PROFITABILITY OF CATFISH PRODUCTION IN ENUGU METROPOLIS, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State, to investigate the profitability of catfish production. Specifically, the study described the socioeconomic characteristics of catfish farmers; estimated cost and returns of catfish production and identified constraints to catfish production in the study area. Data were collected from 120 respondents who were purposively chosen in the three Local Government Areas that made up Enugu Metropolis, using questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Gross margin model and a 3-point Likert type rating scale. The study showed that 61.7% of the respondents were males with a majority (95.0%) below the age of 45 years. The study revealed that from every 1000 fingerlings that were stocked, 980 catfishes were harvested with an average weight of 1.5kg in a period of 6 months. The catfish farmers expended an average total cost of N575,168 and made an average total revenue of N1,176,000. This indicates a survival rate of 98% of catfishes that was reared in the area. The gross margin analysis revealed a gross margin of N652,700.00 with a net farm income of N600,832.00 for every 1000 catfishes that were raised to maturity at1kg. For every 1N invested in the business, there was a return of N1.25 (RCI). The study concludes that catfish production in the study area was dominated by males in their active age who were well educated. Catfish production was very profitable in the study area. The constraints facing the farmers were the high cost of feeds, insufficient capital and poor extension services. These farmers could handle large scale production if capital is made available to them which will also allow them to make more profits and become employers of labour. The study recommends that educated unemployed youths in the area should be encouraged to go into catfish farming since the business is very profitable. Soft loans should be made available by credit agencies for the catfish farmers in the area to enable them to increase their scale of operation and the farmers should form and manage functional cooperative societies to enable them to achieve economies of scale.

PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS AND DETERMINANTS OF GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogea) PRODUCTION IN DAMBATTA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KANO STATE, NIGERIA

This study analyzed the profitability and determinants of groundnut production in Dambatta Local Government Area of Kano state. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in collecting data from eighty (80) respondents in the study area. The data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting model and regression analysis. The results revealed that the gross margin and net farm income of the farmers were N71400/ha and N59400/ha respectively. Also, the fixed and operating ratios were estimated at 0.1 and 0.41 respectively, while the benefit- cost ratio was N1.98. The coefficient of multiple determination (R2) was 0.739, implying that about 74% of the variation in the output of groundnut was accounted for by the explanatory variable inputs in the regression model. The regression coefficients of Farm size(X1) and Credit(X6) were positive and statistically significant at (p< 0.01), labour (X2) and Agrochemical(X5) were also positive and statistically significant at (p< 0.1), while Fertilizer(X4) was also positive and statistically significant at (p<0.05). The major constraints associated with groundnut production in the study area include; inadequate capital (86%), high cost of production inputs (83%) and lack of access to agricultural credit (78%). The study recommended that if these constraints are adequately tackled the productivity and profitability of the groundnut farmers will significantly improve. Onuwa, C. G. | Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Federal College of Forestry, Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria

IMPLICATIONS OF MACRO-ECONOMIC VARIABLES FOR NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA

In recent time, the impact of macro-economic variables on agriculture has become an issue of concern in terms of securing adequate food supply for the populace. This study evaluated the implications of macro-economic variables for national food security in Nigeria. This study made use of time series data sourced from the publications of Central Bank of Nigeria Annual Reports, Statistical Bulletins and the National Bureau of Statistics spanning from 1995 to 2015. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) co-integration test with Error Correction Model (ECM) was adopted to substantiate the implications of these macro-economic variables. The results of the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test showed that Food security, Interest rate, Exchange rate, Net export and Government expenditures were non stationary at their respective level forms and became stationary at first difference. While Inflation and Money supply were found to be stationary at level form. ARDL bounds test for co-integration confirms the existence of long run relationship between the variables. The results of long run and short run relationships shows that Interest rate, Inflation, Government expenditures and Money supply were both significant at 5% and 1% levels indicating that these variables had a significant impact on food security. The estimated error correction coefficient of -0.7996 is highly significant, has the correct sign, and implies a fairly high speed of adjustment to equilibrium after a shock. However, these findings recommend farmers in Nigeria to take good advantage of the linkages between macroeconomic variables and agricultural productivity, as this useful information can assist them to boost their land productivity, hence increased food security at all times. Osuji, E. E. | Department of Agricultural Economics, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, Nigeria

ASSOCIATON OF KAPPA-CASEIN GENOTYPE AND THE LINEAR PARAMETER IN TWO INDIGENIOUS BOS INDICUS AND BOS TAURUS CATTLE IN NIGERIA

Kappa-casein as a mammalian milk protein is involved in a several important physiological processes and it’s about 80% of the total protein in cow milk. This study aimed at genotyping bovine Kappa casein (CSN3) in two indigenous Nigerian cattle populations and to determine the frequency distribution of Kappa casein variants as detected across the animals examined and their association with the body measurement. DNA was extracted from 100 blood samples of 50 White Fulani and 50 N’dama cattle for identification and genotyping of kappa-casein gene by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) test using HindIII restriction endonucleases. The PCR products of the specific primer K-F and K-R for the two cattle breeds give 530bp specific band. Digestion of 530bp amplified products of White Fulani and N’dama by restriction endonuclease HindIII generated three fragments of 530-, 370- and 160- bp each for the two breeds. Results of the cuts with this enzyme show the presence of genotypes AA, AB and BB in the samples. These findings suggest that BB genotype could be selected for increase body conformation and protein content of milk. Olanrewaju, B. M. | Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Nigeria.

UTILIZATION OF FERMENTED SORREL (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) SEED MEAL BY WEANER RABBITS

A 56-day study was conducted to determine the biochemical composition of fermented sorrel seed meal (FSSM) and its effect on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and internal organ weights of weaner rabbits. Forty (40) weaner rabbits with an average weight of 556.89 ±0.10g were randomly assigned to five treatment groups of 8 rabbits per treatment replicated four times with 2 rabbits per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD) for eight weeks. Five experimental diets were compounded using FSSM at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% inclusion levels. The levels of inclusion were designated as Diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The results of the growth performance were not significant (P>0.05). The result also showed no significant differences (P>0.05) in carcass characteristics and internal organ weights. It was therefore concluded that fermented sorrel seed meal can be included in weaner rabbit diets up to 40% level. Wafar, R. J. | Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria