Sales of Medicinal Forest Tree Barks in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria

The marketing of forest tree barks used for medicinal purposes were investigated in some markets in Abeokuta metropolis. This was to provide the much needed information on the sellers, buyers and producers of these products for sustainable production and maximum socio-economic benefits. This study identified 43 species being sold in the market places sampled namely Kuto, Omida, Itoku, Lafenwa, Iberekodo and Elega. Almost the same species were traded in all the markets sampled. This study further revealed that the trade of forest tree barks is pre-dominated by women accounting for 93.3% of the total respondent. Fifty one percent of the respondents were recorded among the youths between the ages of 15 and 20 years old. Forest tree bark sales were found to contribute to the monthly income of the respondents. For instance more than half of them earned between N7,500 and N10,000 as monthly incomes from bark sales. A total of 62 or 41.33% or the total respondents were found to earn more than the State Government minimum wage of N4,600 monthly. The Chi-square statistical analysis showed that there was a relationship between income earned by the respondents and the location of the markets. African Research Review Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 65-7

ENTERPRISE ASSESSMENT ACROSS CASSAVA WASTE (PEELS) VALUE CHAIN IN OGUN STATE

In this article, the Enterprise assessment across cassava peels value chain in Ogun State Nigeria is examined. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 cassava processors and marketers. Socio-economic data were obtained from respondents with the use of pre-tested questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, budgetary technique, Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and Student t-test. The study found that majority (84.3% and 52.8%) of processors of cassava peels and marketers were female. In addition, 60.2% of the processors and 51.4% of the marketers had secondary education. The value chain activities carried out by processors were transportation, drying and packaging while marketers transported, packaged and put the peels in storage for future sales. The SFA revealed that cost of labour (p<0.01) and quantity of fresh cassava peels (p<0.01) were the main determinants of output of dried cassava peels by the processors. The inefficiency model revealed that the efficiency of producing dried cassava peels increased with increase in age (p<0.01), credit access (p<0.01), household size (p<0.01) and membership of cooperative society (p<0.01). Furthermore, the cost function revealed that cost of sieving (p<0.05) and depreciation on capital item (p<0.01) increased the production cost of dried cassava peels. The mean technical, allocative and economic efficiency of producing dried cassava peels were estimated as 94%, 83% and 78% respectively. This study concluded that production of cassava peels is efficient and its trade is profitable. The study recommends that cassava processors and marketers should form cooperative groups to increase access to credit for higher output and trade of peels

AN ANALYSIS OF YIELDS OF KOLA-NUT PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND MARKETING IN SAGAMU LGA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study on Kola nut production in Ogun State was aimed at describing the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, net farm income, marketing channels and factors influencing output of kola nut for its impact on food security. Multistage sampling technique was used in the study; the first stage involves the purposive selection of Sagamu Local Government as largest Kola nut farming with 4 communities; namely; Agbowa; Sagamu; Igodo, and Odelemo. The second stage involves simple random selection of 100 kola nut farmers, 25 per community. A structured questionnaire was administered subject to descriptive analysis, multiple regressions, and budgetary analysis. The results revealed that male 82% and female 18% were involved in kola nut production, processing and marketing. Average household size of 6 members with a minimum of 25 years farming experiences. The study revealed that 51% of the farmers sold directly to wholesalers, 37% sold to processors, and 12% sold to retailers. Also, 83%, of the producers and marketers were married 16% were widowed and only 1% divorced. Average age was 58years and average farm size of 2.71 hectares. Average farm net income was ₦208,680.40 per annum with the total revenue of ₦291,149 and a gross margin of ₦237,789.50 per annum. The average total cost incurred was calculated as ₦82,468.40 being cost of labour, transportation and items such as cutlass, hoes and files. Regression analysis used to determine the factors affecting the output of kola nut showed that farm size, age of kola nut plantation and the age of farmers were significant at 10%, 5% and 1% respectively using double log equation and the model was significant at 1%. The age of farmers (x1) was negatively significant which implies that as farmers reach old age, this may serve as hindrance due to physical inability to undertake vigorous farm activities hence reduction in output occurs by 13.3%. Farming experience (x2) was negatively correlated with output of kolanut indicating that a unit increase in experience of kolanut farmers will decrease output by 12.3%. Farm size was found to positively significant which implies that a unit increase in farm size will increase output by 83.1%.The result revealed that kola nut business is a profitable venture and male dominated. The women could be encouraged to invest in the business to increase their income and livelihood.

USPOREDBA PROCJENE EKONOMSKE KORISTI ZEMLJANIH BAZENA RIBNJAKA I BETONSKIH SPREMNIKA U AKVAKULTURNOM PODUZETNIŠTVU DRŽAVE OYO U NIGERIJI

The study focused on the comparative evaluation of economic benefits of earthen fish ponds and concrete tanks in aquaculture enterprises in Ibadan, Oyo state. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured interview schedule, administered through personal interviews and observations to elicit information from 100 fish farmers using purposive and convenience sampling procedure. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive, budgetary and inferential statistics. The study revealed that the mean age, male, married, household size, educated and fish farming experience were 41 years, 83.0%, 87.0%, 5 persons, 96.0% and 8 years, respectively. Earthen fish ponds users earned mean revenue of N3,322,189.85 with gross margin of N2,188,397.89 while concrete tank users earned N2,412,271.08 with gross margin of N1,413,299.46. The results showed profitability indices (0.61 and 0.47), Variable Cost ratio (0.35 and 0.30), Benefit Cost Ratio (2.55 and 1.89), Gross ratio (0.40 and 0.54) and Expenses structure ratio (0.13 and 0.23) for both the earthen ponds and concrete fish tanks, respectively. There were significant differences (t = 42.53, p≤0.05) between the profit level of earthen fish ponds and concrete tanks. Major constraints affecting economic status of the respondents were high cost of quality feed, insufficient funds, poaching and poor marketing channel. In conclusion, aquaculture is a more profitable and viable business regardless of the culture system. Government should assist the fish farmers by subsidizing feeds cost, granting and monitoring of loan.Temelj ovog istraživanja bila je usporedba procjene ekonomske koristi zemljanih bazena ribnjaka i betonskih spremnika u akvakulturnim poduzećima grada Ibadana u državi Oyo. U izboru 100 uzgajivača ribe korištena je kombinacija svrsishodnog i praktičnog uzorkovanja, a uzgajivači su bili podvrgnuti strukturiranom intervjuu radi prikupljanja primarnih podataka u svrhu deskriptivne statistike, proračunske tehnike i inferencijalne statistike. Istraživanje je rezultiralo sljedećim podacima: prosječna životna dob bila je 41 godina, muškaraca je bilo 83,0%, oženjenih 87,0%, u većini slučajeva bilo je 5 članova kućanstva, obrazovanih je bilo 96,0%, a iskustvo uzgoja riba kod ispitanika bilo je 8 godina. Korisnici zemljanih bazena ribnjaka imali su srednji prihod od N3,322,189.85 s bruto maržom od N2,188,397.89, dok su korisnici betonskih spremnika zaradili N2,412,271.08 s bruto maržom od N1,413,299.46. Indeks profitabilnosti bio je 0,61 i 0,47, varijabilni omjer troškova 0,35 i 0,30, omjer troškova i koristi 2,55 i 1,89, bruto omjer 0,40 i 0,54, a omjer strukture troškova bio je 0,13 i 0,23. Značajna je razlika između razine profita od zemljanih ribnjaka i betonskih spremnika (t = 42,53, p ≤ 0,05). Glavne prepreke koje utječu na ekonomski status ispitanika bili su visoki troškovi kvalitetne prehrane, neadekvatnost fondova, krivolov i loš marketing. Zaključno, akvakultura je isplativo i održivo područje poduzetništva, bez obzira na kulturni sustav. Vlada bi trebala pomoći uzgajivačima ribe subvencioniranjem troškova prehrane, odobravanjem i praćenjem kredita

DETERMINANTS OF HERBAL SOAP SMALL ENTERPRISES AND MARKET-LED DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA

Research into alternative natural products with health potential such as herbal soap has become very important to curb the disastrous effects of mercury-based soap on healthy living and so enhance women’s productive activities of the rural peasantry. The study examines the factors affecting herbal soap small enterprises development and marketing. In identifying the factors affecting the small enterprises, five hundred and two (502) herbal soap processors and marketers were surveyed from South West, Nigeria comprising 65 villages in the sampled 16 Local Government Areas. A close-ended questionnaire was used to gather data for the study. The data collected from herbal soap entrepreneurs was fitted into three regression functional forms. The functional forms were linear, semi-log and double log functions. The double log function was selected as the lead equation based on the significance of the individual coefficients and their signs, the magnitude of the coefficient of the multiple determinations (R2) and the magnitude of the standard error (SE) which was 0.80 and F- statistics of 2.35. The R2 of 0.829 indicated that 82.9% of the variation in the gross profit of herbal soap production (Y) was accounted for by the regressors/explanatory variables. Regression analysis result revealed that, household size and labour were significant at 10% while extension contact was significant at 5%. It is therefore recommended that, extension contact should be encouraged among the herbal soap processors in other to generate more income, also, awareness should be created for existing and prospective entrepreneurs about business opportunities in Natural resources utilising agricultural-wastes. 

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF COMBINED ELECTROMAGNETIC AND MAGNETIC DRUM-BELT CONVEYOR SEPARATOR

Mineral processing operations are faced with many challenges which include effective separation of unwanted materials generated through the extraction process from the bulk material. Magnetic device is a machine used for separating magnetic materials from non-magnetic materials by inducing the magnetic flux. Magnetic and electromagnetic separators are widely used as primary separation equipment. This work was centred on the design and construction of a laboratory-sized dual purpose magnetic and electromagnetic separator for separating the magnetic particles from the rest of the bulk mineral or ferrous materials from foundry sand in a single system. The main components of the equipment include: the hopper, conveyor belt rotating drums, pulley and belt, electromagnet. The approaches to achieving the result reported include the design conceptualization, design calculation, design drawing using the AutoCAD and Inventor software, fabrication and assembly of components. The evaluation showed that electromagnetic separation is more efficient than magnetic separation. The equipment was fabricated at an average cost of 224,000:00 naira

DEVELOPMENT OF A VIBRATORY HONEY EXTRACTOR

Extraction of honey from honey comb is extracted predominantly using either traditional method or the mechanical screw press method which generates a problem of crushing the comb along with the extract. This creates an additional cost of separating unwanted materials in the extract. To solve this problem for stakeholders in the honey business worldwide, a vibratory honey extractor was conceived, designed and fabricate. The machine was made of stainless, mild steel and plastic materials. The machine has a capacity of 2.5 Kw and operates at speed and frequency of 483 rpm and 50 Hz respectively. The machine was able to attain an extract of 98.9% a value far better than the centrifugal method within 40 minutes of operation. A reduction to 0.21 of the initial weight of honey extraction was obtained at an average extraction rate of 7.36g /min. The honey extracted was good quality given the best acceptable value for all stakeholders in the honey business industries

Effect on nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage of replacing PCV7 with PCV13 in the Expanded Programme of Immunization in The Gambia

AbstractIntroductionIn 2011, two years after the introduction of 7-valent Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), the Gambian immunization programme replaced PVC7 with PCV13 (13-valent). Our objective was to assess the additional impact of PCV13 on prevalence of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage.MethodsWe recruited healthy Gambian infants who had received three PCV doses. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from infants and their mothers during two cross-sectional surveys (CSS) conducted in infants vaccinated with PCV7 (CSS1) and vaccinated with PCV13 (CSS2). Pneumococci were isolated and serotyped following standardized methods. Whole genome sequencing was performed on non-typable pneumococcus isolated in CSS1 and CSS2.Results339 and 350 infants and their mothers were recruited in CSS1 and CSS2, respectively. Overall prevalence of pneumococcal carriage was 85.4% in infants. Among infants, prevalence of vaccine type (VT) carriage was lower in CSS2 [9.4% versus 4.9% (p=0.025) for PCV7-VT; 33.3% versus 18.3% (p<0.001) for PCV13-VT and 23.9% versus 13.7% (p=0.001) for the 6 additional serotypes included in PCV13]. At CSS2, there was a decrease of serotypes 6A (from 15.3% to 5.7%, p<0.001) and 19F (from 5.6% to 1.7%, p=0.007), and an increase of non-typable pneumococci (0.3–6.0%, p<0.001), most of which (82.4%) were from typable serotype backgrounds that had lost the ability to express a capsule. Prevalence of overall and VT carriage in mothers was similar in CSS1 and CSS2.ConclusionsReplacing PCV7 for PCV13 rapidly decreased prevalence of VT carriage among vaccinated Gambian infants. An indirect effect in mothers was not observed yet. Vaccine-driven selection pressure may have been responsible for the increase of non-typable isolates