Volume 45 (2012): Issue 2 (October 2012)

The aim of the study was to determine the physical properties of gbafi lo fruit and kernel, namely, axial dimension, geometrical and arithmetic mean diameter, sphericity, aspect ratio, 1000 unit mass, surface area, true and bulk density, porosity angle of repose and coeffi cient of static friction. Investigation of physical properties of gbafi lo (Chrysobalanus icaco) is important for the design of appropriate equipment for processing, transporting, cleaning, sorting, packaging and storage processes. The mean length, width and thickness of gbafi lo fruit (Chrysobalanus icaco) were determined at 8.3% moisture content (d.b.). The analysis of variance showed that variations in the values obtained for fruit and kernel for axial dimensions were signifi cantly different at 5% probability level. The arithmetic and geometric mean diameter for gbafi lo fruit were 24.95 mm and 24.74 mm. The sphericity, surface area and as well as 1 000 unit mass of gbafi lo kernel were 0.82, 1 056.70 mm2 and 2 804.64 g. True and bulk densities were 989.19 kg/m-3 and 652.53 kg/m-3 for kernel. Angle of static friction of gbafi lo fruit and kernel were 19.34° and 17.61°. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range (DMR) using Statistical Analysis System. The static coeffi cient of friction of plywood structural surface was observed to be the highest followed by galvanized steel sheet and glass. This is an indication that plywood interior lining would not be suitable material for chute design. All the gbafi lo fruit and kernel parameters investigated were signifi cantly different (P < 0.05). This fi nding could therefore be useful in the design and fabrication of gbafi lo processing machines.

Genetic variation in 60 isolates of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal agent of rice bacterial blight disease, investigated using random amplifi ed polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. All of 60 strains isolated and characterized through 2006-2008 in Guilan province. Three populations: a) isolates from nursery, b) isolates from fi eld, and c) isolates from panicle studied. Eight decamer primers of RAPD amplifi ed 187 polymorphic bands. The largest and smallest fragments generated by 80.7 and OPA10 primers, respectively. The minimum amount of polymorphic information content was related to OPA12 primer (0.36) and the maximum amount of that was related to OPA10 primer (0.44). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) of data from RAPD analysis showed that the genetic variation within Xoo populations was greater than between populations. The similarity matrix conducted by Simple Matching coeffi cient and cluster analysis made by unweighted pair group method (UPGMA) with NTSYS-pc soft ware. At a similarity index of 0.6 the isolates were grouped into 3 clusters. These results revealed that the RAPD markers used in this study could differentiate nursery and fi eld isolates from each other.

Field trials were conducted over three years at Samaru in the northern Guinea savannah ecological zone of Nigeria to evaluate the performance of 20 improved cowpea varieties under conditions of natural infestation by a parasitic weed, Alectra vogelii (Benth.). Grain yield ranged from 695 to 2043 kg ha-1.The best yielding varieties were IT95K-1072-57 and IT97K-499-35. These varieties also hosted very low number of Alectra shoots, suggesting that they are resistant to it. In addition to high grain yield, both varieties produced high fodder yield, making them to be dual purpose varieties. They are therefore ideal for the semi-arid zone where livestock production is an integral part of the farming system and Alectra is a major constraint to the attainment of high cowpea yield. Alectra did not emerge on two of the varieties (IT95K-1090-12 and IT97K-818-35), indicating that they are highly resistant to the weed, but these varieties were among the poorest yielders. They may, however, be good sources of Alectra resistance in cowpea breeding programmes. Four varieties, IT95K-1380, IT93K-273-2-1, IT95K-222-5 and IT93K-573-5 supported high number of Alectra shoots and were therefore highly susceptible to its parasitism.

The study examined the participation of women in cassava production and processing in Imo State, Nigeria. Stratifi ed and simple random samplings were used to select 60 women that engage in the enterprise in the state. Descriptive statistics, participation index and an econometric tool were used to analyze data. The main enterprise objective of the women was household consumption. A grand mean participation index of 3.02 obtained is an indication that the women always participated in the enterprise in the state. The dominant activities of the women were cultivation, cutting of cassava sticks, frying and fi re preparation. Level of education, number of visits by extension agents, access to farm credit, farm income, and cooperative membership were the statistically (p < 0.05) signifi cant factors that affect the respondents in the state. The major constraints faced by the respondents were non-ownership of farm land, pre-occupation with household chores, inadequate farm size and high cost of processing. It is recommended that the respondents should belong to cooperative associations, and form effective linkage with agricultural extension agencies in the area. There is need to review the existing system of land acquisition and ownership in the area in order to give women greater access to and control of productive resources.

The study examined the factors affecting mushroom production in three states, namely, Ondo, Osun and Oyo randomly selected in Southwest of Nigeria. The sample size of twenty fi ve mushroom producers was used for the study and this comprised all the mushroom growers in the southwest, Nigeria. The mushroom growers include two institutions and 23 individuals. The two institutions constitute (8%) while individual farms were made up of males (60%) and females (32%). The study revealed that 44% of the respondents were between 26 and 35 years of age, while 20% were between 46 and 50 years of age. It was found that 64% of the growers were married while 28% were single. The household size composition showed that 56% were between 1 and 5 while 36% were between 6 and 10. Only 36% and 32% of the respondents were found to consider taboos and other cultural beliefs, respectively, as important factors in their decision to grow mushrooms. Signifi cant relationship was found to exist between household size, information on mushroom production, cultural beliefs, storage and output size of mushrooms. With a gross margin of 4,129,000 Nigerian Naira (N) ($32,769.84) mushroom production was considered to be profi table. It was recommended that extension service should be stepped up to reach the rural dwellers with the message of mushroom production while equally educating the people on the source of input and production strategies.

Yam minisett technology provides seed yams rapidly. It is designed to alleviate the problem of seed yams scarcity, which has been identified as a major constraint to increased yam production. This study examined the adoption of the technology by farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. A random sampling technique was employed in the selection of respondents. A sample size of 240 yam farmers participated in the study. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing data generated by the study. Results of the study reveal that respondents had moderate awareness of yam minisett technology with an overall awareness percentage of 46%. The study also found an overall mean adoption score of 2.24, which indicates a general low adoption of the technology by the farmers. Application of minisett dust with adoption score of 2.05 was the least adopted yam minisett technology item, while cutting into minisett was the most adopted with adoption score of 2.79. The study found a significant relationship between some farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics and adoption of yam minisett technology. Recommendations of the study include that more awareness on the technology should be created among the farmers by the relevant agency through the use of extension campaigns, demonstrations and small plot adoption trials (SPAT). Also, farm credit should be granted to yam farmers through the State Government’s Micro Credit Scheme (SGMCS) to enhance their adoption of the technology.

The paper is focused on possibilities of economic effectiveness evaluation of supports expended in the framework of the European Development Fund. As an indicator which would refl ect the infl uence of support on a given country, human development index was chosen for its complexity. On base of a sample of African countries monitored in the period of 2001 - 2011, an analysis of time series has been carried out. Its aim was to fi nd out whether and after what period the amount of supports will be refl ected on the size of human development index. Statistically, a small effi ciency of provided supports was proved. It is necessary then to deal partly with the question of their advisability in the present form and partly with a methodology of determination of their effi ciency.

This article deals with the management of water, its pollution, and with the consequences for development assistance in Central Asia. We argue that water is most affected by human activity in Uzbekistan out of all the countries of Central Asia, and we provide an overview of water management projects in this country. Data from international organizations that are concerned with development (FAO, OECD, World Bank etc.) show that the two main Uzbekistan’s environmental problems still are a lack of water resources and the strong anthropogenic impact on water. The values of ODA+OOF received by Uzbekistan fl uctuate around USD 200 million per year. A considerable proportion of this amount has been used for environmental development projects each year. The most signifi cant projects are funded by the World Bank and the water project of the World Bank in Uzbekistan with highest funding was “Water Supply, Sanitation and Health Project” (1997 - 2008). Many other ODA donors work in Uzbekistan. Their project budgets are lower, however, the results of their activities are often of more importance for the affected localities.