Aquaculture

The provision of potable water to the populace is considered as one of the most important and critical functions of a government. As a result of this, nations have developed their own water resources master plan that guides them in harnessing this all-important component of human survival from being misused and abused, while at the same time ensuring that their citizens have access to it both in quantity and quality. But unfortunately, this cannot be said of the developing countries, thus the springing up of private water supply companies that complement the activities of the public water agencies. Owing to this, this paper set out to assess the roles of the private water supply companies in the provision of potable water in Minna. Therefore, a total of 400 questionnaires were administered on the residents of the 25 major neighbourhoods of Minna using the simple random sampling technique. Also, questionnaires were administered on 10% of the private water supply companies in Minna, as well as on a representative of the Niger State Water Board (NSWB). The result of the study revealed that despite the erratic nature of the public water supply scheme, the residents of Minna have preference for it. The finding also revealed that the water vendors sometimes sale water from questionable sources like uncovered well and stream to unsuspecting member of the public while claiming that the water was bought from private water companies. Owing to these, the paper recommended the development of water resources master plan that will serve as a policy framework to guide and address all the problems faced by (NSWB as well as developing a legal and policy framework that would facilitate the participation of private developers in the provision of water services on a sustainable basis in Minna.

Fish is a vital source of high-quality protein, providing approximately16% of the animal protein consumed by the world’s population (FAO 1997). It is a particularly important protein source in regions where livestock is relatively scarce. Fish supplies less than 10% of animal protein consumed in North America and Europe, but 17% in Africa, 26% in Asia and 22% in China (FAO, 2000). The FAO estimates that about one billion people world-wide rely on fish as their primary source of animal protein (FAO, 2000).

Two thousand three hundred and seven fish specimens sampled from Nwaniba (Ikpa River) for 12 calendar months (March 2009 – February 2010) comprised 11 orders, 34 families, 59 genera and 136 species. There was temporal and seasonal significant differences (P<0.05) between number and species of fish caught. The mean annual Index of Preponderance (IP %) values ranged from 0.01 in Brienomyrus brachyistus and Periophthalmus barbarus to 4.24% in Oreochromis niloticus. Mean monthly occurrence shows highest in August (536; 23.23%) and lowest in June (47; 2.03%). The contributions of the fish orders in theirdescending order of abundance are as follow: Siluriformes (1072; 46.47%), Ophiocephaliformes (626; 27.13%), Characiformes (264; 11.44%), Mormyriformes (159; 6.89%), Clupeiformes (87; 3.77%), Cypriniformes (40; 1.73%), Gonorhynchiformes (33; 1.43%), Osteoglossiformes (13; 0.56%), Elopiformes (9; 0.39%), Pleuronectiformes (3; 0.13%) and Perciformes (1; 0.04%). The most abundant family and species in terms of number are Schilbeidae (646; 28.00%) and Parailia pellucida (577; 25.01%) while the least are Scaenidae, Soleidae and Sphyraenidae (1; 0.04%). The most abundant family in terms of species is Mormyridae (17) and the least are 9 families with only species. Relative abundance is higher during the wet season (105 species; 77.77%) than dry season (93 species; 68.88%). The largest fish size in terms of length is recorded in Chrysichthys aluuensis (45.60cmTLmax; 18.40±9.0cm) while the smallest individual is Parailia pellucida (1.10cmTLmin; 7.50±1.20cm). The overall weightiest fish is also Mugil cephalus with a total weight of 662.80gWTmax; 54.42±16.75 while the lightest individuals are Parailia pellucida and Eutropius buffei (1.00gTWmin). Previous results differ from these; which may be occasioned by the human anthropogenic perturbations which are on-going in the river system, thus leading to environmental degradation. Hence, recommendations are proffered.

In this study energy use pattern for sugar beet production in Hamadan province of Iran was studied and the degrees of technical and scale efficiency of producers were analyzed using DEA technique. The results revealed that of the average pure technical, technical and scale efficiencies of farmers were 0.83, 0.63 and 0.74, respectively. The results also suggested that, on average, a potential 45.73% (19609 MJ ha-1) reduction in total energy input could be achieved provided that all farmers operated efficiently. Generally, it can be said the DEA approach was appropriate methods for energy optimization in sugar beet production.

Water is arguably one of the most priceless gift of nature that is regarded as the life line on earth, both aquatic and terrestrial organisms depends on it. The general desire to protect fresh water fisheries has led to an expansion of research into their water quality requirements, in terms of their physicochemical parameters such pH, temperature, dissolve oxygen, transparency, total alkalinity, total hardness, electrical conductivity, total dissolved matter, e.t.c. (Ibrahim et. al., 2009). The limnochemical status of River Ngadda was investigated within a twelve month period at three different sampling stations (Monday market bridge, Lagos bridge and Gwange bridge) which has varying degree of anthropogenic activities. All data gotten were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The comparison of estimated values of different parameters with W.H.O. standards indicated that the river water is polluted with reference to most parameters studied with Monday Market Bridge being most culpable, followed by Gwange and Lagos Bridges respectively, however some parameters such as temperature, pH, and TSS still within allowable permit. There is therefore an urgent need for improved water quality management within the study area with emphasis on the Monday market area more so because of the use of this water body by some inhabitants around it for household activities like cooking, washing and even drinking for both human and livestock.

Early studies on the adsorption and ion exchange potential of coconut coir dust (Cocos nucifera L.) has great proficiency for removal of trace metal ions from waste water and industrial effluents. Several factors influence the process of waste water detoxification by ion exchange using agricultural biomass. In this paper the effect of pH on the removal of metal ions by ion exchange has been studied by batch process for Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) Using Native Coir dust (CD), Maize Cob (MC) and Carboxylated (CTR) and Sulphonated (STR) acetone modified extract of native coir dust. The amount of metal ions adsorbed increased with increase in pH of solution. Coir dust and Maize Cob removed more metal ion than carboxylated resin while the sulphonated resin removed the least i.e MC > CD > CTR > STR. At pH 4.5, the maize cob removed 94.53% of Pb(II), 95.92% Zn(II), 92.26% Cu(II) and 86.11% Cd(II). While at pH 6.5, it removed 92.56% Pb(II), 97.89% Zn(II), 92.45% Cu(II) and 89.44% Cd(II) respectively while the coir dust removed Pb(II): 72-33%, Zn(II):85.79%, Cu(II), 71.69% and Cd(II) 76.67% at pH 4.5 and 97.44%, 95.39%, 96.98% and 87.22% of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd respectively at pH 6.5. With adsorbent dosage of 0.1 - 0.30g, the % adsorption of metal ions varied in the following order: CD > MC > CTR > STR