Comparative Economic Evaluation of Adopters and Non-Adopters of Some Selected Technologies in Abia State

This study was carried out in Abia State, Nigeria in 2007, to compare the output, cost and returns of Adopters and Non-adopters of some selected farm technologies. Data was collected from the respondents (120) Adopters and (120) Non-adopters) using well structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, students‘t’ test and profitability analysis. The results show that there were significant differences in farm size, expenditure, income and profit of adopters and non-adopters. The calculated‘t’s calculated were greater than‘t’ tabulated at P = 0.05. This implies that adopters of farm technologies had more output, made more expenditure and generated more income and profit than the non-adopters of the selected farm technologies. Therefore, farmers are advised to adopt innovations to increase output and generate more profit.Adoption, Evaluation and Technologies

Phytochemical and mineral content in leaves, stem and bark of Pterocarpus santalinoides (nturukpa) from Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The study assessed the phytochemical and mineral content in leaves, stem and bark of Pterocarpus santalinoides sampled from three (3) stands at Itim Autonomous Community in Afikpo, Ebonyi State. Qualitative and quantitative determination of the phytochemical (alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and Phenols) content was carried out using standard methods while the mineral content were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS 210 VGP, Buck Scientific, Inc., East Norwalk, USA). The result of the qualitative analysis revealed that the bark extract had the highest alkaloid with high degree of precipitation (++) compared to all other extracts. The result of the quantitative analysis showed that the highest values of alkaloids (2.24%), flavonoids (4.40%), saponins (10.51%), and tannins (0.13%) were obtained in the leaves of Pterocarpus santalinoides and these values were significantly (P<0.05) higher than values recorded in bark (1.82, 3.33, 8.21 and 0.05%), and stem (1.56, 3.12, 6.97 and 0.03%). Similarly, the results of mineral content showed that Fe (35.93 mg/100 g), Na (23.37 mg/100 g), Ca (1.48 mg/100 g), Mg (17.47 mg/100 g) and P (10.11mg/100 g) were highest in the leaves. The values of phytochemicals and minerals present in the leaves of Pterocarpus santalinoides indicate that the plant has immense health benefit, thus, it can be explored for manufacturing of drugs in pharmaceutical industries.Keywords: Phytochemical, mineral, leaves, bark, ste

Analysis of profitability of water yam (Dioscorea alata) marketing in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria

The study was conducted in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria, to determine the socio-economic characteristics of water yam (Dioscorea alata) traders and the profitability of the marketing enterprise. Multistage sampling techniques were used in the study. Data collected from 72 respondents (32 wholesalers and 40 retailers) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The socio-economic characteristics of the traders were described using their age, sex, educational level, marketing experience, marital status, household size, membership of cooperative and source of fund for business. The profitability of the marketing enterprise was described using marketing income statement and profitability ratios including the input ratio, cost ratio, income ratio and capital ratio. The results of the study showed that there were more males than female traders in the marketing enterprise. Most of the traders were middle-aged, married, had formal education, good marketing experience, large household size, high cooperative society membership, and depended on informal sources of fund for business. The commodity input ratios were generally high at the retail than the wholesale level, while the cost ratios, the income ratios and the capital ratios were relatively high for the wholesalers than the retailers. The marketing system was more profitable at the wholesale than the retail marketing level, because of the relative risk evasiveness of the traders. The profitability and efficiency of the marketing system can be improved by lowering the production and marketing cost of the commodity in the study area.Keywords: Profitability, water yam, profitability ratios, marketing efficienc

An Analysis of the Supply for Seed Yams in Nigeria

This study was conducted to examine the supply of seed yam in major yam producing areas of Northern and Southern Nigeria using the supply function analysis. A cost-route approach was adopted in eliciting data from 120 seed yam farmers and marketers spread across the six states studied in 2006 using the multi-stage random sampling technique. Results show that price of seed yam and age had a significant relationship with value of seed yam supplied at the 1.0% level. Disposable income was significant at the 5.0% level, while labour cost and supplier experience were negatively related with value of seed yam supplied at the 10.0% and 1.0% levels respectively. Price of substitute and credit had a negative relationship with value of seed yam. The elasticity of supply of seed yam with respect to income is positive but inelastic while the elasticity of supply with respect to years of experience and labour were negative and elastic. Price of seed yam had positive price elasticity. Result of the field work show that there were no commercial structures for supply of seed yam in Nigeria. Farmer’s only sell seed yams after satisfying own requirements. The results therefore call for policies aimed at ensuring framers entitlement to productive resources and to target farmers in credit and large-scale farm enterprise.Seed Yams in Nigeria, Determinants of Supply and Supply Elasticities

Comparative Economic Evaluation of Adopters and Non-Adopters of Some Selected Technologies in Abia State

This study was carried out in Abia State, Nigeria in 2007, to compare the output, cost and returns of Adopters and Non-adopters of some selected farm technologies. Data was collected from the respondents (120) Adopters and (120) Non-adopters) using well structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, students‘t’ test and profitability analysis. The results show that there were significant differences in farm size, expenditure, income and profit of adopters and non-adopters. The calculated‘t’s calculated were greater than‘t’ tabulated at P = 0.05. This implies that adopters of farm technologies had more output, made more expenditure and generated more income and profit than the non-adopters of the selected farm technologies. Therefore, farmers are advised to adopt innovations to increase output and generate more profit

An Analysis of the Supply for Seed Yams in Nigeria

This study was conducted to examine the supply of seed yam in major yam producing areas of Northern and Southern Nigeria using the supply function analysis. A cost-route approach was adopted in eliciting data from 120 seed yam farmers and marketers spread across the six states studied in 2006 using the multi-stage random sampling technique. Results show that price of seed yam and age had a significant relationship with value of seed yam supplied at the 1.0% level. Disposable income was significant at the 5.0% level, while labour cost and supplier experience were negatively related with value of seed yam supplied at the 10.0% and 1.0% levels respectively. Price of substitute and credit had a negative relationship with value of seed yam. The elasticity of supply of seed yam with respect to income is positive but inelastic while the elasticity of supply with respect to years of experience and labour were negative and elastic. Price of seed yam had positive price elasticity. Result of the field work show that there were no commercial structures for supply of seed yam in Nigeria. Farmer’s only sell seed yams after satisfying own requirements. The results therefore call for policies aimed at ensuring framers entitlement to productive resources and to target farmers in credit and large-scale farm enterprise

Analysis of Technical Efficiency and its determinants in Rice Production: Evidence from Abia State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to determine the technical efficiency of rice production in Abia State, Nigeria. It specifically analyzed the socio-economic characteristics of the rice farmers, the level of technical efficiency and inefficiency among rice farmers and identified the constraints of rice production in the study area. Data for the study were obtained from a total of 93 farmers and were analysed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function model. The results showed majority (65.6%) of the rice farmers were in the age bracket (40 60 years), 58.1% of them were women and most of the farmers (48.4%) had farming experience of 11 years and above. A mean technical efficiency of 83% was recorded in the area. The gamma coefficient was (0.81) which implied that 81% of the variation of rice output from the production frontier was accounted by the technical inefficiency of the farmers. The major factors which influenced the farmers' technical efficiency were farm size and labour while gender and occupation exerted a significant effect on their inefficiency level. The major problem faced by the farmers were insufficient fund, pest and diseases, planting materials, high price of inputs, cost of production, access road and processing equipment. Improved production technology, land acquisition policies and mechanized labour was recommended for the government and ministries intervention

Mixed acinar-neuroendocrine carcinoma of the pancreas with neuroendocrine predominance

Background. Pancreatic tumors are rare and could arise from either the exocrine (ductal and acinar cells) or the endocrine (neuroendocrine cells) components of the pancreas. In some instances, the occurrence of pancreatic tumors comprising both acinar cells and neuroendocrine cells, with neuroendocrine cells making up more than 30% of the tumor, has been identified. This unique entity has been referred to as mixed acinar-neuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC). Only about 20 such cases have been reported in the literature. Case Report. We report an interesting case of MANEC with neuroendocrine cell predominance in a woman presenting with epigastric pain secondary to a pancreatic mass with acinar and endocrine differentiation. She underwent surgical resection of the tumor and was offered adjuvant treatment chemotherapy with carboplatin, etoposide, and radiotherapy for positive tumor resection margins. Conclusions. Given the paucity of the cases of MANEC, continuous reporting of these cases when identified should be encouraged to aid oncologists in understanding the disease and help establish standardized management. © 2013 Onyekachi Henry Ogbonna et al

Isolation and screening of α-amylase and glucoamylase producing fungi and their application in bioethanol production

Isolation of α-amylase and glucoamylase producing fungal strains was investigated. Samples (120 in number) were collected aseptically from rice mill industrial areas, cassava processing grounds, potato farms, corn processing industries and refuse dumping sites within Abakaliki metropolis in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. The samples were first grown on solid agar (PDA) and sub-cultured to get their pure cultures. The pure cultures were then grown for 3 days on PDA and screened for starch hydrolysis using Iodine-potassium iodide method. Out of the 120 cultures, 26 showed some degrees of starch hydrolysis. The 26 positive fungal isolates were further screened for enzymatic activities which were measured quantitatively with spectrophotometric methods. However, only 3 isolates (2a, 3 and 6b) were finally selected based on their high α-amylase and glucoamylase activities. Alpha-amylase production by co-cultivation of the selected isolates showed higher activities than single cultures. For instance, the co-culture of isolate 2a and 3 was higher (40.32+0.489 U/ml) than individual activities of isolate 2a (30.55+0.710 U/ml) or isolate 3 (32.44+0.442 U/ml). Bioethanol production was achieved by Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) process using the selected fungal isolates and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The bioethanol concentrations were measured quantitatively with boiling/iodometric method. Isolate 3 with the yeast gave the highest concentration of the ethanol (10.913+0.874 g/L) after 96hours followed by isolate 2a and yeast (9.817+0.400 g/L) and then isolate 6b and yeast (8.540+0.308 g/L). Finally, the selected fungal isolates were identified as Aspergillus species (isolate 3), while isolates 2a and 6b were Mucor and Rhizopus species respectively

Isolation of citric acid-producing fungi and optimization of citric acid production by selected isolates

The aim of the present research work was to screen for fungal isolates with potential for citric acid production. Submerged fermentation was carried out using 1.0%w/v soluble starch in a 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask during the screening. A total of thirty three strains of fungi were isolated. Aspergillus specie EGN006 exhibited the highest citric acid yield of 3.456g/L followed by Aspergillus specie EGN004 with 2.432g/L and Aspergillus specie EGN003 with 2.304g/L after 96 hours incubation period on 1.0%w/v soluble starch. Based on the result of the screening investigations, Aspergillus species EGN003, EGN004 and EGN006 were selected for optimization studies. The citric acid productivity was strongly affected by fermentation conditions. The optimal starch concentration, temperature, pH and fermentation period were 60g/L, 30OC, 5.5 and 144 hours respectively. Under optimal culture conditions, the maximum productivity and yield of citric acid produced by Aspergillus specie EGN006 were 23.261 1.447g/L and 65% respectively. The productivities and yields of Aspergillus species EGN003 and EGN004 were respectively 15.998 2.343g/L, 50% and 19.072 1.327g/L, 54%. Under the same optimum culture conditions, citric acid production by Aspergillus specie EGN006 using cassava starch and fedbatch fermentation were 24.712 2.430g/L and 23.444 1.379g/L respectively. The factors such as energy source, incubation period, initial pH, aeration, agitation and temperature strongly affected citric acid production. Moreover, the results suggest that cassava starch could be potentially utilized in citric acid production. This would stimulate cassava production, increase earnings from it and provide employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths