Poverty alleviation strategies of fishermen and women in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria

This study analyzed the poverty alleviation strategies employed by fishermen and women in Lagos and Ogun States of Nigeria. A total of 215 fishermen and women were randomly selected from Lagos and Ogun states Agricultural Development Programmes (125 and 90 respectively). This sample includes members and non - members of fishing cooperatives in the areas. More than half of the respondents (55%) had low alleviation score while only 10.3 percent had high scores. The poverty alleviation strategies employed by respondents are credit based that is joining Esusu groups engaging in daily contribution and borrowing from friends. The respondents' need for credit as well as their poverty levels were adduced for these. The respondents also engaged in several income generating activities as a poverty alleviation strategies, while person moment correlation co-efficient indicated a significant relationship between respondents poverty alleviation strategies and age (r = 0.02, p < 0.05). Significant relationship however existed between respondent's poverty alleviation strategies and gender (2 = 13.14, p 0.05). This study has identified the level of use of poverty alleviation strategies by fishermen and women in Lagos and Ogun States, thus the poverty alleviation strategies scores can be employed to develop meaningful packages to meet their needs. (Af J Livestock Extension: 2002 1: 42-46

Constraints to poverty alleviation among fishermen and women in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria

This study was conducted in Lagos and Ogun States. Attention was focussed on the constraints to poverty alleviation among the fishermen and women. A total of two hundred and fifteen (215) fishermen and women were surveyed from Lagos and Ogun States Agricultural Development Programmes (125 and 90 respectively). The fishermen and women were categorized into cooperators and non- cooperators to capture difference in the constraints level. The findings show that Constraints to poverty alleviation strategies are not only technical but also sociological, economic and political. Spearman rho correlation co-efficient showed a significant relationship between poverty alleviation strategies and lack of technical expertise, (r = 0.44, p 0.05), political instability (r = 0.09, p > 0.05) and unstable climate and tides (r = 0.06, p > 0.05). The paper concluded with recommendations on how to overcome the constraints and improve the poverty alleviation in the study area. (Af J Livestock Extension: 2002 1: 5-10

Availability of water for domestic, agricultural industrial uses and implications for sustainable development.

This paper examines that the water sources in the country needs protection so as to safeguard the many lives that depend on them and avoid leaving unhealthy legacy for our future generation. Urgent recording is therefore required in the water quality and environmental monitoring so as to forestall disaster. However, it is necessary that sustainable development of the nation's water resources be fitted into a general scheme of environmental conservation. It must include adequate attention to proper land conservation in the watershed areas. In addition, the poor manpower situation of the water agencies can be addressed through a review of government policy and regulation that puts water in the social sector of the economy. This will give the water agencies greater freedom in commercializing vital aspects of their operations and services and thus ensure sustainable use of water sources. [JEXT Vol.3 2002: 28-32

Factors associated with adoption of improved rabbit management practices and its implication on household food and nutrition security in Osun State

The study was undertaken to identify factors affecting the adoption of improved rabbit management practices and its implication on household food security in Ogun State, Nigeria. A structured interview schedule was utilized in obtaining information from one hundred and seventy eight (178) respondents. Data were analyzed using percentages, multiple regression and factor analysis. The stock, vaccination, deworming, use of kindling box and use of pellet plus forages for feeding were most adopted. Males dominate the production of rabbits in the study area. It equally revealed that age, education and years of experience significantly influences adoption of improved rabbit management practices. They were: “Economic factors”, ‘Nutritional factor” and “Housing factors”. It was therefore recommended that effort should be intensified by extension agents in encouraging and motivating rabbit keepers to increase their stock and adopt more rabbit innovations. Micro credit opportunities should be provided for rabbit keepers at a moderate of interest. This will undoubtedly increase rabbit production and ensure adequate nutrition for every household through protein consumption. Thereby enabling developing countries like Nigeria to attain household food and nutritional self-sufficiency. (Af. J. of Livestock Extension: 2003 2: 47-53

A comparative study of albendazole and levamisole treatment of nematodes in cattle

The treatment of gastrointestinal nematodes using albendazole and levamisole was monitored in a herd of cattle following a poor state of health and maintenance of high faecal strongyle egg count after repeated therapeutic treatment with albendazole. Thirty-six animals were selected and randomly divided into three groups. Animals in groups A and B were treated orally with albendazole and levamisole respectively at a dose rate of 7.5 mg/kg body weight, while those in group C were left untreated. The faecal egg count reduction (FECR) test was used in assessing anthelmintic efficacy. Animals treated with albendazole had 67.38% reduction in faecal egg counts while those treated with levamisole had 96.10% reduction. Albendazole resistance was confirmed in this study. Haemonchus contortus larvae were cultured out of the post treatment faecal samples. Key words: Cattle, Albendazole, Levamisole, Nematodes. (Af J Livestock Extension: 2002: 47-49

A comparative study of alternative treatments of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goat

A combination of husbandry and medical management was attempted in controlling an outbreak of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goat. The animals were randomly grouped into four. Warmth at night and supplementary grain/concentrate feeding were provided for all the animals. Animals in group A, treated with Tylosin®, 1.5% Levamisole® and Vitamin B complex® had survival rate of 12.5% and 25% for goats and sheep respectively. Animals in group B, treated with Tridioxin®, 1.5% Levamisole® and Vitamin B complex® also had survival rate of 12.5 % and 25% for goats and sheep respectively. Animals in group C treated with Tylosin®, Tridioxin®, 1.5% Levamisole® and Vitamin B complex® had 25% and 66.7% survival rate for goats and sheep respectively. All untreated animals in group D died. The clinical response in this study is fair and may be applied in management when Tissue Culture Rinderpest Vaccine is not available. Key words: Sheep, Goat, PPR, Alternative treatment. (Af J of Livestock Extension: 1; 2002; pp.1-4

Adsorption of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution by novel biomass Eucalyptus sheathiana bark: equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamics and mechanism

This study was undertaken to evaluate the adsorption potential of a naturally available, cost-effective, raw eucalyptus bark (EB) (Eucalyptus sheathiana) biomass, to remove organic methylene blue (MB) dye from its aqueous solutions. Effects of various process parameters such as initial dye concentration, adsorbent loading, solution pH, temperature, presence of salts, mixture of dyes and surfactant onto MB dye adsorption by bark material were studied. Significant effect on adsorption was witnessed on varying the pH of the MB solutions. Results showed that the optimum pH lies between 7.4 and 10.0. The extent (%) of MB adsorption from aqueous solution decreased with the increase in the initial MB dye concentration, but increased with rise in temperature. The extent of MB dye adsorption was found to be enhanced due to increase of salts concentration. This is because of salting-out-effect, which comprises the changes of various short range forces.The overall kinetic studies showed that the MB dye adsorption by EB biomass followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The mechanism of MB dye adsorption was analysed by intra-particle diffusion model and desorption study. Free energy change of adsorption (ΔG°), enthalpy change (ΔH°) and entropy change (ΔS°) were calculated to predict the nature of adsorption. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm model yields a better correlation coefficient than the Freundlich model and the dimensionless separation factor “RL” indicated favourable adsorption process. The maximum Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity of raw EB for MB dye was found to be 204.08 mg/g at 30°C. A single-stage batch adsorber design for MB dye adsorption onto EB biomass has been presented based on the Langmuir isotherm model equation. The results obtained in this study suggest a promising future for inexpensive raw EB biomass as a novel adsorbent and a better alternative to activated carbon adsorbent used for the removal of MB dye from dye bearing effluents