3 research outputs found
Impact Of Shell Petroleum Company Of Nigeria Microcredit Scheme On Agricultural Production In Delta State, Nigeria
No full textThe paper sought to determine the impact of Shell Petroleum Company of Nigeria
micro-credit scheme on agricultural production in Delta State.Structured interview schedule was used in collecting data from one hundred farmers. Descriptive statistics were used for statistical analysis while correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship. The findings indicated that majority (52%) of the farmers were female. Only 46% of the respondents benefited from SPDC micro credit scheme and they were those aware of the scheme and belonged to co-operative groups. However, non-membership of co-operative groups was a major constraint to loan acquisition. The study recommends the need for SPDCWest to embark on enlightenment campaign in her host communities to sensitize
farmers on the importance of micro credits on agricultural production. Keywords: Micro-credit, agricultural production, Shell Petroleum Development
CompanyGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 46-5
Improving Cucumber Marketing Channels in Nigeria
No full textThis study investigated cucumber (Cucumis sativus) marketing channels, constraints and improvement strategies in Nigeria. Using multistage sampling, 300 producers and marketers completed a structured questionnaire. Respondents were 54% female and largely smallholders operating micro-plots. Market-path analysis showed a plurality of sales flow through intermediaries: the producers → middlemen →retailers → consumers and producers → retailer → consumers routes were most common (about 33% and 29% of reported channels, respectively), while direct producer consumer sales were less frequent but yielded the highest unit price (mean = 500 currency/kg). One‑way ANOVA indicated marketing channel significantly affected price, transport cost and time from harvest to sale (F = 145, p < .001), with clearer margins and shorter times in shorter channels. The large effect sizes (η² ≈ 0.596) indicated that about 59.6% of the variance was attributable to marketing channel, which far exceeded conventional thresholds for a "large" effect. Major constraints were perishability and post‑harvest infrastructure: short shelf‑life (mean = 3.91, top‑box 77%), variable quality/poor grading (mean = 3.89, top‑box 74.5%) and inadequate cold‑chain/storage (mean = 3.84, top‑box 73%). Preferred strategies emphasized market linkages and direct sales: farm‑gate‑to‑table (mean = 3.87) and partnering with businesses (mean = 3.81) ranked highest, while value addition and e‑commerce scored lower. We recommend investment in simple post‑harvest infrastructure (packhouses, cold storage), support for producer cooperatives and business partnerships, and mechanisms for improved market information to reduce intermediary capture and post‑harvest losses
Bio-adsorbent of Jatropha curcus oil in sugar cane bagasse ash for the synthesis of biodiesel catalyzed by calcined Sartaj maize stalk powder (CSMSP)
No full textPrevious studies revealed that the used of acid (HCl/H2SO4) have widely used to reduce Jatropha curcus oil (JCO) acid value for an effective biodiesel production. However, the use of acid is difficult to handle, increase the cost of biodiesel production, and can be time consuming. Furthermore, calcined stalk powder have been reportedly used as bio-base catalyst for the synthesis of biodiesel, but no single report ever identified the varieties of the maize stalk used. Therefore, this study introduced a novel pathway to examine the adsorption of high-free fatty acid JCO in sugar cane bagasse as a bio-adsorbent for the production of biodiesel (JCOB). Oil was extracted from the Jatropha curcus seed, and its properties were determined. A new novel catalyst was developed from a new variety of calcined Sartaj maize stalk powder and was characterized by utilizing Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF-FS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Zeta potential (ZETA), and Brunauer-emmett-teller (BET) analyzers. A single-step transesterification procedure was used to convert the oil to biodiesel. Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Networks were used for modeling and optimizing the transesterification process. The base-strength of the catalyst was ascertained using a catalyst reusability test, and the characteristics of the biodiesel produced were assessed using conventional (standards) techniques.The results indicate that higher temperatures caused breaks in the oil's double bond during the extraction process, thereby raising the JCO free fatty acid (FFA) value (13.2 %). However, sugar cane bagasse, a bio-adsorbent with the smallest particle size (210 μm), was found to be effective in lowering the FFA of JCO from 13.20 % to 0.38 %. Catalyst analysis indicated K2O (38.30 % wt.), Cl (16.41 % wt.), CaO (13.01 % wt.), SiO2 (10.99 % wt.), P2O5 (4.30 % wt.), and MgO (3.69 % wt.) concentration by weight were the main components detected in the catalyst, according to catalyst characterization and analysis. The highest verified output (optimum validated yield) was at 3.10 % (wt.) catalyst concentration, a reaction time of 74.60 min, a 56.20 °C reaction temperature, and a methanol-oil molar ratio of 7.80 (vol/vol). The optimum validated biodiesel yield of 99.42 % (wt./wt.) was determined. After five rounds of the catalyst reusability test, the yield of biodiesel decreased, hence the reusability test was altered.The research concluded that sugar cane bagasse is a new novel material for an effective bio-adsorbent high-FFA oil of JCO, and that the novel catalyst developed can be utilized as a nano-catalyst in CPIs (chemical processing industries)
