PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF PINEAPPLE FRUIT (Ananas comosus) STORED IN DIFFERENT MEDIA

Provision of adequate storage facility enhances the postharvest quality and shelf-life of fruits. An experiment was carried out in the laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to determine the postharvest quality and sensory acceptability of pineapple fruits stored in different media. Pineapple fruits from the Directorate of Farms at FUNAAB were harvested at colour break stage and stored in the evaporative cooling structure (ECS) - pots in pot design and ventilated wooden boxes (VWB) while fruits stored in the open shelf served as the control. The experiment was laid out in completely randomised block design, replicated four times. Shell and pulp colour, physiological weight loss (PWL), total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity, pH, proximate contents and sensory acceptability of the fruits were evaluated at pre-storage and after storage at 11 days (DAS). Quality and sensory attributes of pineapple fruits were affected by storage media. Fruits TSS contents increased with storage time while PWL and vitamin C contents reduced with storage time, across the media. Fruits stored in the ECS had comparable vitamin C content with pre stored fruits. Crude protein, crude fibre and carbohydrate contents were comparable in fruits stored in all media. Shell colour change from green to full yellow was reduced in fruits stored in the ECS and had better sensory acceptability when compared with fruits stored in VWB and open shelf. Pineapple fruit stored in the ECS retained fruit quality with better sensory acceptability     &nbsp

DETERMINANTS OF BROILER PRODUCTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON POVERTY STATUS AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN JOS METROPOLIS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The research was carried out to analyze broiler production as a sustainable tool in reducing poverty among civil servants in Plateau State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: determine the profitability of broiler production; evaluate the poverty status and the effect of broiler income on the poverty status of the civil servants; identify the socio-economic factors influencing the level of broiler production; and describe the constraints of broiler production. Data from 120 members of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) who are civil servants, were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Majority of the civil servants that engaged in broiler farmers were women. Findings revealed that the influx of new entrants into broiler production in recent times was due to the ban on importation of frozen poultry product by the Federal Government of Nigeria which create high demand-supply gap. The civil servants’ broiler producers earned a profit margin of 58% and return on investment of ₦1.67 per Naira invested. This resulted into reduced FGT poverty indices. The level of broiler production were significantly determined by sex, level of education and experience at different level of probability. Likewise, the poverty status of the civil servants were significantly affected by salary and income from broiler production at 1 and 5 % levels of probability. Major constraints in broiler production were high cost of feed and vaccines. Government ban on importation of poultry meat is plausible and should be further imbibed by the Nigerian citizens to consume home grown poultry meat

Effects of farmers-pastoralists conflicts on food security in two local government areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study examined the effects of farmers-pastoralists conflicts on food security in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna state, Nigeria. Multiple stage random sampling procedure was used to select 110 respondents. Primary data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Logit regression model were employed in data analysis. In addition, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approach was used to measure food security status of the respondents. Result show that 62.5% of crop farmers and 53.3% pastoralists were within the age class of 39-59 years. Also, about 37.5% crop farmers and 40.0% of pastoralists had household size of between 10 and 15 people respectively. The results further reveal that 42.5% of the crop farmers and 26.67% of the pastoralists had between 11 and 30 years of farming experience. About 32.5% crop farmers and 30.0% of the pastoralists, representing 62.5% of respondents had no formal education respectively. Lack of compensation was the most critical constraint as 34.0% of crop farmers and 30.0% of pastoralists implicated it. Factors influencing conflicts include inadequate grazing land (87%), climate change (66%) and suspicion (60%). The result of logit regression analysis shows that age (-2.17), marital status (3.15) and farm size (10.91) influenced conflicts. Also, conflicts had a positive and significant effects on food security (p<0.05). In order to minimise conflicts between crop farmers and pastoralists, the study recommends appropriate compensation and implementation of modern grazing technology by government so as to reduce frequent conflicts between farmers and pastoralists

Health Locus Of Control And Health Behaviour Among Female Students And Employees In A Nigerian Tertiary Institution

The study examined the role of health locus of control and health behaviours on women's health.   400 female respondents were recruited employing convenient sampling between ages 18 - 60 years at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic variables, the adapted version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, and the Health Behaviour Scale. The study assessed the associations between the dimensions of HLOC and health behaviour among women in the institution. Chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship among the students, academic staff, and non-academic staff population on the internal locus of control scale (X2 (2) 7.4565, p < 0.02). There was also a significant relationship among the two subscales of external locus of control; powerful others      (X2 (2) 6.3818, p < 0.04) and chance (X2 (2) 17.6865, p < 0.00) respectively. Health Enhancing Behaviour was also found to be significant among the population (X2 (2) 9.4420, p < 0.01).  The study concluded that health locus of control and health behaviour had a significant role in women's predisposition towards their health issues