Assessment of bushmeat marketing in Oluyole Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria

This study examined the bushmeat marketing in Oluyole Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. A well-structured questionnaire was  administered to obtain information from thirty respondents using a simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive   statistics. The result revealed that all bushmeat marketers in the study area were women (100%). Majority of the respondents were within the agerange of 48 and 57 years (60.90%), married (96.70%) and had 21 and 30 years’ experience (56.67%) in bushmeat marketing. Purchase pattern of the marketers indicated that the marketers sourced their goods from the both the hunters (100%) and village assemblers (43.33%) from within and  outside the State. Individual consumers, retailers (56.67%) and hotels/restaurants (23.33%) patronized the bushmeat markets in the study area. And the most demanded bushmeat in the market was grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus). The major challenges facing the bushmeat marketing in the study area were inadequate capital to do the business (X=2.48), high transportation cost (X=2.27) and seasonality in supply (X=2.13). The study thus recommends a policy that will regulate marketing of bushmeat in the study area. Also, marketers should have access to credit facilities, and, bad roads should be repaired to reduce the burden of high transportation cost. Keywords: bushmeat, marketers, challenges, fresh, smoke

Determinants of Profitability of Bushmeat Marketing in Oluyole Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria

: The study was carried out to find out the determinants of profitability in bushmeat marketing in Oluyole Government, Oyo state, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained through the use of thirty structured questionnaire administered to bushmeat marketers using a random sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, market efficiency and regression analysis. The results showed that all the respondents were female (100%) and married (84%). The mean age of the respondents was 48.0±7.0 years, 83.3% had formal education with average year of experience of 24.0 ±8.0 years in bushmeat marketing. Profitability analysis revealed that bushmeat marketing is profitable venture with an average market margins of N25,309.00 and N6,433.33 per week for fresh and smoked bushmeat respectively. The marketing efficiency was greater than unity (ME>1). Regression analysis result indicated a significant relationship between year of education, marital status, membership of association and the marketing margin (p<0.01). The study thus recommends a policy that will regulate marketing of bushmeat to further enhance its efficiency in the study area

Fruit Consumption among Staff of Agricultural Based Institutions

Fruits play a significant role in human nutrition, especially as sources of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. The human diet will be considered imbalanced without the presence of the recommended quantities of vitamins and minerals. Micronutrients necessary for proper development of humans are found only in fruits. This study investigated fruits consumption among staff of agricultural-based institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using stratified random sampling technique considering the three strata of trade unions existing in the Institute. Data collected from 311 members of staff were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression model. The most preferred fruits are plantain (91.3%), banana (89.7%), sweet orange (87.5%) and apple (86.2%). On the other hand, the least preferred fruits are lemon (40.5%) and lime (46.9%). On daily basis, only 21.5% of the respondents consumed sweet orange. The result further showed that 47.9% consumed plantain, sweet orange (38.9%), banana (38.6%) and only 4.8% consumed grape fruit, lemon (5.1%) and lime (5.5%); 2-3 times per week.  Moreover, 67.2% of the respondents purchase their fruits from neighborhood market while only 2.6% patronize grocery stores. The regression result revealed that educational status of the respondents as well as their monthly income significantly (p<0.05) increases fruit consumption. The most limiting constraint to fruit and vegetable consumption was inadequate storage facilities (27.4%). In essence, staff of agricultural based institutions should be sensitized on increasing their fruits consumption. Also, they should be enlightened on appropriate short term storage methods to improve the shelf-life of fruits they purchase for consumption. Keywords: Fruits, consumption pattern, fruit preference, mode of consumption, constraints

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AMONG STUDENTS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN OYO STATE

Studies have shown that adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables is vital to sound health. Eating vegetables and fruits appears to keep the brain young and prevent mental decline due to ageing. In Nigeria, many studies on fruit and vegetable consumption concentrated on adult population but empirical study on fruit and vegetable consumption pattern of students has rarely been considered. The study was therefore carried out to assess fruit and vegetable consumption among students of tertiary institutions in Oyo state, Nigeria. Two hundred well-structured questionnaires were administered to students through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. The result revealed that the most preferred fruit by students was banana (34%) while the least preferred was cashew (1%). The most preferred vegetable was pumpkin leaves (32%) while the least preferred was celosia (20%). Only 37% of the students consumed the recommended fruit and vegetable intake. Regression analysis showed that student income, sex, parent’s income and Availability of fruit were statistically significant and determined fruit consumption among student (p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.10). The study recommended creation of awareness on the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption among students

Assessment of Wildlife Hunting Activities in Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State Nigeria

The study was conducted to assess hunting activities in Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to obtain information from fifty hunters using a simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result showed that 96% of hunters in the study area were men. Most of the respondents were married (84%) and within the age bracket of 31 and 50 years (48%). About 34% and 40% of respondents had primary and secondary education respectively while 13% had no formal education. They had between 20 and 29 years’ experience in wild animal hunting. Sixty-eight percent of the hunters in the study area engaged in part-time hunting while 32% were full-time hunters. The study further revealed that the hunters engaged in hunting for financial gain (64%), leisure (34%) and family tradition (38%). About ten types of species of wildlife animals were commonly killed by the hunters, and the animals were sold within the community market (42%), outside the community market (32%) and to visiting bushmeat marketers (26%). The study therefore recommends a policy that will control hunting activitiesin the study area, knowing that animal hunting serves as another source of livelihood to the hunters. Keywords: Hunters, wildlife, bushmeat, community market, occupatio

Mapping of groundwater potential using integrated geophysical techniques at forestry research institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, South Western Nigeria

Water is an essential commodity for life survival on Earth. Groundwater exists below the surface in the soil pores, fractures within rocks, fissures, and other weak geological features or zones. The aim of this research was to delineate groundwater potential within the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and hence determining the possible areas suitable for siting borehole for sustainable potable water supply. Four electromagnetic traverses were carried out and ten vertical electrical sounding (VES) points were identified for detailed probing using the Schlumberger configuration. Wenner array survey was also carried out along two traverses. The VES data collected was processed using curve matching and Computer software called Winresist while Wenner array was processed using RES2DINV. The results from the interpretation of the four (4) EM profiles revealed low conductivity zone with a value ranging from 4.6 to 19.7 mS m.-1 The results of VES give a maximum of four subsurface geoelectrical layers with five curve types, which are K, Q, AK, HK, and KH. The weathered basement has a resistivity value ranging from143.8 to 450 Ωm and depth to basement ranging between 13.9 m and 39.4 m. The interpretation of the ten VES points obtained suggested that three VES points (VES 2, 5, and 7) are suitable for borehole drilling. The results of the 2D resistivity value ranges from 17.5 to 747 Ωm with a varying depth between 3.25 and 15.9 m. The results of the integrated geophysical survey techniques have proven to be an effective method for groundwater delineation in the study area. &nbsp