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The study examined the impact of credit on arable crop production in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo state .The specific objectives of the study were to examine the socio-economic characteristics of farmers in the study area, determine the volume of credit accessed by them and their default rate, as well as the problems they faced. Primary data were collected from 53 respondents in Esan West LGA using multistage sampling technique. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, budgeting techniques and regression model. Results showed that the respondents were at their energetic and productive age with a mean age of 50 years. The males dominated arable crop production and majority of them were married. They were literate with all the respondents having at least primary school certificate. They maintained small farm size (approximately 2 hectares). Many of the respondents (55.5%) had their credit from formal sources. Output of the farmers and their revenue were low. Respondents were faced with problems such as getting guarantors and collateral (79.6%), interest rate (75.9%), delay in granting loans (74.0%) and inadequate information on credit availability (74.0%). Results of the regression analysis indicated that output of farmers were influenced by the explanatory variables of sex (-1.481), age (-2.740), marital status (2.398), educational qualifications (2.276), farm size (2.353), farming experience (2.680) and credit (4.392). The coefficient of determination (0.503) indicated that 50.30% variation in output of the respondents could be jointly explained by the explanatory variables. It is therefore recommended that credit should be made available to the respondents so that they can increase their farm size, output and revenue.

Ventral hernia repair with concurrent panniculectomy (VHR-PAN) is associated with high wound complication rates despite reported increased patient satisfaction. Some surgeons believe negative-pressure therapy after primary closure of the surgical incision (ciNPT) may lower wound complications in high-risk abdominal wounds. This study aims to evaluate if ciNPT improves outcomes in patients undergoing VHR-PAN. An 8-year retrospective cohort study was performed on patients who underwent VHR-PAN. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received closed-incision negative-pressure therapy (“ciNPT”) and those who received standard sterile dressings (“SSD”). The primary outcome of interest was the rate of postoperative complications between these groups. Complications were subdivided into surgical site occurrences (which included surgical site occurrences that required an intervention), return to the operating room, and hernia recurrence. A total of 104 patients were analyzed: 62 in the ciNPT group and 42 in the SSD group. Median follow-up duration was similar between both groups (182 days vs 195 days, p = 0.624). Patients in the ciNPT group had fewer total complications (57% vs. 83%, p = 0.004) and fewer SSO (47% vs. 69%, p = 0.025). However, no differences were noted when comparing individual complications (SSI, wound dehiscence, skin necrosis, chronic wound, seroma, and hematoma). There was no difference in return to the operating room (27% vs. 26%, p = 0.890) or hernia recurrence (21% vs 19%, p = 0.811). Multivariate analysis showed that ciNPT decreased the risk of SSOPI nearly fourfold (odds ratio 0.28, 95% CI = 0.09–0.87, p = 0.027). This study showed that closed-incision negative-pressure therapy in ventral hernia repair with concurrent panniculectomy may decrease the rate of wound complications in this high-risk population.

The studies aimed at estimating gross margin and marketing efficiency as well as isolate the factors that determine marketing margin of yam in Abia State. Data for the study were obtained from the response of 64 yam traders using a structured questionnaire and multi stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics, gross margin and ordinary least square multiple regression estimate. There was a long marketing link of greater than 3 channels with mean marketing margin of 50% in the distribution of yam in the State. The Cobb Douglas model performed best, with cost of changing form, place and adding time utilities accounting for about 76.8% variations in marketing margin. While the cost of place utility increased with the marketing margin, others reduced it, thus, posing a contrast with a priori economic expectation. The profit dominated total cost and returns by 20.3 and 25.5% respectively. A marketing efficiency of 1.25 was estimated, indicating that an increase in the cost of performing marketing service (that is added time, form and place utility) by 100 percent will give a more than proportionate increase of 25 percent in the level of satisfaction derived from a kilogram of yam sold in the market. It is important to address the transportation problem in the state to facilitate the movement of the product and force down the marketing margin. Duplication of roles in the marketing link should be discouraged but more participants can avail themselves the better opportunities available in the system to increase consumer satisfaction and food accessibility. Keywords :Yam marketing, marketing margin, efficiency and gross margin IJOTAFS Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 51-56