-soluble drugs such as chloroquine and aminophylline as suppositories in a hydrophobic base, the presence of a surfactant is the most influential variable. Keywords: Suppositories, chloroquine, aminophylline, surfactant, interacting variables. > Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 3 (1) 2004: pp. 285-29

Effect of Market Reforms on Cotton Agriculture in Nigeria (1960-2010)

This study examined the effect of market reform on cotton agriculture in Nigeria using time series data on cotton production from a period of 1960 to 2010.The Autoregressive Distributed Lags (ARDL) modeling approach to co-integration analysis was employed to analyze the data. Results based on co-integration and error correction specification indicated that the exchange rate, import price, external reserve and SAP are the major determinants of cotton production in the long-run while exchange rate and SAP are the major determinant in the short-run. Findings indicated that market reform has a positive and significant effect on Nigeria’s cotton production both in short-run and long-run. KEYWORDS: Cotton, SAP, ARDL, Co-integration

Effect of Foreign Agricultural Aid and Corruption on Agricultural Growth in Nigeria (2002-2013).

This study examines the effect of Foreign Agricultural Aid and Governance on Agricultural Growth in Nigeria between 2002 and 2013. Agricultural growth (proxied as agricultural GDP) was specified as a function of factors such as Foreign Direct Investment, Foreign Agricultural Aid, Land, Real Exchange rate, Control of corruption, Rule of Law, Governance, Population, Government Expenditure, Human capital and Inflation. Augmented-Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test was used to check the unit root properties of the variables, while quantitative estimates were based on Ordinary Least Square (OLS) modeling. The study finds that, after controlling for other factors, foreign Agricultural aid and Government Expenditure significantly affect agricultural growth while Corruption has a negative and significant effect on Agricultural growth in Nigeria. These findings suggest that while foreign agricultural aid could be a driver of growth in the Nigerian agricultural sector if well managed, Corruption will continue to hinder the goal of sustainable agricultural growth if not addressed. Keywords: Agricultural Aid, Corruption, Agricultural Growth, Nigeri

Investigation of Some Factors Influencing Corrosion on Refrigerator

The corrosion of steel reinforcing bar can proceed out of sight and eventually result in failure of a section of the highway. The collapse of electrical towers, damage to building, leakages in refrigerator all these result in significant repair cost, endangering public safety and health. This paper presents investigation of some factors influencing corrosion on refrigerator, such as presence of dissolved mineral, organic impurities and dissolved gasses in the water. The survey results are presented using graphs. T-test and Anova were used to ascertain the significance of the factors. The result of alternative Hypothesis and null Hypothesis on the T-test and Anova test were carried out on the factors causing corrosion and responsible for the corrosion were able to be identified. The results revealed that the corrosive effect of fresh water varies from locality to locality due to the wide variety of dissolved impurities, the organism causing the greatest corrosion problems are bacteria and fungi, time of exposure to a corrosive environment influences metal corrosion, most salt solution is good electrolyte and can promote corrosive attack and corrosion effects reduce the life span of refrigerator. The result of this research would guide environmental and material engineers in better planning to minimize corrosion

Screening for diabetes mellitus and humanimmunodefiency virus infection in personswith tuberculosis

Introduction. Nigeria is a country saddled with a high tubercu- losis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden but the possible combination of these communicable diseases with diabetes mellitus (DM) has been overlooked. We undertook to determine the burden of HIV and DM in persons with TB by docu- menting the prevalence rates of these disorders. Methods. This is a cross-sectional Study that was conducted within 54TB/DOT centers in Lagos State. A total of 3,376 persons with TB who were on antiTB drugs were screened for HIV and DM using standardized tests. Statistical analysis was performed using Students t test and chi square. Results. The frequency of occurrence of DM in TB and that of HIV in TB were comparable (4.8% Vs 3.5%). The Study subjects with DM were older, had higher waist circumference measure- ments and had higher proportions of hypertension compared to the subjects without DM. The combination of HIV and DM in TB was found in (0.3%). We also noted that DM in TB and HIV in TB occurred more frequently in the third and fourth decades of life. Conclusion. This study demonstrated the potential co existence of HIV, DM and Tuberculosis. It is therefore important that these two diseases are sought for in patients with TB considering the changing epidemiology of these diseases particularly in develop- ing countries like Nigeria

Layer-by-layer technique to developing functional nanolaminate films with antifungal activity

The layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition method was used to build up alternating layers (five) of different polyelectrolyte solutions (alginate, zein-carvacrol nanocapsules, chitosan and chitosan-carvacrol emulsions) on an aminolysed/charged polyethylene terephthalate (A/C PET) film. These nanolaminated films were characterised by contact angle measurements and through the determination of water vapour (WVTR) and oxygen (O2TR) transmission rates. The effect of active nanolaminated films against the Alternaria sp. and Rhizopus stolonifer was also evaluated. This procedure allowed developing optically transparent nanolaminated films with tuneable water vapour and gas properties and antifungal activity. The water and oxygen transmission rate values for the multilayer films were lower than those previously reported for the neat alginate or chitosan films. The presence of carvacrol and zein nanocapsules significantly decreased the water transmission rate (up to 40 %) of the nanolaminated films. However, the O2TR behaved differently and was only improved (up to 45 %) when carvacrol was encapsulated, i.e. nanolaminated films prepared by alternating alginate with nanocapsules of zein-carvacrol layers showed better oxygen barrier properties than those prepared as an emulsion of chitosan and carvacrol. These films containing zein-carvacrol nanocapsules also showed the highest antifungal activity (30 %), which did not significantly differ from those obtained with the highest amount of carvacrol, probably due to the controlled release of the active agent (carvacrol) from the zein-carvacrol nanocapsules. Thus, this work shows that nanolaminated films prepared with alternating layers of alginate and zein-carvacrol nanocapsules can be considered to improve the shelf-life of foodstuffs.The authors acknowledge financial support from FP7 IP project BECOBIOCAP^. M. J. Fabra is recipients of a Juan de la Cierva contract from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity. Maria L. Flores-López thanks Mexican Science and Technology Council (CONACyT, Mexico) for PhD fellowship support (CONACyT Grant Number 215499/310847). The author Miguel A. Cerqueira is a recipient of a fellowship (SFRH/BPD/72753/2010) supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, POPH-QREN and FSE (FCT, Portugal). The authors also thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/ BIO/04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP- 01-0124-FEDER-027462) and the project BBioInd - Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and Agro-Food processes,^ REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 Co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2–O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. The support of EU Cost Action FA0904 is gratefully acknowledged

Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern of Pathogenic Bacterial Isolates From Diseased Clarias gariepinus From Selected Ibadan And Ikorodu Farms

This study was carried out to isolate, characterise and identify bacteria from diseased Clarias gariepinusand also assess the occurrence of resistance to antimicrobial in isolated bacteria. Samples of diseased African Catfish were collected for a period of six weeks from consenting farms in Ibadan and Ikorodu in Nigeria and examined for clinical signs of disease. Pond water samples along with organs such as gills, skin, intestine, kidney and lungs from these fish were analyzed microbiologically using differential and selective media. Bacteria enumeration, identification and biochemical characterization were carried out and the physiochemical parameters of the water samples determined. All isolates were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity test using the standard Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The total bacterial load for the organs ranged between 3.0 x 104 (lungs sample) and 6.0 x 107cfu/g (gill sample). The gills had the highest average total bacterial count, while lungs had the least. Morphologically unique bacterial isolates obtained included Salmonella (14 isolates), Pseudomonas (4 isolates), Aeromonas (2 isolates), Edwardsiella (3 isolates) and Shigella (3 isolates). These isolates displayed antibiotic resistance profile to the following: Ceftazidime (38%), Cefuroxime (77%), Gentamicin (37%), Cefixime (73%), Ofloxacin (23%), Augmentin (66%), Nitrofurantoin (58%) and Ciprofloxacin (15%). Two Salmonella isolates had multi-drug resistance pattern. This study showed that indiscriminate use of unlicensed or unapproved antibiotics for aquaculture portends significant hazards to public health therefore disease prevention is preferable through good culture and health management to ensure optimum yields and wholesome products

Sustained Release of a Water-Soluble Drug from Directly Compressed Okra Gum Matrix Tablets

Okra gum was evaluated as a controlled-release agent in modified release matrices in comparison with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) using aspirin as the model drug. Tablets were produced by direct compression and the in vitro drug release was assessed under conditions similar to those in the gastrointestinal system for a period of 6 hours. The hydration (swelling) and erosion rates of the okra gum matrix tablets were also studied. Okra gum matrices provided a controlled-release of aspirin and the release rates followed time-independent kinetics. The addition of the tablet excipients, lactose and Avicel, altered the dissolution profile and release kinetics. Okra gum compared favourably with NaCMC and a combination of okra gum and NaCMC resulted in near zero-order release of aspirin from the matrix tablets. The results indicate that okra gum is suitable for the sustained release of water soluble drugs. Keywords: Okra gum, aspirin, matrix tablet, sustained-release The East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 9 (2) 2006: pp. 46-5

Evaluation of the Nutritional Value and Acceptability of Powdered Reconstituted Kunu-zaki Drink; an Index of Increasing Shelf Life of the Drink

Increasing the shelf life of kunu-zaki via conversion to powder form at the same time retaining its nutritional and sensory acceptability was evaluated on different cereal grains often used in the production of kunu (maize, sorghum, and millet). The grains were bought from Ibadan market, sorted carefully after which equal mass (250 g) of the sorted grains where soaked for seven two (72) hours, drained and were milled with the inclusion of other ingredients as spice. The mixture was sieved to remove the chaff and the liquid portion was allowed to Sediment after which it the upper layer containing water was decanted and the sediment layer was further processed to powdered form via drying. Sensory evaluation of the freshly prepared kunu and powdered reconstituted prepared kunu was done and compared. Similarly, the proximate, mineral composition and an assessment to verify any storage challenges such as insect infestation were investigated. The result obtained show that the shelf life of kunu-zaki was elongated from three days to more than six month as a result of the conversion to powdered form. The sensory evaluation of freshly prepared and powdered reconstituted kunu-zaki showed that there is no clear cut significant difference in the overall acceptability between freshly prepared kunu and powdered reconstituted kunu. Sorghum showed a better appearance, color and aroma both in the freshly prepared kunu and powdered reconstituted kunu above the other grains used. The proximate analysis carried out showed that the processed powdered form of kunu had a significant increase in protein, lipid and carbohydrate when compared with the freshly prepared kunu. The predominant minerals present in the sample include Iron, Copper, Zinc, Cobalt and Magnesium. It can be concluded that powdered reconstituted Kunu-zaki showed no significant difference in the major nutritional and sensory evaluated properties and was proven to have an elongated shelf life for more than six (6) months with no insect infestation during storage when compared to freshly prepared Kunu