Effects of Different Strategies Adopted by Rural Women on their Food Security in Oyo State

The study assessed the effects of different strategies adopted by rural women on their food securityin Oyo State. Multistage sampling procedure was adopted for this research work. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binomial logit model. Majority (93.5 percent) of the sampled women were married, while 6.5 percent of them were widowed. The mean age was 49 years. Backyard farming (= -1.000333343) had a negative but significant relationship to household food insecurity while reduction of meals (= 1.312270792) had a positive and significant relationship to household food insecurity. It was recommended that, program aimed at reducing poverty should be implemented in other to ensure that households were able to afford adequate mealsalso; backyard farming should be encouraged among rural women

Antimicrobial Activities of Some Nigerian Chewing Sticks

The antimicrobial activities of the ethanolic extracts of three Nigerian chewing sticks, namely, Terminalia glaucescens, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Pseudocedrela kotschyi were investigated. Results from this study showed that the antimicrobial activities of the tested chewing sticks vary and are target-microbe specific. Of the tested chewing sticks, A. leiocarpus showed a significantly higher antibacterial activity (P\u3c0.05) against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes; and this was closely followed by T. glaucescens, while P. kotschyi virtually had no activity against these two organisms. However, the activity of T. glaucescens against Streptococcus mutans was significantly higher (P\u3c0.05) than that exhibited by A. leiocarpus. The extracts of the three chewing sticks had no activity against Candida albicans. The antibacterial activities of these two potent chewing sticks made them suitable for better dental care

Market level characteristic factors influencing smallholder coffee marketers in Kogi State, Nigeria

The study assessed the market level characteristic factors influencing coffee marketing among coffee farmers in the study area. The study was carried out in Kogi State and purposive sampling technique was used to select eighty four respondents. Data were collected from the respondents with the use of structured questionnaire and the data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages) as well as multi-variate regression analysis. Result of the descriptive analysis shows that the mean age of the farmers was 64 years while 60% of the farmers had no access to formal education. Regression analysis revealed that farm size, variety of coffee, marketing channels, trading experience, membership of association, price satisfaction and selling method constituted major characteristic marketing factors influencing coffee marketing in the study area and they all affected coffee marketing at 1% significant level. Based on the findings, the study therefore recommended that efforts should be made to assess variety of coffee that is more preferred by the buyers. Also, farmers should be given incentives to increase their farm holdings for higher productivity

Market level characteristic factors influencing smallholder coffee marketers in Kogi State, Nigeria

The study assessed the market level characteristic factors influencing coffee marketing among coffee farmers in the study area. The study was carried out in Kogi State and purposive sampling technique was used to select eighty four respondents. Data were collected from the respondents with the use of structured questionnaire and the data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages) as well as multi-variate regression analysis. Result of the descriptive analysis shows that the mean age of the farmers was 64 years while 60% of the farmers had no access to formal education. Regression analysis revealed that farm size, variety of coffee, marketing channels, trading experience, membership of association, price satisfaction and selling method constituted major characteristic marketing factors influencing coffee marketing in the study area and they all affected coffee marketing at 1% significant level. Based on the findings, the study therefore recommended that efforts should be made to assess variety of coffee that is more preferred by the buyers. Also, farmers should be given incentives to increase their farm holdings for higher productivity

Gender Inequality in Academia: A Spatial Analysis of Selected Tertiary Institutions in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Gender inequality is a situation whereby females do not have equal rights, opportunities, responsibilities and access to services as males. This paper presents reasons for gender imbalance among academic members of staff in three selected tertiary institutions in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study identified the number of males as against females in academia; examined the perception of respondents on the causes of gender inequality in academia; assessed the various way to encourage young women academics; evaluated the challenges facing females in academia; and the benefits derived from female participation in academia. A total number of 194 respondents comprising 101 male and 93 female academic members of staff were purposively sampled in three tertiary institutions in Ilorin. These institutions represent 50% of government tertiary institutions at different levels in Ilorin. The institutions included Kwara State College of Education, Kwara State Polytechnic and University of Ilorin. Percentages, mean, Likert scale and chi-square were employed to analyse the gathered data. The results revealed that there are more male (76.1%) than female (23.9%) academic staff in the sampled institutions. The major perceived factor that causes imbalance is inadequate qualification by females due to tradition and poverty with a mean value of 4.30. The hypothesis tested confirmed that there is gender imbalance in academia. Also, 48.4% women listed family responsibilities as the most pressing challenge facing them as academia. Hence, proper education through seminars and workshops among communities to educate people on the benefits of female gender education and employment in academia is necessary.DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v05i02.0

Thermal and pressure stability of myrosinase enzymes from black mustard (Brassica nigra L. W.D.J Koch. var. nigra), brown mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern. var. juncea) and yellow mustard (Sinapsis alba L. Subsp Maire) seeds

This study investigates the effects of temperature and pressure on inactivation of myrosinase extracted from black, brown and yellow mustard seeds. Brown mustard had higher myrosinase activity (2.75 un/mL) than black (1.50 un/mL) and yellow mustard (0.63 un/mL). The extent of enzyme inactivation increased with pressure (600-800 MPa) and temperature (30-70 °C) for all the mustard seeds. However, at combinations of lower pressures (200-400 MPa) and high temperatures (60-80 °C), there was less inactivation. For example, application of 300 MPa and 70 °C for 10 minutes retained 20%, 80% and 65% activity in yellow, black and brown mustard, respectively, whereas the corresponding activity retentions when applying only heat (70 °C, 10min) were 0%, 59% and 35%. Thus, application of moderate pressures (200-400 MPa) can potentially be used to retain myrosinase activity needed for subsequent glucosinolate hydrolysis

Geoelectric Investigation Of Araromi Area Of Akure, Southwestern Nigeria

Geoelectric resistivity sounding has been carried out at Araromi area, Akure, southwest Nigeria, an area underlain by Basement complex rocks. Eighteen wenner vertical electrical sounding were carried out along six traverses. Three geologic units which are Topsoil/Laterite, weathered Basement and fresh Basement were identified. Isopach, corrosivity, total longitudinal conductance, iso-resistivity and coefficient of anisotropy maps were generated from the combination of the first and second order geoelectric parameters. Isopach map of overburden revealed bedrock depressions, which serve  as groundwater collection center. The longitudinal conductance map enabled the classification of the area into zones of good (0.7-1.0),moderate (0.2-0.65) an weak protective capacity(0.15).The results not only reasonably provide a basis for which groundwater potential zones were appraised for safety in case industrial facilities are planned for the area but also present environmental factors that should be considered at planning stages of residential and industrial estates. Key words:Geoelectric,Resistivity,Sounding,Parameters,Basement,groundwater,Environmental

Effect of Climate Change on Groundwater Resources in South West, Nigeria

This study examined the impact of climate change on groundwater resources of the south-western region of Nigeria. First, chronological climate (meteorological) and geological and hydrogeological data of Ondo State the various catchment areas within the region which spanned over a period of 30 years (1982 – 2012) were analyzed with a  view to determine whether there has been any climate change in the study area. The Meteorological data such as rainfall and temperature were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency located in Lagos, while the hydrogeological data such as borehole yield were collected from Benin-Owena river basin in Ondo state. For each location, the graphs of Rainfall versus Month and Maximum Temperature (Tmax), Minimum Temperature (Tmin) versus Month were plotted as a means of obviating the probable change in climate. It was discovered that there was a slight increase in both rainfall and the mean temperature 2% - 8% and 0.10 c – 0.70 c respectively. Thus climate change was observed as a result of increase in the average yearly rainfall and mean temperature. The effect was concluded as not pronounced or significant on the groundwater after all the analyses and studies. Keywords: groundwater, climate change, temperature, rainfall, south-western, Nigeria

Evaluation of FAO-56 Penman-Monteith and Temperature Based Models in Estimating Reference Evapotranspiration Using Complete and Limited Data, Application to Nigeria

Accurate determination of reference evapotranspiration is very essential for precise computation of crop water use. Several models have been used in computing reference evapotranspiration and they require local calibration in order to validate their usage. Climatic data used in computing reference evapotranspiration (ETo) for Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and Itoikin were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Station (NIMET), Lagos Nigeria. For Abeokuta, complete climatic data were used in the computation of the ETo while limited climatic data were used in computing ETo for Ijebu-Ode and Itoikin using FAO-56 Penman-Monteith (FAO-56 PM), Jensen-Haise and Hargreaves models. In Abeokuta, the average coefficients of determination R2 obtained when ETo computed using Jensen-Haise and Hargreaves models were compared with FAO-56 PM model were 0.7914 and 0.5158 respectively. The average Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) obtained between Jensen-Haise, Hargreaves and FAO-56 PM models were 1.03 and 1.79 mmd-1 respectively. The index of agreement between pan evaporation and FAO-56 PM, Jensen-Haise and Hargreaves models were 0.56, 0.71 and 0.52 respectively. The average R2 of the ETo computed using  and temperature for FAO-56 PM and Jensen-Haise were 0.6784 and 0.8488 respectively. For Ijebu-Ode, the average R2 when Jensen-Haise, Hargreaves were compared with FAO-56 PM model were 0.9908, 0.9907 respectively. The average RMSEs between FAO-56 PM, Jensen-Haise and Hargreaves were 2.51 and 0.87 mmd-1 respectively while the index of agreement between FAO-56 PM, Jensen-Haise and Hargreaves models were 0.49, 0.88 and 0.54 respectively. Similarly for Itoikin, the average R2 obtained when Jensen-Haise and Hargreaves model were compared with FAO-56 PM were 0.9754 and 0.9557 respectively. The average RMSEs obtained between FAO-56 PM and Jensen-Haise and Hargreaves models were 2.50 and 0.89 mmd-1 respectively while the index of agreement between pan evaporation and FAO-56PM, Jensen-Haise and Hargreaves models were 0.28, 0.61 and 0.34 respectively. It is hereby recommended that beside FAO-56PM model, Jensen-Haise model is also recommended for the computation of ETo in situations where only maximum and minimum temperatures are available in Ogun-Osun River basin