FAMAN Journal Volume 8 No. 1, 2006
Adedokun, M. O.1 Oyun A. B. 2 Aina,
O. M, 1 and Adetogun, 1 A. C.
1Dept. of Forestry and Wildlife
Management, University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta.
2Dept. of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure
Corresponding author 1
ABSTRACT
A
survey was conducted in Akure Local Government Area of Ondo State to give
preliminary information on the magnitude, characteristics and contribution to
rural employment of small-scale, wood-based processing enterprises through
structured questionnaire. Small scale, wood based enterprise accounts for about
44% of the total rural labour force. The
enterprises are characterized by very small size, heavy reliance on
entrepreneur and family labour, technological simplicity of operations and
rural location bias. Furniture, logging and carpentry were found to be the
commonest among the small scale, wood-based enterprises. A range of problems facing small scale,
wood-based enterprises was identified and a number of solutions were suggested.
It was recommended that there should be removal of various discrimination
through policies which might go a long way to ensuring a healthier small-scale,
enterprise growth, reduction or removal of subsidies and other privileges
currently offered the large enterprises rather than extending these support and
incentives to small ones, a number of specific policy changes to increase access
to market, reduce raw material and financial problems should be effected, and
small-scale enterprise should be organized into groupings so as to benefit from
policy changes.
Keywords:
small-scale, wood-based, enterprises, impact
STIMULATING GROWTH AND
MINIMIZING RISK IN AGRICULTURAL LENDING UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL CREDIT GUARANTEE
SCHEME FUND (ACGSF) IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
Nasiru, M., Jibril, S.A.., Sani,
R.M. and Sabo, A. M.
Agricultural Economics and
Extension Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
ABSTRACT
This study examined the impact of ACGSF in stimulating
growth and minimizing of risk in Agricultural lending in Bauchi State. Forty
three (43) farmers were randomly sampled and data collected through the use of
structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics,
correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that farmers
farm size increased considerably (P>0. 001) after taking the loan and the
farm in come also increased (P<0. 001) after taking the loan for an average
of two seasons. The results also showed that the educational level of the
farmers does not affect loan amount directly even though there is strong
positive correlation between the level of farmers’ education and their ability
to meaningfully utilize the credit
facility. It further showed that 37.21% of the respondents were given between
were given between N 25,000.00 and N 50,000.00 as loan. The major constraints
identified with the scheme include cumbersome procedures in processing the loan
insufficient loan amount and late approval of the loan. Based on these
findings, it was suggested that the scheme should do more to ease the
constraints farmers faced, so as to achieve the objective of the scheme.
Key words: Growth, risk, agriculture, credit
SURVEY OF SOIL
MICRO-ARTHROPODS IN SELECTED SITES IN OGUN STATE
Oke1, O. A, C. O. Adejuyigbe2
and O. A, Ajede1
1 Department of Biological
Sciences, University of Agriculture Abeokuta
2 Department of Soil Sciences
and Agricultural Mechanization, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
ABSTRACT
A survey of the soil fauna of selected farm locations
in Ogun State was conducted. The study was carried out at the school farm of
the University of Agriculture, Alabata, Abeokuta; the School garden of the
Baptist Girls` College, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta; a Farmland at Ewekoro, the Rubber
plantation, Ikenne. All sites are in Ogun State. Microarthropods encountered
during the survey of the sites considered belong to Class Arachnida, order
Acarina, Suborders Oribatida, x = 36.50; Actinedida x = 1.00 and Gamasida; x =
2.25 and class insecta, order Collembola, x = 0.75. The rubber plantation was
found to have the highest population of all these Microarthropods x = 24.75
while the school farm of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta recorded the
least population containing species of Suborder Oribatida x = 1.75 only. The
school garden of Baptist Girls` College, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta x = 11.75 and the
Farmland at the Cement Factory area, Ewekoro x = 3.75. The result of the
physico-chemical analysis of the soil conducted indicated the influence of soil
properties on the distribution of these microarthropods, also, different farm
practices.
Keywords:
Microarthropods, arachnida, acarina, soil physico-chemical properties
AN
ASSESSMENT OF URBAN AGRICULTURAL LAND USE CHANGES USING GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION
SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF JOS-BUKURU
1Omomoh. E and 2Adeofun
C.O
1: National Centre for Remote
Sensing, Jos.
2: University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta.
ABSTRACT
The urban agricultural land use change of Jos-Bukuru between 1961 and
2002 is assessed. The aim is to generate relevant, accurate and timely data
that would enhance the quality of decisions and actions in an attempt to ensure
the survival, expansion and the sustainability of urban agricultural land use. A
geospatial information system approach was adopted in the mapping and
assessment of urban agricultural land use change in the study area Topographic
map of Jos-Bukuru urban at the scale of 1:50000, Landsat TM image of 1986 and
2002 with spatial resolution of 30m, among others. Data conversion, digitizing,
editing, analysis was carried out using ILWIS 3.2 and Arc-View 3.2 software. The
study reveals among others that agricultural land use increased substantially
between 1961 and 1986. However, between 1986 and 2002, about 63% of
agricultural land was lost. Out of this, about 68% was lost to urban
development. The percentage increase in urban in urban expansion was 3.5% from
1961 to 1986 and 3.8% from 1986 to 2002. While the percentage in urban
agricultural land use between 1986 and 2002 was 3.9%. Overall, while urban
spatial expansion is increasing agricultural land use is decreasing. The study
recommends among others that urban agricultural land use should be made a
legitimate in urban expansion planning; specific agricultural practices should
be zoned to specific locations within the city; and, that urban farming should
be incorporated into the poverty alleviation programme of the Federal
government
EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF COST AND
RETURNS TO COMMERCIAL TABLE EGG PRODUCTION IN LAGOS STATE
Evbuomwan, G. O.
Research and Statistics
Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos
ABSTRACT
Using basic statistics and a simple gross margin
analysis procedure, it is apparent that commercial table egg production in
Lagos State is profitable. Under the same assumption and based on available
statistics, the gross margin for a commercial table egg producer with 1000
laying birds has increased from N975,000:00 in 1998 to N1,050,000:00 in 2005,
representing an increase of 7.7 percent. The demand for poultry products is
expected to grow in view of increase in per capita income, increased awareness
of the health implications of inadequate intake of protein in the human diet
and the outbreak of avian influenza in Asia. Thus, increased production of
table egg under the Presidential Initiative is sustainable and should be
maintained.
PROCESSORS’ PERCEPTION OF THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF SOME CASSAVA PROCESSING INNOVATIONS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
Adebayo, K. and Sangosina, M.
A.
Department of Agricultural
Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta,
Nigeria. Email: kolawole_adebayo@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
The current drive towards higher levels of
commercialisation of cassava processing under the Presidential Initiative on
Cassava requires that the scale of cassava processing be increased in Nigeria.
Primary data obtained from 112 respondents selected from the 4 extension zones
of Ogun State was used to examine the perception of effectiveness of
innovations by cassava processors and the factors responsible for adoption of
these innovations. The processors’ perception of effectiveness of cassava
processing innovations was measured on a 5-point Likert-type scale containing
20 items. Most of the respondents (75%) are indifferent in their perception of
the effectiveness of innovations in cassava processing. All the cassava
processing innovations considered in this study are known to some respondents,
but their levels of use and acquisition differ from one innovation or the
other. There are no significant relationships between the processors’
perception of effectiveness of cassava processing innovations and adoption of
cassava peeling machine, fortification of cassava with protein rich cereal and
use of rotary dryer. There are however significant relationships between the
cassava processors perception of the effectiveness of cassava processing
innovations and adoption of hand driven grater; power driven grater, hydraulic
press and iron frying pot. Also, there are significant relationships between
the cassava processors perception of cassava processing innovations and the
major product processed and the main occupation. The study concluded that it is
important that cassava processors have access to trying and using cassava
processing technologies under convenient arrangements to stimulate a positive
attitude towards such innovations.
Keywords: Perception, Cassava processing, Innovations,
Nigeria
ALTERNATIVE COOKING FUELS FROM
SAWMILL WASTES
1Aina, O. M.; 1Adetogun,
A. C.; 1Adedokun, M. O. and 2Onilude, M. A.
1Dept. of Forestry and Wildlife
Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
2Dept. of Agricultural and
Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.
ABSTRACT
In a conversion efficiency study, 10 sawmills were
selected out of the existing 44 in Abeokuta metropolis. For 5 days per week in each of the 10 sampled
sawmills, the volumes of all the round logs to be converted each day were
determined using Newton’s formula. At
the end of the days work, the volumes of all lumbers converted were determined
and were subtracted from those obtained in the morning, whatever is obtained
was the volumes of wood wastes generated in each of the sampled sawmills. This study revealed that the mean conversion
efficiency of the 10 selected mills was 56.05%.
As a result, the total volume of wood waste generated per day by the 10
mills was approximately 52.00m3.
In the entire Abeokuta metropolis 2288m3 of wood wastes will
be generated per day. When carbonized,
381 tonnes of charcoal will be produced. In conclusion, it is suggested that
enormous volume of wood waste generated in virtually all the sawmills in
Abeokuta and indeed Nigeria are collected together and be used in the
carbonization of charcoal as substitute for kerosene.
Keywords: Charcoal, conversion, lumbers.
EVALUATION
OF THE NATIONAL FADAMA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT APPROACH TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Lessons for Local GOVERNMENT Councils in
Nigeria
Akinleye S. O.a,
Awoniyi S. M.b and Fapojuwo E. O.c
a.
Department of Agricultural Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye
b.
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan
c.
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Olabisi Onabanjo
University, Ago Iwoye
ABSTRACT
The development of rural areas impacts positively on
per capita income and food production. The tier of government entrusted with the
responsibility in Nigeria of developing the rural areas has not lived up to
expectation in spite of the huge capital investment. This paper identified the
root causes behind the failings of the local governments, reviews the
performance of the fadama programme and draw on the reasons behind the
successes of the latter as a basis for suggestions on how the local government
system can be improved. Capacity building at the local level, increased demand
for accountability, involvement of private and research bodies in local
government activities should be encouraged to enhance rural development.
PHYTO-REMEDIATION
OF LEAD-CONTAMINATED SOIL USING AMARANTHUS CRUENTUS
Opeolu,
B. O., Bamgbose, O., Arowolo T. A. and Kadiri S. J.
Department
of Environmental Management and Toxicology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
ABSTRACT
Previous studies have shown that some vegetables have
the ability to absorb metals from soil. Since they are early maturity species,
they possess the potential to be used as phytoremediating agents. Also,
synthetic chelates have been found to induce lead desorption from soil matrix,
thereby enhancing uptake into plant tissues. Therefore, a study was carried out
to determine the potential of Amaranthus cruentus as a soil lead
remediating plant. The experiment was carried out using a randomized block
design. Soil samples were subjected to five levels of lead contamination namely
control, 600ppm, 600ppm + EDTA, 1800ppm and 1800ppm + EDTA, each treatment had
five replicates. Three plants each were carefully transplanted from nursery to
experimental pots and grown for 32 days. Ethylenediaminetetra acetic(EDTA) (3.0
mmole EDTA/kg soil) was applied to EDTA amended treatment 8 days before
harvesting. The result showed that EDTA has some effect on lead solubility in
soil as well as lead absorption by A.cruentus. However, there were
variable increases in lead uptake from the contaminated soil to the plants.
Lead contamination did not have significant effect on growth and yield
parameters of A cruentus. Since the transfer factor (TF) of the plant is
greater than one, it may be a promising species for phytoremediation.
Keywords:- Amaranthus
cruentus, Lead, phytoremediation, soil
OFF-FARM
LABOUR PARTICIPATION AND FARM HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD STRATEGY IN YEWA DIVISION,
OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
Shittu[1], A.
M., Ashaolu2 O. F. and O. S. Odusanya1
1 Department
of Agricultural Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yewa Campus, Ayetoro
2 Department
of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta
ABSTRACT
This study examines the pattern of farm and off-farm
labour supply among members of farming households in Yewa Division of Ogun
state, Nigeria. The study was based on primary data obtained in a
cross-sectional survey of 80 randomly selected household drawn by a three-stage
sampling technique from 10 randomly selected farming communities in the study
area. The data was obtained by personally administered questionnaires, and was
focused on the socio-economic characteristics of the farming households, its
labour allocation among various economic activities, agricultural production
and income from all sources. The study data was analysed by descriptive and
regression (Tobit and logit) techniques. The study found that income from
non-farm sources accounts for as much as about half the farm households’
income. Only very few individuals and households depended solely on only one
source of income (farm or non-farm); but, married women, and individuals that
had their professional training in non-farm activities tend to supply more
labour off-farm than an average household member in the sample. Furthermore,
the study suggests that a major cause of poverty among rural farm households
has been a result of their inadequate access to livestock production capital
and skills, and small landholdings in crop production. This is because those
households that were able to combine livestock production with arable crops
farming were richer, on the average, than an average farming household that
divested its labour into non-farm activities.
