ASSESSMENT OF FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND FOOD SECURITY IN THE GAMBIA

Lamin K M Fatty, Igbana Ajir and Benjamin Gowon Ahule

Department of Sociology

Centre for Food Technology and Research, Benue State University, Makurdi

Email:  lkmfattya@utg.edu.gm, igbanaajir@gmail.com, bahule@bsum.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

The study analysis is based on the assessment of production system employed by the farming community in reducing food insecurity in the Gambia. The strategy used the literatures that discussed various methods in providing policies and programmes to enhance agricultural production and productivity in the country such as concentration on rural smallholder farmers constituting the majority of the poor and strategies emphasis on: expanding irrigation and land development through appropriate land use and soil management and increasing commercialization through intensification and enhanced productivity and competitiveness of cereals – particularly rice among others. It was observed that Gambian primary sector has been characterized by subsistence production of food crops comprising cereals (early millet, late millet, maize, sorghum and rice); semi-intensive cash crop production (groundnuts, cotton, sesame and horticulture) and traditional livestock rising. Farmers generally practice mixed farming, although crops account for a greater portion of the production. On average, some 200,000 ha are annually cultivated of which less only 2% of them are irrigated. Among the crops, groundnuts are the most important occupying 40-50% of the cultivated area followed by early millet (25%), rice (8%), sorghum and maize (7% each) with the least of the area allocated to sesame and the root and tubers (cassava and sweet potatoes). The majority of farmers are smallholders (less than 3 ha per farm family) and are generally resource poor. There is heavy reliance on household labour and traditional farming techniques. Food security has been described using four key dimensions to the definition: availability, stability, safety and access. Although his view is based on urban context, the first dimension, food availability relates to the readily sufficient amounts of food. This is mainly a function of food production and supply. Food stability requires that food can be accessed at all times. Food safety is linked to the quality of food. It is not enough that sufficient amount of food are available, if it cannot be consumed without risking major health problems. It has been stated that access to food is associated with the resources that an individual or household possesses to obtain food required for a healthy diet. Also agriculture sector is confronted with constraints that result in low productivity, limited marketing and commercialization, and low net incomes, erratic and low rainfall patterns; a highly seasonal and mostly rain-fed subsistence-based production; unreliable access to inputs; insufficient supplies and use of improved seeds; limited landholdings under irrigation, diminishing access to good arable land due to population pressures among others Thus we recommended the following : need for increase productivity through the implementation of sustainable land and water management with emphasis on cereal crops, others crops in upland areas, horticulture and livestock production, production and resource management constraints; focus on vitalizing agricultural commodity value chains, and measures and programs to support competitiveness and higher investments in value chains; recognize high potential for positive impacts on women and youth employment; address capacity weaknesses of producer organizations, address forest and fisheries resources and parks and wildlife the problem of resource depletion, sustainable technologies and the need for strengthening and improving agency coordination and capacity to produce timely, accurate and relevant data and analysis concerning food and nutrition security.


EFFECTS OF THREEINDEGENOUS PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST HELMINTH IN ANIMALDUNG (COW) AT ABBAITORIN ILARO SOUTH, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

Adewole Adekanmi   and Abiaziem C. Vivan

Department of Science Lab. Technology

Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro.

email:adewolejak@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Helminthes are parasitic infections that infect the intestine and the disease is especially prevalent in developing countries including Nigeria. Three indigenous Plants of Caricapapya, Zingiber. officinale and Momordicacharantia were evaluated for their potency to control helminthes in cattle. The extracts of the plants were analyzed for their Phytochemical contents: Alkaloids, Saponin, Terpenoids, Flavonoids and Cardiac glycoside were all present. Further results on the efficacy of the plants extracts shows that all the Plants had anti-helminthic properties at various concentrations of the extracts.

Keywords: Caricapapya, Zingiber. officinale and Momordicacharantia, helminthes.


EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC NITROGEN SOURCES ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND MAIZE SEEDLING NITROGEN UPTAKE

B.L. Abdulrahman*, M.U. Dawaki, I, Muhammad

Department of Soil Science

Bayero University Kano, Kano

email: balawan.ssc@buk.edu.ng, bassam.al98@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Most Researchers have shown that organic manures are a panacea for soil fertility management in the dry savanna of Nigeria. An experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano in May, 2015. Two maize varieties (2009 EVDT and 2009 TZEEW) were evaluated alongside three organic N sources (cow manure, poultry manure and sheep manure) with an inorganic N source (urea). The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design and replicated three times the experiment was conducted in experimental pots of equal height and diameter. From the result it was observed the N sources responded well to plant height at 4 weeks after sowing with the highest plant height observed with poultry manure treatment and the variety 2009 TZEEW(66 cm). There was also a significant effect for leaf chlorophyll content, with poultry manure treatments showing more chlorophyll content (41.9). From the result of the soil analysis,there were no significant difference observed   among the various nitrogen sources for organic carbon, organic matter and cation exchange capacity but treatment with poultry manure shows highest organic carbon (0.95%), organic matter (1.6%) and CEC(10.6cmol(+)kg-1)), there was no statistical effect for soil physical and chemical properties due to the application of the organic and inorganic N sources. This may be due to the nature of the experimental pots which disrupt the soil natural condition and the slow effect of organic matter application to the soil. The experiment shows that poultry manure as an organic N source compared favorably with urea as an inorganic N source in terms of nutrient release to maize and in improving soil properties.


Table of Contents

Effect of Financial Structure on the Performance of Cement Manufacturing

Companies in Nigeria

Utile Bem Joseph                                                                                                                     1-24

Technological Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Achieving Sustainable

Development in School of Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bida

Ibrahim Abubakar Mikugi, Kolo Joshua & Abdullahi Abdulkadir Ndawancin                                 25-42

Monetary Policy and Economic Development in Nigeria (2006-2015)

Ademola Emmanuel Akinyele & Raji, Oladeinde Akeem                                                        43-67

Effects of Online Shopping on Small Scale Offline Trading in Some Selected

Shopping Complexes in Niger State, Nigeria

Abdulrahman Ali Shuaibu & Muhammad Fatima Garinwake                                                            68-92

Outdoor Advertising in Rural Markets, Challenges and Prospects

Ladokun, Isaac Olujide                                                                                                            93-109


Outdoor Advertising in Rural Markets, Challenges and Prospects

LADOKUN, ISAAC OLUJIDE

Department of Marketing

The Polytechnic, Ibadan,Oyo State, Nigeria.

Email: ladokunolujide@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

A successful national economy depends on advertising, promoting sales, so that factory production is maintained, people are employed, and have spending power, and the money goes round and round. However, due to advancements in technology and global market, organizations need to move their products and services around the globe, so as to meet customer demands and needs. Attendant to this is stiff global competition that also involves advertising spending, effectiveness, largely in urban and rural areas. This development leads to the proliferation of advertising into components like billboards, bus advertising, neon signage etc, which is christened outdoor advertising. Its growing importance in terms of revenue/profit generation, and contribution to all the stakeholders, motivates the expansion of outdoor advertising into the rural market in order to sideline urban traditional advertising competitiveness and rake in additional revenues for the organization. The focus of this study is on the challenges and prospects of outdoor advertising in rural markets. Professional journals and research based articles have been extensively used as well as textbooks by revered authors in the discipline of marketing and other areas. It was discovered that structural development of outdoor advertising, in terms of static and rotational mobile e-billboards are innovative advertising niche that can transform the revenue generation, increased employment opportunities creation, arrest of the drift in population from rural to urban areas and increase the general economic development of Nigeria.


Effects of Online Shopping on Small Scale Offline Trading in Some Selected Shopping Complexes in Niger State, Nigeria

ABDULRAHMAN ALI SHUAIBU & MUHAMMAD FATIMA GARINWAKE

Department of Business Administration

Faculty of Management and Social Sciences

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State

Email: aliabdulrahman211@gmail.com & Alfateam87@yahoomail.com   

ABSTRACT

Along with growth and development of technology in the world comes changes in the ways goods and services are produced as well as the expectations of the consumers from the producers or sellers. One of the most notable breakthroughs of technology in the modern era and in the world of business is the electronic commerce, hence online shopping system. Online shopping system is an alternative and highly promising system of trading characterized by absence of face to face interaction between the buyer and seller but through the intermediation of technology gadgets particularly the internet. Therefore, this research work generally seeks to determine the effects of online shopping on small scale offline trading in some selected shopping complexes in Niger state. In addition, it seeks to determine whether these effects are significant and also determine the awareness level of offline traders on online shopping. In light of this, a total of 99 small scale stores in the selected complexes (Obasanjo shopping complex Minna and Etsu-Yahaya shopping complex, Bida) were sampled, out of which only 88 responded to the structured questionnaire administered for the purpose of data collection. The null hypothesis for the study states that online shopping has no significant effect on offline small scale trading while the alternative hypothesis states that online shopping has a significant effect on offline small scale trading. The statistical tool used for this study to test this hypothesis was “Chi Square Goodness of Fit test” computed using Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The test led to the null hypothesis being rejected. The study found that online shopping affects offline small scale trading in several ways such as price fall, decline in profitability, increased requests for discounts by customers, increased window shopping, reduced store traffic and stimulates offline traders to diversify into online trading platform or a more technology driven operation system. The study therefore, concluded that the identified effects of online shopping on small scale offline trading are partially significant as evidenced from the data analysis. Therefore, it was recommended that offline store should adopt measure which will help reduce their cost of operation in order to allow for lower prices and also develop new store formats such as Virtual showroom, Flexible formats, and Mash ups as strategies for competing favorably with online stores.


Monetary Policy and Economic Development in Nigeria

(2006-2015)

ADEMOLA EMMANUEL AKINYELE & RAJI, OLADEINDE AKEEM

Federal Polytechnic, Department of Accountancy, Ilaro, Ogun State

Federal Polytechnic, Department of Insurance, Ilaro, Ogun State

Email: demoladelord2003@yahoo.com & akeemraji02@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effect of the various monetary policies used by Nigeria government on the growth of Nigeria economy for the past ten years (2006-2015). The economy is a large component with a lot of diverse and sometimes complex part. This study will only focus on major growth compound such as the growth is domestic product, price level, exchange rate and balance of payment equilibrium.  This study makes use of economic approach in estimating the relationship between selected monetary policy and major growth component   gotten from the CBN statistical bulletin 2015. The Primary source of data use with a structured questionnaire was also administered to the staff of the central bank of Nigeria. The ordinary least square (OLS) technique was employed in obtaining the numerical estimate of the coefficient in different equation. The paper concludes among other that  Monetary policy is critical for economic development, when monetary policy is appropriate it helps, but when it is out of time it hurts the economy. The paper recommends that the central bank is to direct the banks and other financial institution to carry out certain duties in respect of the approved monetary policy.


Technological Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Achieving Sustainable Development in School of Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bida

IBRAHIM ABUBAKAR MIKUGI, KOLO JOSHUA & ABDULLAHI ABDULKADIR NDAWANCIN

Department of Business Administration and Management

Department of Office Technology and Management

The Federal Polytechnic, Bida

Email: tatafoundation@hotmail.com, josnynkolo@yahoo.com & aawancin@yahoo.com

                                  ABSTRACT

The zeal for diversification and sustainable development is made possible through technological discoveries, innovation and commercialization; this can be achieved through application of Technological Entrepreneurship. This paper examined Technological Entrepreneurship as a catalyst for job creation and Sustainable Development in Nigeria, using School of Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bida as a study area. The researchers adopted a structured questionnaire using Five (5) Point Likert Scale Rating System to collect data from Staff of School of Engineering Technology.  The population of staff in school of engineering technology one hundred and eighty five (185). Eighty (80) questionnaires were distributed using a Random Sampling Technique. The total of seventy (71) questionnaires were returned. The Null hypothesis was stated as there is no significant relationship between technological entrepreneurship and sustainable development.  The analysis of data was done using Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) as obtained in Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS). In line with the research finding, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), shows that the P-Value as analyzed is 0.001 which is less than 0.05, this therefore shows that there is significant relationship between Technological Entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. The reliability statistics which is Cronbatch Alpha () was used, this test shows that the items on the instrument are 73% reliable, which complements the significance relationship as revealed by ANOVA. The paper concluded that whenever there is a breakthrough in research and development, it is the place of technological entrepreneurship to commercialize the achievements of technological efforts otherwise; it remains in the laboratory without making any impact. Technological Entrepreneurship is a vital element in Economic Diversification and Sustainable Economic Development. Recommendations were given which include the need for collaboration between school of engineering, research and publication committee and Entrepreneurship Centre in order to adopt, commercialized and sustain new research findings.

Keywords: Economic Diversification, Sustainable Development, Technological Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Job Creation                                                                      


Effect of Financial Structure on the Performance of Cement Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria

UTILE BEM JOSEPH, IKYA EMMANUEL & AKWUOBU FEBISADE SEFUNMI

Department of Accounting

Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Email: utilebem&@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews related literature on the effect of capital structure on the performance of cement manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The researcher used secondary information gathered from books, journals and internet materials. Findings revealed that managers of firms are under pressure to determine the right proportion of debt and equity that would be used to achieve optimal financial performance. It was concluded that researchers are yet to reach a compromise on the optimal capital structure of a firm that would maximize firm’s performance. It has been recommended that as managers continue to vary the debt to equity proportions more research should be conducted to find out an optimal capital structure that would optimize firm’s performance.


Table of Contents

Extension Teaching of Melon Farmers How Improved Farm Practices 

Should be used and Adopted under their Own Individual Farm Location

And Resource Availability in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross

River State, Nigeria

Adinya I. B. and Mahmood, H. U.                                                                                            1 – 31

Improvement of Clay Soil Characteristic using Rice Husk

Ash and Lime

Salihu Andaa Yunusa, Benjamin Adejoh& Usman Ahmad                                                    32-52

Stabilization of Clay Soil using Calcium Carbide Residue (Case Study of

Angwan Pama Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State)

Ibrahim Shuaibu, Benjamin Adejoh& Kelani A. Dawood                                                       53-85                                                  

Yield and Crop Water Use of Cowpea under Sprinkler Irrigation System

in Akure, Ondo State Nigeria

Brai M.A.                                                                                                                                  86-93


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