Analysis of Edible Mushroom Marketing in Three Villages in Central Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examined the marketing of edible mushroom in three villages (Alesi, Ekukunela and Ohon) in Central Cross River State, Nigeria. The marketing of edible mushroom in the state offers job opportunities for both skilled and unskilled rural population at farm gate and offers market employment opportunities for middlemen (wholesalers and retailers), enable talent utilization and stimulation of increase in edible mushroom production. The socio-economic characteristics of sellers, profit margin and marketing efficiency were the main focus. One hundred and twenty respondents were interviewed at three different markets in three selected villages in Central Cross River State, Nigeria, namely: Alesi, Ekukunela and Ochon. These markets were chosen because of the large number of edible mushroom sellers in them. However, the sellers were randomly selected. This study revealed that the marketing of edible mushroom in Central Cross River State was completely dominated by women and children, with monthly profit margin for Alesi, Ekukunela and Ochon markets as N60,000.00, N56,000.00 and N52,000.00 per annual respectively. This suggests that edible mushroom marketing business was lucrative. The concentration of sellers is low while entry is free. The markets are thus prefect competitive markets. The regression analysis, however, revealed that of all the marketing costs, transportation had the most significant impact on the returns of sellers in all the studied markets. It was therefore recommended that farmers should form Mushroom Grower and Marketing Cooperative to enable them obtain loans from banks. Banks should provide loans with low interest rate to both small and large – scales genuine mushroom farmers and marketers (not politicians, motor park boys or civil servant). Furthermore, extension agents should monitor beneficiaries of such loans to ensure that the farmers or marketers do not divert funds to buy motor-cycles, cars or marry more wives and also they should ensure regular repayment of loans by loan beneficiaries. The study also recommended that government should implement action –research type of programs that integrate institutional-technical and socio-economic aspect of mushroom farming and include post harvest and marketing aspects either through cooperatives or export processing zones. Finally, the study recommended that serious attention should be paid to improve the markets to perfect markets for optimal efficiency.KEY WORDS: Edible Mushroom, Nutrition, Improved Health, Marketing Efficienc

Rural Women Empowerment: A Panacea For National Development

This paper examines the role of women in the process of national development. Because a large number of them live in the rural areas, it is the view that qualitative national development which is human-centered cannot be complete if a part of those who should sum up to make a total (rural women) are neither recognised, acknowledged or given the access to realise their optimum potentials. Despite the fact that rural women produce more than half of the nation’s agricultural labour force and food supply, it is still intriguing to realize that they have far less access than men to such empowermentindicators as land, education, extension services and credit facilities among others. If the potentials of women are to be brought to limelight, changes have to occur to address these socially embedded inequities which hold women back. There is thus a need to formulate and implement programmes,the priorities of which should include the access of rural women to land, extension services, credit facilities and gender education. This is to enhance necessary positive gender mainstreaming at all levels of society

Analysis of sources of information for Improved Cassava Production Technology (ICPTS) in Biase Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

The study analyzed sources of information for improved cassava production technology in Biase Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Data were obtained from a random sample of 110 respondents in the study area by means of structured and semistructured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The ranking of sources of information regarding innovation in cassava production in BiaseLocal Government Area, Cross River State saw radio (41.81%) as major source of information for new technologies in cassava production. The television (30%), extension agent (12.73%), friends/ neighbours (8.18%) and information communication technologies (ICTs)(7.27%) were ranked second, third, fourth and fifth respectively. The study also revealed that cassava farmers are faced with several problems in their production activities. These constraints affect the efficiency of cassava production in the study area. Notable among them are the constraint of lack of visit by extension agents, non-adoption of new technologies in cassava production, high cost of fertilizers, high cost of labour, delay in loan approval, low fertility of land, wrong application of fertilizers andinadequate land ranked 94.17%, 90.29% , 90.29%, 87.38%,86.41%, 70.87%, 61.17%, and 38.83% respectively. The constraints associated with sources of information for improved cassava production technology in Biase Local Government Area, Cross River State as highlighted in this paper if tackled could pave a way to increase cassava production and farm income of stakeholders. Hence, for efficient production of cassava inthe study area, these constraints must be reduced to the barest minimum. This can be done through posting of more extension agents to rural areas were cassava farms were established and more ICTs centers should created in rural areas and cassava farmers should be trained by extension agents on use of ICTs to get information on new technologies in cassava production

Evaluation of the Effects of Cow Dung and NPK Fertilizer on Maize Plant (Zea mays) Grown on a Copper-Contaminated Soil

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of cow dung and NPK fertilizer on copper toxicity to maize grown in a copper-contaminated soil. NPK fertilizer treatments had the highest shoot phyto-toxicity of B - 100%, C - 94.3% and D - 83.6%/.A similar result was observed for root phyto-toxicity. On the other hand, cow dung treatments significantly reduced (P ≤ 1%) the effect of copper toxicity on the maize plant as evidenced by the negative values of shoot phyto-toxicity (E,- 11.0%, F,- 6.0%). Maize plants also showed significant reduction of growth at all NPK fertilizer treatments, relative to the cow dung treatments as measured by shoot and root dry weights. However, the various fertilizer treatments did not have any significant effect on the uptake to copper by the maize plants.Keywords: Cow dung, NPK, maize, copper

Use of Native Herbs in Health Management in Nigeria

In recent times there has been an increased awareness of the importance of traditional/alternative medicine in health care of human and animal populations in developing countries. It is an indisputable fact that farmers, civil servants, market women and men utilized indigenous knowledge systems in treating health problems before the advent of modern medicine. Increasing cost of modern orthodox drugs and services have further alienated the resource poor farmers, civil servant, market women and men from having access to modern orthodox drugs and services thus compelling them to resort to traditional medicine. Traditional medicine has become an issue mainly because it is cost saving and easily appreciated, adopted, applied and use by farmers, civil servant, market women and men. Traditional medicine extension delivery have in recent times become issues in the way forward for the development of the poor and least Developed Countries. Research is tilting towards traditional medicine, which is the springboard for rural development. Extension work in Nigeria is one of the means available to impart advance knowledge in traditional medicine, vocational skills and create awareness among farmers that encourages farmers’ adoption, application and continuous use of new innovations in traditional medicine, which is instrumental in sustaining good health of farmers that enhance them to promote increase in agricultural productivity and generate income to alleviate poverty in Nigeria. Traditional medicine extension delivery in human and animal diseases, health problems experienced by farmers, civil servant, market women and men and methods of control are highlighted. Random sampling procedure was used in the study to draw up a representative sample for the study. At first stage, 4 states were taken from 36 states. then one local government area was randomly selected from each of the 4 states namely: Dindima Local Govermemt Area of Bauchi State, Bekwarra

Economic analysis of variables affecting the plantain (Musa sp) mono cropping system of production by small-scale farmers in central Cross River State, Nigeria

The study examined variables affecting plantain (Musa sp) mono cropping system of production by small – scale farmers in Central Cross River State, Nigeria. Data were obtained from a random sample of 120 respondents in the study area by means of structured and semi- structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The result revealed that doublelog (Cobb-Douglas) production function is the lead equation because it had the highest R2 value of 0.38. The regression analysis revealed that farm size, fertilizer, visits by extension agents, labour, and credit has positive influence on output of plantain produced in Central Cross River State at a 5 percent level of significance. The F-value of 15.24 for the function is significant at 5 percent, indicating a significant linear relationship between the independent variables taken together and the yield of plantain produced in Central Cross River State. The study also revealed that plantain farmers are faced with several problems. These constraints affect the efficiency of plantain production in the study area. Notable among them are the constraint of inadequate land, low fertility of land, land fragmentation, wrong application of fertilizer, high cost of fertilizers, lack of education and training, high cost of improved suckers and lack of extension contact occupied 43.33%, 37.5%, 42.5%, 79.17%, 81.67%, 99.17%, 96.67% and 100% respectively on respondents constraints profile. The constraints associated with plantain production in the study area, if tackled, could pave a way to increase production and farm income of stakeholders.Hence, for efficient production of plantain in the study area, these constraints must be reduced to the barest minimum. This can be done through good policy formulation and implementation, proper supervision of plantain production programmes, effective extension services and proper agricultural financing.Key words: Econometric analysis, constraints, plantain production, Farm  incom