Indigenous Farm Management Practices among Rural Farmers: Implications for Sustainable Environment in South-East Agro-Ecological Zone, Nigeria

Abstract The study investigated the extents to which indigenous farm management practices can be used to sustain the environment in South East agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. Multi stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of the sample size. The South East agro-ecological zone is made up of Abia, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi state. Two State, Abia and Ebonyi were purposively selected because they met the criteria for selection. From these two states one Local Government Area was randomly selected from each state. (Ohafia Local Government Area and Afikpo South Local Government Area respectively), and two communities were selected from each L.G.A and from these communities, 2 villages and 35 farm families were selected, bringing the total to 180 respondents. Data were generated through the use of structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and subsequently analyzed with the use of simple descriptive statistics major findings revealed all the indigenous management practices engaged by the respondents to sustain their environment. About 15 % of the respondents uses organic manure, inter-cropping 15 % , crop rotation 14 % , cover cropping 14 % , and shifting cultivation 10 % and other methods that were specific to their localities. The results show that the farmers in the study area use indigenous management of soils to sustain their environment. The paper recommends the need to incorporate these techniques into climate change polices as this can lead to the development of effective adaptive strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and environmentally friendly

Differential spatial repositioning of activated genes in Biomphalaria glabrata snails infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Copyright @ 2014 Arican-Goktas et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Schistosomiasis is an infectious disease infecting mammals as the definitive host and fresh water snails as the intermediate host. Understanding the molecular and biochemical relationship between the causative schistosome parasite and its hosts will be key to understanding and ultimately treating and/or eradicating the disease. There is increasing evidence that pathogens that have co-evolved with their hosts can manipulate their hosts' behaviour at various levels to augment an infection. Bacteria, for example, can induce beneficial chromatin remodelling of the host genome. We have previously shown in vitro that Biomphalaria glabrata embryonic cells co-cultured with schistosome miracidia display genes changing their nuclear location and becoming up-regulated. This also happens in vivo in live intact snails, where early exposure to miracidia also elicits non-random repositioning of genes. We reveal differences in the nuclear repositioning between the response of parasite susceptible snails as compared to resistant snails and with normal or live, attenuated parasites. Interestingly, the stress response gene heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 is only repositioned and then up-regulated in susceptible snails with the normal parasite. This movement and change in gene expression seems to be controlled by the parasite. Other differences in the behaviour of genes support the view that some genes are responding to tissue damage, for example the ferritin genes move and are up-regulated whether the snails are either susceptible or resistant and upon exposure to either normal or attenuated parasite. This is the first time host genome reorganisation has been seen in a parasitic host and only the second time for any pathogen. We believe that the parasite elicits a spatio-epigenetic reorganisation of the host genome to induce favourable gene expression for itself and this might represent a fundamental mechanism present in the human host infected with schistosome cercariae as well as in other host-pathogen relationships.NIH and Sandler Borroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowshi

Use of Technical Information among Pig Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria: Empirical Analyses

The study investigated the level of use of technical information among pig farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers, ascertained the level of use of technical information and determined the level of influence of some socioeconomic variables on the use of technical information among pig farmers in the area. Purposive and multistage random sampling techniques were used in drawing sixty (60) pig farmers for the study. Data collected were analysed using both inferential and descriptive statistics such as Ordinary Least Square Regression, frequency counts, percentages and mean scores. From the result, a grand mean score of 2.83 shows that the level of use of technical information among pig farmers is low in the area. At P˂0.05, Stock size with a t-ratio of 1.878, Farming experience (-1.984**), Household size (2.251**) and Level of extension contact (-5.420**) all had significant influence on the use of technical information by the pig farmers. The study recommends formation of pig farmers into cooperative groups and conscious efforts at improving livestock extension by all extension agencies, to improve access to and use of innovations for enhanced prig production in the study area

Understanding Farmers Information Network; Implication For Effective Extension Delivery In Akwa Ibom State

ABSTRACT: Appropriateness of information is a critical factor needed to stimulate the right knowledge and attitude of farmers towards sustainable transformation of agriculture. The study investigated the information network that exists among rural communities in Akwa-Ibom States and its implication for effective extension delivery. Even though (AKADEP)Akwa-Ibom State Agricultural Development Programmes are highly involved in the dissemination process, it is important to analyze the information networks of the farmers to improve exchange of information with the following specific objectives; identify the different wealth groups in the study area, ascertain the information networks that exists in the area; analyze the different information types and assess the strength and weakness of the information sources. Data were generated through Focus Group Discussion and Participatory Observation, employing different methodologies like wealth ranking, information diagram and linkage matrix analysis using Likert's scale type. Data generated were analyzed with simple descriptive statistics and means. Major results show that in wealth ranking two groups of respondents were identified the female households with mean score between 1.9 and male headed household with mean score of 2.00 -2.99. on information network farmer to farmer with 21%, market 14%, church 15% were highest source of their information network. On perceived weakness and strength of the information network, the information quality, frequency of use, timeliness of information flow, and link up of information were adequate while reliability of information was not adequate. The results show that intra community information flow was suitable and accessible to rich farmers while inaccessible and often irrelevant to poor farmers. Therefore, in the face of threat to food insecurity prevalent in the country, it is important to put in place a platform that will afford farmers to ask questions and get substantive responses, not only from extension agents but through appropriate channels within their information networks

Socio-cultural factors and HIV/AIDS prevention in Nigeria: Implication for food security

Since the discovery of the disease (AIDs), the Federal Government of Nigeria and Abia State Government in particular have attempted to put in place programmes that will constitute to its prevention and effective management. Yet there is an evidence in the rise of the epidemic. May be something is wrong with the strategy put in place in the eradication effort so far. Based on this premise the study tried to ascertain those cultural practices that can aid in the prevention of the epidemic. The study was carried out in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. Three communities Alaukwu, Amato and Nneise were randomly selected. A purposive random sampling technique was used to select females between the ages of 15 to 46 years for interview. A total of 120 respondents were selected from these communities. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis. Major results indicated that some cultural practices like chastity of girls before marriage, monogamy, equal education to both sexes and male circumcision with mean score of 2.71, 2.55, 2.50, 2.71 respectively aids in prevention of HIV/AIDs. The result further indicated some socioeconomic factors that aids in spread of the epidemic. Educational qualification had a coefficient of -2.202 which implies a negative relationship with Y. migration had a coefficient of 3.683 which implies a positive significant relationship with Y. Income had a coefficient of 2.664 which implies a positive relationship with Y. Migration had a co-efficient of 3.683 which implies a positive significant relationship with Y. The study therefore recommends that mobilization campaigns based on the cultural context of the HIV/AIDs epidemic should be encouraged for the effective prevention.Keywords: Culture, HIV/AIDs, socio-cultural factors food securit

Evaluation of Women Access and Rights to Land and its Implications on Rural Household Food Security in Selected Rural Communities, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract Land reform experts claim that the main obstacle to increase agricultural output is shortage of land and population pressure. However, it is not the shortage of land, which affects the output of agricultures; it is the structure of land tenure, the lack of proper land ownership and rights. The study area was Abia State. Abia State is made up of three Agricultural zones namely Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia respectively. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of the sample size. In the first stage, one local government area was selected from each zone, from each LGAs, 2 blocks were selected and from each block, 2 cells were selected and from each cells were selected and from each cell, 10 rural women from male-headed households were selected bringing the total to 180 respondents. Data were generated through the use of Focus Group Discussion and participatory observation. Data generated were analyzed through the use of simple descriptive statistics like frequency distribution and means. Results showed that most of the women 34% were between 55 -60 years of age, while the least of them were between the ages of 65 -70 years of ages, 61% were married and living with their husband while 10% were separated. Educational level of respondents indicated that 32% of the respondents had no formal education, 41% had primary while 27% had secondary education only. Level of income indicated that majority of the respondents 34% earned between (N160 -180,000) while 16% earned between (N200 -220,000) per annum. Methods of land inheritance shows that women acquired land for cultivation through matrilineal ties 39%, purchased 34%, other farming ties 29% rented or borrowed 24% while inherited also had 8%. On access and use rights on lands, the result shows that about 30% of the respondents were allowed to cultivate only annual crops, 15% perennial crops, 11% were not allowed to harvest production from the trees, 13% were not allow not to retain land after long fallow and 8% complained about limited access to inputs. On effect of access and land use rights on food security the respondents 25% stated that due to the lack of access to land use right, their expertise on farming activities are under-utilized leading to food insecurity, 15% said they lack commitment, 26% complained about their inability to get credit facilities from bank because they can't use their cultivating land to get collateral, unfertile plots 13% leading to low yield and non-mechanized farms, 24% due to scattered plots. Ownership rights are critical to securing a sustainable livelihood and income, and the lack of rights is one of the main sources of economic insecurity. Adequate access to land use right is therefore directly relevant to the millennium development goal one which has to do with eradication of extreme poverty and hunger

Production of Biscuits from Wheat, Almond and Pawpaw Flour Blends and Investigating It’s Physicochemical and Texture Characteristics

Biscuit, also known as a cookie is a nutritive snack produced from dough that is transformed into an appetizing product through the application of heat in an oven. This study was aimed at evaluating the quality of biscuit produced from wheat, African almond and pawpaw flour blends. From the flours, blends were made and six (6) samples, A to F formulated. Sample A (100 % wheat flour) was used as the control, B (60 % Wheat flour: 0 % Almond Flour: 40 % Pawpaw Flour), C (60 % Wheat flour: 10 % Almond Flour: 30 % Pawpaw Flour), D (60 % Wheat flour: 20 % Almond Flour: 20 % Pawpaw Flour), E (60 % Wheat flour: 30 % Almond Flour: 10 % Pawpaw Flour), F (60 % Wheat flour: 40 % Almond Flour: 0 % Pawpaw Flour). The physical, proximate, anti-nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and sensory properties of the biscuits were evaluated using standard methods. For physical parameters of the biscuit, the weight ranged from 8.86 g-10.60 g, diameter from 6.60 mm- 6.80 mm, the spread ratio from 0.58-0.61, breaking strength from 0.25 kg- 0.29 kg and thickness ranged from 11.08 mm- 11.43 mm. The anti-nutrients content of the biscuits were considerably low and within safe limits. The results showed an increase in ash, fibre, fats and protein content while the carbohydrate content of the biscuit reduced upon substitution of wheat flour with almond and pawpaw flours. The vitamin content of the biscuit was also improved especially the vitamin A content upon addition of pawpaw flour. The result for mineral composition showed a significant increase from 46.00-89.35mg/100g for sodium, potassium from 323.44-486.95 mg/100g, calcium from 189.46-356.88mg/100g, magnesium from 44.34-132.88 mg/100g and phosphorus from 155.33-428.45mg/100g.6. Antioxidant activity also increased from 2.12-3.69mgAAE/g. The biscuit samples were all rated high in terms of their sensory attributes especially samples with high proportion of almond flour. This research indicates that almond and pawpaw flours are suitable for biscuit production especially at 40% and 10% substitution for almond and pawpaw flours respectively