Awareness and effects of climate change on cocoa production in Ondo State, Nigeria

According to estimates, the contribution of cocoa, which is the Nigeria’s highest foreign exchange earner among all agricultural commodities, has dropped from 308,000 tonnes in the 70’s to an average of 215,000 tonnes in recent years. This, according to reports, resulted from climate failure, among other factors. In the light of this, this study examined awareness and effects of climate change on cocoa production in Ondo State, the Nigeria’s leading cocoa producing state. Specifically, the study decribed socio-­‐economic characteristics of cocoa farmers in the study area, investigated the awareness and perceived effects of climate change on cocoa production by the farmers and identified the adaptation strategies practised by the farmers. Primary data obtained through a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques of 120 farming households from the six Local Government Areas noted for cocoa production in the state were used for the study. Descriptive statistics involving frequency distribution tables, mean, mode and percentages were used for the analysis. The results revealed that 80.8% of the respondents were aware of climate change. The general effects of climate change experienced by the farmers were excessive rainfall (23.3%), less rainfall (12.5%), irregular rainfall pattern (59.2%), delayed onset of rainfall (5.0%), high temperature (37.5%), drought (5.0%) and variation in sunshine hours (28.3%). The visible effects of climate failure on the farmer cocoa production were pest attack (35.8%), disease attack (44.2%), late ripening of cocoa pod (20.8%), reduced weight of cocoa bean (53.3%) and contaminated cocoa bean (45.0%). This is unfavourable to farmers and the Nigerian economy in general. Therefore, this study calls for dissemination of timely information on sound adaptation strategies to effects of climate change by agricultural development agencies and provision of training by relevant stakeholders to improve the technical knowledge and skills of the farmers on measures to mitigate effects of climate change on cocoa production

PATENT MEDICINE VENDORS’ PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COVID-19 INFECTION IN A NORTH-CENTRAL STATE IN NIGERIA

Objective: This report aimed to determine the immediate effect of the IPC training on the knowledge and role of patent medicine vendors (PMV) in the COVID-19 outbreak response in Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study before and after the IPC training among 1076 PMV in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Eight questions were asked, for which each was assigned a score of “1”. Participants who had scored<50% were categorized as “Fail”, while those with scores ≥50% were categorized as “Pass” in both the pre and post-tests. The Chi-square test was used to test for the association between sociodemographic characteristics and performance of respondents in the pre-and post-IPC knowledge results, and paired t-test to test for significant differences between the pre and post-tests mean scores. The level of significance was set at p<0.05 for all statistical tests. Results: The mean age of the 1076 respondents was 37.06±10.96, 463(43%) passed the pre-test, while 617 (57.3%) passed the post-test. The mean pre-test IPC training score was 3.1310±1.5631, while the mean post-test IPC training score was 3.7351±1.6028 (t=-11.337, p=<0.001). In all, 617(57.3%) scored higher in posttest. Overall, 560 (92.41%) identified community sensitization and health education on COVID-19 preventive measures as roles of PMV. Conclusion: Regular trainings on COVID-19 preventive practices among PMV should be conducted. PMV should be empowered to sensitize and educate their clients on the prevention of COVID-19

Job Incentives For Rural Women In Nigeria: An Appraisal Of The Shea-Butter Extraction Option

This study examined the viability of women livelihoods that is dependent on Shea butter extraction activities in Nigeria, using Kwara State as a case study. Specifically, the study examined Shea- butter extraction practices and facilities, costs and returns structure to Shea- butter extraction, factors affecting Shea- butter extraction and determinants of investments in Shea- butter extraction activities. For the study One hundred and twenty women households involved in Shea-butter processing were surveyed across the study area, Kwara State. Data collected was analysed using the descriptive statistics, partial budget analysis and regression Analyses. Results revealed that most women involved in Shea butter extraction activities were married and agile youths. Some of the women undertook Shea butter extraction activities as a minor occupation while about half of them undertook the activities as their major occupation.most of them were also members of cooperatives in their localities. Cost and returns analysis showed that the average gross revenue recorded in the study area is N776.58 per kilogram of processed Shea-nut. Total cost is N521.50 while the net income is N255.08. Returns to labour and management (RLM) is N86.18). Labour used, years of involvement in extraction and the quantity of Shea fruits processed were revealed as contributors to Shea butter output while years of formal education was shown to be an insignificant contributors. Constraints limiting Shea butter activities were shown to include inadequate capital, poor packaging and market, low domestic consumption/patronage of Shea-butter products, insufficient supply of water as well as high cost of equipment maintenance. The study therefore calls for sourcing of better market, provision of crucial social amenities including banks and micro-finance and the need for women to mobilise and collate rural funds via cooperatives. Key Words: viability, average gross revenue, Returns to labour and management (RLM), Total cos

Biopolymer-mediated Green Synthesis of Noble Metal Nanostructures

Polymer-coated noble metal nanoparticles are currently of particular interest to investigators in the fields of nanobiomedicine and fundamental biomaterials. These materials not only exhibit imaging properties in response to stimuli but also efficiently deliver various drugs and therapeutic genes. Even though a large number of polymer-coated noble metal nanoparticles have been fabricated over the past decade, most of these materials still present some challenges emanating from their synthesis. The metal nanoparticles when encapsulated in a polymer and taken up by human cells might show a lower degree of toxicity; however, the degree of toxicity for some of the starting materials and precursors has raised serious concerns. Hence, there is a need to implement the principle of green chemistry in the synthesis of nanomaterials. The use of environmentally benign materials for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles provides numerous benefits ranging from biocompatibility, availability, cost-effectiveness, amenable scale-up to eco-friendliness. The biopolymer-based nanovehicles have been found to be more suitable in the field of nanotechnology owing to their high reproducibility, ease of manufacture, functional modification and safety (they are not carcinogenic). Unlike synthetic polymers where the raw material can be derived from petrochemicals or chemical industrial processes, biopolymers are produced from renewable resources such as plant and/or living organism. They are degradable by natural processes down to elemental entities that can be resorbed in the environment. Furthermore, they can also be modified to serve a particular purpose which explains the myriad of their potential applications. The macromolecular chain of these biopolymers possesses a large number of hydroxyl groups which can easily complex with metal ions. Additionally, these biopolymers also contain supramolecular structures that can lead to new functionalities of their composites with metal and semiconductor nanoparticles. In this chapter, a comprehensive discussion on different biopolymers, green synthesis of noble metal nanostructures, mechanisms, characterization and application in various fields is presented

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

Investment in SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences generated, now exceeding 100,000 genomes, used to track the pandemic on the continent. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries able to sequence domestically, and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround time and more regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and shed light on the distinct dispersal dynamics of Variants of Concern, particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve, while the continent faces many emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Emergence and spread of two SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest in Nigeria.

Identifying the dissemination patterns and impacts of a virus of economic or health importance during a pandemic is crucial, as it informs the public on policies for containment in order to reduce the spread of the virus. In this study, we integrated genomic and travel data to investigate the emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.318 and B.1.525 (Eta) variants of interest in Nigeria and the wider Africa region. By integrating travel data and phylogeographic reconstructions, we find that these two variants that arose during the second wave in Nigeria emerged from within Africa, with the B.1.525 from Nigeria, and then spread to other parts of the world. Data from this study show how regional connectivity of Nigeria drove the spread of these variants of interest to surrounding countries and those connected by air-traffic. Our findings demonstrate the power of genomic analysis when combined with mobility and epidemiological data to identify the drivers of transmission, as bidirectional transmission within and between African nations are grossly underestimated as seen in our import risk index estimates

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance.

Investment in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences that have been generated and used to track the pandemic on the continent, a number that now exceeds 100,000 genomes. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries that are able to sequence domestically and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround times and more-regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and illuminate the distinct dispersal dynamics of variants of concern-particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron-on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve while the continent faces many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century