EXPLORING THE METHODS OF COINTEGRATION PROCEDURES USING STOCK PRICES

Stationary models are an essential class of stochastic models for describing time series data which have received a great attention. In reality, however, business and economic data are non-stationary multivariate time series that are often better understood by cointegration analysis. This study investigates the cointegration testing methods of Engle-Granger two-step estimation technique, Phillip-Ouliaris test, and Johansen's multivariate test. The stock prices of selected companies in Nigeria from 2008-2014 are used in the study. Findings revealed that the three techniques produced different results and that the Johansen's method and Engle-Granger two steps procedure exhibits higher efficiencies than Phillips-Ouliaris methods but their efficiency is dependent on the number of variables and correct selection

Performance evaluation and characterization of wetted soil parameters of improvised medi-emitters installed in a drip irrigation tomato field

Field study was conducted to evaluate the emission uniformity (EU), global coefficient of variation (CGv), emitter flow variation (Qvar) and distribution uniformity (DU), and determine the wetted radius (rw) on soil surface of improvised medi-emitters installed in a tomato field. Soil water content (SWC) at four layers was determined after different periods of irrigation. Radius of wetted soil surface was determined and predicted. Irrigation frequency had no significant effect on the average discharge rate of the medi-emitters throughout the growing cycle. Average Qvar and CGv were significantly (P=0.05) influenced by the frequency of application while the EU and DU did not significantly (P=0.05) differ among the treatments. There were significant differences in the average values of SWC in different soil layers under the different periods of irrigation. Both the observed and calculated rw on the soil surface were fitted with fourth order polynomial. The model performance parameters of MAE and RMSE between the calculated and observed radii were low, indicating good prediction. Medical infusion set can successfully replace the more expensive conventional emitters for drip irrigation system

Perceived Benefits of Improved Practices in Pre Harvest Tomato Production among Farmers in Afijio Local Government Area, Oyo State

This study was designed to investigate the perceived benefits of improved practices in pre-harvest tomato production among farmers in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select respondents in the study area, with the aid of structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential (PPMC) statistics were used to analyze the data. Majority of the respondents (88.5%) perceived that it has lots of benefits. Also, 82.7% perceived that improved practices minimize post-harvest losses on a medium scale.  Furthermore, 85.6% perceived that improved practices minimize disease infestation on a medium scale, while 84.6% perceive it protects tomato from decaying. Also, 76.9% of the respondents perceive that improve practices helps to retain nutritional content of tomato on a medium scale.  Also, the category of the respondents that had high awareness considered the improved practices to be highly beneficial to them.  The study further concluded that the benefits derived by minority of the respondents influenced most of the respondents to have favorable perception to derivable benefits embedded in improved practices of tomato in the study area.  In addition, the result also revealed significant relationship between awareness and perceived benefits of improved practices in pre-harvest tomato production (r=0.280, p=0.004).  The study therefore recommended that the extension agents should properly train the farmers on the benefits and use of these improved practices. Adequate information should be made available to the tomato farmers on the most recent developments in tomato farming and production (pre harvest and post-harvest). The government should be able to provide adequate and glitch free loan to the farmers to enable them utilize the information and training

Perception and safety practices to zoonotic diseases transmission among small ruminant farmers in Ona-Ara local government area of Oyo State

The study examined the awareness and safety practices to zoonotic diseases transmission among small ruminant farmers in Ona-Ara local Government area of Oyo state. Random sampling was used to select 50% of the farmers association in each village to give total number of 110 respondents in the study area. Data was obtained using structured interview schedule and described statistically with Chi Square and PPMC for the hypotheses. The study revealed that most (71.8%) of the respondents were male, 77.3% were married and 54.9% fell above 51 years of age. Also, the study revealed that 48.2% of the respondents had no formal education while few (7.2%) had secondary education with 49.1% of the respondents being Christians and 47.3% Muslim. The study further showed that most (75.5%) of the respondents had low level of awareness towards zoonotic disease transmission while 24.5 % had high awareness on zoonotic diseases. Also, most (50.9%) of the respondents had unfavourable perception towards zoonotic diseases transmission while 49.1 % of them had favourable perception. Also, most (91.8%) of the respondents regularly carried out routine disease monitoring on their animals, bondage the wounds of their animals (91.8%), wash or sanitize their hands after contact with diseased animals (75.5%) and apply disinfectant (70.9%). Hypothesis of the study revealed that there was no significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and their use of safety practices except marital status (x2=29.748, p=0.000) and years of experience (r=0.342.  p=0.000) which were significantly related. PPMC analysis showed that there was significant relationship  between the level of awareness and safety practices (ᵪ2 =0.420, p=0.000). Also, there was significant relationship between respondents’ perception on zoonotic disease transmission (r= 0.294, P=0.02). It is therefore recommended that appropriate authorities should create adequate enlightenment programmes on zoonotic disease transmission through various media to ensure a balance in the level of utilization of zoonotic disease information and safety practices among farmers. Keywords: Awareness, safety practices, zoonotic diseases, small ruminant farmer

Analyses of Willingness to Practice Agriculture as Enterprise among Students of Tertiary Institutions in Ibadan, Oyo State

This study investigated willingness to practice agriculture as enterprise among students of tertiary institutions in Oyo State. A Multi-stage sampling technique was used to elicit data from 112 selected respondents in the study area. Data were collected using a well structured questionnaire and analyzed with the use of descriptive (frequency counts, percentages, and mean) and inferential statistic (Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation). The results showed that majority of the respondents were within the age range of 21-25 years, with majority males, whom were single in the study area. Furthermore, results revealed that majority of the respondents had low interest in agricultural enterprise preference and high constraint associated with respondents willingness to engage in agricultural enterprise in the study area. Majority of the respondents had positive willingness to practice agricultural enterprise in the study area. There was significant relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics of the respondents except Gender and Marital status. It is therefore recommended that government should motivate agricultural students by providing Youth Empowerment programmes and services directed to improve their willingness to engage in agricultural enterprises

Incorporating Rain Water Harvesting into the Green house Farming

A greenhouse is a structure where crops could be grown under controlled conditions. A greenhouse is needed in experimental determination of optimum conditions under which a crop(s) will perform the best. Rainwater may be used to water the crops inside a greenhouse. A 9m x 6m green house of roof slope 20 degree was constructed according to standard recommended by FAO/SIDA. The roof plan area was determined and quantity of harvestable water was calculated using standard formula. Gutter brackets were fabricated in the Department of Agricultural Engineering, LAUECH. Roof gutter size was determined using standard equation. The roof gutter was attached to the fascia board of the roof, using the gutter bracket at a slope of 1.5% and projection of 0.12m Water from the storage tank was diverted to inside the green house with the aid of pipe network and a tap. The results of rainfall analysis indicated that Ogbomoso has a mean annual rainfall of about 1.2m with a standard deviation of 0.27m and a coefficient of variation of 0.002m, which indicated that the rainfall is fairly well distributed. The rainfall pattern was found to be bimodal in nature, peaking in the month of June and October. The roof plan area was found to be 40m square. The theoretical harvestable water was found 36m square per annum. The required gutter diameter was determined to be 0.086m but a commercially available gutter diameter 0.1m was used. Rainwater from greenhouse roof, if well harvested and stored, may be used to water the plants inside the greenhouse. Adequate storage facility needs to be provided for harvested rainwater. Experimental crops of known crop water requirement should be grown in greenhouse with the harvested rainwater.

Prevalence, pattern and risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian plumbers

Plumbing work is more manually driven in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs), and the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among workers who engage in plumbing in LMICs may be worse than earlier reports from developed countries. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, pattern and risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among Nigerian plumbers. A total of 130 consenting plumber participated in this cross-sectional study. The Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire and the Job Factor Questionnaire were used to assess information on prevalence and pattern of WMSDs; and perceptions regarding work-related risks factors for WMSDs. Descriptive (mean, frequency, range, percentage and standard deviation) and inferential (Chi-square) statistics were used to analyze data. Alpha level was set at p<0.05. The mean age of the respondents is 36.56 ± 10.418 years. The mean years of experience and working hours per day are 14.15 ± 9.161 years and 8.28 ± 2.512 hours. Job characteristics were mostly installation of pipes and fixtures (99.2%), equipment and fixtures prior to installation (96.9%), and testing of plumbing system for leaks (88.5%). 12-month and 7-day prevalence of WMSDS were 84.6% and 50.8%. Low-back (63.8%), neck (55.4%) and knee (50%) were the most affected body sites. Having WMSDs limits normal activities involving the low-back (32.3%), knee (25.4%) and neck (23.8%). There was significant association between 12-month prevalence of WMSDs and use of saws and pipe cutters (χ2 = 4.483; p = 0.034), while sites of affectation had significant association with 12-month and 7-day prevalence of WMSDs (p<0.05) respectively. Nigerian plumbers have a high prevalence of WMSDs affecting most commonly the low back, neck and knee. Plumbing job factors pose mild to moderate risk to developing WMSDs, and use of saws and pipe cutters significantly influence WMSDs

Geographic segmentation, spatial dependencies, and evaluation of the relative position of rain-gauges based on gridded data of mean monthly precipitation: application in Nigeria

The aim of the study is to present a combination of techniques for (a) the spatiotemporal analysis of mean monthly gridded precipitation datasets and (b) the evaluation of the relative position of the existing rain-gauge network. The mean monthly precipitation (P) patterns of Nigeria using ∼1 km2 grids for the period 1950–2000 were analyzed and the position of existing rain-gauges was evaluated. The analysis was performed through: (a) correlations of P versus elevation (H), latitude (Lat) and longitude (Lon); (b) principal component analysis (PCA); (c) Iso-Cluster and maximum likelihood classification (MLC) analysis for terrain segmentation to regions with similar temporal variability of mean monthly P; (d) use of MLC to create reliability classes of grid locations based on the mean clusters’ characteristics; and (e) analysis to evaluate the relative position of 33 rain-gauges based on the clusters and their reliability classes. The correlations of mean monthly P versus H, Lat, Lon, and PCA highlighted the spatiotemporal effects of the Inter Tropical Discontinuity phenomenon. The cluster analysis revealed 47 clusters, of which 22 do not have a rain-gauge while eight clusters have more than one rain-gauge. Thus, more rain-gauges and a better distribution are required to describe the spatiotemporal variability of P in Nigeria