CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN FARMERS AND FOOD SECURITY IN GIREI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ADAMAWA STATE NIGERIA

Mahmood Hamid Umar

Department of Agricultural Education

Federal College Education, Yola, Nigeria

Email: mahmoodmambilla@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study examined the socio-economic characteristics of women farmers in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria and how these characteristics affect food security in the area. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain primary data from 200 women involved in agriculture or agricultural related activities from the area. The study revealed that women are more involved in agriculture than the male and the males have more access to factors of production, use of technology, extension services, and access to credit services, education and farm inputs than the female. These inequalities affect the production levels of the women in agriculture making farming business not profitable to them. A gross margin analysis revealed that average gross revenue per farmer is N7000.00. a cursory view at the literature revealed that in developing countries, women contribute significantly to agricultural production particularly in food production, processing and storage. It is however, uncovered that in spite of their enormous contributions to agricultural production, their work remains unrecognized, uncounted and unsupported. The research concluded by stating that for an assured food security in the area and Nigeria as a whole, those factors affecting the contribution of women farmers to agriculture must be addressed by or policy makers.

BIOAEROSOLS IN A RESEARCH LABORATORY

Shiaka, G.P., Yakubu, S.E., and Olonitola, S.O.

Department of Microbiology

Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria

Laboratory procedures can generate aerosolized particles that are respirable and therefore potentially hazardous to the laboratory workers including researchers. Bioaerosols in the indoor environment of a postgraduate research laboratory in the Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria were investigated within a period of 16 weeks in the year 2007. The highest bacterial count: 8.3 × 10³ cfu/ml and lowest: 0.95 × 10² cfu/ml were  obtained in 2^nd and 4^th week while the highest: 4.0 × 10³ cfu/ml and lowest: 0.41 × 10³ fungal counts were obtained in 16^th week and 4^th week of sampling respectively. The correlation is significant between the bacterial and fungal mean concentration (p<0.05) using t-test (two tailed), Kendall’s and Spearman’s rho correlation analysis. Some of the representatives which constituted bacteria and fungi isolated in this study include Staphylococcusspp, Bacillussubtilis, Pseudomonasaeruginosa, Proteus spp, Klebsiella spp, Aspergillusniger, Mold and Fusarium. These organisms could significantly deteriorate indoor air quality therefore, safe microbiological principles and practices must be highly esteemed.

Keywords: Aerosol, Bacteria, Fungi, Indoor, Laboratory,

ADAPTING RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS TO LOW-COST HOUSING: PLANNING AND DESIGN IMPLICATIONS

S.A. Sumaila¹, *M. B. Adamu¹, Iro A. I² and R.T Bhadmus³

¹Architecture Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
²Quantity Surveying Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi

³Quantity Surveying Programme Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi
email: bby6907@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Cost of housing construction has been on the increase for a long time now and an equally high cost in use especially that of energy has exerbated the situation. Consequently adoption of renewable energy systems for low-cost housing has been suggested not only as a cheaper alternative but also as a more environmentally friendly option. However contemporary building design is premised on conventional energy source necessitating some modifications in planning and design for adoption of the various alternative energy sources. A review of the characteristic’s of the various alternative energy technologies suggests modifications inarchitectural planning and design in such areas as site planning/landscaping floor planning. Construction detailing, materials specification and environmental control systems at the micro level. Such modifications would imply a new building form and character which should not only be aesthetically pleasing but should in addition achieve overall cost effectiveness. At the macro level, i.e. City/regional level, a new infrastructural arrangement as well as a modified land-use planning would result

Key Words: Design, Energy, Low-Cost, Planning, Renewable.

NUTRITIONAL POTENTIALS AND CHEMICAL VALUE OF SOME TROPICAL LEAFY VEGETABLES CONSUMED IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

Sobowale, S.S^1*; Olatidoye, O.P²; Olorode, O.O¹, and Akinlotan, J.V¹

¹Department of Food Science and Technology, Moshood Abiola polytechnic, Nigeria

²Department of Food Science and Technology, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria

Email: sunsam­­_2003@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

The human population in tropical African depends largely on a number of edible leafy vegetables to meet up with shortages in minerals and vitamins. Data base on the nutritional value of these leafy vegetables is scanty. Therefore, we report the nutritional components in three species of leafy vegetables using standard analytical methods. All the vegetables contained moisture (79.92 to 84.0%), crude protein (20.61 to 22.7%), crude fibre (10.7 to 22.44%), ash (6.8 to 10.44%), carbohydrate (55.86 to 68.22%) crude lipid (4.24 to 5.6%) and food energy (1507.19 to 1673.96 kJ/100g). The mineral element content were high with remarkable concentration of K(35.2 to 48.8mg/100g),Na(11.4 to 14.4 mg/100g),Ca(15.4 to 18.7mg/100g), Mg(12.2 to 18.7mg/100g), P(13.8 to 15.08mg/100g). The relationship between Na and K as well as between Ca and P; are desirable with the respective ratios of Na/K (0.6) and Ca/P (1.2). They also contain high levels of carotenoids (30 to 41.5 mg/100g DW), vitamin C (137.5 to 197.5 mg/100g DW). Seventeen amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, cysteine, phenylalmine, tyrosine, threonine, valine, alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, proline and serine) were detected.  Their amino acid composition compare favourably with that of WHO/FAO protein standard indicating favourable nutritional balance except for lysine and methionine which appear marginal. The nutritional values of the phytochemicals were also assessed with a view of establishing and understanding their nutritional uses. The functional properties for the three vegetables were similar. Comparing the nutrient and chemical constituents with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values, the results reveal that the leaves contain an appreciable amount of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, amino acids and phytochemicals and low levels of toxicants.

Keywords: vegetables, nutrients, amino-acids, phytochemicals, functional properties

EFFECT OF GRADED LEVELS OF BREWERS DRIED GRAIN ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GROWING RABBITS: 1. GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMY OF PRODUCTION

B. J. Mufwa¹;  Kibon A^2; Mafindi M. ¹ and Yakubu B.³

¹Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Jalingo

²Department of Animal Science, University of Maiduguri, Borno State

³Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Technology, Yola

e-mail Mufwa@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The experiment was conducted to investigate the growth performance and economy of production of growing rabbit fed graded levels of brewers dried grains, five diets were formulated in which brewers dried grains (BDG) was included at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% respectively. Thirty (30) 6-8 weeks old growing rabbits were randomly allotted to the dietary treatment, with three replicate of two rabbit per replicate in completely randomized block design. Results showed that Rabbit on 40% BDG had a significantly (P<0.05) better average daily weigh gain (13.86g/d) and feed conversion ratio. (FCR) The feed cost per kg gain (N/gain) was significantly (P<0.05) lower at 40% BDG. Based on these BDG at 40% gave the best performance and could be recommended as the best inclusion level of growing rabbits.

Keywords: Brewers dried grain, growing rabbit, Growth and Economy                  

MODELING OF RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF DRILLING FLUIDS FOR ULTRA HIGH PRESSURE / HIGH TEMPERATURE (HPHT) OIL AND GAS WELLS

Oriji, A. B.; Dosunmu, A. and Joel, O.F

Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering

University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Determination of mud properties at ultra HPHT deep wells has been a challenge in the Oil and Gas industry. Conventional mud designs and test equipment fell short of addressing inherent problems associated with these types of wells. This paper presents a novel approach in determining and modeling rheological properties of mud under this ultra high temperature and high pressure regime. Water based mud was formulated with special additives to enhance stability under such elevated temperature and pressure. Tests were conducted at 450, 460, 470, 480, 490 and 500°F as well as pressure of 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800, 9900 and 10000 psi. Using test results indicated that rheological property is a function of temperature, pressure and also the interaction effect of temperature and pressure respectively. Model coefficients were obtained using multiple regression analysis in visual basic.dot net software. The models which predicted the rheological properties with respect to temperature and pressure were developed. Results calculated from the model equations showed a good agreement with experimental values with less than 1% deviation. This will help predict rheological properties and rank the best of the models at high temperature and pressure thereby saving time and rigour associated with actual laboratory tests. Also, the generated mathematical equations for apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point and gel strength will provide proactive step for practical drilling experience and for well planning.

Keywords: Apparent Viscosity, Plastic Viscosity, Yield Point, Gel strength, Temperature and Pressure.

MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS ASSOCIATED WITH FERMENTED MILK “NUNU” SOLD IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS, BENUE STATE OF NIGERIA

Aernan, P.T., Ebah, E.E. and Ukange, P.

Department of Biological Sciences

Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria

tracernan1@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Nunu  is a fermented milk product consumed as a drink in  parts of West Africa.To assess the microbial contamination of “nunu”,a total of sixty(60) samples of ‘nunu’ was collected from five  different market locations in Makurdi metropolis. This included samples from bothsources of production and vendors. Samples were cultured on nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, Mannitol salt agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar. The microorganism isolated includes Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Proteus spp, Klebsiella spp, Candida spp,  Saccharomyces spp, Trichosporum spp, Cryptococcus spp, Fusarium spp, Alternaria spp, Moraxella spp, Bacillus spp, and Mucor Spp. e.t.c. From the results ‘nunu’ collected from the source of production had higher mean microbial total viable count, enterobacterial and fungal counts of 2.58×10⁶cfu/ml, 1.56×10⁶ cfu/ml and 2.08×10⁶ cfu/ml respectively as compared to samples collected from vendors which had mean microbial total viable counts of 1.13×10⁶cfu/ml enterobacterial count of 1.22×10⁶cfu/ml and fungal count of 1.53 ×10⁶cfu/ml.  The sources of contamination could be from the producing animal(s), the milker as well as the water used for ‘nunu’ processing. Efforts should be intensified on improving the sanitary condition of this product as this could lead to fatal health hazards.

Key words: fermented milk, “nunu”, mannitol salt agar, macConkey agar.