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Relevance of indigenous knowledge in weather and climate forecast for planning farm activities by farmers in Imo State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis article contains tablesThe study assessed the relevance of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) on weather and climate forecasting for planning farm activities by farmers in Southeast, Nigeria. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from a total of 360 farmers, complement with oral interview. Mean (M) was used to analyze data. Results showed that IK indicators commonly used for weather and climate forecasting fall into 3 categories namely trees, animals and atmospheric indicators. The IK indicators used to predict the dry season and harmattan were-fruits drying/falling off from trees, increase occurrence of termites, shedding of tree (M=2.40), appearance of rainbows (M=2.53) among others. The indicators for onset of the rains included flowering of trees (M=304), heavy budding of acacia tree species (M=300), dormancy breaking in certain tree/fruit species, Others were appearances of large number of ants, frequent sounds of frogs, appearance of ant hill, appearance of millipedes, appearances of army worms, dark clouds appearance, body feels heat at night, increased body pain, mist covering hilly areas among other signs. As a recommendation, the knowledge of indigenous peoples should be included when designing climate change adaptation strategies in SSA
Characterization and analysis of rural community associations in a pri-urban community of Imo state, Nigeria
No full textA research article on "rural community associations in a pri-urban community" It contain tables, graphs and diagramsThis paper focuses on characterization and analysis of rural community associations in a peri-urban community of Imo state, Nigeria. A qualitative methodology was used to characterize rural community associations in the study area. In Agbala community, these social units exist, comprising of six (6) women organizations, two (2) men organizations, two (2) church groups, one (1) agricultural group and seven (7) age grades. There are more social interactions among the women organizations than the males. However, inter group interaction could be described as weak and might be a manifestation of poor social cohesion in the community. Their scope of activities cover infrastructural development, education concerns, membership welfare and agriculture. Agricultural activity is the least of activities engaged in by these organizations. There is the need to educate the membership of existing community organization on the importance of incorporating economic oriented projects in their programmes. Extension service should concentrate efforts in designing a clear strategy that would utilize the existing social organizations as veritable tools for economic empowerment through grass root mobilization
Effects of resource-use conflicts on rural women farmers in south–east agroecological zone of Nigeria
No full textThis article contains tablesThis study analyzed specifically the effects of resource-use conflict especially, land on rural women farmers in Southeast, Nigeria. A total of 300 rural women farmers were purposively selected from 3 states in southeast where conflicts
have occurred. Data collected were analyzed descriptively – using percentages, mean and standard deviation. Results obtained showed that farmer-farmer conflicts, pastoralists – farmer conflicts and communal conflicts were predominant in the study area with 100% response. The major causes of resource use conflicts were increasing population (M = 3.37), overgrazing of farmland (M =3.35), breakdown of moral economy (M=3.57), pollution of water (M=3.46), among others. The effects on women included reduced crop yields (M=3.37), burning of crops (M= 3.38), reduced farm, reduced income (M=3.01), loss of human lives (M = 3.56), rape/abduction of women (M = 3.00), hatred (M = 2.63), fear (M = 2.57), widowhood (M = 2.93) among others. The following strategies were identified, giving financial assistance to victims (M = 2.65), creating job opportunities (M = 2.53), proper land use planning (M = 2.63), and compensation to land owner (M = 3.67). These farmers could be helped by providing credit facilities and proper land use planning programme
Radionuclide concentration: The coal ash effect
Get PDFA research article with figures and tablesRadionuclide concentrations in coal ash, soil mixed with coal ash and soil were determined using the gamma spectroscopic method. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in coal ash samples were found as 35.0, 5.8, and 109.4 Bq/kg, respectively. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil mixed with coal ash samples varied from 21.2 to 30.8, 48.6 to 82.7, and 162.5 to 180.1 Bq/kg, respectively. The activity concentrations of radionuclides from the non-mixed soil area, which serves as a control to this study ranged from 123.95 to 128.82, 16.33 to 18.38, and 46.63 to 50.30 Bq/kg, respectively for radionuclides 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th, respectively. From the radiological calculations, it was found that the use of coal ash as a soil additive contributed slightly to the radionuclide concentrations of the area under study
Perceived Effects of Resource-Use Conflicts on Rural Women Farmers in South-east Agro-Ecological Zone of Nigeria
No full textA research article on "resource-Use Conflicts on Rural Women Farmers". it contains tables. This work is licensed under Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 License.This study analyzed specifically the effects of resource-use conflict especially, land on rural women farmers in Southeast, Nigeria. .A total of 300 rural women farmers were purposively selected from 3 states in southeast where conflicts have occurred. Data collected were analyzed descriptively–using percentages, mean and standard deviation. Results got showed that farmer farmer conflicts, pastoralists– farmer conflicts and communal conflicts were predominant in the study area with 100% response. The major causes of resource use conflicts were increasing population (M=3.37), overgrazing of farmland (M=3.35), breakdown of moral economy (M=3.57), pollution of water (M=3.46), among others. The effects on women included reduced crop yields (M=3.37), burning of crops (M= 3.38), reduced farm, reduced income (M=3.01), loss of human lives (M=3.56), rape/abduction of women (M=3.00), hatred (M=2.63), fear (M=2.57), widowhood (M=2.93) among others. The following strategies were identified, giving financial assistance to victims (M=2.65), creating job opportunities (M=2.53), proper land use planning (M=2.63), compensation to land owner (M=3.67). These farmers could be helped provision of credt facilities and proper land use planning programme
Corrosion inhibition of mild steel using extracts of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) and kava leaves (Piper methysticum)
Get PDFThis thesis is for the award of Master of Science (MSc.) Degree in Environmental ManagementThis work investigated two plant leaves extract Velvet Bean and Kava, for inhibition properties and measured their efficiencies with change in time, extract concentration, and media. The metal used was mild steel, and the media HCl and NaCl. It also determined their optimum extract concentration among the tested range. Statistical analysis were also carried out on experimental results. Velvet bean leaf extract was obtained using ethanol in a hot extraction process through reflux. Kava leaf was juiced fresh because of its high moisture content. Extract concentrations - 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000mg/L were prepared for both leaves. The different concentrations for both leaves were tested in 1M HCl medium first, for five days respectively. The different concentrations for Velvet bean leaf were also used in NaCl medium for twenty-five days. In both HCl and NaCl media, the optimum concentration for Velvet bean leaf extract was 4000mg/L, after five days (91.77% efficiency) and twenty-five days (65.44% efficiency) respectively. For Kava leaf, the optimum extract concentration in 1M HCl media was 5000mg/L also after five days (94.16% efficiency). The efficiencies of both inhibitors were seen to increase as their concentrations were increased, and reduce as time increased. Velvet bean leaf extract was also seen to be fairly stable in both acid and base media over time. In NaCl solution, its efficiency was 65.44% after twenty-five days immersion, and 93.14%, after a delayed immersion of two weeks in 1M HCl solution. Statistical analysis showed VBL extract obeyed a quadratic model in both media, and KVL a pure quadratic model. Their high R2 values close to unity showed the adequacy of the models respectively and validated the experimental data. Extract concentration and time had a high effect on inhibition efficiency and were statistically significant. It would be of an advantage to quickly apply the use of these two plant leaves extracts in inhibiting corrosion on mild steel in 1M HCl and NaCl media, in actual industrial environments. Research should be done to check the extracts behaviour and corrosion inhibition efficiency at elevated temperatures, and other media. Even though these two plants could grow all year round, and are not yet popular as food in Nigeria, it would be beneficial for more research to be done on synthesising inhibitor components of the plants in the laboratory so as not shorten food supply by other plant use
Leveraging food security challenges in Nigeria: Through agricultural production, processing and storage for mitigating economic recession
Get PDFThis 33rd Inaugural Lecture Series of the FUTO contains figures and table