Anti-diabetic Effect of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Ziziphusspina-christi on Alloxan Induced Albino Rats

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an ethanol extract obtained from the leaves of Ziziphus spina christi on alloxan-induced diabetic rats using standard analytical procedures. Fifteen Albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups, each consisting of three rats. The groups included a normal uninduced rats as control group, a diabetic untreated group as the diabetic control, a group treated with a dosage of 150mg/kg body weight, a diabetic group treated with metformin as the standard drug, and another treatment group. The levels of liver marker enzymes, such as alanine transaminase (60.7±3.25) and aspartate transaminase (69.5±1.84), as well as liver function parameters like total protein (7.47±0.02), were found to be higher in the diabetic control group compared to the normal control and other treatment groups. However, in all the treatment groups, there was a significant decrease observed in alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase. The level of kidney function markers such as blood creatinine (1.58±0.07) and blood urea (43.50±0.86) were significantly (p˃0.05) higher in the diabetic control group when compared to the normal control. However, significant (p˃0.05) reductions in blood creatinine and blood urea were observed in all the treatment groups. The presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phenols, and cardiac glycosides in the ethanolic extract of sidr leaves were probably responsible for the anti-diabetic activities of the plant extract. In conclusion, the antidiabetic effect of ethanolic extract of sidr as observed in this study may be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

Factor Path of Constraints to Adaptive Capacity on Climate Change among IFAD-VCDP Farmers in North Central Nigeria

Aim: Adaptive capacity is the ability of the farmer to adjust his farm plans and programmes in the face of emerging risks, constraints and currently available information. In this study, the various constraints faced by International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme’s farmers (IFAD-VCDP) in North Central Nigeria in adapting to climate change challenges were investigated. Study Design: A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in the selection of respondents. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Benue and Niger States of Nigeria in 2018. Methodology: Data were collected from a total of 483 respondents using interview schedule and questionnaire. The data were analysed using exploratory (principal component analysis) and confirmatory (structural equation modelling) factor analysis. Results: The results of the analysis revealed the significant constraints the farmers faced in order to improve their adaptive capacity to climate change which were institutional and technical (49.45%) and climate information (26.62%) constraints, although the factors differ slightly within the two states under study. In Benue State, institutional (31.26%), personal (14.63%), land and farm inputs (12.54%) and population (11.73%) while in Niger State, public and institutional (22.34%), land and farm inputs (14.78%), and personal (10.75) were the constraints to adaptive capacity. Conclusion: These constraints make it harder to plan and implement adaptation actions by restricting the variety and effectiveness of options available to the farmers to improve their productivity and cope with the vagaries of climate change. It was therefore recommended that government and NGOs should intensify efforts on public, institutional, educational and climate policies, assist in increasing the adaptive capacity of the farmers in order to employ more adaptation measures, land governance systems should be strengthened in Nigeria to provide tenure security for all, financial institutions should help facilitate access to credit by farmers and assist in making reliable climate information accessible to all farmers

LEVELS AND DRIVERS OF VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE BY IFAD-VCDP FARMERS IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Although a number of studies have been carried out on climate change but the levels of vulnerability of farmers and factors affecting vulnerability of the farmers to this topical issue have not been sufficiently determined in the study area, giving rise to this study. The study was conducted in Benue and Niger States involving 483 IFAD-VCDP farmers. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed, however only 96.6% were completed and returned. As such the data analysis was based on 483 farmers under International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) from 10 participating Local Government of the two States. Both primary and secondary data were utilized for this study. The primary data were collected via questionnaire administered by trained enumerators, while the secondary data were collected from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, vulnerability index and Beta regression model. The farmers were aware of eighteen climate change variables with assorted levels of occurrences. There was moderate vulnerable to climate change in the study area necessitating the need of enhanced awareness and capacity building to upgrade their home-grown adaptation strategies. Poverty status (3.0) was found to increase vulnerability while adaptive capacity (-23.8), age (-0.1), education (-0.7), gender (-2.8), distance to market (-0.1), livestock ownership (-0.4), social amenities (-1.9), total livelihood activities (-2.4) and membership of association (-3.8) decreased vulnerability by the percentages indicated in parenthesis. The study therefore recommended that the level of literacy among farm households and availability of social amenities should be critical issues when formulating climate adaptation policies and developmental issues. Government and NGOs should install processes that can enhance the adaptive capacity of the farmers

Innovative finance for climate change challenge of energy utilization in conventional small-scale maize production in Niger State, Nigeria: Climate finance essentials

The present study applied the stochastic cost frontier approach to evaluate farm energy resource management in maize production using 120 farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. The results revealed that energy cost efficiency among the respondents varied substantially ranging between 1.002 and 1.126, with mean energy cost efficiency of 1.047. Furthermore, the results showed that there was relative existence of economies of scale among the farmers, meaning that an average farm in the study area produce at minimum cost considering the farm size which is an indication that they operates in second stage of production surface (stage of efficient resource utilization).This result was further collaborated by the mean energy cost efficiency of 1.047 obtained which indicates that an average farm in the sampled area is approximately 4.7% above the frontier cost, indicating that they are relatively cost efficient in allocating their scarce energy resources. The result of the analysis indicate the presence of cost inefficiency effects as depicted by the significant estimated gamma coefficient of about 0.9995 and the generalized likelihood ratio test result obtained. Solving allocation is critical for improving farm energy resource use of farmers in the study area, given that energy cost efficiency has assumed first step in combating and stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations because it is the fastest and best effective cost option. It tends to improve the energy system by reducing losses and overload; reduce investments in energy infrastructure; mitigate energy price rises and volatility by easing short- and medium-term imbalances between demand and supply; help to reduce CO2 emissions and increase energy security. Additionally, energy cost efficiency offers non-energy benefits, such as reduce operating costs; productivity growth; product quality improvement, capacity utilisation, and worker safety; waste reduction and pollution prevention. Therefore, the need to recognise the importance of promoting energy cost efficiency in the present century becomes a child of necessity; before it is too late, policy measures should be adopted to restore the balance between agriculture and environment