Economics of Improved and Local Varieties of Cassava among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study was based on the economics of improved and local cassava varieties and its welfare effect on producing farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to collect information from 144 cassava farmers in the study area. However, only 120 pieces of questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed. Descriptive statistics, Gross Margin and Multiple Regression Analysis were the analytical tools employed for the study. The results of the study showed that a typical household comprised of 8 persons and the farmers were on the average 45.3 years of age. The profitability analysis revealed a Gross Farm Income (GFI) per hectare of N167,733 and N114,569 for improved and local varieties of cassava respectively. Multiple regression model was used to determine the factors influencing the output of cassava in the area. The result showed that farm size, age of the farmer and household size are the variables explaining the variation in output of cassava in the study area. Implicitly, this result showed that in other to increase cassava production, policies that ensure that these farmers have access to land should be emphasized. Also, a policy targeted at encouraging reduction in household size should be put in place for cassava farmers in the study area.Keywords: Cassava varieties, small scale farmers and adoption of improved technologie

Jadelle subdermal contraceptive implant in Aminu Kano teaching hospital Kano, northern Nigeria

Background: Jadelle is a set of two flexible cylindrical implants consisting of a dimethylsiloxane/ methylvinylsiloxane copolymer core enclosed in thin-walled silicone tubing. It is an improved version of Norplant. Worldwide, it is found to be effective, safe, reversible and convenient for many users.Objective: To determine the acceptance rate, the Socio-demographic profile of the clients, post insertion complications and reason for discontinuation of the method among its acceptors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.Study design: This is a retrospective descriptive study, involving all acceptors of Jadelle Subdermal implant in the family planning unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, North western Nigeria.Results: A total of 1505 clients accepted contraceptive methods during the study period. Out of these, 102 had Jadelle inserted, giving a rate of 6.8%. All the clients who accepted Jadelle had it inserted for child spacing. The mean age of the clients at insertion was 28.9 years ± 6.1, the mean parity at insertion was 3.3± 1.8, while the mean weight at insertion was 63Kg ±11.4. About 94% of the clients had secondary and tertiary education. 42.2% of the clients had used a modern contraceptive method previously while the remaining 57.8% were using a modern method for the first time. Nine clients reported post insertion complication, pain at the site of insertion was reported by three clients, and pruritus was reported by one client and intermenstrual bleeding by five of the clients. Five women discontinued the method; 3(60%) was due to menorrhagia.Conclusion: The continuation rate of the method is high (95.1%). Majority of the acceptors (98%) had formal education, only 2% of the acceptors were illiterate. Public enlightenment will improve its use among the non literate women.Keywords: Jadelle, Subdermal implant, Kano, Northern Nigeri

Assessment of Vulnerability of Farming Households to Climate Change in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Production systems and livelihoods in South Western Nigeria are at risk of climate variability and change. The study examined the vulnerability of farming households in Ekiti State of Nigeria to climate change. A total of 120 respondents were randomly selected, interviewed and used for data analysis. Results of the study indicated that the farming households in Ekiti State witnessed change in weather conditions as reflected in unusual downpour of rain thus affecting their productivity. Most of these household heads were young, males, literate, and experienced but relied mainly on personal savings and money borrowed from friends and relatives for farming. The results also indicated that climate change resulted in low productivity, low income, as well as poor standard of living of the respondents. The most widely adopted coping strategy by the respondents was to switch to other sources of income whenever there was unpredictable variation in climate condition. This study therefore calls for the need for government policy to encourage farming households in Ekiti State to obtain loan from banks and micro-credit institutions by reducing interest rate on loans for crop production as well as removing the stringent conditions attached to loans.Keywords: Climate change, vulnerability, farming household

Problems of a New Paradigm in the Legal Village Asset Management

Independent management of village assets in order to make the village the main locomotive for the welfare of the village community is a necessity, while the purpose of this study is to find out how the new paradigm in village asset management and what is a problem in village asset management. This research method uses a type of normative legal research with a statutory approach and a conceptual approach. By collecting legal materials that are relevant to the issues raised and read and then grouped before being interpreted and analyzed using qualitative methods. This research concluded that the new paradigm in village asset management must be understood by all village asset management power holders so that village assets can be managed optimally to increase the potential source of village income so that it becomes an independent village. However, the new paradigm still causes problems including the old mindset in managing village assets and the still weak supervision in the management of village assets and the data collection of village assets that are not optimal, not to mention the conditions where inhumanity in the management of village assets by the holders of village asset management power For this reason, it is necessary to encourage technology-based village asset management management (digitalization) so that there are the same standards, the same perspective in village asset management , so as to give birth to the creativity of village asset management power holders in optimizing the potential of their village assets independently so that the village becomes a locomotive of development and equitable distribution of the welfare of the rural community

The extraction of proteins from the neem seed (Indica azadirachta A. Juss)

Techniques for maximizing the extraction of protein from the neem seed (Indica azadirachta A. Juss) were investigated. Extractants used were sodium chloride and sodium sulphate solutions of varying concentration and pH. Maximum extractions of 17.86 g of extractable protein was obtained from 1 kg of crude protein, using 0.5 M NaCl solution at pH of 7.5. All the extracts were devoid of the usual neem smell and its bitter taste. As the pH increased from 7.0 to 7.5 there was steady increase in the quantity of extractable protein by sodium chloride solutions. However a decrease in the quantities of extractableproteins was observed at pH of 8.0 to 10 with sodium chloride solution. As the pH increased from 7.0 to 7.5 on the other hand, the quantities of the extract with sodium sulphate solutions decreased. While at pH of 8.0 to 9.5 the quantity of extractable protein increased, and the least quantity was obtained at pH of 10. 0.5 M NaCl at pH of 7.5 was found to be a better extractant for neem seed protein

Performance and cost of production of fattening Uda sheep fed diets containing different energy levels in a semi-arid environment

An experiment was conducted to determine optimum energy level for fattening Uda sheep in a semi arid environment. Twenty entire male animals with an average weight of 29kg were used in a completely randomized experimental design (CRD). The animals were fed diets containing 2200, 2400, 2600 and 2800 kcals metabolizable energy (ME) / kg of diet. The findings of the study revealed that dry matter (DM) intake and live weight gain (LWG) increased with increasing energy level (P<0.05). Beyond 200 kcals ME / kg, DM intake and LWG tended to decrease (P>0.05). Fattening animals fed diets containing 2600 and 2800 kcal ME / kg were the same (P>0.05) in terms of LWG. Cost of feed / kg LWG was lower for the animals fed diet containing 2600 kcals ME / kg. It was concluded that the optimum energy level found suitable for fattening Uda sheep in semi-arid zone was 2600 kcal ME /kg. The energy value observed from the study could be used by livestock keepers who intend to grow or fatten animals. Studies should be carried out to evaluate the energy requirement of other sheep breeds; so also mineral and vitamin requirements for growth and fattening.Keywords: Uda sheep, fattening, energy, cost, die

Growth performance and economics of sheep production with varying levels of rice milling waste

A twelve-week feeding trial was conducted using sixteen (16) growing Uda lambs to determine the growth performance of sheep fed varying levels of rice milling waste. Diets containing graded levels of rice milling waste replacing wheat offal at 15, 30 and 45% inclusion levels were formulated. Diet without rice milling waste served as control. Results showed that incorporating rice milling waste in the diet of growing sheep up to 45% level did not adversely affect (P>0.05) growth performance. Such incorporation led to decrease in the cost of feed /kg live-weight gain. However, animals on 30% rice milling waste diet were better compared to other treatments in terms of dry matter intake, weight gain, and cost of production. For best economic returns, rice milling waste in the diet of the growing sheep should not exceed 30%. Finally, it is recommended that more trials should be carried out with different breeds of sheep in order to ascertain the true feeding value of rice milling waste

Haematological Indices and Blood Urea Nitrogen of Yankasa Ram Lambs Fed Urea, Poultry Droppings and or Urea Treated Pennisetum pedicellatum (Kyasuwa Grass)

A study was conducted to evaluate the haematological indices and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of Yankasa ram lambs fed urea and/or poultry droppings treated Kyasuwa (Pennisetum pedicellatum). There were no significant differences (P>0.05) between control treatment (K) and other treatment means observed in the values of packed cell volume (PCV), neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils and basophils. Treatments KU and KPD are significantly different (P < 0.05) from the rest of the treatments in which treatment KPD had the highest value WBC. Blood urea nitrogen from all the treatments were not significantly different (P>0.05) from each other. No ill-health was encountered as a result of feeding treated Kyasuwa with urea and or poultry droppings

Concept and Implementation of Pes Program in the Cidanau Watershed: a Lesson Learned for Future Environmental Policy

Objective of the paper is to depict the concept of PES (Payment for Environmental Services) and its implementation in the Cidanau Watershed. This paper is a success story of PES implementation starting from the early adoption of the concept. The study shows that PES has impressed by many institutions, which was then initiated by PT KTI (Krakatau Tirta Industri) as a pilot project of the concept implementation. The main practice of PES implementation activities was promoting conservation farming, including transfer of conservation technology and trees growing. The conservation farming showed good development, which was characterized by more trees planted, more conservation technology applied, and more optimistic expectation for income increase. Moreover, PES Program will not only attract the farmers who participated in the program, but also other farmers who were not included in it. With such promising performance, PES Program can potentially be adopted by farmers and provide solution to various problems encountered in the Cidanau Watershed

Cancer of the Cervix in Unscreened West African Women

Background: Cancer of the cervix remains an important health problem amongst women worldwide. Widespread comprehensive cervical cancer control programs have resulted in a marked reduction in the incidence and mortality in most developed countries. Developing countries bear over 80% of the global burden, with only 5% of the global resources for the control of cancer. Majority of the cases in these countries present late and are incurable at the time of diagnosis.Aim: To review the presentation and histopathological types of cervical cancer cases seen in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, over a sixteen-year period (1995–2010).Materials and Methods: Case records of histopathologically diagnosed cases of cancer of the cervix were retrieved. Demographic data, stage of the tumor at presentation, and histopathologic type were extracted. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: Six hundred and sixty gynecological cancers were seen during the study period, with cancer of the cervix accounting for 58.5% (386/660) cases. Among these cases with cancer of the cervix 71.1% (275/386) were grand multiparous and majority 89.7 % 346/386 presented with advanced disease. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounted for 86.3% (333/386) of the cancers, adenocarcinoma contributed 12.4%,(48/386) and others contributed 1.3% (5/386).Conclusion: Cancer of the cervix is the commonest gynecological cancer at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. SCC is the commonesthistological type. Keywords: Africa, cervical cancer, screenin