A blueprint for agricultural development in Nigeria

Food is central to man’s development and its production at sustainable level must therefore be the pre-­‐ occupation of Governments in all nations. In Nigeria, several attempts have been made to address food and nutrition insecurity through such programmes like the National Accelerated Food Production Programme (NAFPP), Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), Green Revolution and the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) among others. The authors observed that in spite of the enormous prospects for agricultural development and food security in Nigeria, these intervention programmes have recorded little or no success considering the current rate of hunger, malnutrition, poverty and poor rural livelihood. With vast land area of about 98.3 million ha out of which 74 million ha is good for farming, Nigeria has very great potential for producing optimally in all aspects of agriculture including Crops, Livestock, forestry, Fisheries and wildlife. Yet in Nigeria today, there is pending food crisis tending towards famine, threat of hunger and poverty with a large proportion of the populace (70%) living on less than US1.00 a day, high youth unemployment as university graduates leave the system and find no work, rice and other food commodities are imported and the food production system is still largely peasantry with over 60% of the farmers working on small tracts of farmland (0.2 – 1 ha) in an inefficient manner. The question therefore is whether we still have hope for future agricultural production that will address and solve these issues. Measures suggested by the authors as sustainable solution include among others the effective utilisation of research findings which are locked up in many institutions, transformation and utilisation of agricultural education and extension services, increased budgetary allocation to agriculture, improved livestock and agricultural production strategies, provision of incentives to farmers, provision of Storage, Processing and irrigation technology, farmers accessibility to inputs and Micro Credit Schemes, establishment or reorganisation of Agricultural Trust Fund as well as the exposure of farmers to both local and foreign markets

Effect of Garlic (Allium sativum) oil inclusion on Nutrient Retention and Caeca Microbial Population of Broiler Chickens

 This study was carried to evaluate the “Effect of Garlic (Allium sativum) oil inclusion on nutrient digestibility and caeca microbial population of broiler chickens”. A total of 180 one- day-old (Arbo acre) broiler chicks of mixed sex purchased from a reputable hatchery was used in this study which lasted for eight (8) weeks. The birds were divided into four experimental groups; each group was further subdivided into three replicates of fifteen birds per each in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The garlic (Allum sativum) oil was added to the basal diet at (0.00, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 %) level respectively. The treatment were T1, T2, T3, and T4 with T1 serving as control. Parameters measured covered nutrient retention and caeca microbial population. The results on nutrient digestibility showed a significant difference (P<0.05) among the treatments. Percentage digestibility of crude protein and crude fibre was significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds fed 0.3% of garlic oil.&nbsp

ASSESSMENT OF Parkia biglobosa LEAF MEAL AS A PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR SOYBEAN MEAL IN BROILER CHICKEN DIETS

A six-week study was conducted to evaluate the potential of Parkia biglobosa leaf meal (PBLM) as a partial substitute for soybean meal in broiler chicken diets. A total of 120-day-old broiler chicks were allocated to four dietary treatments, each comprising 30 chicks, based on weight equalization. The study employed a completely randomized design with three replicates. Four diets were formulated, designated as diet 1 (0% PBLM - control), diet 2 (5% PBLM), diet 3 (10% PBLM), and diet 4 (15% PBLM). The growth performance parameters were significantly affected (P 0.05) among the treatment groups, although numerically higher were observed with increasing levels of PBLM in the diets. Liver function indicators were notably affected (P < 0.05) by the inclusion of leaf meal, showing improved values in chicks fed diets containing PBLM. With the exception of the 5% PBLM group, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels progressively decreased with increasing levels of PBLM in the diets, while the opposite trend was observed in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values. The study suggests that PBLM can serve as an alternative protein source in broiler chicken diets, particularly at a low level of inclusion (5%), without compromising the performance and health of the birds

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Global burden of 288 causes of death and life expectancy decomposition in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Regular, detailed reporting on population health by underlying cause of death is fundamental for public health decision making. Cause-specific estimates of mortality and the subsequent effects on life expectancy worldwide are valuable metrics to gauge progress in reducing mortality rates. These estimates are particularly important following large-scale mortality spikes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. When systematically analysed, mortality rates and life expectancy allow comparisons of the consequences of causes of death globally and over time, providing a nuanced understanding of the effect of these causes on global populations. Methods: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 cause-of-death analysis estimated mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) from 288 causes of death by age-sex-location-year in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations for each year from 1990 until 2021. The analysis used 56 604 data sources, including data from vital registration and verbal autopsy as well as surveys, censuses, surveillance systems, and cancer registries, among others. As with previous GBD rounds, cause-specific death rates for most causes were estimated using the Cause of Death Ensemble model—a modelling tool developed for GBD to assess the out-of-sample predictive validity of different statistical models and covariate permutations and combine those results to produce cause-specific mortality estimates—with alternative strategies adapted to model causes with insufficient data, substantial changes in reporting over the study period, or unusual epidemiology. YLLs were computed as the product of the number of deaths for each cause-age-sex-location-year and the standard life expectancy at each age. As part of the modelling process, uncertainty intervals (UIs) were generated using the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles from a 1000-draw distribution for each metric. We decomposed life expectancy by cause of death, location, and year to show cause-specific effects on life expectancy from 1990 to 2021. We also used the coefficient of variation and the fraction of population affected by 90% of deaths to highlight concentrations of mortality. Findings are reported in counts and age-standardised rates. Methodological improvements for cause-of-death estimates in GBD 2021 include the expansion of under-5-years age group to include four new age groups, enhanced methods to account for stochastic variation of sparse data, and the inclusion of COVID-19 and other pandemic-related mortality—which includes excess mortality associated with the pandemic, excluding COVID-19, lower respiratory infections, measles, malaria, and pertussis. For this analysis, 199 new country-years of vital registration cause-of-death data, 5 country-years of surveillance data, 21 country-years of verbal autopsy data, and 94 country-years of other data types were added to those used in previous GBD rounds. Findings: The leading causes of age-standardised deaths globally were the same in 2019 as they were in 1990; in descending order, these were, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lower respiratory infections. In 2021, however, COVID-19 replaced stroke as the second-leading age-standardised cause of death, with 94·0 deaths (95% UI 89·2–100·0) per 100 000 population. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the rankings of the leading five causes, lowering stroke to the third-leading and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to the fourth-leading position. In 2021, the highest age-standardised death rates from COVID-19 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa (271·0 deaths [250·1–290·7] per 100 000 population) and Latin America and the Caribbean (195·4 deaths [182·1–211·4] per 100 000 population). The lowest age-standardised death rates from COVID-19 were in the high-income super-region (48·1 deaths [47·4–48·8] per 100 000 population) and southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania (23·2 deaths [16·3–37·2] per 100 000 population). Globally, life expectancy steadily improved between 1990 and 2019 for 18 of the 22 investigated causes. Decomposition of global and regional life expectancy showed the positive effect that reductions in deaths from enteric infections, lower respiratory infections, stroke, and neonatal deaths, among others have contributed to improved survival over the study period. However, a net reduction of 1·6 years occurred in global life expectancy between 2019 and 2021, primarily due to increased death rates from COVID-19 and other pandemic-related mortality. Life expectancy was highly variable between super-regions over the study period, with southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania gaining 8·3 years (6·7–9·9) overall, while having the smallest reduction in life expectancy due to COVID-19 (0·4 years). The largest reduction in life expectancy due to COVID-19 occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean (3·6 years). Additionally, 53 of the 288 causes of death were highly concentrated in locations with less than 50% of the global population as of 2021, and these causes of death became progressively more concentrated since 1990, when only 44 causes showed this pattern. The concentration phenomenon is discussed heuristically with respect to enteric and lower respiratory infections, malaria, HIV/AIDS, neonatal disorders, tuberculosis, and measles. Interpretation: Long-standing gains in life expectancy and reductions in many of the leading causes of death have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the adverse effects of which were spread unevenly among populations. Despite the pandemic, there has been continued progress in combatting several notable causes of death, leading to improved global life expectancy over the study period. Each of the seven GBD super-regions showed an overall improvement from 1990 and 2021, obscuring the negative effect in the years of the pandemic. Additionally, our findings regarding regional variation in causes of death driving increases in life expectancy hold clear policy utility. Analyses of shifting mortality trends reveal that several causes, once widespread globally, are now increasingly concentrated geographically. These changes in mortality concentration, alongside further investigation of changing risks, interventions, and relevant policy, present an important opportunity to deepen our understanding of mortality-reduction strategies. Examining patterns in mortality concentration might reveal areas where successful public health interventions have been implemented. Translating these successes to locations where certain causes of death remain entrenched can inform policies that work to improve life expectancy for people everywhere. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

EFFECT OF FEEDING POLYLATHIA LONGIFOLIA LEAF MEAL AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF WHEAT OFFAL

This study examined some haematological and serum biochemical Indices of broiler chickens fed Polyalthia longifolia leaf meal (PLM) as partial replacement of wheat offal. A total number of 250 broiler chickens were used in the experiment which lasted for 8 weeks

Effects of dried water melon and sweet orange peel (dwmop) meal mixture on the haematological and serum indices of growing rabbits

The objective of the present study was to evaluate effects of dried water melon and sweet orange peel (dwmop) meal mixture on some haematological and serum indices of growing rabbits. A total of sixty rabbits 7-8 weeks old with an average weight of 630 – 645 g were randomly divided into five (5) dietary treatments with three (3) replicates and four rabbits per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The dietary treatments include a control diet with no DWMOP in (T1), T2 (5.0% DWMOP), T3 (10.0 % DWMOP), T4 (15.0 % DWMOP) and T5 (20.0 % DWMOP) respectively. Feed and water were offered ad libitum throughout the experiment which lasted for 12 weeks. Data obtained were used to evaluate the haematological parameters (PCV, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCH , MCHC, WBC and its differentials ), some serum biochemical indices (Albumin, globulin, total protein, creatinine, bilirubin, AST and ALT). All the haematological parameters measured were significantly (P˂0.05) different among the treatments. Total protein, bilirubin and creatinine values were not significantly (P˃0.05) influenced by DWMOP, however, glucose level and activities of ALP and AST were significantly (P˂0.05) affected by DWMOP. It was concluded that inclusion of DWMOP at 20 % in the diet of rabbits does not have any deleterious effect on the health status of the animal

EFFECT OF PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF SOYBEAN WITH MORINGA OLEIFERA (MORINGA) LEAF AND IPOMEA BATATA (SWEET POTATO) LEAF MEAL MIXTURE ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKEN

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the mixture of graded levels of Moringaoleifera and Ipomea batata Leaves Meal MOIBLM on the growth performance carcass quality as well as haematology and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens. A total of one hundred and eighty 180 day old Arbo acre broiler chickens were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments of forty five 45 birds each in a Completely Randomized Experimental Design CRD.&nbsp

Effect of Dietary supplementation of Garlic (Allium sativum) oil on the Growth Performance, Carcass Quality and Cost Implication of Broiler Chickens

This experiment was carried to evaluate the “Effect of dietary supplementation of Garlic (Allium sativum) oil on carcass quality, growth performance and cost implication of broiler chickens”. A total of 180 day–old- (Arboacre) broiler chicks of mixed sex was used in this study which lasted for eight (8) weeks. The birds were divided into four experimental groups; each group was further subdivided into three replicates of fifteen birds per each in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The birds were fed on two basal diets (Starter and finisher) throughout the experimental period. The garlic oil (Allum sativum) was added to the basal diet at (0.00, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3%) level respectively. The treatments were T1, T2, T3, and T4 with T1 serving as control. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, and cost implication were recorded. At the end of the experiment, the birds were slaughtered, dressed to estimate the different parameters. The result showed that the diet with 0.3% garlic oil inclusion had significantly (P&lt;0.5) higher body weight and best dressing percentage compared with the control treatment (0. 0%).Garlic oil inclusion reduced the mortality rate of the birds as well as productivity. The results on cost implication of the experiment diets indicated that, the diet with 0.3% level of garlic oil has the highest profitability ratio as compared to other treatment groups. This is be due to the higher weight gains recorded by the group of chicken

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Melon (Citrallus Lanatus) Seed Oil on the Growth Performance and Antioxidant Status of Growing Rabbits

This study was carried out to determine effect of dietary supplementation of melon (Citrallus lanatus) seed oil (WMO) on the growth performance and immune response of growing rabbits. Thirty six (36), 5-6 weeks weaner rabbit of mixed breed and sex with an average weight of 435 g – 438 grams were randomly divided into four (4) treatments of nine rabbits per group and each rabbit served as a replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The experiment lasted for 12 weeks and all other management practices were strictly observed. Basal diet was formulated according to the nutrient requirements of rabbit according to NRC (1977). Treatment (T1) were fed basal diet with 0 % WMO, T2, T3 and T4 were fed basal diet supplemented with WMO at 0.2 %, 0.4 % and 0.6 % respectively. Results obtained were used to examine the average daily weight gain (ADWG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed: gain, mortality, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malonyldialdehyde (MLA). ADWG, feed: gain and mortality were significantly different (P˂0.05) among the treatments. ADFI increased as the level of WMO increases, though not at a significant level (P˃0.05). Highest mortality was recorded among animals in T1 (1.00 %), none was recorded in the other treatments (P˂0.05). Activities of SOD, GST, GSH and MLA were significantly (P˃0.05) influenced by WMO. It was concluded that dietary supplementation of WMO up to 0.6 % enhanced growth performance, improved feed: gain and had no negative effect on the antioxidant parameters of rabbits, it is safe and could be used to bridge the gap between food safety and production