FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,

This study focused on effect of Covid-19 on market orientation of catfish farmers in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo state Nigeria. The specific objectives were to : describe the socioeconomic characteristics of catfish farmers; identify the farming activities engaged in by the respondents; examine the measures used by catfish farmers to maintain market oriented production during outbreak of Covid-19 in the study area; examine the market orientation level of the catfish farmers during the outbreak of the Covid-19 ; ascertain the effect of the pandemic on the market orientation of the respondents ; identify the marketing information sources used by the respondents during the pandemic and identify the constraints encountered by the respondents during the outbreak. A three-stage sampling procedure was used for a proportional randomselectionof124 catfish farmers from the four fish farm clusters in the Local Government Area of the study. Primary data was collected through the use of structured questionnaire in line with the objectives of the study and was supported by in person interview schedule conducted among catfish farmers. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and mean scores as well as inferential statistics such as Multiple regression analysis

Monodora myristica is a perennial, edible plant used in West Africa and other parts of the world for its medicinal and culinary value. There is paucity of data on the nutritional contents of M. myristica seeds in the four regions of Nigeria where the seeds are easily available. This study was undertaken to determine the mineral contents of M. myristica (African nutmeg) seeds from Abuja, Awka, Benin City and Ondo Towns. Seeds of M. myristica used were deshelled, oven-dried and ground into fine powder. The powdered sample was subjected to mineral analysis using atomic absorption spectrometry. The mineral analysis showed that there were highly significant differences in the mineral contents of African nutmeg samples sourced from the various locations in calcium, chromium, potassium and zinc. But the iron, magnesium, manganese, and sodium contents were not significantly different from one location to the other. The results showed that the Monodora myristica seeds are rich in minerals and that the content levels vary in some minerals as a result of the location. This may be as a result of the different soil types and the nutritive state of the soil
where the plants were grown. It should also be noted that no particular location exhibited better mineral element composition across all the minerals studied. More mineral elements both beneficial and harmful should be studied in African nutmeg from more locations

The study examined shellfish consumption in Egor and Ovia-North East local government areaof Edo state. Specifically, the study investigated the socio economic characteristics of sellers, processing, storage and marketing activities of shellfish sellers. The market survey technique was used to collect data from the shellfish sellers across four markets (Oliha, Egor, Oluku andUselumarkets) in Egor and Ovia-North east local government area of Edo state. Structured questionnaire were used to collect data from 110 shellfish sellers using purposive and random sampling technique. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS descriptive analysis tools. 25questionnaires were administered to sellers in Oliha markets, 35 in Egor market, 20 inOlukumarket and 30 in Uselu market. From the study, it was observed that 100%of the sellers were females ;majority of the sellers (53.6%) were between 30-39 years and while those between40-49 constituted 30.0%. 95.5% of the sellers involved primarily in trading as their occupation. The study showed that 75.2% of sellers sold variety of shellfish; (91.8%) obtained their shellfish between 8am-10am; 93.6% sold processed shellfish. 91.8% used sun-drying as a method of preservation. 100% of the sellers transported their shellfish to the market by bus. 86.4%of the sellers purchased all sizes. 87.3% of the sellers engaged in individual buying. It was recommended that strategies that promote sustainability, accessibility, and affordability of shellfish products should be improved on and this could involve supporting local producers or promoting alternative distribution channels

This research studied the role of local government administration on rural agriculture and health development in Delta central senatorial district, Delta State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to; ascertain the extent local government have ensured rural development; identify the programmes and projects put in place by local government for rural development; and to identify the constraints hindering local government towards rural agriculture and health development in the study area. A multi-staged sampling technique was adopted in the selection of respondents in the study. Data for the study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire administered to eighty (80) selected respondents in the study area through interview schedule. Data obtained were measured and analyzed using descriptive statistics while the hypothesis testing was analyzed using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Result showed that over 63.7% of the sampled respondents consist of an aging population whose age ranges from fifty-one (51) and above while majority (73.3% and 93.7%) of the sampled respondents are female and married respectively. About 39% of the sampled respondents had no formal education, while 61.2% had at least primary education. The sampled respondents had an average household and family size of five (5) and seven (7) respectively- an indication that family members remain the primary source of labour. Furthermore, respondents indicated significant satisfaction with local government health development programmes- construction of healthcare facilities, supply of medicine and vaccines, address health workers shortage and improved health care accessibility and dissatisfaction with all agriculture development programmes put in place by local government administration in the study area. Result of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) showed significant relationship between selected socio-economic 9 characteristics and respondents’ satisfaction with local government administration on rural agriculture and health development programmes at 5% and 1% level of probability

Cowpea is an important source of food, income and livestock feed. It has ability to improve marginal lands through nitrogen fixation and as a cover crop can protect against soil erosion. It is extensively cultivated under rain fed conditions mainly in the savanna zone of Nigeria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance
of eleven cowpea varieties in an open field at UNIBEN. Nine cultivars and two local varieties were used for the experiment. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eleven treatments and three replications. The growth variables evaluated were leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, plant height, number
of leaves per plant. Two variables were significantly different depending on variety. In the case of leaf width Samaru 14 produced the significant widest leaf width compared to the other varieties, whereas in the case of leaf area Samaru 15 produced the significantly wildest leaf area compared to the other varieties. Samaru 14 did best in leaf width whereas Samaru 15 did best in leaf area among the other varieties evaluated.