Estimates of Heritability and Genetic Advance for Yield Components of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) under Drought Stress Conditions

The study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farms, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria. Five Cowpea genotypes (FUAMPEA-1, IT99K-573-1-1, SAMPEA-16, SAMPEA-8, BIU LOCAL) were crossed and advanced to F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 populations using bi-parental mating design. The six generations were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Significant test of the mean performances among the entries showed significant differences among the generations for the characters studied. Wide ranges of narrow sense heritability (18 to 79%), broad sense heritability (21 to 92%) and genetic advance (5.7 to 24.1%) were obtained for characters studied. Broad and narrow sense heritability as well as genetic advance was moderate to high for most of the characters studied such as days to 50% flowering, plant height, days to pod maturity, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, hundred seed weight, root length and grain yield for the three sets of cowpea crosses. The results also revealed the possibility of exploitation for grain yield and drought tolerance in the crosses studied.

Assessment of Food Security and Livelihood Status of Rural Households Adopting Improved Rice Varieties in Kwara and Niger States of Nigeria

The study assessed the food security and livelihood status of rural households adopting improved rice varieties in Kwara and Niger States of Nigeria. Sample sizes of three hundred and ninety four rice farmers were selected using multi-stage sampling method. Structured questionnaire complimented with interview were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, food security index, livelihood status index and Simpson index of diversity. The findings revealed 83.3% and 82.7% of rice farmers adopted FARO 44 and FARO 54 respectively. Also, 92.1% were food secured while 65.5% were of moderate livelihood status. The Simpson Diversification Index of rice farmers in the study area was 0.219, indicating low degree. Thus, it is recommended that rice farmers should diversify into other income generating activities in order to enhance their livelihood status and food security status. Also, research institutes should ensure farmers' access improved rice varieties with affordable prices and right time in order to enhance their livelihood and food security status.

Assessment of Safety Measures and Costs Effect of Herbicide Usage among farmers in Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State

Weed is one of the most important constraints that limit food production. Checking weeds with herbicides could be harmful if safety precautions are not followed by users. This study assessed the use of safety practices and costs associated with herbicide use among farmers in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique were used to select 160 respondents that were interviewed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and costs addition. Results revealed that contact (Paraquat), selective (2,4-Dimethylamine), non-selective systemic (Glyphosates) and mixture of (2-4-Dimethylamine) and (Glyphosate or Paraquat) were used by respondents to control weeds. The rates of herbicide application ranged from 2.0 and 3.8 litres per hectare with a mean rate of 3.1 litres per hectare. The mean index of Safety practices was 0.68, an indication of high use of safety practices. Use of hand gloves, face masks, eye glasses and rain boots was low. Herbicide containers and left over herbicide solutions were not properly disposed by a larger proportion of respondents. Costs of herbicide usage for major crops cultivated by respondents varies from N4,859 to N7,025 per hectare. Implementation of extension programmes on safety measures in usage of herbicides and sensitization on farmers on protective tools usage were recommended.

Assessment of Household Food Security Status of Extension Services Beneficiaries in Obio Akpo and Emuoha LGAs in Rivers State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to assess the food security status of households who benefited from extension services in Obio Akpo and Emuoha Local Government Areas of Rivers State of Nigeria. The data used for the study was obtained from primary sources only. Structured questionnaires were administered on 240 respondents who were selected purposively and randomly respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive and copping strategy index to determine the food security status of the respondents. The results indicated that the beneficiaries of extension services fell between the ages of 20-59years. This result showed that the beneficiaries of extension services were young and full of energy which enhanced food production and security. Furthermore, the results also indicate that 80.4% of extension beneficiaries from Obio Akpo Local government area were food secured while 19.6% were food unsecured. However, 76.7% of beneficiaries of extension services from Emuoha Local Government Area were food secured whereas only 23.3% of beneficiaries were food unsecured. The food security status of beneficiaries of extension services from both Local government areas were food secured due to the reduced activities of the militants in the Niger Delta resulting from amnesty granted to the Militants during the period of this research work. Furthermore, there are increased assistance from oil companies and non-governmental organizations to enhance the food production and security in these local government areas.

Growth and Chevon Characteristics of Indigenous Breeds of Goat (Buck) in Nigeria

A trial was conducted at the Sheep and Goat Unit of Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan to evaluate the effect of breeds on growth, carcass characteristics and meat yield of indigenous goats (bucks) in Nigeria. Fifteen growing bucks: five each of Sahel bucks-SB, West African Dwarf bucks (WADB) and Red Sokoto bucks(RSB) weighing 9.8±0.2, 10.0±0.4 and 9.9±0.3, respectively were fed isocaloric diet for 90 days. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized design. Final Body Weight (FBW), Average Daily Weight Gain (ADWG) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were measured using standard procedures. Three bucks per breed were thereafter sacrificed and Dressing Percentage (DP), Meat yield, Rib eye area (REA) and Water holding capacity (WHC) were determined. The Final Body Weight of 16.1kg in Sahel bucks and 17.5kg Red Sokoto bucks were similar but significantly lower than 20.3kg of West African Dwarf bucks. Also, the Feed Conversion Ratio of 10.4 for the Sahel bucks and 9.8 of Red Sokoto bucks were significantly higher than 7.3 of West African Dwarf bucks. The Dressing Percentage was highest in West African Dwarf bucks (46.6%) and least in Sahel bucks (33.5%). West African Dwarf bucks yielded more meat lean (67.4%) and were comparatively higher than Sahel bucks (60.1%) and Red Sokoto bucks (61.5%). The Rib eye area (cm2) was also higher in West African Dwarf bucks (1.4) compared to Sahel bucks (1.1) and Red Sokoto bucks (1.1).

Effect of Agricultural Extension Services in Minimizing Post-Harvest Losses of Yam Produce in Benue State, Nigeria

The study assessed the effect of agricultural extension services in minimizing post-harvest losses of yam in Benue State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 240 yam producers. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, mean and standard deviation, post-harvest management coefficient (PMC) and binary logistic regression (BLR) were used to analyse the data. Results on producers’ capabilities to manage PHLs revealed that 58.5% of the total yam produce (PMC = 0.585) was preserved while a sizeable proportion (41.5%) of losses were incurred after harvest. The availability of agricultural extension services showed that, the provision of agricultural information ( ̅ = 1.54), access to agricultural markets ( ̅ = 1.50) and facilitation of the formation of producers’ self-help groups ( ̅ = 1.50) were the prime extension services rendered in the study area. Empirical result on the effect of agricultural extension services on PHLs management revealed that the number of agricultural extension services (P ≤ 0.01) and access to agricultural credit (P ≤ 0.01) exerted positive and significant influence on PHLs management. Also, the level of producers’ education (P ≤ 0.1) enhanced significantly and consistently, their capabilities to minimize PHLs. Conversely, the number of agricultural information sources (P ≤ 0.1) exerted negative and significant influence on yam producers’ capabilities to manage post-harvest losses. The study concludes that agricultural extension services are potent in the management of post-harvest losses. The study thus recommends the provision of agricultural extension service by service agencies, given that the capacities of yam producers’ in minimizing post-harvest losses could be enhanced significantly and consistently with increase in the numbers of agricultural extension services at their disposal, and the enhancement of access to agricultural extension services by yam producers, individually and cooperatively, to curtail the incidences incidence of post-harvest losses on yam.

Wheat and White Sorghum Supernatants as Alternatives to Calotropis procera Extract in Making Cheese

Plant coagulant, animal rennet and microbial coagulant are used as milk coagulating agents resulting in different cheese products. However, emphasis has been on the use of plant coagulant as opposed to that from animal source, rennet. Alternative milk coagulants are therefore investigated instead of animal enzymes. The use of vegetable extracts as milk coagulants has evolved in soft cheese processing. This study explored the potential of plant coagulants as an ideal choice in the production of cheese. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the coagulants on the yield and proximate composition of cheese. To compare them with cheese coagulated with supernatants from fermented white sorghums (WSS) and wheat (WS) in the laboratory. The results were also compared with cheese coagulated with Calotropis procera leaf extract (CPE) in terms of yield, the percentage composition of total solids (TS), fat, protein, lactose ash and the pH of the cheeses. The same parameters were evaluated in the whey (by-product). The minerals, pH and the proximate components in WS and WSS were also compared. Maximum cheese yield was recorded at equal volumes of milk and coagulants. CPE was superior to these other two considering the constituents in all three cheeses. The chemical composition of CPE coagulant was superior to WS and WSS in terms of TS, fat, protein and ash but lower in moisture content compared with the other two. Protein content was higher in cheese prepared with CPE (22%) about six times the amount in raw milk and the least was WSS (12%). Moreover, the cheese made with CPE had the highest yield (31.76g) and differed significantly (P< 0.05) from WSS (28.87g) and WS (29.70g). Also, cheese made with WS (30.57g/ml) had the highest whey volume compared with WSS (28.11g/ml). However, increasing levels of each supernatant with a constant volume of raw milk (100ml) produced higher cheese yield at 100ml of the supernatant and 100ml of milk. Whey from WSS was the most acidic (5.85) of all the three produced but with increased acidity as the storage days increased. The study revealed that cheese with high nutritional quality can be produced with CPE, WSS and WS. The use of equal volume of coagulant (WSS or WS) to raw milk would give optimal cheese yield. This will promote the utilization of WSS and WS, which is naturally left as the waste product.

Demand Preference of Consumers as a Catalyst for Local Rice Supply in Niger State

The research looked at Demand preference as it affects local rice supply in Niger State, Nigeria. Multi – stage sampling method was employed to obtain 125 household consumers of local Rice. The sampling of respondents cut across Agricultural zones 1, 2 and 3 of Niger State. Primary and Secondary data were used. Descriptive statistics like mean, frequency tables and percentages were employed to describe the socio – economic characteristics of the respondents. Vector Autoregressive model (VAR) was used to estimate production variables that granger caused local Rice supply. . Hedonic model was used to determine the effect of local Rice characteristics on the preference and willingness to pay by consumers. The result indicated the mean age of 45 for Niger. The household size has mean of 6 and years spent in school stood at 17 for Niger. The annual income mean were 414 thousand naira for Niger State. The granger causality equations show that, all variables granger caused production of local, Rice in Niger States except dlnarea. The dlnarea in Niger State was not significant. This means that it does not granger caused local Rice production. The result of hedonic model revealed that free from stone, whiteness, aroma, cohesion and taste were all significant. This means that all these attributes have great effect on price, preference and willingness to pay higher price for local Rice. These will encourage the producers to produce more and will lead to higher supply in the market.

Prevalence and Distribution of Weed Flora in Some Major Sugarcane Growing Areas of Southern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria

Weed population survey was undertaken to determine prevalence and distribution of weeds, and asses weed flora shift in major sugarcane growing areas in Southern guinea savanna of Nigeria. The selected areas surveyed are namely Badeggi, Sulti, and Isenyi. The Sugarcane fields were assessed using 1.0 m x 1.0 m quadrat placed randomly at vegetative stage. Weed seedlings in each quadrat were clipped at the soil level and identified according to standards. Result revealed that a total of 38 weed species were recorded. Graminaea and compositae were most abundant and diversified families based on the number of species recorded. Individual weed species shows variation in their abundance, dominance and frequency. The most frequent weed species in the Sugarcane fields irrespective of the soil, climate and crop varieties were Hyptis suaveolens, Paspalum scrobiculata, Kyllinga squamulata, Dactylactenum aegypium and Cynadon dactylon and were considered as the most important species in the surveyed areas. From Similarity indices, variations were observed between locations. Accordingly, areas having similarity indices more than 60 % indicate similarities in weed community. Thus, when devising a weed control strategies same control option should be considered for the location that have similar weed flora and vise-versa.

Evaluation of AV-5055 as Seed Dresser in Lowland Rice Production

This experiment was established in 2020 cropping season at National Cereals Research Institute experimental field at Badeggi in Guinea Savannah agro-ecological Zone, (Latitude 9 040 Longitude 6 070 E), to assess seed dressing effect of AV-5055 on rice seed. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Designs (RCBD), replicated three times. It consisted of four (4) treatments: application of AV-5055 rate at 0.7L, 1.2L, 1.7L per 100kg of rice seed and no application of chemical as (control). Data was taken on plant height, tiller count, days to 50% flowering, bird damage, rodent damage panicle per meter square and grain yield. The result shows that there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in plant height, tiller count, days to 50% flowering and bird damage. However, control plot had significantly (P < 0.05) lower rodent damage (0.00) and higher grain yield (2060.00kg/ha) compared to rodent damage and grain yield in treated plots (0.33-2.33) and (1789.00-1999.03) respectively. It was concluded from the result of analysis that AV-5055 offer protection to dressed seed against bird depredation from planted field as there was no significant difference on bird depredation among the various rates of AV-5055 application. However, various rates of AV-5055 application attract picking by rodents and subsequent reduction on yield. Thus it was recommended that AV-5055 should be applied in combination with rodenticides to give perfect seed protection against birds and rodents.