DETERMINANTS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND EXPANSION IN NIGERIA: APPLICATION OF ERROR CORRECTION MODELING (ECM)

This study used an ECM to analyze the determinants of agricultural land expansion in Nigeria. Results show that at first differencing, Augmented Dickey Fuller test indicated stationarity for all the variables (p< 0.05) and there were 7 cointegrating vectors using Johansen test. The dynamic unrestricted short-run parameters of permanent cropland growth rates (68.62), agricultural production index (10.23), livestock population (0.003), human population (-0.145), other land (-0.265) and cereal cropland growth rate (0.621) have significant impact on agricultural land expansion (p< 0.05). The study recommended that appropriate policies to address the problem of expansion of agricultural land and agricultural production must focus on development of cereal and permanent crop hybrids that are high yielding and resistant to environmental stress, human population control and guided use of land for industrial and urban development, among others

DETERMINANTS OF AWARENESS AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR MORINGA LEAVE AS VEGETABLE IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

Moringa oleifera is a nutritious tree plant that has several uses. Moringa leaves contain Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Potassium, and it has good quality protein.&nbsp; Moringa leave could be used in treating malnutrition. It also contains antioxidants which could help in treating certain diseases. This study examined the factors influencing awareness and willingness to pay for moringa. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting the respondents.&nbsp; Data were analyzed using Recursive Bivariate Probit Model. The result shows that mean age of respondents was 44 years and the mean household size was 5. The result further revealed that 80.5 percent of the respondents were aware of moringa while 80.1 percent were willing to pay for moringa. The result of the model of awareness of moringa revealed that awareness increases willingness to pay for moringa (p&lt;0.01). The factors that influences awareness were age and occupation of the respondents, knowledge of the nutritive benefits of moringa, perception of respondents that moringa vegetable is too expensive and respondents preference for other vegetable while the factors that influences willingness to pay for moringa were occupation of the respondents, knowledge of other uses of moringa, respondents perception that moringa vegetable is sweet,&nbsp; non availability of fresh moringa vegetable and respondents preference for other vegetable. There is need to increase the awareness of nutritive benefits of moringa vegetable and encourage the availability of fresh moringa foe sale in the local markets. &nbsp

Assessment of farm households’ vulnerability to climate change in the Niger delta region of Nigeria

Climate change is currently an emerging problem in Nigeria. The Niger Delta region presents some vulnerability due to activities of some oil companies. This study provides an assessment of farm households’ perception of climate change and vulnerability in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The data were obtained form 381 households that were randomly selected from 3 States in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The descriptive and Probit regression analytical methods were used. Results showed that only 20.21 percent of the farmers claimed to be adversely affected by climate change in the form of increased temperature, increased rainfall, delayed rainfall and deforestation. Farming households considered themselves vulnerable to climate change due to the nature of their primaryoccupation and lack of the required capital and skill for income diversification. In order to cope, majority of the respondents have resorted into weather monitoring, crop rotation and mixed farming. Also, results show that vulnerability tends to increase among those farmers that have land kept under fallowing, more livestock land, land problem, land conflict and recently sold land. It was recommended that efforts to sensitize the farmers on climate change and training on appropriate means of weather monitoring are required to reduce the negative effects of climate change, among others.Key words: Climate - change - Vulnerability, perception - Niger Delt

Extension users’ view on alternative sources of fund for extension services in Ogun state

Extension services in Nigeria have been faced with daunting challenges which affect the quality of service delivery. Among these challenges is the issue of funding hence, this study assessed the views of end users of agricultural extension services in Ogun state about sources of alternative funding. Fifty two small-scale farmers and 15 private farms were randomly selected and information elicited through an interview guide. The information collected was analyzed mainly using descriptive analytical tools such as frequency, mean and percentages. The results of the analysis shows that 86.5% of the small scale farmers are male with low level of education but have been farming for above 15 years and farm on less than 2 Ha of land while the private farms have been practising for less than 15 years with only 20% farming on above 15 Ha. The major source of funding extension presently is from the state government while other possible sources of funding identified include donor agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, joint financing through Public-Private-Partnership and the farmers themselves. Also, 82.7% of the farmers and 60% of the private farms are willing to pay for extension services with an annual mean price of N6,755 and N24,455 respectively. The constraints facing extension financing identified are sourcing and management related issues. The study therefore recommends the commercialization of extension services thus allowing the government to regulate activities and enhance commitment of all stakeholders. Keywords: extension services, alternative source, funding, agricultural extension, farmer

Developmental Problems and Challenges of New Multi-Campus University Libraries: The Osun State University Library Experience.

This paper discusses the developmental problems and challenges of new multi-campus University Libraries with focus on Osun State University Library. Data for the study was collected through direct observations, extensive review of the University publications, speeches by pioneer Principal Officers of the University, records from the Corporate Affair Office of the University and interviews (with pioneer staff of the Library). It identifies lack of administrative head, heavy financial burden, libraries that are scattered in different towns that are kilometers apart, inadequate staff, duplication of vital library resources, problem of interconnectivity, and inoperability of some good policies as problems confronting multi-campus university libraries. It concludes that the problems notwithstanding, multi-campus university libraries are forging ahead as result of goodwill of the management of the university, sheer determination and dedication of staff members. It recommends that the proprietors of multi-campus university libraries should always get qualified university librarians for their libraries from the onset; that libraries and Library administrators should guide against actions that may make them lose good staff; and that they should be ready to support the libraries in terms of funding. Key words: university libraries, multi-campus university libraries, Osun state, developmental problems and challenges

Performance Modelling of Steam Turbine Performance using Fuzzy Logic Membership Functions

A Fuzzy Inference System for predicting the performance of steam turbinebased on Rankine cycle is developed using a 144-rule based in analyzing the generated data for different inlet and outlet conditions. The result of efficiency for different types of membership functions and defuzzification method was obtained. Centroid method of defuzzification gave good results irrespective of the type of membership function with error less than 5%. However, other defuzzification methods gave good result for some types of membership functions. Result of different input data tested do not vary significantly (P&lt;&lt;0.05). It can therefore be concluded that Fuzzy logic can be used to effectively predict performance of a steam turbine. ©JASE

Multi-objective thermo-economic optimization of biomass retrofit for an existing solar organic Rankine cycle power plant based on NSGA-II

Non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) was deployed in this paper for multi-objective thermo-economic optimization of biomass retrofit for an existing solar organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power plant. The existing plant consists of a field of linear Fresnel collectors (LFC), integrated directly with two-tank thermal energy storage (TES) system, which interfaces with ORC power block. The real solar-ORC plant currently runs at Ottana, Italy, albeit with some technical challenges basically due to inconsistent availability of solar irradiation. In order to upgrade the plant, a novel scheme had been proposed to install a biomass unit in parallel to the solar field, such that both LFC/TES and biomass furnace could directly and independently satisfy fractional thermal input requirement of the ORC. Being a retrofit system, existing design parameters of all the already operating units were imposed as equality constraints in this study, and the combustion excess air, as well as pinch point temperature difference of furnace heat exchangers that optimize the hybrid plant were investigated. Results showed that biomass mass flow rate of 0.133 kg/s and investment cost rate of 57 €/h are optimal for the studied biomass retrofit scheme. At this optimum point, excess air was obtained as 56%, furnace heater pinch point temperature difference as 28.8 °C and air pre-heater pinch point temperature difference as 38.5 °C. More generally, results showed that excess air value of less than 100%, furnace heater pinch point temperature difference of less than 80 °C, and air pre-heater pinch point temperature difference of less than 80 °C would optimize the studied biomass retrofit scheme. Keywords: Solar-Biomass power plant, Organic Rankine cycle, Hybrid renewable energy, Multi-objective optimization, Non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), Power plant retrofi

An Augmented Cobb-Douglas Production Function Modeling of the Impact of Climate Change on Maize Yields in Ethiopia

Climate change remains a major problem confronting agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. Maize and some other cereal crops are susceptible to climatic parameters. This study analyzed the impacts of some climatic variables on the yields of maize crops in Ethiopia using the 1981-2018 dataset. Maize production in Ethiopia is adversely affected by climate change. The augmented Cobb-Douglas Production function was used for data analyses. The results showed that the parameters of long-season rainfall, short-season rainfall, and mean maximum temperature show a negative sign and are statistically significant (p<0.05). In contrast, the minimum temperature shows a positive sign. In addition, the parameters of the quantity of fertilizer and improved seed used in maize production have a positive and significant impact on the yields of maize (p<0.10). However, the land area's elasticity coefficient shows a negative and statistically significant sign. It was concluded that changes in climatic parameters, such as an increase in short-season and long-season rainfall and an increase in maximum temperature, would reduce maize productivity. Therefore, utilizing effective climate change adaptation measures promises to enhance maize productivity in Ethiopia

Thermocline vs. two-tank direct thermal storage system for concentrating solar power plants: A comparative techno-economic assessment

This paper concerns the ongoing studies on a Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in operation in Ottana (Italy), comprising a 629 kW organic Rankine cycle (ORC) unit fed by a linear Fresnel solar field. Hexamethyldisiloxane (MM) and “Therminol SP-I” are used respectively as ORC working fluid and heat transfer fluid in the solar receivers. A two-tank direct Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system is currently integrated in the CSP plant, serving as a direct interface between solar field and ORC. With the view of improving the solar facility, two alternative TES configurations were proposed in this study: a one-tank packed-bed TES system using silica as solid storage media and another similar one including encapsulated phase-change material (molten salt). Comprehensive mathematical models were developed for simulating daily behaviour as well as for assessing yearly performance of the various TES technologies. Furthermore, a preliminary economic analysis was carried out. Results showed poorer response of the one-tank TES system to large fluctuations in the ORC inlet fluid temperature, leading to reduction in the mean ORC efficiency (18.2% as against 19.7% obtained with the two-tank TES). Conversely, higher energy storage density and lower thermal losses were obtained adopting the one-tank TES, resulting in about 5% more annual solar energy yield. Invariably, equivalent annual ORC energy production of 0.92 GWh/year was obtained for the three TES configurations. Additionally, adopting a one-tank TES system meant that the purchase costs of a second tank and its storage medium (thermal oil) could be saved, resulting in investment costs about 45% lower and, ultimately, levelized cost of storage about 48% lower than what obtains in the two-tank TES system

Impacts of renewable energy resources on effectiveness of grid‐integrated systems: succinct review of current challenges and potential solution strategies

This study is aimed at a succinct review of practical impacts of grid integration of renewable energy systems on effectiveness of power networks, as well as often employed state‐of-the‐art solution strategies. The renewable energy resources focused on include solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy and geothermal energy, as well as renewable hydrogen/fuel cells, which, although not classified purely as renewable resources, are a famous energy carrier vital for future energy sustainability. Although several world energy outlooks have suggested that the renewable resources available worldwide are sufficient to satisfy global energy needs in multiples of thousands, the different challenges often associated with practical exploitation have made this assertion an illusion to date. Thus, more research efforts are required to synthesize the nature of these challenges as well as viable solution strategies, hence, the need for this review study. First, brief overviews are provided for each of the studied renewable energy sources. Next, challenges and solution strategies associated with each of them at generation phase are discussed, with reference to power grid integration. Thereafter, challenges and common solution strategies at the grid/electrical interface are discussed for each of the renewable resources. Finally, expert opinions are provided, comprising a number of aphorisms deducible from the review study, which reveal knowledge gaps in the field and potential roadmap for future research. In particular, these opinions include the essential roles that renewable hydrogen will play in future energy systems; the need for multi‐sectoral coupling, specifically by promoting electric vehicle usage and integration with renewable‐based power grids; the need for cheaper energy storage devices, attainable possibly by using abandoned electric vehicle batteries for electrical storage, and by further development of advanced thermal energy storage systems (overviews of state‐of‐the‐art thermal and electrochemical energy storage are also provided); amongst others