APPRAISAL OF THE FACTORS OF RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

 This study highlighted the pattern, and examined the factors of rural-urban migration in Southeastern Nigeria. The primary data for this study was generated through questionnaire surveys and key informant interviews. A total of 225 rural-urban migrants were administered with the questionnaire across the five states, five urban areas and fifteen rural Local Government Areas covered by this study. The data generated from the fieldwork were analyzed with descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and principal component analysis. Results of the study show that over 70percent of the migrants are males while over 80percent of them are also single or married. The analysis of variance shows that while some factors vary significantly across the study area in determining rural-urban migration, others do not. The principal component analysis reduced the factors to thirteen underlying components that together account for 68.95percent of the cumulative variance in the determinants of migration. These underlying components include migrating to look for job, to join spouse, and to further education. Based on the results of the study, recommendations such as the establishment of skills acquisition centers and provision of social infrastructures in the rural areas are made. KEYWORDS: Appraisal; Factors; Migration; Rural-urban; Southeastern Nigeria

Differentials in the Cassava Seed System among Entrepreneurs in Southern Nigeria: A Gender Situation Analyses

The study analysed gender differentials in the cassava seed system among entrepreneurs in southern Nigeria to proffer policies for growth and sustainable cassava seed systems. A multi-stage and purposive sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Village seed entrepreneurs (VSEs) and cassava farmers in the cassava seed network of the BASICS project in 4 States were sampled in the first stage. Data were collected with interview schedules for individual interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The results show that the different gender groups compliment each other in the roles they play. Among the most important drivers of seed demand include; big roots size/ yield (67.56%) and (60.97%) for the male and female cassava farmers respectively), among the male was income generation (17.14%) and yield good gari quality for the female (31.70%), followed by high starch content (17.14%) for male and female (22.85). The profitability analyses show that for every N1.00 spent in cassava seed production, about N0.92 (male) and N0.90 (female) were generated, while N1.50 (male) and N1.32 (female) were generated for root production. The seed flow system shows that both male and female cassava farmers receive seed from various channels but at varying levels. The results call for policy issues targeted at increasing cassava production by advocating for more involvement of the women in seed production and increased access to and control of finance. There is also need to mitigate important constraints militating against cassava seed production for increased participation and production of cassava seed

Evaluation of probiotic content of common complementary foods used in Mubi Metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Background: Probiotic bacteria are becoming increasingly important in the context of human nutrition based on the role they play in immunological, digestive and respiratory functions. Objective: This study investigated the probiotic content and strengths of some complementary foods commonly used in Mubi Adamawa state, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Locally made cereal pastes (kamu) made from cereal grains sorghum, millet, and maize were purchased from the Mubi general market and coded as LSG, LMT and LMZ, respectively. Three most commonly used commercial complementary foods in Mubi metropolis were also purchased from Mubi market packed in cans of 450g each and coded as CC1, CC2, and CC3 respectively. The basic ingredients in each commercial product were recorded from the labels on the packages. De ManRogasa Agar was used to isolate the probiotic bacteria in all the samples using standard methods of AOAC (2000). Colony count and fungi identification were carried out.All analyses were done in triplicates.Data was analysed for means and standard deviation using Statistix 9, version 9.1(2012). RESULT: Commercial complementary foods CC1 and CC2 had Lactobacillus species isolated with bacteria count of 7.5 x 102 and 8.7 x 102 Cfu / g respectively while CC3 had no bacterial specie isolated. Local complementary food LSG had no probiotic bacteria isolated while LMTand LMZ had Lactobacillus species isolated with bacteria count of 5.4 x 102 and 6.5 x 102 (Cfu/g) respectively. Commercial complementary foods CC1, CC2 and CC3 had no yeast isolated. Local complementary food LSG had the least yeast count of 1.01 x 103 (Cfu / g) of Saccharomycescerevasiae. LMT had 6.06 x 102Cfu /g and LMZ had the highest yeast count of 9.26 x 102(Cfu / g ) of Saccharomyces Cerevasiae. CONCLUSION: Local complementary foods used in this study contained both probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus species) and yeast (Saccharomyces Cerevasiae)

THE ROLE OF ACID TREATED SWEET POTATO STARCH (MICROCRYSTALLINE STARCH) ON DISINTEGRANT PROPERTY OF PARACETAMOL TABLET FORMULATION

ABSTRACT Acid treated sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) starch (microcrystalline starch) was evaluated as a disintegrant using paracetamol tablet formulation and compared with similar concentrations of untreated sweet potato starch and maize starch B.P. Concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%w/w disintegrant were incorporated as intradisintegrants in the study. The sample starch powders used were characterized and the various properties of the starch powders compared. Wet granulation method was adopted for the production granules. The compacts formed (tablets) were subsequently subjected to quality control tests; uniformity of thickness and diameter, uniformity of weight test, crushing strength, friability test, disintegration and dissolution rate tests. The results obtained indicated that acid treated sweet potato starch has a better disintegrant property compared to untreated sweet potato and maize starch B.P. By implication, acid treated sweet potato starch can therefore be used as an alternative disintegrant to maize starch B.P

Cassava farmers' preferences for varieties and seed dissemination system in Nigeria: gender and regional perspectives

The Cassava Monitoring Survey (CMS) project was funded by the CGIAR-RTB Program and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The main goal was to carry out a study on cassava adoption and diffusion patterns in Nigeria. This includes explaining why farmers are adopting certain varieties and describing preference differences across regions and gender. This specific study and report is part of Component IV of the broader CMS Project, and it covered gender-differentiated, end-user surveys on varietal and trait preferences. The objective of this component was to use qualitative methods to probe deeper into some of the information that was obtained in the quantitative survey on gender-based trait preferences and seed dissemination pathways

Beyond ''women's traits'': exploring how gender, social difference and household characteristics influence trait preferences

Open Access Journal; Published online: 14 Dec 2021Demand-led breeding strategies are gaining importance in public sector breeding globally. While borrowing approaches from the private sector, public sector programs remain mainly focused on food security and social impact related outcomes. This necessitates information on specific user groups and their preferences to build targeted customer and product profiles for informed breeding decisions. A variety of studies have identified gendered trait preferences, but do not systematically analyze differences related to or interactions of gender with other social dimensions, household characteristics, and geographic factors. This study integrates 1000minds survey trait trade-off analysis with the Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey to study cassava trait preferences in Nigeria related to a major food product, gari. Results build on earlier research demonstrating that women prioritize food product quality traits while men prioritize agronomic traits. We show that food product quality traits are more important for members from food insecure households and gender differences between men and women increase among the food insecure. Furthermore, respondents from poorer households prioritize traits similar to respondents in non-poor households but there are notable trait differences between men and women in poor households. Women in female headed household prioritized quality traits more than women living with a spouse. Important regional differences in trait preferences were also observed. In the South East region, where household use of cassava is important, and connection to larger markets is less developed, quality traits and in ground storability were prioritized more than in other states. These results reinforce the importance of recognizing social difference and the heterogeneity among men and women, and how individual and household characteristics interact to reveal trait preference variability. This information can inform trait prioritization and guide development of breeding products that have higher social impact, which may ultimately serve the more vulnerable and align with development goals

Flexible bronchoscopic management of benign tracheal stenosis: long term follow-up of 115 patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Management of benign tracheal stenosis (BTS) varies with the type and extent of the disease and influenced by the patient's age and general health status, hence we sought to investigate the long-term outcome of patients with BTS that underwent minimally invasive bronchoscopic treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with symptomatic BTS were treated with flexible bronchoscopy therapeutic modalities that included the following: balloon dilatation, laser photo-resection, self-expanding metal stent placement, and High-dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy used in cases of refractory stent-related granulation tissue formation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 115 patients with BTS and various cardiac and respiratory co-morbidities with a mean age of 61 (range 40-88) were treated between January 2001 and January 2009. The underlining etiologies for BTS were post - endotracheal intubation (N = 76) post-tracheostomy (N = 30), Wegener's granulomatosis (N = 2), sarcoidosis (N = 2), amyloidosis (N = 2) and idiopathic BTS (N = 3). The modalities used were: balloon dilatation and laser treatment (N = 98). Stent was placed in 33 patients of whom 28 also underwent brachytherapy. Complications were minor and mostly included granulation tissue formation. The overall success rate was 87%. Over a median follow-up of 51 months (range 10-100 months), 30 patients (26%) died, mostly due to exacerbation of their underlying conditions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>BTS in elderly patients with co-morbidities can be safely and effectively treated by flexible bronchoscopic treatment modalities. The use of HDR brachytherapy to treat granulation tissue formation following successful airway restoration is promising.</p