Small is Beautiful: Empirical Evidence of an Inverse Relationship between Farm Size and Productive Efficiency in Small-Holder Cassava Production in Ideato North LGA of Imo State

This study examined the relationship between farm size and technical efficiency in small holder cassava production in Ideato LGA of Imo state using data from a 2008 farm-level survey of 90 rural households. The study showed a strong inverse relationship between farm size and technical efficiency. Smaller farms are found to be more technically efficient, than larger farms. These results favour land redistribution policies targeted towards giving lands to the small-holder farmers. Policies of de-emphasizing cassava production in the estate sector while encouraging it in smallholdings will foster equity and efficiency.Farm Size, Productivity and Technical Efficiency

Thermodynamic study of environment-friendly R429A, R435A and R457A refrigerants as substitutes for ozone depleting R22 in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems

Ozone depletion and global warming are presently the most serious global environmental problems and they have led to drastic changes in the refrigeration technology. Therefore, environment-friendly refrigerants have attracted a significant attention. This paper presents the thermodynamic study of non-ozone depleting R429A, R435A and R457A refrigerants as substitutes for R22 in air-conditioning systems. The results obtained showed that the vapour pressure curves of R429A, R435A and R457A are very close to that of R22 with advantage of lower deviation in pressure. These refrigerants also exhibited lower pressure ratio and discharge pressure than R22 and their average discharge temperatures are 24.03, 13.54 and 28.53 % respectively lower than that of R22. They showed higher coefficient of performance than R22 with the average values of 2.47, 3.96 and 2.98 % respectively higher which shows better efficiency. The results also revealed R429A, R435A and R457A as energy efficient refrigerants as they exhibited lower power consumption per ton of refrigeration with average values of 2.14, 3.90 and 2.27 % respectively lower than that of R22. Generally, the three investigated environment-friendly refrigerants performed better than R22 and can effectively replace R22 in air-conditioning systems

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

Small is Beautiful: Empirical Evidence of an Inverse Relationship between Farm Size and Productive Efficiency in Small-Holder Cassava Production in Ideato North LGA of Imo State

This study examined the relationship between farm size and technical efficiency in small holder cassava production in Ideato LGA of Imo state using data from a 2008 farm-level survey of 90 rural households. The study showed a strong inverse relationship between farm size and technical efficiency. Smaller farms are found to be more technically efficient, than larger farms. These results favour land redistribution policies targeted towards giving lands to the small-holder farmers. Policies of de-emphasizing cassava production in the estate sector while encouraging it in smallholdings will foster equity and efficiency

Estimation of global solar radiation using empirical models

The dearth of solar radiation data availability has necessitated the development of several mathematical models for estimating global solar radiation (GSR) of regions using the readily available meteorological data of the region. This study was centered on estimating the GSR of the Ihiala region in Sub-Saharan Africa using empirical models. For the last ten years, meteorological data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) were used. The sunshine-based equation, temperature-based equation, and multivariate polynomial equations were the empirical models employed to estimate the GSR of the region. The performance of the seven models was determined using statistical measures. From the results obtained, the seven models had their respective P-values all less than 5 % significant level for a confidence interval of 95 %. Thereby attesting their suitability for GSR estimation of the region is needed. Also, from the other statistical tools employed, the considered multivariate model had better estimation performance than the other models. Therefore, the considered multivariate model is suitable for estimating the GSR of the Ihiala region in Sub-Saharan Africa

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

The effect of different solvent polarity on the precipitation of heavy organics from a crude oil deposit in the Niger Delta

The precipitation of heavy organics (Saturates, Aromatics, Resins and Asphaltenes) from the Niger delta (Atan crude oil residue) was studied. Two C4 organic polar solvents (ethyl acetate and butanone) were used to investigate the effect of polarity of the precipitating solvents. The heavy organics precipitated from Antan crude residue were 3.34% and 3.76% for ethyl acetate and butanone respectively. Asphaltenes were precipitated from the heavy organic precipitates using n-C5 and n-C6 alkanes. Chromatographic separation and spectroscopic analysis of the deasphalted soluble filtrate were carried out. The results identified the presence of saturates, aromatics and resins in the C4 heavy organic precipitate.Key words: Heavy Organics, Precipitates, Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, Asphaltene

Occupational Stress in Dental Practice amongst Government-employed and Private Dental Practitioners in Eastern Nigeria: A comparative survey

Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the level of occupational stress amongst government-employed and private dental practitioners in eastern Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 62 questionnaires were randomly distributed among government-employed and private practicing dental surgeons with five years and above working experience in eastern Nigeria. The information collected included: years of practice; mode of remuneration; causes of stress during clinical practice; signs of onset of stress; reactions of individual practitioner during stress condition; and patient’s management during practitioner’s stressful moment. Fifty-seven questionnaires were returned anonymously representing 92% response rate, these were used in the data analysis. Results: Forty-two (73.3%) out of the 57 respondents were government employed dental practitioners while 15 (26.7%) were in full private practice. Thirty-three (78.5%) government-employed respondents, indicated patients’ management and type of clinical procedures as the main cause of their stress. Staff and practice management were the main cause of stress amongst all 15 respondents in full private practice. It was also observed that most dental surgeons (73.3%) in full private practice were affected by time pressure and environmental factor. Irritability and impatience was high (69%) among government-employed practitioners compared to (26.7%) among private practitioners. Conclusion: Our findings showed that private dental practitioners experience more stress in dental practice than government-dental practitioners in our environment. This could be explained in terms of time pressure, environmental factor and remunerations. This calls for an establishment of more government owned dental centers, government employment and good remuneration for dental surgeons to reduce the level of occupational stress in our daily dental practice. Keywords: Occupational stress; Dental practice; Government-employed and Private dental practitioners; Eastern Nigeri

Screening for risk factors of kidney disease in a rural population in delta state, Nigeria: a world kidney day 2012 study

Aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem.1 The prevalence of CKD is rising due to the rising prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors of CKD in Oghara community in Nigeria. Methods: Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara organised a free community screening for risk factors of CKD on the World Kidney Day, March 2012. Data was obtained using the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN) CKD data sheet. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, and dipstick urine examination were performed.Results: A total of 315 participants were screened. Majority (36.2%) of participants were young (mean age 37±13 years). Hypertension was detected in 16.8%, diabetes in 1.1%, and obesity in 8.8% of the participants. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly with increasing age (r=0.391, p=<0.0001 and r=0.280, p=<0.0001 respectively). Significant proteinuria (dipstick ≥ 1+) was detected in 29.4% of participants and 47.6% of participants with high blood sugar had significant proteinuria (p=0.021)Conclusion: Risk factors of CKD are common in the population studied, BP and BMI increased with age. Proteinuria was significantly more prevalent among patients with high blood sugar, compared to normal subjects.Keywords: Chronic kidney disease, risk factors, hypertension, proteinuria, Nigeri