Dietary diversity of households in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study analysed the dietary diversity of households in Akwa Ibom State. Cross-sectional data was collected using a multistage sampling procedure resulting in 457 respondents. Specifically, the study determined the prevalence, margin and intensity of dietary diversity of households based on three critical indices. Additionally, a fractional probit regression was estimated to determine the factors affecting the dietary diversity of households. Based on three critical indices (0.67, 0.87 and 0.59), 90%, 62% and 95% of the population respectively have sufficiently diverse diets. The disaggregated mean prevalence (given the three critical indices) indicates that the difference, in number of food groups consumed, between households with less than diverse and sufficiently diverse diets are five (5), four (4) and eight (8) respectively. The mean margin indicates that, at the minimum, policy may seek to increase the number of food groups consumed by households with less than diverse diets by two food groups. The intensity of the margin at critical index 0.59 is 0.17, showing that the margin of dietary diversity is most critical in this context. Results from the fractional probit regression unveil that education, household income, access to home garden, access to other farmland and ownership of livestock are significant in explaining the probability of households being dietary diverse. Keywords: Dietary Diversity; Prevalence; Margin; Intensity; Fractional Probit Regressio

Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer using Soft Computing Paradigms

The process of diagnosing of prostate cancer using traditional methods is cumbersome because of the similarity of symptoms that are present in other diseases. Soft Computing (SC) paradigms which mimic human imprecise data manipulation and learning capabilities have been reviewed and harnessed for diagnosis and classification of prostate cancer. SC technique based on Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) facilitated symptoms analysis, diagnosis and prostate cancer classification. Age of Patient (AP), Pains in Urination (PU), Frequent Urination (FU), Blood in Semen (BS) and Pains in Pelvic (PP) served as input attributes while Prostate Risk (PR) served as output. Matrix laboratory provided the programming tools for system implementation. The practical function of the system was assessed using prostate cancer data collected from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. A 95% harmony observed between the computed and the expected output in the ANFIS model, showed the superiority of the ANFIS model over the fuzzy model. The system is poised to assist medical professionals in the domain of diagnosis and classification of prostate cancer for the promotion of management and treatment decisions

Measuring Technical Efficiency of Water Leaf (Talinum triangulare) Production in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Output-oriented technical efficiency indices were estimated by stochastic production frontier functions to survey data collected from 60 waterleaf farmers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State with the aid of structured questionnaire. Using the maximum likelihood estimation technique, asymptotic parameter estimates were evaluated to describe efficiency determinants. Specifically, farm size, planting materials, labour, fertilizer and farmyard manure were estimated to be major determinants in waterleaf production. In this regard, a unit increase in any of the factors would result to less than proportionate increase in the output of waterleaf harvested. With regards to inefficiency model specified, the finding revealed the relative importance of farmers’ ages, household size and contact with extension agents in explaining the observed distribution of the farm level inefficiency indices. Findings also revealed a mean efficiency index of 0.65 implying that output from maize production could be increased by 35 percent using available technology. Key words: Technical efficiency Talinum triangulare Stochastic frontier Nigeri

Assessment of Sustainable Livelihood Assets of Farming Households in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract There is surfeit of evidence on increase poverty and low agricultural productivity among majority of rural dwellers in Nigeria. Researches have established an inverse linked between rural poverty and sustainable households’ asset based. Agricultural production, being the major livelihood source for majority of rural dwellers needs considerable asset or capital for it to be considered as sustainable. Based on this assertion, the study assesses the sustainable livelihood assets of farming households in Abak Local Government area of Akwa Ibom state in Southern region of Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 110 farming household heads in the study area. Structured questionnaires were used to collect cross sectional data from respondents. Descriptive tools were used to analyse data collected. The socioeconomic features of respondents revealed a sample population that is fast ageing, dominated by married male and moderately educated. Result also showed that, respondents had considerable piles of physical, social and natural assets to assist in livelihood sustenance. However, the index of capacity structure of sustainable livelihood assets revealed a huge deficiency in financial and human assets among farming households in the region. Hence, it is recommended that, farming households should increase their human assets by encouraging education of the younger household members. Also, efforts should be made to improve social capital formation among farming households and communities. Keywords: Akwa Ibom State, farming household, livelihood asset, poverty, sustainabilit

Assessment of Sustainable Livelihood Assets of Farming Households in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

There is surfeit of evidence on increase poverty and low agricultural productivity among majority of rural dwellers in Nigeria. Researches have established an inverse linked between rural poverty and sustainable households’ asset based. Agricultural production, being the major livelihood source for majority of rural dwellers needs considerable asset or capital for it to be considered as sustainable. Based on this assertion, the study assesses the sustainable livelihood assets of farming households in Abak Local Government area of Akwa Ibom state in Southern region of Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 110 farming household heads in the study area. Structured questionnaires were used to collect cross sectional data from respondents. Descriptive tools were used to analyse data collected. The socioeconomic features of respondents revealed a sample population that is fast ageing, dominated by married male and moderately educated. Result also showed that, respondents had considerable piles of physical, social and natural assets to assist in livelihood sustenance. However, the index of capacity structure of sustainable livelihood assets revealed a huge deficiency in financial and human assets among farming households in the region. Hence, it is recommended that, farming households should increase their human assets by encouraging education of the younger household members. Also, efforts should be made to improve social capital formation among farming households and communities. Keywords: Akwa Ibom State, farming household, livelihood asset, poverty, sustainabilit

Modeling the Dynamic Relationship between Food Crop Output Volatility and Its Determinants in Nigeria

The study modeled the short run and long run food crop output volatility equations in Nigeria. Time series data derived from the FAO data base for Nigeria and publications of the CBN covering the period 1961 to 2010 was used in the study. Unit root test conducted on the specified time series shows that all series were integrated of order one at 1% probability level. The GARCH (1, 1) model was used to generate the food crop output volatility for the selected food crops (i.e. rice, maize, sorghum, cassava and yam). The short-run and long-run elastic cities of food crop output volatility with respect to specify explanatory variables were determined using the techniques of co-integration and error correction model estimation based on the OLS estimation. The empirical results revealed that inflation rate, per capita real GDP, loan guaranteed by ACGSF in the food crop sub sector, harvested area of land for food crop and liberalization policy era had mixed influence on food crop output volatility both in the short and long run periods in Nigeria. The result also showed that harvested area of land for the selected food crop was the most important factor that affects food crop volatility in the country. In addition, food crop volatility show an average declines pattern in the liberalization policy period. The study however advocated for appropriate short and long term policy packages that should addressed appropriately the identified significant macroeconomic shifters of food crop output volatility in the country. Also attention should be directed towards improving the quality of land allocated to food crop sub sector. Furthermore, agricultural policies in the liberalization policy package should be design in the short term basis and use as a means for altering food crop output in Nigeria. Keyword: food, crop, volatility, GARCH, inflation, land, policies, loa