Journal of Agricultural Science and Environment

NIGERIA’S PETRO-DOLLAR ECONOMY, AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMMES AND POLICIES: A REVIEW

A. M. ABBAS — 2025-03-05

This review study is centred on Nigeria’s petro-dollar economy and its agricultural programmes and policies. Despite having generated billions of dollars in petroleum revenue and numerous agricultural programmes and policies over the years, Nigeria remains a food import-dependent country with a significant infrastructure deficit. The reality is that crude oil revenues have been mismanaged due to pervasive and widespread corruption. The oil revenue has not reflected much on the quality of life of the citizens; Nigeria ranks low in terms of human capital development on a global scale. It is recommended that public officials use public funds wisely and hold themselves accountable. In order to reduce Nigeria’s annual food import bill and meet the ever-increasing demand for food, it is also recommended that the government at every level spend sufficiently and sustainably on crop production and raise productivity through the use of improved technologies, rather than relying on agricultural land expansion, which, although a good thing if only it is accompanied by improved technologies, The fisheries and livestock sub-sectors must also be enhanced through the use of genetic engineering.

DETERMINATION OF VOLATILE FATTY ACIDS WITH LENGTH OF FERMENTATION DAYS OF WHEAT STRAW SILAGE and ADDITIVES

A. U. KABIR — 2025-03-05

Volatile fatty acids of acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid are products of silage fermentation. The concentrations of volatile fatty acids in wheat straw ensiled with urea, poultry litter, watermelon peels and pineapple peels were determined in 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 fermentation days. The experiment was laid in a factorial randomized complete block design consisting 5 treatments; SWS (sole wheat straw), UWS (urea 2.5% + wheat straw), PLWS (poultry litter 25% + wheat straw), WPWS (watermelon peels 25% + wheat straw), and PPWS (pineapple peels 25% + wheat straw) each treatment were placed in triplicates. Samples from each treatment and fermentation day were collected and analyzed for concentration of volatile fatty acids (acetic, propionic, and butyric acids). The results showed a significant difference (P<0.05) in the concentrations of the acids in all treatments and the days of fermentation. The control (SWS) showed the highest levels of acetic (1.27 at 18 FDs), propionic (0.086 at FDs), and butyric acids (0.011 at 18 FDs), then PLWS but WPWS, PPWS, and UWS showed ranging similar values in acetic acid. In contrast, WPWS and PPWS show similar values in propionic acid and decreased butyric acid. In all the treatments, the concentration of the acids increased with an increase in fermentation days. It was concluded that wheat straw can be ensiled solely or with poultry litter for higher concentrations of volatile fatty acids.

RESPONSE OF MANGO GINGER (Curcuma amada Roxb.) TO TILLAGE AND PLANT DENSITY IN IBADAN, SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

H.A. OKE — 2025-03-05

Mango Ginger is a rhizomatous spice crop valued for its medicinal properties and mango-like flavour, but its growth and yield can be hampered by weed infestation. Deleterious effects of weeds on crop productivity could be minimized by the use of cultural practices. Therefore, influence of tillage and plant population density on fresh rhizome yield of mango ginger in Southwestern Nigeria were investigated in early and late wet seasons, in 2016. Treatments were laid out in split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Main plot treatments were two levels of tillage operations viz: till and no till. The sub-plot treatments consisted of five planting populations viz: 66,667 plants/ha, 83,333 plants/ha, 111,111 plants/ha, 133,333 plants/ha and 166,667 plants/ha. Data collected on weed, growth and yield of mango ginger were analyzed using ANOVA, and treatment means were separated using the least significant difference at p ≤ 0.05. Tillage and plant populations had significant effects on both the weed biomass and rhizome yield. Higher weed biomass were recorded in the no till plots compared to the till plots, while higher mango ginger yield was recorded from the tilled plots compared to the no tilled plots. In this study, weed biomass decreased with increase in plant population. Planting mango ginger at 133,333 plants/ha resulted in the highest rhizome yield, while planting mango ginger at 83,333 and 66,667 plants/ha resulted in the lower yields. Mango ginger could be planted at 133,333 plants/ha on a tilled soil.

EFFECTS OF VARIETY AND FERTILIZER TYPE ON PHYSICO-CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SWEET CORN (Zea mays L. saccharata Sturt) KERNEL

O.M. ODEYEMI — 2025-03-05

The sugar content of sweet corn kernel is influenced by variety and harvest time. This research investigated the effects of variety and fertilizer type on the physico-chemical composition of sweet corn kernel. The field experiment was conducted between April and June, 2024 at Agricwas Farm, Aboke village, Lagelu Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria, while the post field experiment was conducted at the Department of Horticulture Laboratory, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. There were two factors: variety (Sugar King F1 and Royal Hybrid) and fertilizer type of Poultry manure (40 t/ha), NPK 15:15:15 (100 kg N/ha), complimentary poultry manure and NPK fertilizer (½ NPK 15:15:15 + ½ poultry manure) and No fertilizer. The experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design fitted into split plot arrangement, with three replicates. Sweet corn harvested at milk stage (65 days after planting) were placed in a plastic crate and taken to the laboratory for physico-chemical analysis. Sugar King F1 and Royal Hybrid variety of sweet corn kernel had similar moisture, dry matter, fat, ash, crude fiber, crude protein and carbohydrate contents. However, Sugar King F1 had higher total soluble solids, total Sugar and starch contents when compared with Royal Hybrid variety of sweet corn. Sweet corn kernel fertilized with ½ NPK 15:15:15 + ½ Poultry manure had the highest dry matter, crude protein, and carbohydrate contents when compared with sweet corn kernel fertilized with sole poultry manure, sole NPK 15:15:15 and no fertilizer treatments. Sweet corn kernel treated with sole poultry manure had higher total soluble solids and total sugar while the unfertilized sweet corn had the highest starch content. Variety and fertilizer type had no influence on the Light, Hue and Chroma colour values of the sweet corn kernel. Sugar King F1 kernels were sweeter than Royal Hybrid kernel; both varieties had similar colour at harvest; Sugar King F1 variety of sweet corn fertilized with 40 t/ha poultry manure were the sweetest.

ASSESSMENT OF LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AND FISHERIES CONSERVATION STRATEGIES AMONG FISHERMEN IN COASTAL AREAS OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

F.I. ADEOSUN — 2025-03-05

In response to increasing anthropogenic activities that exacerbate environmental and economic pressures, livelihood diversification has become a crucial strategy for sustaining fisheries dependent households while ensuring the effective implementation of conservation policies for the sustainable development of coastal fishing communities.. This study assessed the association between household livelihood diversification and fisheries conservation policies among fishermen in coastal areas of Ogun State, Nigeria by adopting a multi-stage sampling procedure. Sample size was 90 fishermen from six randomly selected fishing communities (Abureji, Agbalegiyo, Ilamo, Imosan, Iseku and Wharf) along the coastline in Ogun State, Nigeria. Data were collected using pre-validated interview schedule and subjected to descriptive and inferential analytical techniques. Majority of the fishermen (98.9%) were married, in the age bracket of 41-60 years (71.1%) with average age of 49 years, had household size of 6-15 persons (91.1%) with average household size of 9 persons. About 90.0% were from extended families, with either no formal education (43.3%) or only primary education (41.1%); 62.2% were non-members of social groups, and 93.3% had no other occupations. There was generally low level of household livelihood diversification across the fishing communities. Gill nets were the most commonly used fishing gears across the fishing communities (80.0%),followed by seine nets (63.3%), traps (56.7%) and trawl nets (53.3%) while fish aggregating devices (35.6%), cast nets (37.8%) and hook and line (24.4%) were the least used fishing gears. Coastal fishery was characterised by conflicts among water users (64.4%), absence of protected fishing areas (81.1%), and experience of water pollution (36.7%). Majority (71.1%) of the fishermen agreed with closed season policy as a coastal fisheries conservation strategy, followed by gear restriction (30.0%). There were significant associations between level of household livelihood diversification and fishermen’s agreement with gear restriction (χ² = 15.545, df = 5), and closed season (χ² = 11.214, df = 4). The study concluded that coastal fisheries are in a poor state and that it could be improved through the introduction of gear restriction and closed season policies. The study recommended that youths in the coastal areas could venture into fishing, and that government and non-governmental agencies could organize sensitization programmes on fisheries conservation policies across the coastal areas in Ogun State.

EFFECTS OF HERBAL MIX AND WEIGHT ASYMMETRY ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, NITROGEN BALANCE AND BOWEL TRANSIT TIME OF GROWING PIGS

C.P. NJOKU — 2025-03-05

Integrating herbs into livestock farming aligns with the global goals of sustainable livestock production, animal welfare and consumer health. This study investigated the nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and bowel transit time of pigs with different herbal mixes and weight asymmetry. Fifty-four (54) Large White pigs with mean weight of 15.33±0.2 kg, were assigned to nine treatments in a 3 x 3 factorial layout with each treatment consisting of three replicates of two pigs each. The pigs composed of three weight groups (homogenous light, homogenous heavy and heterogeneous weights) fed diets of different herbal mixes of leaf meals (no herbal mix, moringa-basil and neem-basil leaf meals). The ratio of the mixture of moringa or neem to basil leaves was 5:1. Bowel transit time data were obtained twice per week throughout the study duration. On the 12th week of the study, three pigs were selected from each treatment i.e., 1 pig per replicate and arranged in a clean disinfected metal metabolic cage. A 7-day adaptation period followed a 5-day period of quantification of feed intake, excreted faeces and urine. Data generated were subjected to a 2-way analysis of variance in a 3x3 experimental layout. Nutrient digestibility parameters except ash contents were not influenced (p>0.05) by the herbal mixes except ash contents. However, nitrogen intake, digestion and retention were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by dietary inclusion of herbal mix in the ration of growing pigs. The nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance parameters of pigs were not influenced by weight asymmetry except faecal nitrogen. Herbal mix can be included in the ration of pigs in order to boost dietary mineral digestibility and nitrogen retentions.

LABOUR USE TYPES AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY AMONG SMALL-SCALE RICE FARMERS IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE IN OBAFEMI OWODE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

A. E. OBAYELU — 2025-03-05

The limited capacity of the Nigerian rice sector to meet domestic demand has been attributed to the type of labour used, among several factors. Therefore, smallholder rice farmers' labour use type and technical efficiency (TE) in Obafemi Owode LGA, Ogun State, Nigeria, were examined. Using a well-structured questionnaire, a multistage sampling technique was used to collect data from 120 smallholder rice farmers. Data were analysed using Tobit regression and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). The results revealed that about 81% of the rice farmers were males; 97.5% were married with a mean age of 54 years; household size of 54 years and 4 persons. SFA showed 81.0% of the farmers had TE above 0.70, with a mean of 0.78. The TE was significantly (p < 0.01) influenced by farm size (β = 0.907), labour quantity (β = 0.409) and fertilizer (β = -0.1289). Family and hired labour (β = - 0.102; p < 0.01), hired labour (β = - 0.201; p < 0.05), marital status (β = 0.115; p < 0.1), household size (β = - 0.033; p < 0.05) and years of schooling (β = - 0.013; p < 0.01) significantly affect TE. The study concludes that the type of labour used influences the TE of rice farmers and recommends mastering the right combination of hired and family labour to improve TE.

GUIDE TO AUTHORS

E. A. Makinde — 2025-03-05