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The aim was to analyze the output market outlets accessible to rice farmers and determinants of farmers’ choice among alternative rice production in Kano State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 164 rice farmers with the aid of structured questionnaire. This study was conducted in Kura, Garun Malam and Bunkure Local Government Areas of Kano State during 2015 cropping season. A multistage sampling techniques were used for data collection through the use of structured questionnaire. The ordered probit  model was used to estimate the parameters of the determinants of farmers’ choices among alternative rice output market outlets by rice farmers in Kano state. The generalized likelihood ratio statistics was -113.401.  This ratio exceeds the critical chi-square values at p<0.01 level of significance. The log likelihood ratio value represents the value that maximizes the joint densities in the estimated model. This shows that at least one of the predictors' regression coefficient is not equal to zero in the model. The Prob > chi2 was (50.03) and statistically significant at p<0.01 level of probability. The probability of obtaining this chi-square statistic shows the effect of the predictor variables on specified alpha level. This implies that at least one of the regression coefficients in the model is not equal to zero. farmers’ choices among alternative rice output market outlets was significantly determined by educational status of the farmers, access to credit, cooperative membership, distance to market, quantity of output produced by the farmers and  market price of rice (P<0.10). Based on the findings of this study, it could be concluded that the most commonly used output markets by rice farmers was rural assembler (82.3%). Despite increasingly competitive markets, pricing issues for rice remains a concern for farmers.

This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of water and methanolic extracts from root bark of Ficus exasperata. The crude extracts were screened against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Samonella typhimurium Shigella spp, Candida valida, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium flocciferum at 125μg/ml, 250μg/ml and 500μg/ml concentrations using agar well diffusion. The methanolic extracts had more inhibitory effect on test organisms than water extracts. Antimicrobial activity observed with water extract ranged between (10±0.24 - 25±0.20mm) with no detectable activity at 125μg/ml on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Similarly, no detectable activity was observed with Candida valida, Candida albicans and Fusaruium flocciferum at all concentrations with water extract. Better antimicrobial activity was observed with the methanolic crude extracts at all concentrations with all test organisms. The activity ranged between (25±0.19 - 35±0.82 mm). Prelimlinary phytochemical screening of Ficus exasperata root bark showed that it contains saponin, alkaloids, cardiac glycoside and reducing sugar with no traces of tannin and anthraquinone. The results of the study provide scientific basis for developing a novel broad spectrum antimicrobial herbal formulation in future.Keywords: Ficus exasperata, antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis

Aims: To analyze Economics of Rain-fed Cabbage Production in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Study Design: Primary data were collected from 130 cabbage farmers with the aid of structured questionnaire. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in three local government areas (Kudan, Sabon-Gari and Zaria) in Kaduna state during 2015 cropping season. Methodology: Multistage purposive and random sampling techniques were employed for data collection.Results: The results of the maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) of the stochastic frontier production function model revealed that farm size was significant to cabbage output. The technical efficiency scores revealed that the most efficient farmer operated at 98% efficiency, the least efficient farmer was found to operate at 1% efficiency level, while the mean was indicating that rainfed cabbage farmers still have room to increase the efficiency in their farming activities from the Original Research Article

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The present work was conducted to study the physicochemical parameters of lower River Niger at Lokoja and Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi state, with the aims to determine the physical and chemical situation of the River at this point in time, compare the physical and chemical situation of the river with earlier work done on River Niger and other relevant water bodies by relevant authors also to determine its suitability for fish growth and survival at this point in time. Water samples were collected for four month (January to April) at three sampling site (two site from Lokoja and one from Ajaokuta local government area) and analysed for various physicochemical parameter. The mean temperature values ranged from 23.55 - 28.350C at Kpata station, 24.65- 29.750C at Adankolo station and 23.90-28.900C at Gadumo station. The mean pH values ranged from 6.69-8.15 at Kpata station, 6.60-8.30 at Adankolo station and 6.10-8.20 at Gadumo station. The mean electrical conductivity values ranged from 68.50-135.50µS/cm at Kpata station, 68.00-122.50 µS/cm at Adankolo station and 68.00-122.50 µS/cm at Gadumo station. The mean dissolved oxygen (DO) values ranged from 6.10-9.30 mg/l at Kpata station, 5.65-7.78 mg/l at Adankolo station and 6.10-9.30 mg/l at Gadumo station. The mean transparency values ranged from 0.31-0.60m at Kpata station, 0.31-0.60m at Adankolo station and 0.30-0.44m at Gadumo station. The mean biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values ranged from 2.10-2.95 mg/l at Kpata station, 2.05-3.25 mg/l at Adankolo station and 2.10-4.00 mg/l at Gadumo station. The mean nitrate values ranged from 0.02-0.05 mg/l at Kpata station, 0.02-0.03 mg/l at Adankolo station and 0.02-0.04 mg/l at Gadumo station. The mean phosphate values ranged from 0.48-0.61 mg/l at Kpata station, 0.51-0.65 mg/l at Adankolo station and 0.49-0.64 mg/l at Gadumo station. The study indicated that the mean value of the studied parameters which include pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, Electrical conductivity, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate, transparency and phosphate of the River compares slightly favourably with the work of other researchers and within the range that support fish growth and survival. This indicates that the river is in a healthy state and is favourable for fish growth and survival. Keywords: physiochemical parameter, water, river Niger, fish growth