No abstract

Heavy metals from electronic wastes can accumulate to alarming concentrations in soils, causing significant detrimental impacts on human life and the environment. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals by bacteria and fungi has been a major focus of most bioremediation studies owing to the excellent metal-binding properties. The current study was conducted to isolate the most promising Zn, Cu and Pb tolerant microorganisms from contaminated soils, and to assess their metal accumulating abilities. Bacillus licheniformis, B. polymyxa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus roseus, Aspergillus niger and A. flavus were selected for the bioaccumulation study, based on their known tolerance to heavy metals. Bacillus licheniformis was most efficient in the removal of Cu (71.3 %) and Pb (70.1 %). Pb accumulation for Aspergillus flavus was 65.76 %. Zn accumulation for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus niger were 74.1 % and 78.3 %, respectively. This study concluded that all these microorganisms have potential for bioremediating soil environments contaminated with heavy metals.

Much has been said about farmers’ responsiveness to price incentive with the inference that increasing producer price would be an effective incentive for increasing production. Against the backdrop that the nation’s animal protein consumption is 5 grams / caput / day which is a far cry from the recommended level of 35 grams / caput / day of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this paper examined producer response to retail egg price which has been rising geometrically. This is to check whether there is price incentive for increased egg production to meet the nation’s animal protein need through increased egg production. The study location is AdoOdo/ Ota LGA in Ogun State, an area with many commercial poultry farms. The exact study locations were Obasanjo, Oginni, Okegbenro, Kanmi and Evergreen farms, where the egg prices of five producers, five wholesalers and five retailers were collected weekly for a period of eight months and the average retail egg price. From the model, the producer average egg price elasticity with respect to the average retail egg price was estimated. Results showed that the only 33 per cent of the increase in retail egg price is passed to consumers. Producers are thus likely to run into financial difficulties in expanding their output particularly in the post SAP period when the costs of inputs for the poultry production have increased tremendously. An attractive and adequate credit scheme with good moratorium period and concessionary interest rate than hither to available is suggested. In addition an overhaul of the marketing strategy to favour the producers is necessary.