CONTRIBUTION OF MASARA N’ARZIKI PROGRAMME IN ALLEVIATING FARMERS` POVERTY IN NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Small hold farmers` access to credit and the eradication of poverty among rural dwellers is the focus of many development agencies. Masara N’arziki Programme is an input credit project established in Northern region of Ghana with the aim of reducing rural farmers’ poverty. The programme started in 2005 and has received enormous commendations from various international organisations for adopting this strategic of poverty reduction programme in contributing its quota to the poverty reduction agenda. This research therefore assessed the social and economic impact of the programme on participants by analysing primary data collected from both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the programme using questionnaire. The data was analysed using budgeting techniques and multiple regression. The results show a significant difference of GH¢1,551.90 between participants mean gross margin and non-participants mean gross margin. Also, the results reveal a significant impact of the programme on participating farmers’ income besides the benefits of increases in the visits by extension agent, farm size, hired labour and fertilizer application. The joint explanation of the variables presented in the regression model was estimated to be 82.16%. The findings shows that inappropriate time of delivery of inputs, wasting of time in process loan among other were considered to be the weakness of the company. It is recommended that input should be deliver at the right time and at the right quantity based on the farm size.&nbsp

Tax Law Enforcement: Practice and Procedure

Tax Law Enforcement in the Nigerian Tax system has become one of the integral parts of the tax administration given the ingenuity of taxpayers, individual and corporate bodies, in keeping aside part of what is due to the government as taxes or not remitting same at all. By enforcing tax laws, tax authority not only catches tax cheats, but also promotes broader compliance by giving taxpayers confidence that others are paying their fair share. Tax enforcement has become imperative given the low level of voluntary compliance and the dire need to surge government’s dwindling revenue through taxation. It is only through tax enforcement that the offences of tax evasion, non-compliance and corruption in the tax system are detected and the taxpayers are brought into the tax net

Using Productive Pedagogy to Improve the Teaching and Learning of Practical Numeracy with Adult Learners

In 2001, the Queensland State Government in Australia developed the Productive Pedagogy (PP) framework for teaching that aims at improving students’ achievement and engagement in the study of mathematics and other subjects across all school levels. Today, PP is widely used as both a research tool and as a means for self-reflection on practice by teachers. However, little research has been conducted on the effectiveness of PP as a framework in cultures other than the Western world. This paper discusses how 7 elements of the PP were utilised to design student projects in order to enhance the teaching and learning of Practical Numeracy (PN) among young adult Arab women. Data analysis suggests that the adoption of PP framework in this context has helped to improve the teaching and learning of the PN course, has contributed to the increase of the students’ engagement in mathematics classes and promoted their active citizenship. Keywords: Practical Numeracy; Productive Pedagogy; Mathematical Enriched Workshee

Determinants of Household Food Insecurity in Northern Ghana: An Ordered Probit Approach

Even though food insecurity is experienced in different degrees, and in many forms and periods, most studies have often classified food insecurity as mild/very low, moderate/low and severe. This study extends the study on food insecurity by examining the relative occurrence of each of these wide categories using ordered probit model and analysing data from 4,288 households in northern Ghana. The study shows that for each of these categories, households’ rural dwelling, age, land size and access to credit significantly increase food insecurity whilst maize crop output and marital status decrease food insecurity. This study reveals that food insecurity is a rural and productivity problem and not a poverty issue (or inadequate credit). We therefore recommend that credit in the form of inputs such as fertiliser, improved seed and mechanisation should be promoted rather than increasing access to credit (cash) to increase household members purchasing power. Keywords: Northern Ghana, Ordered Probit, Productivity, Rural, Credit, Food Insecurit

Effects of Senna occidentalis leaf supplement on blood glucose level, liver enzymes and total protein in alloxan-induced diabetic wistar rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non communicable diseases around the world and is responsible for many deaths resulting from some of its serious complications. Senna occidentalis Linn. is extensively being used in folklore medicine to cure and/or manage many disease conditions, although its adequate validation as therapeutic (specifically anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective) effects has not been established. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of Senna occidentalis leaf supplement on blood glucose level, liver enzymes and total protein in alloxan-induced diabetic wistar rats. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg). Thereafter the rats were fed with Senna occidentalis leaf supplement at doses of 12.5%, 25% and 50% .Also Glibenclamide was used as a standard drug (2 mg/kg ) as positive control and diabetic control received distilled water as negative control. Blood glucose levels were measured at day 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16. The liver enzymes and total protein were also determined using the serum and histopathological studies of the pancreas and liver were conducted. Quantitative phytochemical screening revealed that the supplement has high amount of phytoconstitutuents like total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and alkaloids, which have a percentage composition of 20%, 10.80%, 15%, 0.55% and 7.20%, respectively. Blood glucose levels of all animals treated with the supplement were reduced significantly (p<0.05) by about 82.13%, 88.36 and 81.78% respectively when compared with that of the untreated diabetic control group. There was also an increase in the total protein (p< 0.05) to 90.98 ± 6.02, 73.72 ± 3.02 and 92.23 ± 4.01, respectively in comparison to that of the untreated diabetic group having 69.04 ± 3.59; and hepatotoxicity due to the observed increase in the activities of all the liver enzymes as well as hepatocellular necrosis, sinusoidal congestion and hemorrhage as revealed in the histopathological studies of the liver. This study shows that S. occidentalis leaf supplement has potent hypoglycemic effect due to its high content of active principles that possess strong and potent insulinomimetic and β-cell regenerating potential as depicted by the histopathological studies of the pancreatic tissue, even though, some cytotoxic agents like the cytotoxic saponins may be present in the supplement which is capable of causing damage to both pancreas and liver . These findings prove its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes but with caution due to its probable potential to induce hepatotoxicity.Keywords: Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Hepatotoxicity, Phytoconstitutuents, Insulinomimetic, Senna occidentali

Antidiabetic effect of fermented Pennisetum glaucum (millet) supplement in alloxan induced hyperglycemic wistar rats

Diabetes mellitus is a debilitating disease that is characterized clinically by hyperglycemia due to chronic and/or relative insulin insufficiency. The disease is associated with disturbance in lipid and protein metabolism. Pennisetum glaucum (PG) has been recommended for several therapeutic purposes as it has been shown to have high amount of magnesium which helps to increase the levels of adiponectin hormone but the hypoglycemic effect of millet as a supplement is yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore this research was designed to determine the effect of Pennisetum glaucum supplement on blood glucose level and serum lipid profile. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of alloxan dissolved in 0.1ml fresh cold citrate buffer pH 4.5 at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight, after which the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group 1 normoglycemic, Group 2 Diabetic untreated, Group 3 Diabetic treated with 1 mg/kg of Glibenclamide (GB). Group 4 Diabetic treated with 33%w/v P.G. supplement, Group 5 Diabetic treated with 66% P.G. supplement. When compared with the diabetic control, the study revealed a significant decrease (p>0.05) in blood glucose level at both 33%w/v and 66% w/v P.G. supplementation. It also showed that P.G. at both 33% and 66% supplement was able to lower Triglycerides and LDL serum levels as well increase HDL serum levels although not statistically significant, but significantly restored HDL/Cholesterol and Triglycerides/HDL ratios to normal physiological range. Pennisetum glaucum supplementation showed high hypoglycemic effect and also hypolipidemic property in alloxan induced hyperglycemic wistar rats.Keywords: Pennisetum glaucum, hypolipidemia, hyperglycemi

Perceptions of safety behavior modifying techniques in construction firms: insights from Lagos, Nigeria

Unsafe behaviour is a major contributing factor to accidents on construction sites. Measures must be taken to instil safety behaviour in construction workers, in order to reposition the industry for greater safety and performance on construction sites. The article examined the safety behaviour-modifying technique (SBMT) adopted by construction firms in Lagos State with a view to increasing the likelihood of safe acts of workers in the study area. To achieve this aim, four major grouped components of SBMT (goals, training, feedback, and incentive) were identified consisting of 24 variables obtained from the literature. The literature informed the structured questionnaire that was administered to 106 representatives of construction firms within LagosState. The SBMT positions within construction firms were ranked, using the mean score (MS), and independent t-test was employed to compare the techniques used within the firms. The results of the analysis revealed that the safety training component was the most widely used SBMT in both large and medium-sized businesses. It was also observed that construction firms pay less attention to feedback on safety performance and to providing incentives to personnel who carried out their work in a noted safe manner. The study recommended that, in addition to consistent safety training provided to workers, construction firms should set realistic and achievable safety goals, provide workers’ safety feedback, and reward workers for safety behaviour on construction sites. This practice may reduce the rates of accidents and injuries on construction sites, leading to a safer construction industry with less work-place fatalities.&nbsp

Effects of aqueous leaves extract of Ocimum gratissimum on blood glucose levels of streptozocininduced diabetic wistar rats

The hypoglycemic effects of aqueous leaves extract of Ocimum gratisimum was investigated in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. A single administration of the extract at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight was done. The aqueous extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg significantly lowered blood glucose level (

Resveratrol protects rabbits against cholesterol diet- induced hyperlipidaemia

The excessive consumption of high cholesterol diet has been associated with an increased incidence of lipidaemia. Lipidaemia is enhanced by formation of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and hyperglycaemia. The aim of these experiments was to investigate the protective effect of resveratrol co-administered with cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidaemia in rabbits. Thirty rabbits divided into six groups of five animal (group= 5) each: group 1 = normal control, group 2 = cholesterol diet/high fat diet group only (HFD), group 3 = resveratrol 200 mg/kg (R200), group 4 = resveratrol 400 mg/kg (R400), group 5 = HFD + R200 and group 6 = HFD + R400. The normal group was fed with standard animal feeds only; while the HFD groups were fed with standard animal feeds + cholesterol diet (10% Groundnut oil, 20% Groundnut mill and 2% cholesterol). Resveratrol-treated rabbits received resveratrol suspended in 10 g/L carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and the control group received the vehicle only, CMC. The preparations were administered for 8 weeks of experimental protocol. At the end of the study period, the animals were sacrificed. Blood and plasma samples were collected. Serum evaluation of lipid profile such as total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (Tg), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDP-c) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were also assessed. The results obtained show significant (P < 0.05) decrease in total cholesterol (TC), Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDP-c), total triacylglycerol and an increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in resveratrol treated groups compared to HFD group only. In conclusion, the findings indicated that Resveratrol may contain polar products able to lower plasma lipid concentrations and might be beneficial in treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.Keywords: Cholesterol diet, Lipidaemia, Rabbit; Resveratrol, LDL-c, HDL-c, TC, T

Modulatory role of vitamins A and E on memory and motor functions of cyanide induced neurotoxicity in adult swiss mice

Summary: Cyanide is a potent neurotoxic substance that can initiate series of intracellular reactions leading to oxidative stress. To evaluate effect of sublethal administration of potassium cyanide (KCN) on sensorimotor functions and long term visuo-spatial learning and memory in adult Swiss mice and possible ameliorative role of vitamins A and E. These vitamins A and E (dietary) are antioxidants that have scavenging properties against free radicals and reactive oxygen species as a result of oxidative stress induced by cyanide. Thirty-five mice weighing between 18-22 g were used for the study. The animals were randomly divided into five groups (n = 7) and exposed to sublethal concentration of potassium cyanide (10% LD50; 1.5 mg/kg). KCN was administered orally while vitamin A (25 mg/kg) and vitamin E (50 mg/kg) were administered intra-peritoneal (IP) once daily for 28 days. Potassium cyanide (KCN) was first administered and after 10 minutes intervals, followed by vitamin A and then E after 5 minutes, vitamin E were administered across the different treatment groups. Mice were examined for signs of toxicity. Vitamins pre-treatment ameliorated toxic signs. In the dynamics of wire grid, coat hanger and stationary beam test, the latency to fall in weeks 2 and 4 were statistically significant. In acquisition and retention, using elevated plus maze (EPM), KCN treated group recorded high transfer latencies in seconds (50.40±1.72 secs) and (57.60±0.93 secs) as compared to group IV (29.40±0.68 secs; 5.60±0.60 secs). Cyanide is a neurotoxin that affects motor functions with progressive decline in motor strength and coordination. KCN affects acquisition and retention memory while pre-treatment with antioxidant vitamins A and E ameliorated these deficits.Keywords: Cyanide; Neurotoxicity; Memory; Motor functionNiger. J. Physiol. Sci. 33(December 2018) 183-18