KNOWLEDGE AND ADOPTION OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE AMONG OIL PALM SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Precision Agriculture (PA) deals with the fine-tuned management of crop inputs including seeds, fertilizers, water, pesticides and energy inorder to create savings on these inputs, increase yield, augment profitability and protect the environment. This study was carried out with the aim of knowing the level of awareness of precision agriculture and the various factors affecting the adoption of precision agriculture by oil palm smallholder farmers in Essien Udim rural communities. Eighty respondents were interviewed. The data was analyzed using descriptive analysis such as frequency, percentage, mean and likert scale. The outcome of the study showed that most of the farmers were aware of precision agriculture because most of them had formal education. This means that the level of education of oil palm smallholder farmers could result to a high rate of agricultural technology adoption. On the constraints to the adoption of precision agriculture, the study revealed that lack of capital, information, facilities and low technical knowhow were the major constraints identified by the farmers. Since capital, information, facilities and technical knowhow were the major constraints, the availability of capital and agricultural information devices such as radio and mobile phones would help farmers to make informed decisions about what crops to sow or transplant and where to purchase affordable crop inputs and the market to sell their produce

Comparative Analysis of Path Loss Prediction Models for Urban Macrocellular Environments

A comparative analysis of path loss prediction models for urban macrocellular environments is presented in this paper. Specifically, three path loss prediction models namely free space, Hata and Egli were used to predict path losses. The calculated path loss values were compared with practical measured data obtained from a Visafone base station located in Uyo, Nigeria. The comparative analysis reveals that the mean square error (MSE) for free space, Hata and Egli were 16.24dB, 2.37dB and 8.40dB respectively. The results showed that Hata’s model is the most accurate and reliable path loss prediction model for macrocellular urban propagation environments, since its MSE value of 2.37dB is smaller than the acceptable minimum MSE value of 6dB for good signal propagation

Can brewer-sponsored ‘drink responsibly’ warning message be effective without alcohol policies in Nigeria?

Alcohol availability, use and misuse and their related problems are rising in many parts of the African continent and this has been attributed to many factors such as non-existent or ineffective regulatory measures. In contemporary Nigeria, while a culture of intoxication is growing, there are no regulatory measures in the form of alcohol policies to reduce it. What exists is brewer-sponsored self-regulation. This paper therefore, critically analyses this self-imposed 'drink responsibly' warning message, arguing that because responsible drinking messages are strategically designed to serve the interest of alcohol industries, it cannot be effective. The paper further argues that because there are no definitions of standard drinks and where alcohol by volume (ABV) is scarcely inscribed on product labels of alcoholic beverages, such message will remain ineffective. Therefore, it recommends that an urgent step should be taken by the government to formulate and implement comprehensive evidence-based alcohol policies in Nigeria

Government Agricultural Credit Policy and Macroeconomic Fundamentals: a case study of Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) in Nigeria

The study established the relationship between amount of loan guaranteed by the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) and some key macroeconomic variables in Nigeria. Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root test and improved ADF-GLS unit root test conducted on the specified time series showed that all series were integrated of order one. The short-run and long-run elasticities of amount of loan guaranteed by ACGSF with respect to some key macro-economic fundamentals were determined using the techniques of co-integration and error correction models. The empirical results revealed that in the long run, the coefficients of interest rate charged by commercial banks and value of oil revenue has a significant negative and positive relationship respectively with the amount of loan guaranteed by the ACGSF in the country. Whereas in the short run, the coefficients of the previous amount of loan guaranteed and value of oil revenue as well as the real GDP has a positive association with the current amount of loan guaranteed by ACGSF while the external debt has a negative association. The results were further substantiated by the variance decomposition and impulse response analysis of the dependent variable with respect to changes in the explanatory variables. The findings call for appropriate short and long term economic policy packages that should focused on the stabilization of the identified significant macroeconomic shifters of amount of loan guaranteed by ACGSF in the country. Special attention should be given to the interest charged on agricultural loan by participating banks. Also, diversification of the country’s economy and drastic reduction in external debt would boost the operation of ACGSF in the country and enhances credit availability to Nigerian farmers. Keywords: Credit, policy, macroeconomic, external debt, interest rate, ACGSF, Nigeri

The politics of alcohol policy in Nigeria: a critical analysis of how and why brewers use strategic ambiguity to supplant policy initiatives

The global call by the World Health Assembly (WHA) to control the rising alcohol-related problems caused by harmful consumption through policy became necessary in 2005 due to the recognition of the fact that many countries did not have alcohol policies. This gave rise to the adoption of a ten-point policy strategy by the World Health Organization (WHO) Member States in 2010. Against this backdrop, many countries adopted alcohol policies to reduce harmful alcohol consumption. Nigeria was one of the WHO Member Countries that adopted the resolution. Nigeria is among the 30 countries with the highest per capita consumption and alcohol-related problems, yet has not formulated alcohol policy to date. This paper draws on Eisenberg’s Strategic Ambiguity Model to explore the role of brewers in supplanting alcohol policy initiatives in Nigeria. It argues that the leading alcohol producers in Nigeria have been the main reason alcohol policies have not been formulated. The article focuses on why their campaigns for responsible drinking, promotions, sponsorships and ‘strategic social responsibilities’ may have increased since the WHA made the call and the WHO adopted the resolution in 2010. It concludes by arguing that there is an urgent need to formulate policies drawing from the WHO resolution to curtail the activities of these brewers and reduce harmful consumption

Intoxicating entertainment? The influence of "Star Music Trek" on the drinking practices of Nigerian students

Sophisticated marketing strategies are increasingly used by transnational alcohol companies in Nigeria. While this facilitates alcohol availability and encourages alcohol consumption, there are no effective policies to regulate alcohol marketing. This study draws on qualitative interviews with 31 Nigerian university students (aged 19–23 years) to explore some of the ways in which “Star Music Trek” (SMT, a brewer-sponsored music concert) establishes spaces that facilitate alcohol consumption among Nigerian youths. The data were analyzed to generate themes with the aid of NVivo 10 software. The article argues that although the rationale for attending the SMT event is to be entertained by famous artists for a reduced entrance fee, the event creates conditions that influence young people to use alcohol in diverse ways. Among nondrinkers, SMT establishes conditions that influence alcohol initiation because purchasing “Star beer,” the brand that sponsors SMT, not only serves as a ticket or gate pass to some of the concerts, but it is also the only brand sold at the event. Among those who use alcohol, SMT creates spaces that encourage a culture of intoxication because of the easy availability and accessibility of Star beer and promotional activities in the form of price reductions, raffle draws, and free drinks. The participants also discussed the ways in which the sponsor uses its marketing representatives to promote brand allegiance by encouraging attendees to favor Star beer after the concert. Overall, the findings reveal that SMT is a sophisticated marketing strategy to promote the Star brand. The study discusses the implications of the findings and concludes that effective national alcohol control policies should be formulated and implemented in Nigeria.The doctoral research, from which this article was taken was funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)

Performance evaluation of a natural and synthetic compound as corrosion inhibitors of API 5L X52 steel in hydrochloric acid media

A comparative study of corrosion protection of pipeline steel API 5L X52 in hydrochloric acid solution was conducted between a “synthetic commercial corrosion inhibitor” and a “green corrosion inhibitor” extract from the leaves of Ruta Chalepensis (LERC). It has been found that LERC inhibiting ability is quite high and depends strongly on its concentration in the corrosive solution. At an elevated temperature (353K), the LERC inhibitor demonstrates higher effectiveness than the commercial inhibitor. The electrochemical study showed that the LERC inhibitor affects both the anodic and cathodic corrosion reactions. The LERC adsorption mechanism on steel surface was assessed and some thermodynamic parameters of its process were determined

Awareness of alcohol advertisements and perceived influence on alcohol consumption: a qualitative study of Nigerian university students

Despite the growing alcohol marketing activities of the transnational alcohol industries in Nigeria, little research has focused on their effects on Nigerian youths. This study explores students’ awareness of electronic and outdoor alcohol advertisement on campus and around students’ off-campus residential and leisure sites, and the extent to which they perceive it to affect their drinking. Thirty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with male and female undergraduate students (aged 19-23 years) from a south-eastern Nigerian university. Alcohol advertisements on television, posters, billboards and the branded fences of bars are common on campus and around students’ off-campus residential and leisure spaces. While students were exposed to television alcohol advertisements aired during football games, movies and news hours, they regularly saw point-of-sale and other outdoor advertisements on and around the campus. Students demonstrated sophisticated levels of awareness of alcohol advertisements, to the extent that they ‘identified’ brand names, vividly described the advertising messages they had seen and named specific bars, restaurants and other sites where they had seen alcohol advertisements regularly. While alcohol advertisement influenced men to consume new products, it also affected their brand preference on a permanent basis. Although alcohol advertisements appear not to have influenced the women, it is argued that this was because they were exposed to the advertisements of alcoholic brands that are categorised as ‘men’s alcohol’ in Nigeria. The results suggest that while effective monitoring of electronic and outdoor advertisements should be reinforced, policymakers may consider replacing self-regulation with evidence-based alcohol control regulatory measures in Nigeria

Corrosion Inhibition of Aluminium Using Exudate Gum from Pachylobus edulis

The anti-corrosive effect of Pachylobus edulis exudate gum in combination with halides ions (Cl–, Br– and I–) for aluminium corrosion in HCl was studied at temperature range of 30-60°C using weight loss method. Results obtained showed that the naturally occurring exudate gum acts as an inhibitor for aluminium corrosion in acidic environment. Inhibition efficiency (%I) increases with increase in concentration of the exudate gum and synergistically increased to a considerable extent on the addition of the halide ions. The increase in inhibition efficiency (%I) and surface coverage (θ) in the presence of the halides was found to be in the order I– > Br– > Cl– which indicates that the radii as well as electronegativity of the halide ions play a significant role in the adsorption process. Pachylobus edulis exudate gum obeys Temkin adsorption isotherm. Phenomenon of physical adsorption is proposed from the values of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters obtained. The values of synergism parameter (S1) obtained for the halides are greater than unity suggesting that the enhanced inhibition efficiency of the P. edulis caused by the addition of the halide ions is only due to synergistic effect

Adiponectin and cardiovascular risk factors in relation with glycemic control in type 2 diabetics

Background: Adiponectin has been associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in Type 2 diabetes, though the mechanism of association is still uncertain. The adiponectin levels and lipid profile in relation to glycemic control were investigated in type 2 diabetics.Methods: Forty two diabetic subjects (35-64 years) and 33 age-matched non-diabetic subjects were recruited into this case control study. Socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric indices and blood pressure were obtained. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein, (HDL), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were estimated using colorimetric methods, atherogenic index (AI) was calculated, while serum adiponectin was determined by ELISA method. Results: Adiponectin levels of type 2 diabetics were not significantly different from the non-diabetics studied (p>0.05).  Higher TG levels were observed in diabetics with poor glycemic control compared with those with good glycemic control (p0.05). Conclusion: Type 2 diabetics do not have lower adiponectin levels. Gender, duration of diabetes and glycemic control does not seem to exert any influence on adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin may be associated with reduced risk of atherosclerosis through its effects on HDL cholesterol metabolism.