|
|
| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science
October 2011 | Vol. 6 No. 10 |
|
Title: |
Tourism
management in selected ecotourism destinations in the Niger
delta, Nigeria |
|
Author (s): |
Ijeomah
H. M. and Esaen N. |
|
Abstract: |
The Niger Delta region is yet
to derive significant financial benefits from the global
tourism market due the nature of her tourism site
development and management as most eco-destinations are
fragile and require efficient management. The study examined
tourism management and its implication on conservation of
wildlife and tourists’ satisfaction using personal
observations, in-depth interviews and structured
questionnaires. Data obtained were analysed using
descriptive statistics in form of percentages, frequencies
and Tables, while Chi-square was used to test for
significance of relationships. Results revealed that the
tourist attractions at Port Harcourt Zoo were 17 different
species of wild animals managed in captivity. Among them are
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), Lion (Panthera leo),
and Nile crocodile (Crocodylus nilotica). The major
attractions in Akassa Turtle Station are boating, the annual
Akassa beach party and viewing of water turtles that
seasonally migrate to Akassa during their breeding season.
Having wilderness experience and sighting of the African
elephant in its natural habitat are the attractions at the
Famous Elephant Sanctuary. Findings from the study also
showed that tourist visitations to Port Harcourt Zoo is low
and continuously decreasing as majority of the respondents
(56.0%) would not want to repeat visits due to limited
attractions and boring experiences. Though visitation of
tourists to the Akassa Turtle Station was lower than that of
the Port Harcourt Zoo, tourists’ satisfaction level was
higher and visitors have been repeating visits. Household
respondents in Akassa community (100.0%) irrespective of
gender and age were aware of the Akassa Turtle Station and
are so interested and enthusiastic in conserving the water
turtles that a turtle club was formed in Akassa community.
The managers of the Akassa Turtle Station are indigenes of
Akassa community. All the household respondents (100.0%) at
the Famous Elephant Sanctuary in Ikuru community were not
interested in the protection of the elephants and were ready
to kill the elephants if opportuned. Household respondents
in Ikuru complained that the site had not benefitted them
and even the elephants have been destroying their crops. Chi
square tests of relationship between age, gender and
willingness to kill the elephants were not significant
(p<0.05). These ecotourism destinations will be a major
tourist attraction of global attention if properly managed
and fully developed. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Incidence
pattern of ascite syndrome and related losses in broiler
chicken farms at Tabriz region, northwest of Iran |
|
Author (s): |
Rahim
Beheshti, Mohammad Mousapoor and Alireza Lotfi |
|
Abstract: |
The aim of this study was estimation of ascite incidence
rates and related mortality rate in regional farms (survey
on 10 selected broiler farms). We had examined chicken
carcass in clinic taken from 10 selected broiler farms. We had separated carcasses with ascite signs and asked some relative question to farm
manager about farm capacity, location, and date of mortality
onset, ascite incidence history at their farms, daily
mortality rate, clinical signs and autopsy signs. At end of
rearing period (finishing), weekly mortality and total
mortality of each farm were estimated. Next, ascite-related
mortality rate were determined according clinical images
that have been taken from referred carcasses of these ten
observed farms. In six farms, main reasons of ascite
incidence were poor ventilation and hypoxia. Onset of ascite-related
mortality is 4th week of age and it can be raised
to 1.27% at 7th week of age (as peak point of
mortality). Estimated mean total ascite-related mortality is
4.38% for farms located at northwest of Iran. Poor
ventilation and in other side higher oxygen demands at
second half of broiler rearing period are considered as main
reasons of ascite incidence at regional farms. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Determinants of managerial abilities of small scale cocoa
farmers: Akinyele lga of Oyo state, Nigeria |
|
Author (s): |
Balogun
Olubunmi Lawrence |
|
Abstract: |
This study is an empirical adventure into an
attempt to increase the production of export crops through
better farming practices. Specifically, it looks into the
determinants of managerial ability of small scale cocoa
farmers in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo state.
Multistage sampling technique was employed for the study.
Data for the study were collected from 72 cocoa farmers with
the aid of structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed
using descriptive and principal component technique. The
study revealed that the first component is observed to
contain about one fifths of the total variation in the
forty-five variables. Only five components account for the
rest of the variation. An index of 0.98 provides how well
this particular solution accounts for all the variables
taken together and it also shows that the variables are not
different from each and account for all the groups. The
result further shows that, source of labour, purchase of
fungicide, variety of cocoa grown, source of credit, number
of man days for land preparation and planting as well as
effectiveness of spraying have negative impact on the
managerial abilities of small scale cocoa farmers in the
study area. Those variables not considered may indicate no
influence on management ability of cocoa farmers in the
study area. Refocusing policies to enhance emphasis on
efficient technological development adequate infrastructural
support stable and efficient institutional support efficient
input supply and delivery systems and other cost other cost
effective support services in agriculture is recommended by
this study. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Farmers’
perception of climate change in the Ejura-Sekyedumase
district of Ghana |
|
Author (s): |
Francis
Kemausuor, Ernest Dwamena, Ato Bart-Plange and Nicholas
Kyei-Baffour |
|
Abstract: |
Sustainable agriculture is
embedded in the relationship between humans and climate,
especially in attitudes towards climate change, the rates of
change and the impact of such change on the entire agro
ecosystem, including the soils, crops and animals. The
adoption and successful implementation of new technology and
husbandry practices and farmers’ adaptation to changes in
their ecosystems depend on their tendency to perceive and
react favourably towards changes in climate and environment.
The lack of sufficient knowledge about climate changes and
the impact on agricultural production is a setback to long
term sustainable agriculture in most developing countries,
including Ghana. This paper presents the results of an
investigation to determine perception of farmers about
changes in climate in Ejura-Sekyedumase district of Ghana,
as part of a broader research that assessed farmers’
adaptation to climate change in the district. The study
compared farmers’ perception on climate variability with the
actual variations based on climatic data recorded from 1993
to 2009. A survey was conducted and considered interviews
with farmers in six of the nineteen operational areas in the
district. The targeted populations were adult farmers with
at least 10 years of farming experience in the area. Data
was collected on perceptions about temperature changes and
variability in precipitation over a 10 year period. The
results indicated that more than 80% of farmers believe that
temperature in the district had become warmer and over 90%
were of the opinion that rainfall timing had changed,
resulting in increased frequency of drought. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Watershed
development prioritization by applying WERM model and GIS
techniques in Vedganga basin, India |
|
Author (s): |
Sachin Panhalkar and C. T.
Pawar |
|
Abstract: |
Soil conservation is an expensive and
cumbersome process, carried out in steps starting from the
most vulnerable region. Hence, formulation of integrated
water resource management program for sustainable
development requires the priority classification of a basin.
An area with a higher rate of erosion needs to be given
higher priority for appropriate treatment measures. The main
objective of the present study is to determine the
vulnerability of catchments to erosion for further
prioritization of Vedganga watershed. For the present
investigation IRS P6 Satellite image of LISS III sensor is
used to assess land use/ land cover and vegetation indices
by applying NDVI technique, while a GIS system is used to
evaluate the topographical conditions in conjunction with
SRTM dataset. For assessing the relative vulnerability of
different watersheds to soil erosion, the factors
responsible for soil erosion were considered using the
Watershed Erosion Response Model (WERM). This is an
index-based approach, based on the surface factors mainly
responsible for soil erosion. The integrated effect of all
the parameters is evaluated by applying weighted overlay
technique of GIS to find different areas vulnerable to soil
erosion. The analysis reveals that about 27 per cent area is
most susceptible to soil erosion. Based on the integrated
index, a priority rating of the watersheds for soil
conservation planning is recommended for watershed
development and management. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title: |
Cropping
system analysis using remote sensing and GIS: A block level
study of Kurukshetra district of Haryana, India |
|
Author (s): |
M. P.
Sharma, Manoj Yadav, R. Prawasi, Pavan Kumar and R. S. Hooda |
|
Abstract: |
Agricultural sustainability has the highest
priority in all countries, whether developed or developing.
Cropping System Analysis is essential for studying the
sustainability of agriculture. Crop rotation is stated as
growing one crop after another on the same piece of land in
different timings (seasons) without impairing the soil
fertility. A cropping system can be defined as the cropping
patterns and their management to derive maximum benefits
from a given resource base under specific environmental
conditions. Multiplicity of cropping system has been one of
the main feature of Indian agriculture and is attributed to
rained agriculture and prevailing socio-economic situations
of farming community. It has been estimated that more than
250 double cropping systems are followed throughout the
country. Thirty important cropping systems have been
identified based on rationale spread of crops in each
district in the country. Although, it is well known that one
of the main advantage of remote sensing satellites is the
synoptic and repeated collection of data which facilitate to
map multi-year cropping patterns and crop rotations. In the
present work, crop rotation and long term changes monitoring
in cropping pattern along other spatial and non-spatial
collateral data have been done with the help of satellite
data at block level of Kurukshetra district of Haryana.
Multi-date IRS LISS-III data of different seasons for the
year 2007-08 have been used for the study. Cropping pattern
maps of Rabi, Kharif and Summer season have been understood
to know the spatial distribution and associations between
crops or crops and uncultivated land in the same fields
(although not in a particular order of sequence). The
findings of the study may be used by Department of
Agriculture, Haryana for planning of agricultural strategies
in the district and for planning agricultural research and
extension activities for crop diversification. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Development of liquid larval diet with modified rearing
system for Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera:
Tephritidae) for the application of sterile insect technique |
|
Author (s): |
Mahfuza
Khan, M. Aftab Hossain, Shakil A. Khan, M. Saidul Islam and
C. L. Chang |
|
Abstract: |
A liquid larval diet and its rearing system
have been developed for mass rearing of Bactrocera
dorsalis (Hendel). Baking yeast, soy bran, soy proteins
were used at different combinations for the formulation of
liquid diet. Sugar, anti-microbial agent (sodium benzoate)
and citric acid were also included in the diet. The quality
parameters of flies reared on liquid larval diets i.e.,
pupal weight, pupal density, larval duration, percentage
adult emergence, percentage fliers, percentage egg hatch,
male-female ratios were comparatively better on modified
liquid diet where baking yeast, soy bran and soy protein was
used at 2:1:1 ratio. Low cost disposable plastic boxes and
sponge cloths used as rearing tray and supporting substrate
for larvae which reduce the rearing space and replace the
need for the traditional bulking agents (wheat bran/mill
feed) for mass production of B. dorsalis under
laboratory condition. Benefits derived from liquid diet and
its rearing system is discussed in relation to use of
Sterile Insect Technique programmes of B. dorsalis.
|
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Impact of
credit on poultry productivity in south-western Nigeria |
|
Author (s): |
Olagunju
F. I. and Babatunde R. O. |
|
Abstract: |
Livestock is important for increased
productivity in Nigerian agriculture. It provides food,
fuel, fertilizer and draught to sustain the rural economy.
Among livestock-based vocations, poultry occupies a pivotal
position because of its enormous potential to bring about
rapid economic growth. The neglect of the livestock sector
led to the decline in poultry production over the years.
There is therefore low productivity in the sub sector. The
focus of this study is to assess the impact of credit on
poultry productivity. The study was carried out in Ogun, Osun and Oyo states of southwestern Nigeria. Data
collection was by personal administration of questionnaires
designed to obtain information on poultry farmers’
characteristics, flock size, production characteristics and
economic aspect of production. Data were collected from
three hundred poultry farms but data from two hundred and
eighty respondents were used for the purpose of analysis. In
the selection of the data used for analysis, emphasis was
placed on the use of farms that kept fairly good and
accurate records of their operations. These farmers were selected through multi stage
sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, Logit and
multiple regression models were used for the analysis of the
data. Results of the analysis showed that the mean age of the poultry farmers was 46 years while 60% had up to secondary school education. Average
period of poultry experience was 8 years while the average
farm household size was 7 members. About 55% of these
farmers sourced their funds from personal savings while 20 %
used loans from co-operative societies. The sigma square (σ2)
value of 33.141 indicated a good fit for the model and a
normal distribution of the error term. Many small scale
poultry farmers complained of limited access to funds which
is often linked with their low level of farm income and
insufficient collateral securities. Level of education,
years of experience in poultry keeping and number of poultry
birds were positively significant variables. It was realized
that credit acquisition by the farmers had a significant
impact on the productivity of poultry. Furthermore,
household size, feeds, source and amount of credit had a
significant direct relationship with poultry productivity.
|
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Assessment of Nile crocodile utilization in selected
communities of rivers state, Nigeria |
|
Author (s): |
Ijeomah
H. M. and Efenakpo O. D. |
|
Abstract: |
Nile crocodile, a species
endemic to Africa is threatened and the rate of its
utilization in Nigeria, particularly in coastal areas is
unknown. Assessment of crocodile utilization was therefore
conducted in Choba, Aluu, Abonema and Emohua, being
communities located around the fresh water/saltwater
transitional river, with the aim of determining its rate of
utilization in the study area. Structured questionnaires,
field observations and in - depth interviews were used for
the study. Two sets of questionnaire were purposely
administered to three categories of respondents in the study
area. The first set was administered to all crocodile
consumers and all the fishermen/hunters in the study area
while the second set was administered to the only crocodile
farmer found in Abonema. In all, a total of 167, 70 and 1
consumers, fishermen/hunters and farmer respondents were
respectively sampled. Data obtained were analysed using
descriptive statistics. Results revealed that 77.0% of
respondents utilized crocodile for consumption alone. A
cumulative of 1239 individuals of crocodile were consumed as
at 2010 in the study area by consumers. About 57.0%
consumers are willing to buy crocodile meat and the
preferred sizes for consumption are sub adults (60.0%) and
adults (30.5%). Most respondents (81.0%) do not hunt but
know crocodile hunters (69.0%). Most consumers (60.0%) are
not willing to engage in crocodile farming. The willing
respondents are interested in crocodile farming for money
making (64.2%), food (19.4%) and hobby and money (16.4%).
Approximately 77.0% of crocodile hunters and consumers
perceived that the population of the species was decreasing
in the study area. All respondents did not want crocodile to
finish as its meat is desirable to consumers in the study
area. About 63.0% had not recorded any form of injury from
crocodile. In all only 37.0% of accident cases had been
recorded with crocodile. This shows that many of the
respondents can handle crocodiles without being hurt and
that rearing of crocodiles in captivity could be effective
in the study area if properly planned. However only 51.0%
are interested in crocodile farming, Moreso, only one
crocodile farm exists in the study area and is still at the
rudimentary stage even though it has been in existence since
1967. Challenges to crocodile farming were high cost of
feeding, space requirement and lack of expertise. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Estimating the supply response of main crops in developing
countries: The case of Pakistan and India |
|
Author (s): |
Muhammad
Rizwan Yaseen and Vves Dronne |
|
Abstract: |
The production of main crops
in developing countries is an important factor concerning
farmers, population revenues and economic development. To
contribute to better knowledge on the synthetic parameters
describing supply response, this article exploits annual
data set following Pakistan and India over 42 years (1966 -
2008) to develop two classic translog models estimating the
responses of areas for wheat, cotton, rice, maize,
sugarcane, dry beans, rapeseed, soybeans, sorghum and millet
to changes in their gross product per hectare. The
coefficients of each crop’s equation in the system are
estimated with the Full Information Maximum Likelihood. The
own and cross gross product elasticities for each crop are
calculated and compared to the data existing in literature,
showing two results: firstly, the major crops areas are found to be weakly gross
product-responsive as compared to minor crops, as well as to
developed countries and secondly, Pakistani producers have
responded weakly to gross product as compared to Indian
producers. Policy reforms could help producers respond more
easily to price changes, as well as to raise average
productivity levels. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
