ALLOCATIVE EFFICIENCY AND PROFITABILITY OF MAIZE PRODUCTION INPUTS IN ORU EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Ugwumba, C.O.A.  and Omojola, J.T.

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

Anambra State University, Igbariam

E-mail: veecel326@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study specifically investigated profitability, allocative efficiency and constraints to maize production in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents. Well structured and pre-tested interview instruments were administered to the respondents to obtain data. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, budgetary method and power function model.  Results revealed that the enterprise was profitable based on the positive values of net farm income (N1,511,905) and net return on investment (0.86). Farm size, labour, fertilizer, capital and  maize seeds had allocative efficiency values of 1.39, 0.0037,-0.000008,  0.0075 and 0.0018 respectively;  implying that cost of labour, fertilizer, capital and maize seeds were over-utilized, while farm size was under-utilized. Production was most seriously constrained by inadequate extension services, lack of information on modern technologies and poor storage facilities.  Maize farmers’ problems would be ameliorated by proper implementation of the current Federal Government Extension Transformation Agenda (AETA) to make modern maize production techniques available, affordable and adoptable. This would improve efficiency of resource-use, enterprise profitability and sustainability.

Keywords: Maize, Efficiency, Profitability, Return to scale, Imo State, Nigeria

DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AS CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION IN ANAMBRA STATE

Uche Okeke

Agricultural Economics

Anambra State University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology

e-mail: Victorokeke67@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The increase in population of the world especially in the developing countries put pressure on the use of land. These means more crop will be produced to feed the growing population. Apart from these, more economic activities will be taking place leading to soil degradation. The demographic factors that causes erosion are the population growth, population density and migration of people from and into an area. The survey shows that the effects of erosion like destruction of trees, displacement of population and loss of fertility are increasing while loss of human lives are decreasing.

ASSESSMENT OF WILLINGNESS – TO – PAY FOR HONEY AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN ABAKALIKI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Nwibo, S. U. and Egwu, P. N.

Department of Agricultural Economics, Management and Extension

Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki

E-mail: sunwibo92@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The willingness to pay for honey among farming households in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was studied. The study adopted a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse the objectives of the study.  The findings revealed that the mean age of the farming households was forty-six (46) years with 62.5% of the males engaged in farming. Meanwhile, the mean household size of the farmers was eight (8) and cultivate an average of five (5) hectares and earn an annual farming income of one hundred and forty thousand (N140, 000.00) naira. Using Kaiser’s rule of thumb, the study identified the active nutrients content of honey (0.843), low sugar content of honey (0.572) and medicinal value (0.652) as factors influencing the consumption of honey. Consequent upon the importance of honey, it was observed that that 76.7% of the farmers are willing to pay for honey as interpreted as the Naira (N) amount that the farming households were willing to pay to obtain honey at an average amount of seven hundred naira (N700.00) for one litre bottle of honey which was equivalent of $4.46 per a litre. With the F-ration of 44.796 and coefficient of multiple determination (R²) of 0.764, which implied that about 76% variation in the dependent variable was influenced by the independent variables included in the regression model; marital status (x₃), educational status (x₄), annual income (x₅), farm size (x₆), and household size (x₇) of the farmers were identified as having positive and significant effect on the willingness to pay for honey in Abakaliki L. G. A. of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The study based on findings, recommended for public enlightenment campaign on the health advantage of honey consumption and utilisation should be intensified by government and non-governmental agencies, supports in form of grants and aids should be given to bee farmers to boost their production level so as to ensure adequate supply of honey.

Keywords: willingness, to pay, honey, farming household, Abakaliki.

CROSS SECTIONAL STUDIES ON OESOPHAGOSTOMOSIS IN SLAUGHTER CATTLE IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

^1*Biu, A.A., ²Paul, B.T., ³Konto, M. and ⁴Ya’uba, A.M

Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Parasitology

University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

E-mail: biuvet@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted in Maiduguri municipal abattoir between June and August 2009 to determine the prevalence of bovine oesophagostomosis by post mortem examination of the intestine of each slaughter cattle in relation to age, breed and sex. Out of the 400 cattle examined, a prevalence of 4(1.0%) was recorded with no significant difference (p = 0.9539 > 0.05) among age groups, sex and breed. Pimply nodules were predominantly abscesses filled with caseous necrotic material suggestive of dead larvae. Nodular burden of between 2 and 200 per intestine was graded as intermediate degree of infection.

Keywords: Cross sectional studies, Oesophagostomosis, Cattle, Nigeria.

OILSEED CROP PRODUCTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA

*Mshelia J. S¹ and A. A.Sajo²

¹Department of Agriculture, C.O.E. S & T., Bama, Borno state.

²Department of Crop Production and Horticulture, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola

ABSTRACT

The North-Eastern region is among the largest oilseed crop producing areas of Nigeria and oilseeds are important next only to food grains in terms of hectarage, production and value. As the country’s agricultural scenario is undergoing a rapid transformation which will lead to impressive performance in the food front by 2020,the oilseeds scenario also need to be considered to ensure increase in the domestic production in the oilseed crops on a sustainable bases. The main oilseed crops produced in the area include groundnut, sesame, soybean, sunflower and castor oil in order of their importance and those need economic development in the region. The paper looked at the increasing interest and hectarage of oilseed North-Eastern, the challenges faced by producers and proffered suggestion for sustainable production of these crops which include provision of improved extension services, subsidies on inputs, marketing services and price incentives, improved production technologies, provision of improved seeds as well as processing industries for such crops.  

Keywords: Oilseed, Sustainable, Production and Development

ANALYSIS OF SOCIO- ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PIGS FARMERS THAT INFLUENCE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

¹Banta, A.L.; ²Wamagi I. Thomas; ³Ayuba A.M. and ⁴Olukosi J.O

^1&2Department of General Agriculture, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria

³Ministry of Education Kaduna, Kaduna

⁴Landmark University Kwara State, Nigeria

bantaayuba@yahoo.com

ABTRACT

This paper focuses on analysis of socio-economics characteristics of pigs farmers that influence sustainable development in Kaduna state, Nigeria. The objectives of this paper was to determine the socio-economic characteristics of pig farmers that influence sustainable development in the study area, to assess the source of farm inputs among the farmers and to identify the problems of pig production and suggest control measures  to the factors limit productivity in the study area. Primary data used for this research were collected through the aid of structured questionnaire alongside oral interview during the 2011 farming season. A total of 90 farmers out of 1804 farmer identified by Kaduna State Agricultural Development Production(KADP) farmers list were selected using random sampling techniques. Simple descriptive statistics was employed to analyze parameters such as farmers’ age, level of education, household size, problems of pigs productions. Result indicates that farmers had mean age of 44 years indicating that farmers were within the active age of productivity. The result in Table 1 indicates the mean herd size was 3.5 indicating the farmers were small-scale category. Overall educational level of the respondents showed that a large number of the pigs farmers were literate (73%). The result on Table 2 showed that sample farmers obtained their input from open market personal farms, neighbourhood, batter and gift. Problems of pigs farmers were identified to include cost of feeds (36%), disease and high cost of veterinary services (36%), poor pig housing 10%, low prices of pigs in the market (8%) lack of finance (6%), High cost of transportation (2%), and 1% lack of improved breeds 1%. The paper recommended that the state ministry of Agriculture should revive the breeding of improved and prolific breeds to increase production level, farmer need to be assisted financially through microfinance banks and cooperate societies to encourage production. Improved feeds including concentrates should be produced and distributed to farmers at affordable prices for increased and sustainable productivity and economic growth.

Keywords: Analysis, Socioeconomic, Characteristics, Pigs, Farmers, Sustainable Development, Kaduna State

EFFECT OF PROCESSING ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS YIELD OF BROILERS FED DIFFERENTLY PROCESSED SORREL HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA SEED MEAL

Nyameh, J¹., A.J. Ribanre¹; J. Alabi², B.J. Mufwa¹ and A.M. Gyau³

¹Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture Jalingo, Nigeria

²Sebore Farms (EPZ) Mayo-Belwa, Adamawa, Nigeria

³Department of Agriculture Science, Kurgwi, Plateau State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

A seven weeks feeding trial was conducted to determined the effect of processing on the performance and carcass yield of broilers fed differently processed sorrel Hibiscus sabdariffa seed meal as replacement for groundnut cake. One hundred and twenty (120) day-old broiler chicks were randomly weighed and assigned to five (5) dietary treatments in a group of twenty four (24) birds each, each treatment was replicated twice with twelve (12) birds per replicate in a completely randomized block design (CRBD). The different processing methods adopted were soaking, boiling, soak and boil and sprouting for T2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively as raw (T1) was used as the control. The differently processed sorrel seed meal were incorporated to replaced 50% of the groundnut cake portion of the formulated diets. The birds were fed the experimental diets and water was provided without restriction through out the experimental period. The results showed that the daily feed intake ranged from 167.86g/day – 179.64g/day and the corresponding daily weight gain also ranged from 35.24g/bird – 39.17g/bird. The daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among all the treatments. The group fed raw sorrel seed meal (T1) recorded the highest dressed weight (1448.80g) and T5 was superior than T2, T3, and T4. Therefore, 50% of the GNC could be replaced with processed sorrel seed meal in broilers diet without adverse effect on the performance and carcass yield of the chicken.

Keywords: Processing, sorrel seed meal, broilers, performance, carcass.