Table of Contents

Environmental Effects of Using Fertilizer in Cassava Production in Aguata

Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Uche Okeke                                                                                                                             1 – 18

Socio-Economic Analysis of Broiler Production in Aguata L.G.A. of Anambra

State, Nigeria. Implication for Entrepreneurship Development in

a Developing Economy

Uche Okeke                                                                                                                             19 – 32

Impact of HIV/AIDS on Crop Farming in Benue State

Abua, T., Ekele, G.E. & Agbulu, O.N.                                                                                        33-52

Climate Change Crisis: A Review of Solutions

Ndor, D.C., Zarmai D.U. & Dalokom D.Y.                                                                               53-59

Carcass and Gut Characteristics of Broiler Chicken Fed Varying Levels

of Partially Sprouted Bambaranut

A. Umar, U.D. Doma, & K.M. Bello                                                                                          60-70

Assessment of the Management Practices and Perceived Training Needs

of Small Ruminant Farmers in Two Selected Local Government in Southern

Zone of Taraba State, Nigeria        

Mufwa J.B.; Christiana W. & Adamu F.                                                                                                71-90                                                              

Assessment of the Microbial Contamination of some Frozen, Smoked

and Canned Fish Sold in Kaduna North L.G.A. with Listeria Species

Musa, M. A., Bello, M., Kwaga, J. K. P., Idi-Ogede, A. M., Onimisi, H.U.,

Nda, A. A. & M. Sabo                                                                                                               91-102

ASSESSMENT OF THE MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF SOME FROZEN, SMOKED AND CANNED FISH SOLD IN KADUNA NORTH L.G.A. WITH LISTERIA SPECIES

¹Musa, M. A., ²Bello, M., ²Kwaga, J. K. P., ¹Idi-Ogede, A. M., ³Onimisi, H.U., ¹ Nda, A. A. & ¹M. Sabo

Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University, Gashua

Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University. Zaria.

Email musamusa25@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to investigate theoccurrence of Listeria species in frozen, smoked and canned fish in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Nigeria. A total of one hundred and eighty (180) fish samples comprising of 60 frozen, 60 smoked and 60 canned were purchased from the fish mongers at the three major markets in Kaduna North L.G.A (Kawo, Abubakar Gumi and Unguwar Rimi markets). Sampling was done once a weekly. Listeria species were isolated using pre-enrichment selective medium and were identified by conventional biochemical tests and confirmed with Microbact ID-System. Results shows that from the 180 samples, 24 (13.3%) were found to be contaminated with Listeria species. Out of the 24 isolates, Microbact 12L –ID system showed that 9(37.5%) of L.grayi and 15 (62.5%) of L. ivanovii were positive isolates respectively. Distribution of the occurrence of Listeria spp by sample type showed that smoked fish had the highest occurrence of 19 (31.7%) when compared with frozen fish which had 5 (8.3%) whereas canned fish had 0 (0%). Distribution of Listeria isolates by location showed that Unguwar Rimi market had the highest 15 (25%) followed by Kawo market 5(8.3%) and the least contaminated was Abubakar Gumi market 4(6.6%).The prevalence of Listeria species in this study showed that there is a potential threat to health and safety of the public. Therefore it is recommended that good hygiene practices should be implemented

ASSESSMENT OF THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PERCEIVED TRAINING NEEDS OF SMALL RUMINANT FARMERS IN TWO SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOUTHERN ZONE OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Mufwa J.B.; Christiana W. and Adamu F.

Department of Animal Production College of Agriculture, Jalingo

E-mail: mufwa@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to assess management practices and perceived training needs of small ruminant farmers in southern zone of Taraba State, Nigeria. Interview schedule was used to collect data from sixty randomly selected farmers. Data was presented using descriptive statistics. Majority (68.3%) of the respondents were males. Fifty five percent of the farmers kept goats only. Majority (96.7%) kept their animal under the intensive system of management. About 63% of the respondents kept their livestock in cement block houses. Pennisetum purpureum and panicum maximum combination (61.7%) were the most commonly used forage fed to the animals. All the respondents had basic knowledge on how a healthy animal should look like. About sixty two percent indicated that diarrhea was the most frequently observed health problem in their flocks. Majority (71.7%) selected animals for breeding on the basis of fast weight gain while 65.0% on the basis of high rate of multiple births. Respondents indicated training needs in the areas of improve carcass quality (80.0%), ration formulation (75.0%), stock density (80.0%) and forage management (81.7%). Great potentials exist for small ruminant production in the area and this can be achieved through sound extension education to the farmers.

CARCASS AND GUT CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKEN FED VARYING LEVELS OF PARTIALLY SPROUTED BAMBARANUT

A. Umar, U.D. Doma, & K.M. Bello

Animal Production Programme,

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria

Email: malikhassan797@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The effect of feeding broiler chicken with varying levels of partially sprouted bambaranut on the carcass and gut characteristics was investigated. Five diets were formulated in which partially sprouted bambaranut was included at 0, 10, 20, 30 and  40% replacing soybean and coded as diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Two hundred day old marshal unsexed broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design and each of the treatment was replicated three times. Results showed that live weight and carcass parameters such plucked weight, eviscerated weight and carcass weight all differs significantly (p<0.001) with diet 5 recording the highest weight, whereas dressing %,kidney, spleen, heart, gizzard, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, abdominal fat, caecal, liver, head and leg weight did not differ significantly (p<0.05). The study therefore reveals that using partially sprouted bambaranut has no adverse effect on the carcass and gut characteristics of broiler chickens.

CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS: A REVIEW OF SOLUTIONS

Ndor, D.C., Zarmai D.U. & Dalokom D.Y.

Department of Agricultural Technology,

Plateau State College of Agriculture, Garkawa

Email: dombinndor@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This paper is a review work conducted through the collection of some research materials and field reports concerned with various climate change crisis solutions at local and global levels. It is clear that the move away from traditional methods of farming to industrial agriculture and modern food production has been hugely important in creating the crisis. The extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the expansion of the meat industry and the destruction of the world’s savannahs and forests to grow agricultural commodities are together responsible for about one third of the green house gases that are causing global climate change. As the climate change, agriculture needs to transform so that it becomes more profitable, sustainable and resilient. The smallholder farmers and producers who face the hard realities of the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods want practical solutions that work for them and their families. A return to agro-ecological farming, building organic matter by fungi, carbon sequestration by plants e.g spekboom, root-imaging technology application and community leaders role to save forests are solutions to climate change crisis.

IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON CROP FARMING IN BENUE STATE

¹Abua, T., ²Ekele, G.E. and ²Agbulu, O.N.

¹Department of Agricultural Education, College of Education Katsina-Ala

²Department of Agricultural Education, University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Email: nyorbem@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the impact of HIV/AIDS on food production of farmers in Benue state of Nigeria. A questionnaire survey design was adopted. The sample of the study of 400 participants was drawn from 48 comprehensive treatment sites in Benue state. The instrument used was the impact of HIV/AIDS on Food Production of Farmers Inventory (IHFPFI). The instrument was validated by the three experts in Research Methods and Agricultural education. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach alpha which was 0.89. Five research questions and four research hypotheses were formulated to give direction to the study. The data collected were analysed using Mean and Standard Deviation to answer the research questions. T-test statistics was used to test hypotheses 1 -3. The results of the study include: HIV/AIDS had significantly impacted on pre-planting, post-planting and harvesting processes of crop farming. It was therefore suggested that Government at all levels should intensify their effort to reduce the number of new infected persons. This should include increased education and information campaign especially in the ill-informed rural areas to end the silence, stigma and indifference to HIV/AIDS. To achieve this, religious leaders, village heads, transport union etc. should be included in the campaign.