Land reform, security of tenure and environmental conservation in Nigeria

This paper is a review of the Land Use Act of 1978 with a view to examining the implications of the Act for security of tenure and environmental conservation. The review indicates that while the inalienation of rights of use and ownership of land under the communal or group ownership tenure system limited access to land and security of tenure, it encouraged the protection and conservation of land resources and the physical environment. The land reform (Land Use Act) of 1978 on the other hand promoted and consolidated individual rights of use and alienation, which stimulated the development of a speculative land market. The existence of a speculative land market is a disincentive to land resource conservation and environmental protection. A review of the reform, which will change or modify the conditions of tenure without changing ownership or redistributing land, is required. This will predispose landowners to conserve and protect land resources.Keywords: tenure system, environment, conservation, communal ownership, reformInternational Journal of Agricultural and Rural Development Vol. 5 2004: 86-9

Effect of exchange rate adjustment on the output of Nigerian agriculture

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 38 2007: pp. 82-9

Performance of pure and crossbred progenies of Red Sokoto and West African Dwarf goats in the Rainforest Zone of South Eastern Nigeria.

This study is a report of part of a planned breeding programme to evaluate the performance of pure and crossbred progenies of Red Sokoto (RS) and West African Dwarf (WAD) goats in a rainforest zone of South Eastern Nigeria. A total of 56 kids produced by four breeding goat units consisting of pure Red Sokoto (RS x RS), pure West African Dwarf (WAD X WAD), main cross (RS x WAD), and reciprocal cross (WAD X RS) were used to investigate performance and cost benefit of producing progenies of these indigenous goats. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with genetic group and sex as the factors of interest. Results showed that at birth, the male RS X RS kids weighed significantly (P<0.05) highest (1.84±0.23kg), followed by WAD X RS (1.43±0.14kg), RS X WAD (1.37±0.56kg) while the WAD X WAD kids had the lowest birth weight (1.15±0.39kg). However, the RS X WAD female kids, at birth weighed significantly highest (1.5±0.54kg), followed by the RS X RS (1.33±0.98kg), WAD X RS (1.31±0.17kg) and WAD X WAD (1.09±0.12kg).Body weight at 18 weeks was significantly higher for RS X RS (9.82±0.79kg) than the RS X WAD (8.34±0.85) which in turn was significantly higher than the WAD X RS (7.61±0.13kg) and WAD X WAD (7.51±0.61kg). The male and female kids of the RS X WAD had improved body weight and the linear body measurements namely, body length, height-at-withers and heart girth. This genetic group had a higher average daily gain (46.03 ± 1.41g/d) and better feed conversion ratio (5.38 ± 0.27) than the RS x WAD (6.64 ± 0.18) and WAD x WAD (7.02 ± 0.21). It also had the lowest cost of production (N953.40=$6.60) and as such the highest gross margin (N2,111.06 =$14.60) in 18 weeks. Individuals in this group appeared more promising hybrid goats for commercial meat goat production in the rainforest zone of South Eastern Nigeria.Keywords: Red Sokoto and WAD goats, crossbreeding, linear body measurements, cost benefit, rainforest zone