Federal University of Technology Yola - the citadel of higher learning

Research Works Presently Undertaken

Please use the alphabetic index to search for research works in the topic alphabetical order

Click here to see all ongoing researches in FUTY. You may also visit departments to see all their ongoing research on their web page

Meet the Researchers

Click on the name of the researcher if a hyperlink to view his Curriculum Vitae

INDEX: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

A Survey of Farmers’ Membership of Local Level Institutions for Development Action in Yobe State, Nigeria

Onu, J. I. and Okunmadewa, F. Y

ABSTRACT

A survey of local level institutions (LLIs) in Yobe State was carried out in conjunction with the Yobe State Agency for Poverty Reduction. The objective was to identify the LLIs in the state and to examine their characteristic features such as membership, index of heterogeneity, density of membership, and active participation index. A total of 3, 045 LLIs were identified in the 17 local councils of the state with an active membership of about 33, 329 farmers. The average number of active memberships per household was 2 while meeting attendance in the last three months normalized for the number of memberships ranges from 2.4 to 7.2. The high index of heterogeneity across the state indicates inclusiveness while the high index of participation in decision making can facilitate the business of the associations. A number of benefits to members of LLIs and community were identified. It is concluded that membership of LLIs is desirable for poverty alleviation as it helps to build social capital and facilitate cooperation for mutual benefits.

Keywords: Institutions, associations, membership, cooperation, inclusiveness

Determinants of Profitability in Yam Production in Northern Part of Taraba State, Nigeria.

Abubakar, I., Iheanacho, A.C. and Abdullahi, A.B.

ABSTRACT

The paper explored the determinants of profitability in yam production in northern part of Taraba state, Nigeria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, administered to 120 yam farmers from the study area selected using multi-stage random sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics, budgetary technique and profit function where the analytical technique used. The costs and returns analysis revealed that yam production in the study area was highly profitable, with gross margin of N52,952.00 per hectare and return per man-day of N142.23 per hectare. Profit function analysis indicated that cost of seed yam, mechanized labour and hired labour had significant relationship with profit at 1%, while rented land was significant at 5%. Costs of seed yam and hired labour, were however, found to be inversely related to profit. High cost of inputs was ranked as the most important constraint followed by storage and handling, transportation, soil infertility, erosion, pest and disease in the same order. It was recommended that farmers should form cooperatives to take the advantage of the economies of scale in purchasing bulk inputs at subsidized rate to reduce cost and improve profit.

Keywords: Profitability, yam production, Taraba State, Nigeria.

Economic Analysis of Paddy Rice Processing in Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Mshelia, S. I, Iheanachoc A. C. and Iliyasu, A

ABSTRACT

The study determined the economics of paddy rice processing in Adamawa State of Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the costs and returns associated with paddy rice processing and verify economies of scale. Primary data were collected from 91 randomly selected respondents, comprising retail and wholesale processors and, using structured questionnaires and oral interviews. The findings indicate that the gross margins for retail and wholesale rice processors were N7.26 and N19.52, with returns per Naira invested of 13 Kobo and 40 Kobo respectively. The market margins were 29.20 and 43.40 percent for retail and wholesale processors respectively. Negative and statistically significant relationship (at 5%) existed between average processing costs and quantity of rice processed, indicating the presence of technical economies of scale, in both the retail and wholesale processing. Based on the findings, it was recommended that processors should be organized into co-operatives to own milling machines and engage in bulk transportation to further reap the benefits of scale economies.

Keywords: Rice, processing, marketing, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Effects of Azadirachta Indica, Tamarindus Indica and Eucalyptus Camaldulensis on Paracetamol-Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Rats

Tella, I. O. and Ojo^, O. O.

ABSTRACT

Many African trees are used in traditional medicinal practices without a scientific basis for such usage. This study investigates into the scientific basis for the use of three tropical plants in treatment of diseases and compares the efficacies and pharmacological potentials of these plants. The effect of stem bark extracts of Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Tamarindus indica A. Juss. and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., on paracetamol-induced lipid peroxidation in rats were examined in vivo. A daily oral dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of sample was prepared and administered to rats of Winstar strain (mean weight, 130 g) for 10 days. Lipid peroxidation was induced with a single dose of 2 g/kg body weight of paracetamol on the 10^th day. Serum levels of malondialdehyde, catalase activity, reduced ascorbic acid level, cholesterol and phospholipids, and cholesterol/phospholipids ratio were determined. Paracetamol caused a significant (P<0.05) elevation of serum level of malondialdehyde from 10.24 + 2.15 nm/hour to 47.23 + 2.87 nm/hour and increased the serum percentage activity of catalase from 2.78 + 0.56% to 10.95 + 1.52%. A depletion of serum-reduced ascorbic acid from 89.23 + 3.25 mg/100ml to 21.02 + 1.24 mg/100ml was observed. Treatment of rats with paracetamol caused membrane rigidity by lowering cholesterol-phospholipid ratio (0.26 + 0.01). Pre-treatment of animals with 100mg/kg stem bark extract of the plant species produced significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation; depletion of serum reduced ascorbic acid, and decreased catalase activity in the blood. Increased cholesterol-phospholipid ratio observed suggest prevention of alteration of membrane fluidity.

Keywords: Lipid peroxidation, paracetamol, catalase, malondialdehyde, cholesterol, phospholipids, Azadirachta indica, Tamarindus indica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Evaluation of The Impact of Vocational Agricultural Adult Literacy Programme (VAALP) on Food Crop Production in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

Weor, D. U

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out to evaluated the impact of Vocational Agricultural Adult Literacy Programme (VAALP) on Food Crop Production in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. Structured questionnaire was used in data collection. Data were collected from thirty respondents, randomly sampled from three farming communities of Yandev, Mbatiav, and Mbayion. Frequency distributions, percentages, and means were used to analyze the data. Results showed that the major food crops grown were yam, cassava, guinea-corn, maize, rice, soyabeans, groundnut and cowpea. The farmers were mainly small-scale operators, cultivating less than five hectares of land with a mean income of N83, 000 per annum. Farms were not mechanized and farmers used simple hand tools. Their constraints to large-scale farming were lack of labour, inadequate land, lack of finance, and poor marketing channels. However, farmers have adopted the use of some modern techniques of farming such as the use of inorganic fertilizers, improved seeds of crops, use of pesticides, irrigation and procurement of loan through government loan scheme to increase food crop yield. In addition, they embarked on community self-help projects to improve their environment. The implication of the findings was that Vocational Agricultural Adult Literacy Programme has improved the farmers’ living standards.

Farmers Adoption of Recommended Agricultural Technologies as Determinants of Effective communication by Extension Agents in Adamawa State

Bzugu P. M. and Gwary M. M.

ABSTRACT

Effective communication by extension agents results in farmers’ awareness and adoption of agricultural technologies. In order to study the use of information sources and adoption by farmers, some recommended cereal crop technologies were selected. The research was carried out in Adamawa state of Nigeria. The data were collected form 504 cereal crop farmers selected systematically from 24 villages selected through multi stage sampling. The empirical results of analysis suggest that the use of extension agents as sources of information among the respondents was fairly high (46.6%). It also revealed that awareness is high. Consequently, the adoption level of the same for selective technologies was high (50.0%) and only 19.9% of them adopted all the farm technologies. In conclusion, those farmers who are aware of the information of agricultural technologies and use a number of information sources, adopted the same, which may imply that lack of awareness on agricultural technologies and selective use of information sources among the respondents were responsible for the low adoption rate of agricultural technologies. This may be attributed to ineffective communication by extension agents.

Key words: Adoption, Recommended Agricultural Technologies, Extension Agents, Communication

Hepatoprotective Effects of Azadiractha Indica, Tamarindus Indica and Eucalyptus Camaldulensis on Paracetamol Induced-Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Ojo, O. O., Tella, I. O. and Ademola-Aremu, O. O.

ABSTRACT

Scientific reports on the use of common Nigerian tropical plants in treatment of liver injury are not common. However, several trado-medicinal practices in Nigeria has shown that a good number of Nigerian tropical plants possesses hepatoprotective properties. This paper presents the results of a preliminary study of the hepatoprotective effects of Azadirachta indica, Tamarindus indica and Eucalyptus camaldulensis in paracetamol treated rats. Leaf, stem, root and bark of the three plant species were screened for phytochemicals. The results showed that stem and root bark of the three plants contain considerable amounts of saponin, tannin and phlobatannin. Anthraquinone and cardiac glycosides were present in small amounts in the different parts except in the leaves of Tamarindus indica. Treatment of experimental animals with 2g/kg oral dose of paracetamol caused an elevation of serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP from 10.10 + 1.63, 13.24 + 1.25, and 12.05 + 1.02 in normal rats to 59.12 + 3.19, 87.17 + 3.15 and 150.23 + 9.62 in control rats respectively.. Pre-treatment of animals with 100 mg/kg extract of the three plant species inhibited paracetamol-induced liver damage. Azadirachta indica inhibited elevation of serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP by 46.88%, 50.44% and 44.88% respectively. Tamarindus indica inhibited elevation of serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP by 60.67%, 39.49% and 65.09% respectively as against inhibition of 21.79%, 55.09% and 44.88% produced by Eucalyptus camaldulensis for the same parameters. These results provide preliminary data to support the use of these plants in traditional medical practices.

Keywords: Hepatotoxicity, paracetamol, liver damage, Azadirachta indica, Tamarindus indica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, transaminases

Land Factor in Agricultural Production Among Rural Women Farmers in South Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Ani, A.O. and Donye, A. 0.

ABSTRACT

The research was on land factor in agricultural production among rural women farmers in Southern Ebonyi State of Nigeria. The main objective of the study was to determine the availability of farm lands to the respondents. Four hundred (400) rural women farmers were sampled by multi stage sampling procedure and used as procedure respondents to the study. A structured schedule interview was used in collecting data from the respondents. The main means of data analysis were percentages and step -wise regression analysis. The major findings were that land available to the respondents was not enough for meaningful agricultural production; the predominant system of land ownership among the respondents was family closely followed by inheritance; cassava and vegetable productions used a greater part of land available to the respondents; and that land tenure system was the most important factor (P=0.05) influencing land use while educational level was the least important factor among the socio-economic variables of the respondents studied. It was suggested among others that legislation giving women title to land should be enforced by government in consideration of the fact that majority of the people concerned with food production are women.

Key Words: Land factor, Agricultural, Rural Women,. Ebonyi State

Optimum Crop-Combinations in The Fadama Areas of Bauchi State, Nigeria: A Linear Programming Approach

Haruna, U

ABSTRACT

The study examined the optimum crop-combinations in the fadama areas of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A total of 120 small-scale fadama farmers nested within 24 Fadama Users Associations (FUAs) in the three agricultural zones of the State were randomly selected. Data were collected using questionnaires and analysed by descriptive statistics and the Linear Programming Model. The results suggested that cropped area under less remunerative and low labour demanding crops like cabbage, lettuce and okra should be shifted towards the production of higher remunerative and high labour demanding crops like tomato, pepper and irrigated rice. Major constraints identified to be affecting fadama farming in the area include inadequate credit, high cost of farm inputs and inadequate marketing outlets. As a policy strategy, it is recommended that the identified constraints should be minimized and farmers should be encouraged to concentrate more on the production of highly remunerative crops to optimize, both land utilization and net economic benefits.

Key words: Irrigation, optimum, planning, remunerative, crops, combination.

Structural Characteristics and Performance of Retail Marketing of Eggs in Maiduguri Metropolis of Borno State, Nigeria.

Iheanacho, A.C

ABSTRACT

The study examined the structure and performance of retail egg marketing in Borno State of Nigeria. Data were collected from 40 randomly selected egg retailers, using questionnaires and oral interviews. The results indicated that there were adequate marketing channels for egg retailers in the State, with low gross margin (N8.72) per crate and high marketing margin of N14.44% per crate. The Gini Coefficient analysis showed that the market was highly concentrated (0.72), indicating the possibility of non-competitive behaviour and inequality in earnings among the marketers. The market exhibited scale economies, implying that the marketing costs increased as the quantity of eggs handled increased. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that egg retailers should organize themselves into cooperatives to reap the benefits of scale economy, especially in the areas of storage and transportation.

Sustainable Nematode Control in Sorghum and Millet: the Use of Host-Plant Resistance

Chindo, P. S. and Aba, D. A

ABSTRACT

Plant parasitic nematodes, particularly root knot species are reported to be important yield reducers in sorghum and pearl millet. Control of these pests through the use of nematicides has been expensive for the average farmer and therefore not sustainable. This has made it imperative to look for alternative measures which are cheap, sustainable and compatible with the environment. Host plant resistance provides this answer. Consequently, 22 and 13 genotypes of sorghum and pearl millet, respectively, were tested for their reaction to the root knot nemotade Meloidogyne incognita in pot culture in the screenhouse in Samaru, Zaria. All the genotypes tested were poorly infected by M. incognita. This suggests that sorghum and pearl millet genotypes in Nigeria are poor hosts of the root knot nematode. More work therefore needs to be done to evaluate commonly grown sorghum and pearl millet genotypes against higher populations of root-knot species than [populations used in this study.

Keywords: Sorghum, pearl millet, susceptibility, root-knot nematode

The Effects of Phosphorus Application on Growth and Yield of Cowpea in Yola, Nigeria.

Gungula, D.T. and Garjila, Y

ABSTRACT

Adamawa State produces a lot of cowpea. Farmers practice continuous cropping which depletes the soil nutrients a lot. Documentation on phosphorus requirement of cowpea is scarce. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the effects of phosphorus levels on the growth and yield of cowpea in Adamawa State and to identify which phosphorus level is the optimum for the production of cowpea in the state. Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Yola during the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons. Four levels of phosphorus 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha were tested on cowpea variety IAR 48 in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters. While it took 47.3 days for plants in the control to attain 50% flowering, plants that received 60 or 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 took just 46 days to attain 50% flowering. Plants in the control had a mean of 12.8 pods per plant while those in the 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 treatment had 15.5 pods per plant. Grain yield was lowest (2028) at 0 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 while plants that received 60 and 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1, had grain yield of 2979 and 2620 kg ha^-1, respectively. Cowpea growth and yield can be enhanced by applying P₂0₅. Since there were no significant differences observed in the grain yield between 60 and 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1, farmers can apply 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 to obtain optimum yield for economic reasons.

Key words: Phosphorus, cowpea, growth, grain yield

The Influence of Nutrients and Growth Media on the Nursery Performance of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum l.) Seedlings

Gungula, D.T. and Bayaso, I.

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out in the screen house of Federal University of Technology, Yola in order to identify an optimum soil nutritional level and an alternative media for raising pepper seedlings faster in the nursery. The treatments consisted of 2 growth media (soil and sawdust), 4 NPK levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 g/pot) and 3 Agrolyser Micronutrient Fertilizer (AMF) levels (3.5, 7 and 10.5 g/pot) and were replicated three times in a split plot design design. The media were assigned to the main plots while the nutrients were assigned to the sub-plots. The variety of sweet pepper used was Californian Wonder. The results showed that AMF treatments produced better (P=0.01) the same trend was observed in the pooled means. AMF level of 7 g tended to perform better than the others. Soil media performed better in terms of emergence, establishment and leaf number in both the first trial and the pooled means while sawdust treatments performed better in the first trail and the pooled means. Mean values of 4.9 cm, 3.8 cm and 2.2g were obtained in the pooled means for plant height, root length and root weight, respectively. The experiment showed that application of agrolyser, lead to better performance of pepper seedlings in the nursery. From the results of the experiment, sawdust is an alternative media for raising pepper seedlings, although the soil media is still better.

Key words: Pepper, sawdust, soil, media, agrolyser and NPK

The Threat of Gully Erosion in Federal University of Technology, Yola and Environs.

Bassey, N. E. and Obiefuna, G. I

ABSTRACT

Growing gully sites in the Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria were observed. The gullies formed by erosion have caused extensive damage to the environment and are threat to newly constructed/reconstructed infrastructures. The study shows that the gullies are caused partly by human activities and geomorphologic processes, but mainly by geological and geotechnical characteristics of the soils. Available geological and geotechnical data indicate soils that are highly weathered and loose. Fractive force due to run-off and seepage flux are mainly resisted by the angle of internal friction, since the value of cohesion is low. On the basis of the geological and geotechnical data. It is suggested that soil stabilization techniques such as grouting, dewatering and concrete-rip rap be applied to the affected areas to check the growth of the gullies.

Key words: Gulley, geomorphologic, grouting, geological and geotechnical