Application of the Stochastic Production Frontier to the Measurement of Technical Efficiency of Fish Farming in Umuahia Metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria

The study examined the factors that affect fish production among fish farmers who use pond for their fish production in Umuahia Metropolis, Abia State. Thirty six respondents were sampled from a list of fish farmers derived from Abia State Agricultural Development Programme Office. The Cob Douglas stochastic production function was used to determine factors that affect fish production as well as the factors that affect the technical efficiency of fish production. Pond size (p=0.05), capital input (p=0.01), labour input (p=0.05) and fertilizer used (p=0.05) were the major factors that determined fish production while species of fish stocked (p=0.1), number of ponds (p=0.1), distance (p=0.1) and educational status (p=0.1) determined the technical efficiency of fish production. The mean technical efficiency of fish production by use of pond in Abia State, Nigeria is 62%, implying that there are yet about 38% of chances for improvement on the technical efficiency of production. Given the existing technology of the fish producers, proper management that bears in mind the use of improved fish species, maintenance of number of ponds and increased education of the fish producers on current techniques of production are policy measures that could help improve on the technical efficiency of fish production in the study area.Keywords: Fish production, Frontier, Technical efficiency, Pond, Factors, Abia Stat

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Among Rural Primary School Children in Southeastern Nigeria: Comparison of School and Home Settings

Background: Diagnosis of ADHD depends on manifestation of symptoms in at least two different settings. This therefore emphasizes the importance of multiple informants, parents and teachers. However perception could differ because of differences and inconsistencies across different settings. This is particularly important in rural settings in Africa where the educational  attainment and outlook of teachers are very different from those of the parents. The study is aimed at comparing the presentations of children with ADHD in the rural area, across two different settings: home and school.Methods: The teachers of 181 rural primary school children in Ogberuru in Imo state, south eastern, Nigeria completed the school version of ADHD rating scale-IV, and their parents completed a Socio demographic questionnaire and the home versions of the ADHD rating scale-IV.Results: Of the 18 symptoms of the condition, there were significant differences in the rate of identification in eight symptoms. These symptoms include ‘being easily distracted’ (p=0.0427), ‘difficulty following through on instruction’ (p=0.0026), ‘fails to give close attention to details (p=0.0001), ‘avoids tasks necessary for tasks’ (p=0.0013), ‘difficulty playing quietly (p=0.0059 ) , ‘talks excessively’ (p=0.0023), ‘intrudes on others’ (p=0.0004), and ‘seems not to listen when spoken to directly’ (p=0.0002). They were all consistently more manifest in school settings than in their homes.Conclusion: Teachers identified ADHD symptoms more commonly than parents. They could therefore play critical roles in programs aimed at improving early identification and management of children with ADHD especially in rural Africa where healthcare facilities are scarce

Population Genetics of Streptococcus dysgalactiae Subspecies equisimilis Reveals Widely Dispersed Clones and Extensive Recombination

Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) is an emerging global pathogen that can colonize and infect humans. Although most SDSE isolates possess the Lancefield group G carbohydrate, a significant minority have the group C carbohydrate. Isolates are further sub-typed on the basis of differences within the emm gene. To gain a better understanding of their molecular epidemiology and evolutionary relationships, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis was performed on SDSE isolates collected from Australia, Europe and North America.The 178 SDSE isolates, representing 37 emm types, segregate into 80 distinct sequence types (STs) that form 17 clonal complexes (CCs). Eight STs recovered from all three continents account for >50% of the isolates. Thus, a small number of STs are highly prevalent and have a wide geographic distribution. Both ST and CC strongly correlate with group carbohydrate. In contrast, eleven STs were associated with >1 emm type, suggestive of recombinational replacements involving the emm gene; furthermore, 35% of the emm types are associated with genetically distant STs. Data also reveal a history of extensive inter- and intra-species recombination involving the housekeeping genes used for MLST. Sequence analysis of single locus variants identified through goeBURST indicates that genetic change mediated by recombination occurred approximately 4.4 times more frequently than by point mutation.A few genetic lineages with an intercontinental distribution dominate among SDSE causing infections in humans. The distinction between group C and G isolates reflects recent evolution, and no long-term genetic isolation between them was found. Lateral gene transfer and recombination involving housekeeping genes and the emm gene are important mechanisms driving genetic variability in the SDSE population

Impacts of macro-economic and goverment policies on Nigeria's agricultural sector

This study examined the impacts of macro-economic and government expenditure policies on Nigeria's agriculture sector for the period, 1983-1996. Time-series data were used for the study. The period of review constituted the sample size. Data were collected on aggregate agricultural output, past real government expenditures on agriculture, economically active population in agriculture, area under agricultural activities, labour productivity in agriculture, and weather indices. Data were analyzed by applying the ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis technique to an agricultural output function. The result of the analysis showed that the intercept term, the coefficients of capital, rainfall and trend variable are statistically significant at 1% level, while the coefficient for area of land is statistically significant at 5% level. Aggregate agricultural output was found to be directly related to labour, capital and weather index and inversely related to area of land. The estimated policy impact elasticity indicates that public expenditures on agriculture during the period 1983-1996 have impacted positively on agricultural production in the country.Keywords: Macroeconomic, government policies, agricultural sectorJournal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol 3(1) 2005: 97-10

Distribution of Phosphorus along a Toposequence on an Alfisol in Minna, Niger State

The distribution of various forms of phosphorus was evaluated along a toposequence located in an Alfisol in Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. The toposequence was delineated into different topographic units (Crest, Upper slope, Middle slope and Lower slope). Soil samples were collected from identified horizons in profile pits in each topographic unit. The soil samples were analyzed for organic, total, available and various active P forms. The results obtained showed that distribution of phosphorus varied widely with each topographic unit. Total P ranged from 102 ug g-1 at the lower shope to 422 ug g-1 at the upper shope, with a mean of 236.95μg g-1. Organic P also ranged from 21 - 132μg g-1 with a mean of 55.8μg g-1. Organic P was highest at the lower slope and lowest at the upper slope. Available P ranged from 0.4 – 5.54μg g-1 with a mean of 2.47μg g-1. The active P forms was in the order of Fe-P > Al-P > Ca-P, with Fe-P varying from 19 - 95μg g-1, Al – P ranged from 1.75 – 22μg g-1 and Ca – P ranged from 1.12- 4.3μg g-1. There was a positive correlation between organic P and clay (r = 0.56*) and between organic P and organic carbon (r = 0.52*). However, organic P correlated negatively with sand (r= -0.49*).Fe – P and Al – P correlated with magnesium (r = 0.51*) and sand (r = 0.45*) respectively. Available P also correlated positively with clay (r = 0.43*) and organic carbon (r = 0.52*).Keywords: Toposequence, Alfisol, Crest, Active P and Organic P