Turmeric research at NRCRI Umudike: highlight of major achievements

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) a member of ginger family Zingiberaceae, is a cross-pollinated triploid (2n =3x = 63); vegetatively propagated by means of yellow fleshed rhizomes; and widely used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Owing to its numerous uses, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike began research on turmeric in 1998. This paper highlights the major achievements from almost two decades of turmeric research at NRCRI Umudike. NRCRI pioneered collection of germplasm and indigenous knowledge about the production and utilization of Turmeric. 76 accessions of Turmeric were collected from several expeditions. The highest number of collections (12) was from Ekiti State. Following multi-locational evaluation at Jos, Otobi, Umudike and Igbariam, ten genotypes, viz., UT39, UT44, UT46, UT58, UT50, UT14, UT41, UT6, UT38 and UT35, were identified as promising and require further evaluation as pre-condition for official registration and release to farmers. The proximate composition and potential use of turmeric as food colourants have been established. Agronomic management packages for optimal yield of turmeric have been developed by NRCRI Umudike. Results of economic studies carried out at NRCRI Umudike revealed high profitability of turmeric production with returns per naira (R/N) being N233.90, Net income N326, 918.22 and benefit cost ratio (RCR) of 3.3. Value added products like turmeric powder, have been developed. These and high quality planting materials are being produced and their production technologies extended to farmers and other end users.Keywords: Expedition, Evaluation, proximate composition, economic studies and value additio

Adoption of yam minisett technology by women farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

The study was designed to determine the adoption of yam minisett technology by omen farmers in Abia state in 2004. This was with a view to determining how best to accelerate the adoption of the technology in the state. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used by selected 234 yam growing women farmers from the three agricultural zones of the state interview schedule was used to collect primary data from the respondents

Involvement of women farmers in seed yam production in Abia state, Nigeria

A survey was conducted to assess the extent of women farmer's involvement in seed yam production in Abia State, Nigeria. Data were collected using intensive, schedule. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistic. The results show that the mean age of the respondents was 47.7 years. Ninety seven percent 97% of the respondents were involved in seed yam production. While 93% were actively involved. However, lack of access to relevant farm inputs, the tediousness of the job, lack of access to agricultural information and assured marking outlets, were the most pressing problems encountered by the women farmers in seed yam production. It was recommended that the empowerment of women farmers through education, loans and organization into cooperatives would enhance women participation in seed yam production

Participation of Extension Agents in Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkages System (REFILS) Activities in Abia State.

This study investigated the status of participation of the frontline field Extension staff of Abia State Agricultural Development Programme (ABIADEP) in the activities of Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkage System (REFILS) of the organization. Forty respondents were successively sampledfrom lists of extension agents (EAs) in each of the three agricultural zones of the State - Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia. Thus, a toted of120 respondents were sampledfor the study. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit datafrom the respondents while simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Results emergingfrom analyzed data indicated that EAs’ participation was high in three REFILS activities viz - training offarmers '{2.41), attendance tofortnightly training (2.30) and conduct ofonfarm adaptive research (2.06). However, their participation was low in activities such as target and research (2.06). However, their participation was low in such activities as target and research area selection (0.28), onfarm applied research (0.02), annual zonal workshop (0.00), monthly technology review meeting (0.00), stabilization offarmers’ adoption (0.55). There was generally low level participation of EAs in REFILS activities. This was largely attributed to constraints such as logistic/mobility problems (1st), paucity of resources (2nd), poor status of service (3rd), weak communication linkages (4th), among others. It was thus recommended that the ABIADEP management should restructure the mode of operation of REFILS to accommodate more participation of EAs in many other activities. Again EAs should endeavor to improve their skill and technical competence to be able to cope with the challenging tasks in some of the activities. Also communication linkage between Headquarter staffand extension agents should be enhancedfor easy andprompt contacts

Participation of Extension Agents in Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkages System (REFILS) Activities in Abia State.

This study investigated the status of participation of the frontline field Extension staff of Abia State Agricultural Development Programme (ABIADEP) in the activities of Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkage System (REFILS) of the organization. Forty respondents were successively sampledfrom lists of extension agents (EAs) in each of the three agricultural zones of the State - Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia. Thus, a toted of120 respondents were sampledfor the study. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit datafrom the respondents while simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Results emergingfrom analyzed data indicated that EAs’ participation was high in three REFILS activities viz - training offarmers '{2.41), attendance tofortnightly training (2.30) and conduct ofonfarm adaptive research (2.06). However, their participation was low in activities such as target and research (2.06). However, their participation was low in such activities as target and research area selection (0.28), onfarm applied research (0.02), annual zonal workshop (0.00), monthly technology review meeting (0.00), stabilization offarmers’ adoption (0.55). There was generally low level participation of EAs in REFILS activities. This was largely attributed to constraints such as logistic/mobility problems (1st), paucity of resources (2nd), poor status of service (3rd), weak communication linkages (4th), among others. It was thus recommended that the ABIADEP management should restructure the mode of operation of REFILS to accommodate more participation of EAs in many other activities. Again EAs should endeavor to improve their skill and technical competence to be able to cope with the challenging tasks in some of the activities. Also communication linkage between Headquarter staffand extension agents should be enhancedfor easy andprompt contacts

Creative accounting methods and corporate failure in Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between Creative Accounting Methods and Corporate Failure in the Nigeria, specifically Aviation Industry. To carry out this study, Income smoothing, Accounting policy choice and Artificial transactions were used as proxies of creative accounting and Corporate failure as our endogenous variable, the motivation for this research was born out of observed incessant liquidation of air transport firms, some dead almost on arrival and public outcry against the poor management of the industry. the study design adopted was a blend of exploratory and explanatory survey. The study sourced its data from primary sources using structured questionnaire, and the data analysis was done using multiple regression analysis with the aid of SPSS version 25 to test the hypotheses formulated for this study. The results showed that creative accounting has a positive effect on corporate failure, specifically income smoothing and artificial transactions revealed the presence of creative accounting techniques in the industry. However, accounting policy choice showed a contrary result, though this did not invalidate the fact that there is the presence of creative accounting practices in the industry, given the cumulative coefficients of the proxies of independent variable. Based on the research findings, this study concluded that creative accounting techniques has significant effect on corporate failure. And recommended amongst others: the need to discourage the practices of creative accounting in the industry. Keywords: Creative, Accounting, Methods, Corporate, Failur

Validation of antihypertensive drug requirement to measure the severity of hypertension and the efficacy of lifestyle intervention

Background/objective: The ongoing pandemic of non-communicable diseases, with systemic arterial hypertension at the forefront, mandates urgent attention to the aetiopathogenic mechanism rather than continuing to rely on suppressive drug therapies. Lifestyle interventions (such as diet, sleep and exercise) may have substantial impact on blood pressure control in hypertension. However this may not be evident in clinical trials of lifestyle intervention if the blood pressure was previously controlled by drugs. We therefore sought to develop an alternative method of measuring the impact of lifestyle intervention, rather than rely on blood pressure measurement alone. Methods: The open trial of a personalized food avoidance dietary approach to stop hypertension was approved by the UNTH ethics committee. The Antihypertensive Drug Treatment Requirement (ADTR) score was calculated as the total number of defined unitary dosages of antihypertensive drugs times adherence +/- 0.1 accordingly for each mm Hg that average systolic pressure either exceeds 120 mm Hg (AOBP or home BP, whichever higher) or goes below 100 mm Hg Hg (AOBP or home BP, whichever lower). The dietary compliance score was based on the frequency of major/ minor dietary indiscretion (as per the PFADASH guidelines) i.e. less than (= GOOD) or more than (= POOR) once a month/ once a fortnight, respectively. Normality of data distribution was assessed by computing Shapiro-Wilk statistics. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was used to assess internal consistency of ADTR measurements. Results: Bi-quarterly Shapiro – Wilk statistics for AdhRx scores and ADTR scores showed more than 80% likelihood of being normally distributed at 5% significance level (i.e. 13 out of 16 data sets tested). Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.980. This confirmed consistency of the ADTR measurement scale. For three study participants who improved to Good compliance (after dietary counseling) and four participants who failed to improve, Good compliance was associated with lower ADTR scores, but the differences between Good (mean ADTR of 1.07+0.82) and Poor (3.81+3.15) were not statistically significant (p = 0.210). For the three study participants who transited from Poor to Good compliance (in response to counseling), there was a high degree of negative correlation (i.e. decline of drug requirement) which was statistically significant in two of them (p<0.05). However, in the study participants who failed to improve their dietary compliance, there was a relative lack of correlation (with higher p values). The overall pattern is consistent with a negative association between dietary compliance and ADTR score. Conclusion: We conclude that ADTR scores are useful and valid tools to assess the impact of dietary interventions which address the aetiopathogenic mechanism in essential hypertension. This enables differentiation between blood pressure lowering by drugs and that due to dietary intervention