Gender Constraints in Small-Holder Cocoyam Production in Enugu North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State Nigeria

The study presents the results of analysis of data collected on 120 cocoyam farmers (60 females and 60 males) across the two Agricultural blocks in Enugu North Agricultural Zone using the multi-stage randomized sampling technique. Descriptive statistical tool (percentages) was used in analyzing farmer’s production problems. The survey reviewed that most of the farmers (males and females) encountered problems of root rot disease as a result of storage and lack of storage facilities. Both farmers encountered the problem of limited land, labour unavailability lack of credit facilities, distance from farm to market, pest and diseases etc. These constraints constitute serious impediments to cocoyam production and need to be addressed adequately through policy advocacy.Gender, Cocoyam and Small-Holder Farmers

Substituting fish meal with grasshopper meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings

The effect of inclusion of grasshopper meal on the growth, feed conversion ratio and survival of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings of mean weight 9.71g was investigated. The results show that the best growth and food utilization indexes were recorded in the fingerling fed with 10% grasshopper meal and 30% fish meal, while the poorest growth and food utilization indexes were recorded with the diet containing 25% grasshopper meal and 15% fish meal. The best survival of 100% was observed in the diet containing 30% grasshopper meal and 10% fish meal while the worst survival of 73.3% was observed in the diet containing 25% grasshopper meal and 15% fish mea

Soil Erosion Control and Damage Costs in Nigerian Small Farms: Implications for Farm Growth and Sustainability

In Nigeria 90% of the agricultural primary produce is in the hands of small holders cultivating between 0.8-4 hectares. Farm size expansion is limited by population pressure, land fragmentation, poor market opportunities and lack of finance. This article presents estimates of soil erosion control(SEC) and soil erosion damage costs (SEDC) in small farmers' fields in Nigeria and examines the contents and direction of the country’s agriculture and environment policies vis-à-vis the SEC among small farmers. It was found that 24% of the farmers’ spending on tillage/cultural practices was directed at the institution of SEC measures, and that SEC-related defensive expenditures was 3.7 times more than the estimated SEDCs. The capacity of small farmers to respond to soil degradation is severely limited. Most SEC measures deployed derive from non-tradable inputs blurred by incomplete/missing markets for environmental assets. Yet farm development and environmental policies in Nigeria have dwelt on supply-side interventions based on marketable inputs, and have been largely ineffective. Policy and institutional reforms are needed to increase and focus support to farmers to increase defensive expenditures for SEC.Soil erosion, damage costs, farm growth, Environmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics,

Adoption Scale Analysis of Improved Cocoyam Production, Production and Storage Technologies across Gender in Enugu North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the adoption of improved cocoyam production, processing and storage technologies among small-holder cocoyam farmers in Enugu-North Agricultural Zone in Enugu state. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers disaggregated into 60 males and 60 female in 2008. Adoption scale analysis was employed to analyze the level of adoption of cocoyam technologies as well as percentages, means and frequency distribution. The results show that most of the technologies were not adopted and unaware by both farmers. Technologies that scored 3.0 and above were adopted but those below 3.0 were rejected. Both farmers adopted technologies like time of planting, use of fertilizer and left un-harvested and heaping on the floor after harvesting. Technologies such as time of planting, May- June(3.0), fertilizer application NPK 20.20.10 (3.3), storage facilities like treating with fungicide (3.1), and left un-harvested (3.08) were adopted by male farmers; while time of planting (3.05), use of mulching material (3), use of fertilizer(3.08), crop mixture with arable crops (3.57) harvesting at 81-12 months after planting (3.25), storage methods like left underground (3) and heaping on the flour (3.38) were adopted by the female farmers. The study calls for policies to ensure women’s entitlement to productive resources and to target women in the extension delivery system.Adoption Scale, Cocoyam Production, Processing and Storage Technologies and Gender

Inclusion and Autism in Primary Education - An Exploratory Interventtion of the Preparation of Beginner Teachers in England

This exploratory intervention in the preparation of beginner teachers in England examines the effectiveness of a bespoke, ten-week training intervention that combined theoretical understanding of autism with hands-on practical experience in a special resource provision (SRP) for autism. The action research study also explores the perceptions of autism and attitudes towards autistic pupils of beginner teachers in two mainstream primary schools in England. This study focuses on how beginner teachers might be better equipped for inclusive practice. This research uses semi-structured interviews to collect data and takes an exploratory and inductive approach. The research design employs the social constructivist philosophy pioneered by Vygotsky (1978) and is rooted in collaboration and interaction, where knowledge is constructed between the parties involved. The data is interpreted through the lens of constructivist grounded theory (Charmaz, 2006). The training intervention involves eight beginner teachers, engaged in action research over ten weeks, working collaboratively, in pairs and small groups, during dedicated learning times. A reflection pause after the first five weeks of theory training allows for adjustments based on data collected, followed by a further five weeks of hands-on practical opportunity to work with expert colleagues in an SRP for autism, creating shared knowledge on the inclusion of autistic pupils in mainstream classrooms. The study finds that a variety of factors, misconceptions and training shortfalls influence beginner teachers’ perceptions and attitudes towards autistic pupils. It demonstrates teachers’ low confidence in their ability to include autistic pupils in their mainstream classrooms when they start out in their careers. The study shows that participants in the study valued the dedicated time and space they had during the intervention to collaborate with peers in learning about autism, and they are seen to gain insights about autistic pupils that influence their attitudes, build their confidence and improve their inclusive practice

Exploring public health intervention strategies to address barriers and challenges in the prevention of avoidable blindness due to glaucoma in Anambra State, Nigeria

Renewed emphasis by World Health Organisation in recent times has heightened the need for countries to address the issue of eye health with increased effort. However, due to scarcity of both human and material resources in Nigeria and many other developing countries health care is often marginalised; especially eye health. This contributes to the rise in prevalence of avoidable blindness. Glaucoma has been identified as one of the major causes of avoidable blindness globally, yet many people still lack the awareness of this disease. Most often the disease attacks without any obvious symptoms, and by the time the person becomes aware of the problem, probably more than 50% of the vision has been lost. Public health strategy such as health promotion when properly coordinated proves to be a cost-effective approach in tackling the incidence of avoidable blindness. This study assessed the population’s health seeking behaviour and examined the factors and barriers which hampered the people in Anambra State, Nigeria from accessing knowledge and eye health services in order to prevent avoidable blindness due to glaucoma. It also explored how the policy makers and service providers could be prompted for positive actions. This is a qualitative study that utilised face-to-face semi-structured interviews to investigate the level of glaucoma awareness and perception of its risk factors in the state. Purposive, non-random sampling technique was used to recruit 39 participants, [aged 21-73] for interviews. Three main stakeholders in eye health comprising of a sample of 28 key informants (the target population), 8 service providers (the eye doctors) and 3 policy makers were identified and recruited for this study. The resulting data were analysed using Nvivo 10 software and Interpretative phenomenological analysis framework. Eye health seminar was also delivered to the target population at two different venues in the state. The reason for the eye health seminar was to teach the attendees some good eye care practices that could contribute positively to blindness prevention. Of the 28 key informants, 53.6% live in urban areas and 46.4% live in the rural areas; 39.3% of the participants were male and 60.7% were females. Glaucoma awareness appeared to be higher among people in the urban areas 39.3% than people in the rural areas 35.7%. People with higher education appeared to have better awareness than people with less education; 42.9% for people with university degree and above, 3.6% for diploma, 17.9% for people with secondary education and 10.7% for primary. Glaucoma was perceived as “a dangerous eye disease that can cause blindness if not treated early; a serious eye problem; an incurable eye problem that can eventually result to blindness, and a dangerous eye problem that can easily render a person blind”. Poverty and inability to pay for eye care services has been the most prominent barrier among this population. Other barriers include distance of eye care service centres from the rural dwellers, fear of financial exploitation from the service providers, fear of negative treatment outcomes and the availability of other cheaper but unsafe treatment options. Other barriers identified were: the lack of awareness of eye diseases and the related risk factors, the inability to cope with eye disease, and the seriousness of the symptoms. Five apriori themes and fourteen emergent themes were identified in the analysis of the data. The implication of these findings is that the incidence of glaucoma-induced blindness will continue to rise unless a robust public health policy and adequate resources are put in place to address the challenges and problems identified by this study. The result of the present study confirms that there is low awareness of the causes and consequences of glaucoma in the state. This, as well as the associated factors listed above have huge impact on economy and well-being of the population

Corporate enterprise principles and UK regulation of modern slavery in supply chains

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 contains an application of enterprise principles in its transparency in supply chains section [section 54]. It applies mandated disclosure regulation to the entire group once it satisfies the required conditions. This paper examines the consequential issues of extraterritoriality and potential liability