This study was carried out to evaluate the extension officer contribution to cocoa production in Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used, where two hundred and sixteen questionnaires were distributed in Osun and Ondo state , the information gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistic such as; frequency and percentage, while chi-square analysis was used to analyze the data obtained. From the results, married (77.6%),  male (84.0%), secondary school holders (52.0%), between 40-49 (34.4%) years old farmers were seen as the highest cocoa producers. Extension training(64.0%), commercial agents(64.0%), fellowship(52.8%), self observation(76.0%) were the best source of information on extension service of cocoa farming , most respondents (65.0%); get extension training programme at regular basis, identified Constraints facing cocoa production in the study area includes deficient credit facilities, high cost of labour, bad road, poor marketing/storage facilities, lack of technical knowledge / assess to technical tools and so on. in view of afore mentioned result it is therefore recommended that the government should make loan available to the cocoa famers at very low interest rate and urge cocoa farmers to form cooperative society, strengthen their agricultural extension agents so that they will be able to rain cocoa farmers on the basic things they should know about primary processing such as fermentation and drying of cocoa beans in improving the quality in Nigeria to meet international market. Keywords: Assessment, Extension officer, Contribution, Farmers, Cocoa production

This study examined the knowledge on functional value of edible insect in per urban communities of Ijebu Ode Local Government Area (LGA) in  Ogun State. Sixty residents were selected through purposive sampling from 11 communities in the LGA. Primary data collected through   administered questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics such as simple percentage and frequency count were used. Hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The results revealed that about half (48.3%) of the respondents were between 31-40 years. A larger percentage was male (61.7%) and Christian (61.7%). Majority (68%) was married and 63.3% possess tertiary education. About one third of the respondents (33.3%) were civil servants and 28.3% earn between ₦41,000-₦60,000. Cricket, termite, palm weevil, yam beetle, caterpillar, silkworm, and locust respectively were the identified indigenous species of insects being consumed by the people. Also, more of the respondents eat crickets followed by locust and then termites. The results further revealed respondents’ knowledge of functional values of edible insects’ consumption and constraints to edible insects’ consumption. The results of the Pearson Product Moment  Correlation revealed that there is no significant relationship between respondent’s socio-economic characteristics’ and their edible insect  consumption at p < 0.05. This study concludes that residents of peri urban communities have good knowledge of functional values of edible insects. It is therefore recommended that there should be more awareness on consumption of edible insects since it is nutritious so that people can benefit from the numerous nutrients of these edible insects. Key words: functional value, edible insect, Ijebu Ode, pearson product moment correlation

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Lemongrass on fungal pathogen associated with cassava tuber rot. The study was carried out in the biology laboratory of the Federal College of Forestry Jos, Plateau state from March to May, 2019. Rotten and healthy cassava tubers were collected separately from Farin-Gada market Jos, fungi species were isolated from rotten cassava tubers by direct inoculation of the spoiled part on sterile Potato Dextrose Agar medium and incubated for 3-5 days, the isolated fungi were identified microscopically and macroscopically. The identified fungi were used for pathogenicity test. The antifungal effect of different concentrations of ethanol extract of lemongrass was investigated. Data collected were analyzed using one way ANOVA and the means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at (p≥0.05). The fungi isolated include, Fusarium sp, Penicillium sp, Geotrichum candidum, and Aspergillus flavus. The frequency of occurrence of the isolated fungi indicated Fusarium sp, Penicillium sp, Geotrichum candidum, and Aspergillus flavus had 30, 15, 35 and 20% respectively. 20 mL of the tested extract gave the highest inhibition of 19.07, 20.57, 18.17 mL and 18.00 mL on Fusarium spp, Penicillium spp, Geotrichum candidum and Aspergillus flavus respectively. At the 5th day of incubation the results of the pathogenicity showed that Aspergillus flavus gives the highest deterioration of 9.17 mm. The length of deterioration showed significant difference. The lemongrass extract indicated anti-fungal effect on the fungal isolates, therefore could be used to control cassava tuber rot caused by fungi.

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Aim: This study was carried out to isolate, identify and characterize fungal pathogens associated with post-harvest spoilage of cucumber. Study Design: This research study was done using random sampling technique.  Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was carried out from March to June, 2019 at biology laboratory Federal College of Forestry, Jos. Methodology: Fungi isolates were obtained from diseased portions of the cucumber fruit samples cultured on PDA media and incubated at 28ºC2 for seven days. The mycelial were identified macroscopically and microscopically. Pathogenicity tests were conducted for all the fungal pathogens identified by inoculating healthy cucumber samples and incubating for ten days with the readings being taken at two day intervals. The data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA and means were separated using LSD at P ≤ 0.05. Results: Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium sp., Geotrichum candidum and Yeast sp were isolated and identified. Result showed that Gada biu market was the most heavily infested location with all the fungal isolates. Geotrichum candidum constituted the highest (50%) occurrence of fungal isolates from all locations. All the fungal isolates were found to be pathogenic on cucumber fruits, with Fusarium being the most destructive, followed by yeast and Geotrichum candidum and the least was Aspergilus fumigatus. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study showed the isolates identified were involved in Cucumber spoilage. Therefore, Careful handling of Cucumber fruits should be ensured to prevent the spread of these pathogenic fungi.