Technical Efficiency and Return to Scale in Yam Production in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

ABSTRACTSoil transmitted helminthes (STHs) are common public health concern among children in Sub saharan Africa. A study to determine the prevalence and intensity of these parasites among pupils of two primary schools in Nkpor and Mgbodohia communities, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria was conducted. The formo-ether concentration technique was used to concentrate and separate the eggs and cysts from the faeces. Out of 107 pupils (56males and 51 females) investigated, 81 (75.7 %) were positive for at least one gastrointestinal helminth. The parasites identified included Ascaris lumbricoide(58.0%), Hookworms(28.4%), Trichirus trichiura(13.6%) and A.lumbricoide + T. trichiura (6.3%). Ascaris lumbricoide was significantly (P<0.05) higher in prevalence than other parasites. Although more females (54.3%) were infected than males (45.7%), there was no significance(P>0.05) difference in the prevalence in relation to sex. Of the 44 males infected, 24(54.5%), 5 (11.4%), 13(29.5%) and 2(4.5%) haboured A. lumbricoide, T. trichiura, Hookworms and mixed infection (A. lumbricoide + T. trichiura) repectively. Out of the 37 females infected, 21 (56.8%), 3(8.1%), 10(27.0%) and 3(8.1%) haboured A. lumbricoide, T. trichiura, Hookworms and mixed infection (A. lumbricoide + T. trichiura) repectively. There was no significance difference in the prevalence of A. lumbricoide and Hookworms between males (54.5%) and females (56.8%). There was significant difference in prevalence among two major age groups (5-10years-45% and 11-15years-41.9%). Children within the age group of 16-20years had the least infection (9.9%). The intensities of A.lumbricoide, T.trichiura and hookworm were 246.5, 107.5 and 187 Epg respectively. The intensity of A. lumbricoide was significantly difference than other parasites identified.Soil transmited helminthes remain a public health concern among children in the study area. Provision of portable water, toilet facilities, good education on the epidemiology of STHs and regular de-worming will enhance control measures.

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Survey of Technologies Used in Cassava Processing in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State

Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research ◽

10.9734/ajahr/2020/v7i230092 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 26-34

Author(s):

N. S. Amadi ◽

U. E. Solomon

Keyword(s):

Local Government ◽

Social Science ◽

Local Government Area ◽

Rivers State ◽

Structured Questionnaire

The purpose of this study was to survey the technologies used in cassava processing in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Specifically, the study was proposed to determine the technologies used in harvesting, peeling, grinding, extracting water, sifting and frying crushed cassava tubers into Garri. A structured questionnaire titled “Survey of technologies used in cassava processing in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State (STUCP)”.was administered to one hundred-fifty farmers in ten villages in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Data was analyzed with the use of pictorial view of the technology used in cassava processing and Statistical package for social science was used in determining the frequency, percentage and mean. The findings revealed that more need to be done in terms of the technology used in harvesting, peeling, grinding, extracting water, sifting and frying crushed cassava tubers into Garri. One of the recommendations was that technology used in cassava processing should be improved in order to boost garri production in Rivers State.

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ANALYSIS OF TECHNICAL, ALLOCATIVE AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCIES OF YAM PRODUCERS IN GANYE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

International Journal of Engineering Technologies and Management Research ◽

10.29121/ijetmr.v6.i7.2019.426 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. 129-143

Author(s):

A. Aliyu ◽

A. B Shelleng

Keyword(s):

Local Government ◽

Technical Efficiency ◽

Economic Efficiency ◽

Best Practice ◽

Allocative Efficiency ◽

Local Government Area ◽

Efficiency Gain ◽

Average Output ◽

Absolute Efficiency ◽

The Mean

The study investigated the technical, Allocative and economics efficiencies of yam producers in Ganye Local government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Combinations of purposive and random sampling techniques were employed using 100 famers from five different wards of the local government. In the first place, five wards were selected and used for this study and twenty farmers were selected from each ward, making a total of 100 famers, twenty. The analytical tool used to achieve the objectives of this study was Data Envelopment Analysis. The results of the study revealed that 57% of the farmers had technical efficiency of 0.81 and above while 43% of the farmers operate at less than 0.81 efficiency level. The mean technical efficiency for the 100 sampled farmers in the study area was 0.78. The farmer with the best practice has a technical efficiency of 1.00 while 0.37 is for the least efficient farmers. This implies that on the average, output fall by 0% from the maximum possible level of 1.00 due to technical inefficiency. The mean allocative efficiency was 0.98. The result indicates that average yam farmer in the state would enjoy cost saving of about 5% while allocative inefficient farmer will have an efficiency gain of 95% to attain the level of most efficient farmer among the respondents. The mean economic efficiency was 0.77. The farmer with the best practice has an economic efficiency of 1.0 while 0.08 was for the least efficient farmers. This implies that on the average, output fall by 52% from the maximum possible level due to inefficiency. Finally, among the constraints identified in the study area, the majority of the respondent attested to the fact that high cost of inputs, transportation problem, lack of credit facilities and storage/preservation problem were the major constraints they faced in yam production in the area. The study concludes that yam farmers in the study area have achieved absolute efficiency in the use of variable inputs. It was found that yam production in the study area is profitable.

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