Analysis of the Supply Response of Maize Producers in Nigeria

The research work analyzed the supply response of maize producers in Nigeria and its implication for agricultural trade. The period covered was 1987-2007 (20 years) and data were collected on import quantity and value, export quantity and value, price of maize, price of its substitute, output and hectarage within the time period. FAO statistics data base was the source of data. The result showed that the trade balance for maize is negative N – 2,453,550 indicating that most of the maize consumed was imported. Exchange rate used was 150 naira to 1 dollar. Hectarage decreased at the rate of 5.0 x 103% while import quantity, export quantity and price increased at a compound rate of 3.82 x 102%, 4.68 x 102% and 3.0 x 103% respectively. A deceleration in export quantity was observed as the t2 value was negative, the coefficients for hectarage was also negative showing a deceleration. However, there was acceleration in maize price as the t2 value was positive and significant at 5% probability level. The R2 value was 77% indicating that 77% of the variation in maize supplied was explained by the estimated values. It was also significant at 1% level of probability indicating goodness of fit of the regression line. Due to the increased demand for and increased use of maize, it is recommended that maize producers should be provided with essential input at subsidized rate so as to increase their output to meet the demand. In addition, maize import should therefore be reduced to strengthen local production and high yielding maize varieties should be developed.Keywords: producers; Agricultural Trade; Export Quantity; Maize pric

Ear, nose and throat injuries at Bugando Medical Centre in northwestern Tanzania: a five-year prospective review of 456 cases.

Injuries to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) regions are not uncommon in clinical practice and constitute a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in our setting. There is dearth of literature on this subject in our environment. This study was conducted to describe the causes, injury pattern and outcome of these injuries in our setting and proffer possible preventive measures. This was a descriptive prospective study of patients with ear, nose and throat injuries managed at Bugando Medical Centre between May 2007 and April 2012. Ethical approval to conduct the study was sought from relevant authorities. Statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS computer software version 17.0. A total of 456 patients were studied. The median age of patients at presentation was 18 years (range 1 to 72 years). The male to female ratio was 2:1. The commonest cause of injury was foreign bodies (61.8%) followed by road traffic accidents (22.4%). The ear was the most common body region injured accounting for 59.0% of cases. The majority of patients (324, 71.1%) were treated as an outpatient and only 132(28.9%) patients required admission to the ENT wards after definitive treatment. Foreign body removal and surgical wound debridement were the most common treatment modalities performed in 61.9% and 16.2% of cases respectively. Complication rate was 14.9%. Suppurative otitis media (30.9%) was the commonest complication in the ear while traumatic epistaxis (26.5%) and hoarseness of voice (11.8%) in the aero-digestive tract were commonest in the nose and throat. The overall median length of hospital stay for in-patients was 8 days (range 1 to 22 days). Patients who developed complications and those who had associated injuries stayed longer in the hospital (P < 0.001).Mortality rate related to isolated ENT injuries was 1.3% (6 deaths). The majority of patients (96.9%) were treated successfully and only 3.1% of cases were discharged with permanent disabilities. Injuries to the ENT regions are not uncommon in our environment and foreign bodies constitute a significant cause of injury. Majority of these injuries can be prevented through public enlightenment campaigns

Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Cassava Varieties among Farmers in Abia State

This work examined the socioeconomic factors affecting the adoption of improved cassava varieties in Abia State. The study was carried out in Abia State. Five out of 17 LGAs in Abia State were purposely selected due to their popularity in cassava production. One hundred and fifty farmers were randomly selected and interviewed with a structured questionnaire to find the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, the factors affecting adoption of improved cassava varieties and suggestions to improve production of cassava in the area. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, tables, percentages and probit model analysis. The result shows that the major factors affecting adoption of improved cassava varieties were adaptability of the technology compatibility, age, educational status, sex and complexity of the technology. The result also reviewed that more of elderly people farmed cassava in the study area and the farmers were more of women. It is thereby recommended that farmers suggestions should be adhere to in order to boost cassava production in Abia State. Men and youths should be encouraged to go into farming in the study area through individual motivation.Keywords: adoption, improved cassava farmersJournal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 201

Cut Throat Injuries at a University Teaching Hospital in Northwestern Tanzania: A Review of 98 cases.

Cut throat injuries though rarely reported in literature pose a great therapeutic challenge because multiple vital structures are vulnerable to injuries in the small, confined unprotected area. A sudden increase in the number of cut throat patients in our centre in recent years prompted the authors to analyze this problem. This study was conducted in our local setting to describe the etiology, patterns and treatment outcome of these injuries. This was a combined retrospective and prospective study of cut throat injury patients who were managed at Bugando Medical Centre between February 2009 and January 2013. Statistical data analysis was done using SPSS software version 17.0. A total of 98 patients with cut throat injuries were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 2.4: 1. The median age of patients was 26 years (range 8 to 78 years). Majority of patients (79.6%) had no employment and most of them (65.3%) came from rural community. Homicide was the commonest (55.1%) cause, followed by suicidal attempts (34.7%) and accidental (10.2%) injuries. Interpersonal conflict (24.4%) was the most common motivating factor for homicidal injury whereas psychiatric illness (16.2%) and road traffic accidents (9.2%) were the most frequent motivating factors of suicidal attempt and accidental injuries respectively. The majority of injuries were in Zone II accounting for 65.3% of cases and most of them had laryngeal (57.1%) injury. Surgical debridement, laryngeal/hypopharynx repair and tracheostomy were the most common surgical procedures performed in 93.9%, 73.5% and 70.4% of patients respectively. Postoperative complication rate was 57.1%, the commonest being surgical site infections in 28.1% of patients and it was significantly associated with late presentation and anatomical zones (P < 0.001). The overall median duration of hospitalization was 12 days. Patients who had postoperative complications stayed longer in the hospital and this was statistically significant (p = 0.011). Mortality rate was 11.2% and was significantly associated with co-morbidities, delayed presentation and presence of complications (p < 0.001). The follow up of patients was poor. Cut throat injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among young adult males in our setting. Addressing the root causes of violence such as poverty, unemployment, and substance abuse will reduce the incidence of these injuries in our environment

Regulatory T cell-derived extracellular vesicles modify dendritic cell function

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a subpopulation of T cells that maintain tolerance to self and limit other immune responses. They achieve this through different mechanisms including the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) such as exosomes as shown by us, and others. One of the ways that Treg derived EVs inhibit target cells such as effector T cells is via the transfer of miRNA. Another key target for the immunoregulatory function of Tregs is the dendritic cells (DCs). In this study we demonstrate directly, and for the first time, that miRNAs are transferred from Tregs to DCs via Treg derived EVs. In particular two miRNAs, namely miR-150-5p and miR-142-3p, were increased in DCs following their interaction with Tregs and Treg derived exosomes. One of the consequences for DCs following the acquisition of miRNAs contained in Treg derived EVs was the induction of a tolerogenic phenotype in these cells, with increased IL-10 and decreased IL-6 production being observed following LPS stimulation. Altogether our findings provide data to support the idea that intercellular transfer of miRNAs via EVs may be a novel mechanism by which Tregs regulate DC function and could represent a mechanism to inhibit immune reactions in tissues

Allocative efficiency of small-holder cocoyam farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 38 2007: pp. 70-8

Technical Efficiency of Small-Holder Cocoyam Farmers in Anambra State Nigeria: Implications for Agricultural Extension Policy

This study employed the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function to measure the level of technical efficiency in small-holder cocoyam production in Anambra state, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers in the state in 2005 and from them input-output data were obtained using the costroute approach. The parameters of the stochastic frontier production function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. The result of the analysis shows that individual farm level technical efficiency was about 95%. The study found education and farming experience to be positively and significantly related to technical efficiency at 1% while practice index, fertilizer use and membership of cooperative societies also had a direct relationship with technical efficiency and were significant at 5% level. Age and farm size had an indirect relationship with technical efficiency and was significant at 1% and 5% level respectively. There were no significant relationship between technical efficiency and knowledge index, credit access and family size. Expected increases in agriculture require increase in agricultural productivity. In other words, agricultural productivity very much depends on the efficiency of the production process. Hence, policies designed to educate people through proper agricultural extension services will have a great impact in increasing the level of efficiency and hence agricultural productivity of these farmers. Key words: Technical Efficiency, Stochastic Frontier Production Function and Extension Service

Evaluation of biochemical parameters of Clarias gariepinus exposed to sublethal concentration of cypermethrin

Cypermethrin has being seen to be a contaminant of freshwater and marine ecosystem. Therefore, a study was designed to determine the sublethal effects of cypermethrin on freshwater fish, Clarias gariepinus. The fish was treated with 0.01 mg/L, 0.05 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L cypermethrin dissolved in distilled water. Fish were killed by cold narcosis on an ice block and dissected to obtain liver and muscle samples; 10% homogenates in an ice-cold saline were prepared. Liver aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver and muscle acid phosphatase (ACP) were measured. There was a significant increase in liver and muscle ACP in cypermethrin treated catfish compared to the control. Liver AST level significantly increased at all concentrations for experimental duration (P&lt;0.05) compared to the control. These alterations in enzyme activity may have long-term effects on organisms (fish) that are continuously exposed tolow doses of cypermethrin in an aquatic ecosystem

Gender Roles among Cassava Processors in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study was carried out in Anambra and Aguata zones of Anambra State. A Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 farm families who engage in cassava processing. Data were analysed by the use of descriptive statistics (means, frequencies and percentages).The results showed that cassava processing in the study area was mainly dominated by females. The roles of males were seen to be complementary especially where strength is needed. Most of the respondents were still in their productive years with large household sizes. Non-availability of capital, lack of improved processing equipment and inadequate transportation to the processing site were the most important constraints in the study area. The study therefore calls for policies aimed at making credit accessible and available for processors, provision of closer processing clusters to reduce costs of transportation. Agricultural extension agencies should intensify efforts in disseminating improved processing technologies to processors especially women so as to reduce problems faced during the processing