Analysis of some meteorological parameters using artificial neural network method for Makurdi, Nigeria

The mean daily data for sunshine hours, maximum temperature, cloud cover and relative humidity data, were used to estimate monthly average global solar irradiation on a horizontal surface for Makurdi, Nigeria. The study used artificial neural networks (ANN) for the estimation. Results showed good agreement between the predicted and measured values of global solar irradiation. A correlation coefficient of 0.9982 was obtained with a maximum percentage error (MPE) of 0.8512 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.0032. The comparison between the ANN and some existing empirical models showed the advantage of the ANN prediction model.Key words: Sunshine hours, relative humidity, maximum temperature, cloudiness index, global solar radiation

A survey on the effects of air pollution on diseases of the people of Rivers State, Nigeria

The effect of air pollution on diseases of the people of Rivers State, Nigeria has been studied by analyzing epidemiological data collected from the State Ministry of Health, Nigeria in relation to ambient Air Quality data of the State and National Ambient Air Quality Standard data. It was found that a total number of 30,435 disease cases were reported during 2003 to 2008, out of which 61 patients died. The diseases found to be prevalent in the study area as a result of air pollution were pertussis, pulmonarytuberculosis, cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), pneumonia, measles, chronic bronchitis, and upper respiratory tract infection (URT). The ambient air quality observed in the state (lead = 0.1115 ppm/year, particulates = 10 ppm/year, N-oxides = 2.55 ppm/year, SO2 = 1 ppm/year, VOC = 82.78 ppm/year) was far worse than the World Health Organization Air Quality Standard (Lead = 1 × 10-6 ppm/year, particulates = 105 ppm/year). This clearly indicates their unsafe levels and concomitant health risks. This study (survey on diseases) showed that air pollution has direct impact on health of the people. The intensification of environmental education, especially among rural dwellers in the state is very essential to overcoming the health as well as pollution problems.Key words: Air pollution, air quality standard, environmental education, epidemiological data, health effects, Niger-Delta, rural dwellers, World Health Organizatio

Performance Of Livestock Farmers Under Special Programme For Food Security In Ohafia Agricultural Zone, Abia State, Nigeria

Far greater investment in livestock production is essential if food shortages and poverty are to be reduced and progress made towards realizing goals of National Special Programme for food Security in Nigeria. In one location (Ohafia Agricultural Zone) of the programme in Abia State, Nigeria, proportionate random sampling method was used in selecting sixty (60) participating livestock farmers and assessment made on contributions of the innovative package on number of stock, profitability, and factors influencing change in revenue from livestock with the programme. Keeping poultry, and small ruminants offered participants relatively higher profits than keeping pigs. Feeding cost differential, selected breeds of stock, differences in veterinary costs, and number of livestock kept all positively influenced the revenue which farmers made from their product sales in the programme. Participating farmers should reinvest their profits in procuring more improved livestock breeds. Government could further assist the funding agency by subsidizing feed production to bring down the purchase prices as additional encouragement to participating farmers.Keywords: insufficient food, Profit, Differentials, Revenu

Determinants of consumption expenditure and its share to total income in small farm households in Ikwuano, Abia state Nigeria.

Proportion of household consumption spending of incomes of smallholder farmers reviewed with factors determining consumption in Ikwuano Abia State, Nigeria exposed relevant policy issues. A multi-stage random sampling technique guided the selection of a panel of 96 small-scale farmers who supplied cross-sectional and longitudinal information analyzed for this report. Analysis involved frequency distribution of observations, conversion of nominal values of financial variables to real values , expression of real consumption as a proportion of real income, and subjection of consumption model to Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis. Results showed that food and drinks accounted for 48.7% of the total consumption spending, with consumption spending consuming 40.0%-60.0% of the household income. Per- household-member income (in net farm income plus Off-farm income) highly positively influenced consumption and per- household-member wealth (proxy by per-household-member beginning fortnight period saving) highly negatively determined consumption. Implementation of programmes that enhance per-household-member income and better living standards of the members was therefore recommended. Keywords: Real Income; Consumption Expenditure; farm householdGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (1) 2007: pp. 1-1