Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Clarias anguillaris (Family: Claridae) in Kontagora Reservoir, Niger State, Nigeria

Length – weight relationship of Clarias anguillaris (Fam: Claridae) in Kontagora Reservoir, Niger State, Nigeria, was studied from January, 2007 - December, 2007. The fish species was obtained using a fleet of graded gill nets comprising of nine multi filament gill nets mesh sizes. The parameters a and b of the Length – weight relationship of the form W = aLb and Condition factor C.F. = W 100 / L3 are presented for the fish species. The mean monthly condition factor values were high during the rainy season than the dry season, and the b value obtained was 3.477. The b value indicates positive allometric relationship, with the weight of the fish increasing as the fish grow in length. The high mean monthly condition factor of the fish species indicating their well being, shows that Kontagora Reservoir has favourable environment for the survival and growth of the species.Keywords: Length – weight relationship, Condition factor, Clarias anguillaris, Kontagora ReservoirNigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19(2): 299-30

Study of ichtyofauna of Daberam Reservoir, Katsina State

Research was carried out to explore the fish species diversity and study some aspects of the Biology of fish of Daberam reservoir, Katsina state, for a period of three month from March to May 2009. 66 Samples of fish were collected from commercial fishermen and experimental fishing gears, preserved in formalin and taken to laboratory for identification. Seven genera comprising eleven species were identified. The regression coefficient (b) were 3.07, 2.91 and 3.21 for the three most commercially importance species in the reservoir i.e. Oreochromis niloticus, Tilapia zilli and Clarias gariepinus respectively, the results indicated Positive allometric growth for O. niloticus and C. gariepinus and negative allometric growth for T. zilli. The mean condition factor (k) was 1.140, with values of 1.027, 1.660, and 0.732 for O. niloticus, T. zilli and C. gariepinus respectively. This result indicates that the fish are not leaving well compared to other freshwater fishes. Key words: Daberam reservoir, fishdiversity, allometric growth, condition facto

Recent Advances In Agricultural Information Dissemination: Applicability Of Agora And Teeal Initiatives To Developing Countries

The world is gradually actualizing the Global Village concept, which was an abstract and imagination some years back. The concern with even development has made many developed countries and international agencies to design programmes of assistance to less developed countries in all human endeavours. Knowing the importance of food production, supply and sufficiency at every stage of economic development, the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) initiated various programmes of assistance to low income countries in order to transform their peasant agricultural practices to mechanized ventures. In line with the information and communication technology (ICT) age the initiatives of Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) and The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library (TEEAL) were developed by the FAO in collaboration with Cornel University of the United Kingdom to enable agricultural scientists and practitioners have unlimited access to over 500 journals on agriculture and related disciplines. Against this background, the article examines the concept of AGORA/TEEAL, the merits of electronic referencing, the limitations imposed on users in low income countries and recommended measures for improvement to enabled the achievement of the goals and objectives of the initiatives. Keywords: Advances, Information, Developing, AGORA, TEEAL JORIND Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 26-2

Environmentalconservation education: strategies for its development in Nigeria

Man through his numerous agricultural, industrial and socio-economic activities has caused a lot of damage to the natural environment. All these occur as a result of haste for economic development at the expense of environmental consideration. Lack of awareness by man on this value of the environment and the consequences for the present and future generations have been mainly responsible for this. In Nigeria, the level of environmental conservation awareness is very low, both among people in government and the general populace. The objective of this paper is to highlight some of the areas where urgent conservation education (formal and non formal approach) is necessary in Nigeria, to create conservation awareness and ensure proper management of the environment. Factors responsible for environmental deterioration are identified, with the scope and responsibilities of a properly planned conservation education highlighted. Educational strategies to achieve this aim are recommended. Journal of Environmental Extension Vol.4 2003: 63-6

Ethno-Veterinary Practices In Pond Disease Prevention And Control By Fish Farmers In Niger State, Nigeria

The status of ethno-veterinary practices among fish farmers in Minna and Shiroro Local Government Areas in Niger State was investigated in 2003. Twenty (20) fish farmers were randomly selected in each L.G.A. bringing the total sample size to 40 farmers. Data collection by interview schedule was conducted through a structured questionnaire. The generated information was analyzed by descriptive statistics of percentages and means. Results of the study showed that 52.5% of the respondents were in the economically active age group of 31 – 49 years with the mean age at 30.5 years. The mean household size was 9.7, while only 25% of the farmers acquired western education at primary school level. The mean of fish farming experience was 8.5 years and all respondents were males, practicing subsistence aquaculture with pond sizes less than 500m2. Polyculture of fish species at extensive feeding dominated. Eighty percent (80%) of the farmers had no knowledge of any ethno-veterinary practices (EVP) in fish health management. Common diseases of cultured fish in the study area included ectoparasite, fungal growth, and skin cancer/infection. About 75% of the respondents had no contact with extension agents on pond management or preventive/control methods of fish diseases. Major problems uncounted by farmers include high cost of pond construction (87.5%) water shortage at dry season (87.5%) and lack of technical know-how of fish disease treatment and control (85%). Felt needs of all the farmers include training on fish health management and provision of subsidized good quality feeds and drugs. Recommended measures in boosting aquaculture in the state in particular and Nigeria as a whole include good quality feeds and drugs. Recommended measures in boosting aquaculture in the state in particular and Nigeria as a whole include the training of extension agents on fish health management and their support for regular contact with farmers. Others are provision of nutrient rich feeds and subsidized drugs for fish farms; and the establishment of a medicinal plants research and development institute with national mandate on scientific packaging of herbal drugs that could serve as alternative medicine for human, animal and fish health matters. JORIND Vol. 3 (2) 2005: pp. 19-2

An Investigation of Post-harvest Fish Curing Technologies in the Artisanal Fisheries of North-western Nigeria

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