FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

This study examined the knowledge and skills of agrochemical usage among cassava farmers in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of Cassava farmers, examine the level of perceived Knowledge the Cassava farmers have in agrochemical usage, determine the level of skill Cassava farmers have in applying agrochemicals effectively and safely and determine the constraints faced by farmers in acquiring the knowledge and skills in agrochemical usage. A total of 90 cassava farmers were selected using a two‑stage sampling technique, and data were collected through structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Findings revealed that most farmers were within the productive age group (x̄ = 42 years), 64.4% were male, and 72.2% had secondary education. All respondents (100%) used agrochemicals, and 57.8% had received some form of training on agrochemical usage. The findings revealed that farmers had high knowledge level for information on agrochemical labels or cans (x̄= 2.98), the different types of agrochemicals for different pests or plant problems (x̄ = 2.57), correct personal protective equipment to use by sprayer(x̄= 2.55), weather can affect spraying chemicals (x̄= 2.96), how to calculate treatment area and calibrate spraying equipment properly (x̄= 2.60), how to safely mix different chemicals for use (x̄= 2.58) and low knowledge levels were recorded for others. Skill levels also varied, select the correct agrochemical for the target pest or crop issue (x̄ =2.08), Measure and mixes agrochemicals accurately with the right tools (x̄= 2.44), Wear appropriate protective equipment (like gloves, masks) during handling and spraying (x̄= 2.08), Apply chemicals without polluting water, harming life or damaging land (x̄= 1.78), Act quickly and safely if you come in contact with dangerous chemicals ((x̄= 1.93), Maintain accurate data of chemical use (x̄= 1.69). Significant constraints included low literacy levels (x̄= 2.63), labels not written in local languages (x̄= 2.51), inaccurate information from fellow farmers (x̄= 2.53), and lack of motivation to attend training (mean = 2.64). The Logistic Regression analysis showed that household size (p = 0.012), annual income (p = 0.001), and training (p = 0.001) significantly influenced knowledge. For skill level, sex (p = 0.014), household size (p = 0.057), farming experience (p = 0.004), income (p = 0.002), and training (p = 0.004) were significant. The study recommends more practical training, better extension support, clearer agrochemical labels in local languages, and improved access to protective equipment to ensure safer and more effective agrochemical use

The study investigated the chemical composition of graded levels of chitin and chitosan, extracted from periwinkle shells, and their effects on goats dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility. Twelve (12) West African Dwarf goats were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments (control, chitin at 3% and 6%, chitosan at 0.5% and 1%, and 0.01% oxytetracycline treatments), fed alongside guinea grass at a ratio of 50:50. Chitin and chitosan were extracted using chemical processes involving demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation. Results showed that, dry matter digestibility (91.40–91.85%) was not significantly affected by chitin and chitosan feed additives. Inclusion of chitosan at 0.5% and chitin at 6% levels improved crude protein retention, nitrogen balance, and overall nutrient digestibility, while higher chitosan levels (1%) resulted in greater urinary nitrogen losses and reduced protein utilization efficiency. Ether extract values increased with higher chitin levels, reaching 12.00% in the 6% chitin diet, implying improved energy density. Nitrogen-free extract decreased significantly with higher chitin inclusion, indicating reduced readily available carbohydrate fractions. Organic matter content was highest (91.50%) in the 0.5% chitosan diet, suggesting improved nutrient digestibility and energy utilization. The study concludes that chitin and chitosan at 6% and 0.5% inclusion level
respectively from periwinkle shells can serve as effective feed additives for enhancing nutrient utilization in goats . This approach offers a sustainable solution for livestock nutrition while addressing environmental challenges posed by periwinkle waste in Nigeria.

This study examined financial inclusion and welfare outcomes among rural women in the Edo North Agricultural Zone of Edo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio- economic characteristics of respondents; assess their awareness, access, and utilization of financial services; evaluate their welfare status; and identify structural, institutional, and socio-cultural barriers affecting financial inclusion. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to select 180 women for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at the 5% level of significance. Results showed that respondents’ mean age was 46 years, with an average household size of five persons, nine years of formal education, and a mean monthly income of ₦64,298.83. The religious distribution revealed that 48.9% were Christians and 46.7% were Muslims, while 36.8% engaged in farming and 33.5% in trading as major occupations. More than half of the respondents demonstrated high levels of awareness (62.1%) and access (55.5%) to financial services, and exactly half (50%) exhibited a high level of financial service utilization. Garrett’s ranking indicated that ir regular income (structural), distance to financial institutions (institutional), and lack of trust in financial institutions (socio-cultural) were the most severe constraints to inclusion. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) revealed that 46.2% of respondents were severely food insecure. Multiple linear regression analysis identified four statistically significant predictors of welfare at the 5% level: age (β = 0.106, p = 0.038) showed a positive relationship with welfare (implying that food insecurity increases as respondents grow older), while awareness (β = –0.8213, p = 0.002), access (β = –0.6944, p = 0.018), and utilization (β = –0.4160, p = 0.001) had a negative relationship (suggesting that food insecurity decreases with higher levels of financial Inclusion)

Cassava production remains a major source of livelihood and food security for households in Nigeria. However, farmers in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State continue to experience socioeconomic, institutional, and environmental challenges that affect their productivity and capacity to cope with shocks. This study assessed the profitability of cassava farming in the area and examined the resilience level of farming households. Data were collected from 95 cassava farmers using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, a resilience index, and a multiple regression model. Cost and return analysis showed that cassava farming generated a total revenue of ₦231,074.80, with a gross margin of ₦222,003.04. Farmers spent ₦9,071.76 on variable inputs and ₦129,931.36 on fixed costs, resulting in a total production cost of ₦139,003.12 and a profit of ₦92,071.68. A return on investment of 1.66 indicates that farmers not only recovered their costs but also made a positive financial gain. Processing accounted for the highest proportion of variable costs, followed by expenditure on bags, planting materials, and fertilizer. Resilience analysis showed moderate resilience in access to loans/grants, extension services, and cooperative membership (0.50 each). Asset ownership and market access presented fairly good resilience scores (0.33), while coping mechanisms were weak (0.25). The composite resilience index of 0.403 placed the majority of households in the “fairly resilient” category, with 47.37% classified as resilient and 52.63% as non-resilient. Logistic regression revealed that annual income (p = 0.007) and household size (p = 0.014) significantly improved household resilience, while age and sex had no significant effect. The model explained 67.7% of the variation in resilience (Adjusted R² = 0.677). Major production challenges included poor road networks, high input costs, pest and disease infestations, unstable government policies, limited credit access, theft, and inadequate production resources. The study concludes that cassava farming is profitable but constrained by poor infrastructure and weak coping capacities. It recommends enhancing farmers' access to credit, improving rural road networks, strengthening extension service delivery, and providing subsidized inputs to boost resilience and profitability

The study investigated the chemical composition of graded levels of chitin and chitosan, extracted from periwinkle shells, and their effects on goats dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility. Twelve (12) West African Dwarf goats were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments (control, chitin at 3% and 6%, chitosan at 0.5% and 1%, and 0.01% oxytetracycline treatments), fed alongside guinea grass at a ratio of 50:50. Chitin and chitosan were extracted using chemical processes involving demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation. Results showed that, dry matter digestibility (91.40–91.85%) was not significantly affected by chitin and chitosan feed additives. Inclusion of chitosan at 0.5% and chitin at 6% levels improved crude protein retention, nitrogen balance, and overall nutrient digestibility, while higher chitosan levels (1%) resulted in greater urinary nitrogen losses and reduced protein utilization efficiency. Ether extract values increased with higher chitin levels, reaching 12.00% in the 6% chitin diet, implying improved energy density. Nitrogen-free extract decreased significantly with higher chitin inclusion, indicating reduced readily available carbohydrate fractions. Organic matter content was highest (91.50%) in the 0.5% chitosan diet, suggesting improved nutrient digestibility and energy utilization. The study concludes that chitin and chitosan at 6% and 0.5% inclusion level respectively from periwinkle shells can serve as effective feed additives for enhancing nutrient utilization in goats . This approach offers a sustainable solution for livestock nutrition while addressing environmental challenges posed by periwinkle waste in Nigeria.

This study was carried out to evaluate the seed yield of cowpea varieties grown in a screen house in Benin City, Edo state. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Research and Experimental Farm, University of Benin, Benin city. Nine (9) cowpea varieties were collected from the Institute for Agriculture Research (IAR), Samaru Zaria and two (2) from an open market on Benin City. The experiment was laid in a completely randomized design (CRD) with eleven treatments and three replications. Data on pod length, number of seeds, total number of pods, weight of seeds and pod weight were collected. The data collected were analyzed using SAS version 9.0. Pod length was highest (13.54) in S19 and lowest in 1.1. There were significant differences among all the cowpea varieties for the measured variable except number of seeds. However, several varieties were statistically equal in performance for all the variables. Samaru varieties were better than the open market varieties in all cases hence it is
recommended to sow with samaru varieties.

One of the most recent and emerging contaminants today, is plastic. These plastics through improper waste disposal and runoff, find their way to water bodies. This plastic when they fragment or occur in very small sizes (<5mm) are termed microplastic. They can be classified on physical characteristics or chemical characteristics. They pose risk to both fish and consumers of the fish. The fish samples were analysed within 24hrs of collection. The fish were digested using 10% KOH, and purified using H2O2. The filtrates were examined under microscope to identify the microplastic particles, which were physically confirmed using the hot needle method and confirmed chemically using Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy. Microplastics occur at all stations through the three months under study. The microplastics found based on morphological characteristics are pellet, foams, fibre, filaments, and fragments, while on polymer characteristics, there were two namely; polypropylene and polyethene. The type of microplastic prevalent in each station had a relationship to the prevalent economic activities at the watershed. For example, at station 3 (Ikpoba bridge), the
prevalent economic activities at the water fronts are car and rug washes, the prevalent plastic is polypropylene

This study evaluated the in vitro nutritive value of diets containing different inclusion levels of chitin and chitosan extracted from periwinkle shells (Tympanotonus fuscatus). The experiment aimed to determine the effects of these biopolymers on gas production, nutrient digestibility, and fermentation characteristics using in vitro rumen incubation techniques. Chitin and chitosan were extracted from processed periwinkle shells and incorporated into diets at varying levels (0.5–6%), alongside control and antibiotic-based treatments. Chemical composition analysis showed significant variations in crude fibre, ash, and protein content, with the 0.5% chitosan diet recording the highest crude protein (22.75%) and organic matter (91.00%). Gas production increased progressively with incubation time, peaking at 24 hours. Diets containing 0.5% chitosan produced the highest cumulative gas volume (30.00 ml/200 mg DM), indicating enhanced microbial fermentation, while higher chitin levels (6%) suppressed fermentation activity. Post-fermentation parameters showed that moderate chitosan inclusion (0.5%) improved dry matter digestibility (67.77%), organic matter digestibility (64.86%), metabolizable energy (7.58 MJ/kg DM), and short-chain fatty acid production (0.657 mmol/L) without significantly affecting methane output. Excessive inclusion levels reduced digestibility and fermentation efficiency

The study reviewed the effects of poultry manure (PM) on the growth and yield of selected fruit and leafy vegetables in Nigeria. With the increasing need for sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices, poultry manure has become an important organic nutrient source due to its high content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and essential micronutrients. It enhances soil fertility, improves structure and water-holding capacity, and promotes beneficial microbial activity. Findings from several experimental trials across different agro-ecological zones in Nigeria revealed that poultry manure significantly improved vegetative growth and yield parameters such as plant height, leaf area, number of fruits, and total yield. The optimal application rate generally ranged between 10–30 t/ha, depending on crop type and soil condition. Studies also indicated that integrating poultry manure with inorganic fertilizers such as NPK 15:15:15 produced superior results in nutrient availability and crop performance. In conclusion poultry manure is a sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly soil amendment capable of improving vegetable productivity anmaintaining long-term soil health in Nigeria.

Urban agriculture (UA) has become an increasingly important livelihood, nutritional, and resilience strategy among households in Nigeria’s rapidly urbanizing cities. However, its uptake among educated professionals including university staff remains insufficiently documented. This study investigated the awareness, perception, and involvement in urban agriculture among academic and non-academic staff of the University of Benin, Nigeria, focusing on two contrasting faculties: Agriculture (agri culturally oriented) and Social Sciences (non-agriculturally oriented). A total of 74 respondents, representing 20% of the total staff, were selected using random sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socioeconomic characteristics, awareness, perception, level of involvement, motivations, and challenges. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC), independent t-test, and logistic regression, with significance set at 5% (p < 0.05) and processed using SPSS Version 29. Findings show that UA participation cuts across diverse demographic groups but is dominated by middle-aged (mean = 45 years) and male staff (68.9%), most of whom are married (93.2%). Respondents were highly educated, with 50% holding BSc/HND, 27% MSc, and 16.2% PhD degrees, yet earned relatively modest monthly incomes ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦69,999, indicating that UA functions as an essential coping strategy within the university community. Most staff had worked for 11–15 years (55.4%), suggesting residential and occupational stability that supports UA engagement. Awareness of UA was moderately high (66.2%), with colleagues (55.4%) and social media (48.6%) serving as the primary information channels. However, formal exposure to agricultural training was almost absent only 5.4% had ever attended a UA workshop, and no respondent reported contact with extension agents. Institutional awareness was also low, with only 20.3% recognizing UA activities within the university