Administrative Agencies Research Articles

Impact of warning pictorials and size on perceived effectiveness of cigar warning labels in a nationally representative between-subjects experiment

BackgroundPeople who smoke cigars often have misperceptions about the associated risks, contributing to rises in smoking rates. This study investigates the perceived warning effectiveness (PWE) of health warning labels (HWLs)...

Assessment of Rare Cancers and Sarcoma Policy and Sarcoma Drug Approvals in Latin America: A Report From the LACOG Sarcoma Group.

The availability of drugs and national public policies for patients with rare cancers, including sarcomas, varies in different parts of the world. In this manuscript, we have conducted a comprehensive analysis to evaluate rare cancer policies in Latin American countries' national policy documents. Additionally, we have reviewed the approvals for sarcoma drugs in selected Latin American countries and compared them with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) approvals. The documents reviewed showed a lack of explicit focus on rare cancers, with no mention in 70% of the countries analyzed. Drug approval data reveal that in the last 15 years, the FDA and EMA have approved 19 and 13 drugs for sarcoma, whereas their Latin American counterparts, namely ANVISA, ANMAT, and COFEPRIS, approved six, eight, and seven drugs, respectively. Our data suggest that improving rare cancer and sarcoma care in Latin America requires enhanced collaboration for better rare cancer policies.

관료제 권력 측정: 문재인 정부의 중앙부처를 중심으로

This study presents the results of measuring the relative size and ranking of bureaucratic power among 44 central administrative agencies during the Moon Jae-in administration to analyze the phenomenon of bureaucratic power. The results of the Bureaucratic Power Index (BPI) measurement indicate that the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy ranked high in relative bureaucratic power, in that order, while the Rural Development Administration, Statistics Korea, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Public Procurement Service, and Military Manpower Administration ranked low in that order. When compared with the results of previous studies measuring the administrations of Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, and Park Geun-hye, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Ministry of Education, National Intelligence Service, and Ministry of the Interior and Safety consistently ranked high in relative standing across all four administrations. Conversely, the Ministry of Government Legislation, Military Manpower Administration, Rural Development Administration, National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Public Procurement Service, and Cultural Heritage Administration consistently ranked low in relative standing. Notably, the so-called “power agencies,” such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, National Police Agency, and National Intelligence Service, exhibited higher BPI scores and relative rankings under the conservative administrations of Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye compared to the progressive administrations of Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in. The theoretical and practical contribution of this study lies in emphasizing the necessity of checks and democratic control over bureaucratic power institutions.

A Bioequivalence Study of Two Formulations of Oral Semaglutide in Healthy Participants.

The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue semaglutide is approved as an oral formulation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to confirm bioequivalence between a new, second-generation (2G) oral semaglutide formulation (1.5, 4 and 9mg) and the initially approved first-generation (1G) formulation (3, 7 and 14mg). This was a randomised, multicentre, open-label, full replicate crossover study to confirm bioequivalence between 2G and 1G oral semaglutide formulations at steady-state (SS) in healthy participants (NCT05227196). Participants were recruited to three groups. In each group, participants were randomised to one of two alternating sequences comparing once-daily oral semaglutide treatment of 9 and 14mg (group 1), 4 and 7mg (group 2) or 1.5 and 3mg (group 3) at SS. Treatment duration was 20weeks, comprising four 5-week steady-state periods on alternating formulations. Repeated 24-h blood sampling at the end of each steady-state period supported pharmacokinetic analysis. Co-primary endpoints were area under the semaglutide plasma concentration-time curve during a dosing interval at SS (AUC0-24h,SS) and maximum semaglutide plasma concentration at SS (Cmax, 0-24h,SS). Bioequivalence for co-primary endpoints was assessed using European Medicines Agency (EMA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) criteria. Safety was monitored. A total of 222, 201 and 123 participants were recruited into groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The prespecified EMA, FDA and PMDA bioequivalence criteria were met for 2G versus 1G oral semaglutide for all three dose levels (1.5 vs 3mg, 4 vs 7mg and 9 vs 14mg). The safety profile of 2G oral semaglutide was consistent with 1G oral semaglutide. The 2G oral semaglutide formulation was confirmed as bioequivalent to 1G oral semaglutide, with no new safety concerns identified. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT05227196.

The potential impact of Loper v. Raimondo decision removing agency deference on natural resource management

The recent Supreme Court decision in Loper v Raimondo overturned the long-standing Court ruling establishing novel legal precedents referred to as “Chevron deference,” which compels the Court to allow for broad authority to U.S. administrative agencies deference in the interpretation of statutes and regulations. Members of the Court, critical of the prior rule, state that this deference held by agencies grants them a power not authorized by the Administrative Procedures Act or the Constitution, that being the power to interpret the law by defining their meaning where the document’s drafting was unclear. Thus reducing authority by an independent judiciary. Critics of the current decision argue that it diminishes the use of technological expertise held by the agencies in interpreting laws. Opponents counter that the decision restores the courts expertise in engaging in the various methods necessary to perform the statutory review, up to and including agency science and interpretation as part of their decision process, without exclusively relying on the agency interpretation as the only permissible one, which is argued to be a more balanced approach. It is hoped that the Loper decision will reduce the potential to abuse deference as they may push interpretations beyond the legislature’s goals or fail to interpret vague legislative language appropriately. Furthermore, legislatures may be encouraged to develop statutes that guide agencies that align with the electorate’s views and provide the predictability to support business development.

Legal Protection Efforts of Employees Through the Social Security Administration Agency

Legal protection efforts for workers in Indonesia through the Social Security Agency on Health (BPJS) are one of the strategic steps in ensuring worker welfare, both in the formal and informal sectors. This study aims to analyze the company's obligation to register its workers in BPJS membership and the legal protection efforts that can be provided through social security programs organized by BPJS Kesehatan and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. First, the company's obligation to register its workers in BPJS membership is regulated in Law Number 24 of 2011 concerning BPJS, which mandates that every company is required to register all its workers in the social security program. Although there are clear legal provisions, implementation in the field still faces challenges such as low awareness from some companies and workers themselves. Second, legal protection efforts for workers through BPJS can be seen from two main aspects, namely health insurance and employment insurance. The health insurance program provides protection for workers and their families from unexpected health risks, while employment insurance provides protection against socio-economic risks faced by workers, such as work accidents, death, or retirement. With this program, workers have the right to obtain health services and financial compensation that can ease the burden of life due to the occurrence of these risks. This study reveals that although BPJS plays an important role in providing legal protection for workers, there are challenges in its implementation, such as gaps in equal access to services and non-compliance by several companies with registration obligations. Therefore, stricter supervision, increased legal awareness, and stricter law enforcement are needed against companies that do not register their workers with BPJS. With these steps, it is hoped that the social security program can run effectively and provide maximum protection for workers in Indonesia.

Cenobamate, a New Promising Antiseizure Medication: Experimental and Clinical Aspects.

About 40-50% of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy do not properly respond to pharmacological therapy with antiseizure medications (ASMs). Recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency as an add-on drug for focal seizures, cenobamate is an ASM sharing two basic mechanisms of action and exhibiting a promising profile of clinical efficacy. The drug preferably inhibits persistent sodium current and activates GABA-mediated events via extrasynaptic, non-benzodiazepine receptors. Thus, its antiseizure potential is dependent on both reducing excitation and enhancing inhibition in the central nervous system. In experimental seizure models, cenobamate exhibited a clear-cut activity in many of them with promising protective indexes, with only bicuculline-induced seizures being unaffected. Randomized clinical trials indicate that combinations of cenobamate, with already prescribed ASMs, resulted in significant percentages of seizure-free patients and patients with a significant reduction in seizure frequency, compared to other ASMs in the form of an add-on therapy. Its greater antiseizure efficacy was accompanied by adverse events comparable to other ASMs. Cenobamate has also been shown to possess neuroprotective activity, which may be of importance in affecting the process of epileptogenesis and, thus, modifying the course of epilepsy.

How to Mitigate Risk in the Treatment of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Clinicians treating patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience concerns about risk for adverse events that can lead to litigation or complaints to administrative boards. This paper's goal is to outline steps to ensure the safety of both the patient and clinician. Review of available data confirms that psychiatry is a subspeciality with relatively low risk for malpractice litigation, but high risk for complaints to administrative agencies. Examination of litigation and complaints suggests that familiar challenges in work with patients with BPD are frequently cited. Risk management considerations have been impacted in recent years by changes in psychiatric training, health care delivery, and regulations about patient information transparency. Concurrently, empirically validated treatments for BPD have been refined and disseminated. Clinicians can address safety concerns by adapting established risk management guidance with an appreciation of key elements of BPD.

Alternative Dispute Resolution in Commercial Transactions: A Comparative Study between the UK and Bangladesh Jurisdiction

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) entities have been authorized by national law to either offer a solution that, if accepted by both parties, will become binding on them or to impose a solution that will become binding on them regardless of their acceptance. According to the Money Loan Court Act 2003 of Bangladesh, ADR bodies have to appoint natural people who fulfill the criteria of knowledge, independence, and impartiality to complete the entire process of ADR successfully. Therefore, ADR processes can only be run by court-ordered mediation or autonomous administrative agencies, not the financial sector. The Code of Civil Procedure 1908 in Bangladesh clarifies that this procedure has been provided so that “the principles of independence and impartiality have been observed.” ADR is an avenue to resolve a civil case without going to the court. There are diverse mechanisms of ADR that can resolve the issue. Undoubtedly, ADR has many advantages. However, it is pertinent to note that it has disadvantages as well. ADR has been promoted, and the concerned parties have been encouraged to use it before or during the trial. Lord Justice Woolf, a prominent jurist of the UK, solicited for ADR to avoid cost, delay and complexity in civil cases. On the other hand, ADR is not so familiar in Bangladesh. This paper aims to discover how Bangladesh promotes ADR in commercial disputes and how Bangladesh can follow the UK approach in this respect.

Assessing the rescue capabilities of administrative agencies and estimating the scale of rescue team dispatch in the event of tsunami disasters

We propose a method to estimate the rescue team size that should be deployed from outside affected municipalities and thus clarify the success or failure of the rescue response of administrative agencies in the event of a tsunami. Capacity of Rescue was used to quantitatively evaluate the lifesaving capability of each rescue team; Index of Rescue was defined to evaluate whether the number of rescue workers in administrative organizations was sufficient for the number of people in need of rescue in the event of a tsunami. The proposed method was applied to a simulation of the coastal area of the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture. Results indicated that the rescue capabilities of the police and fire departments would be limited by the tsunami in the event of an earthquake exceeding M8.2, and thus require assistance from the Self-Defense Forces (SDF). Estimating a reasonable scale of rescue team dispatch, an M8.7 earthquake with an evacuation rate of 90 % can be handled by dispatching 40,000 SDF personnel within 72 h, whereas a 70 % evacuation rate would require 230,000 personnel, exceeding the scale of the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami. Considering the uncertainty of the occurrence of an earthquake, an evaluation based on the expected value resulted in 35,000 people. This is a more realistic result when considering the total number of personnel in the SDF. The methods and attempts proposed in this study can contribute to disaster relief planning by reducing the burden on the rescue teams.

Patient complaints are not common in emergency medical services: A mixed methods study

IntroductionPatient safety has become a central research theme in emergency medical services (EMS). The population age structure is changing in high-income countries, potentially causing increases in the need for EMS. As the number of EMS missions is growing, the safety of non-conveyance has become the topic of wide discussion. Managing adverse events is part of quality management and safety improvement. This study aimed to examine the incidence, reasons, and process of complaints related to EMS. MethodsA retrospective mixed methods study was conducted on EMS-related complaints that were evaluated by Regional State Administrative Agency during 2013–2019. The data was classified according to conveyance and authority’s decision, and finally analysed thematically. ResultsThe data included 73 complaints, 39 of which were included in the study. There were more complaints related to non-conveyance than conveyance. The authority provided administrative guidance in approximately half of the cases in both groups. One of the most common event types in both groups was related to ethical competence and conduct. ConclusionsThe number of complaints was very low. A considerable portion of the complaints related to paramedics’ behavior and patient treatment. Respecting and actively listening to patients may further decrease these complaints. No administrative caveats to paramedics were observed in our data.

Are we there yet? CAR-T therapy in multiple myeloma.

The last few years have seen a revolution in cellular immunotherapies for multiple myeloma (MM) with novel antigen targets. The principle new target is B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA). Autologous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy directed against BCMA was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2021, although approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellent (NICE) is awaited. Initial response rates in patients with heavily pretreated MM have been impressive, but patients are still relapsing. Furthermore, CAR-T manufacturing is expensive and time-consuming, and T-cell fitness is impaired by prior MM treatment. Numerous strategies to improve outcomes and delivery of cellular immunotherapy are under investigation, including next-generation CARs, allogeneic 'off-the-shelf' CARs and targeting of other MM antigens including G protein-coupled receptor, class C, group 5, member D (GPRC5D), Fc receptor homologue 5 (FcRH5), cluster of differentiation (CD)19, signalling lymphocyte activation molecule family member 7 (SLAMF7) and several others. In this exciting and rapidly evolving treatment landscape, this review evaluates the most recent clinical and preclinical data pertaining to these new cellular immunotherapies and explores strategies to overcome resistance pathways. On the protracted journey to a long-term cure, we outline the challenges that lie ahead and ask, 'Are we there yet?'

Nearby Real-Time Earthquake Simulation on an Urban Scale Based on Structural Monitoring

The real-time input of ground motions can effectively assess earthquake disasters in building structures. In this study, we proposed a nearby real-time simulation method that can be applied to assess regional earthquake disasters using structural monitoring recordings based on an urban earthquake simulation system. Real-time accelerations recorded during the 5.1 magnitude Tangshan earthquake were used to update and modify the computing models. El Centro waves were calibrated to 400 cm/s2 for structural seismic resilience analyses. The results indicated that approximately 70% of the structural functions were lost during the rare earthquake. Regional numerical models of 216 buildings were constructed and timeously updated using a geographic information system and measured data. The inputting ground motions recorded in the 5.1 magnitude Tangshan earthquake and typical El Centro waves were selected to analyze the structural seismic response, in which the damage indexes were computed, and the damage predictions of the regional 216 buildings were also simulated in different levels of earthquakes by being combined with the simplified principles of structural damage estimation. Finally, the evaluation results were visualized in three dimensions using ParaView software. The simulated results of earthquake disasters at an urban scale will promote the prediction abilities of local earthquake administration agencies and have considerable potential to provide essential information for emergency responses and regional disaster mitigation.

Tirzepatide – a new hope for type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity management. A literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE. While obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are defined (according to WHO) as civilization diseases we are still searching for the ideal tool to fight them. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved tirzepatide subcutaneous injections as monotherapy or combination therapy, with diet and physical exercise, to achieve better glycemic blood levels in patients with diabetes and weight reduction among obese and overweighted patients. This review evaluates the efficacy and safety of using tirzepatide based on GIP/GLP-1 agonists clinical trials. MATERAILS AND METHODS. Literature available in the PubMeb Database and Google Scholar Databases was reviewed using keywords. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. Tirzepatide is a novel medicine which stands against type 2 diabetes and obesity pandemic. Combining two agonists of GIP and GLP-1 receptors helps decrease glycemic blood levels, HbA1c levels and reducing body weight in more efficient way than the GLP-1 receptor agonists. All these effects have also resulted in minimizing cardiovascular risk which is observed as an improvement in heart failure, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Beyond that, the recent data present possible positive long-term effect of tirzepatide in such diseases as MAFLD (metabolic associated fatty liver disease) and OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). However, triagonists, achieving a concurrent activation of GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors, normalize body weight in a manner superior to that of monoagonists and dual agonists. Therefore, the triple agonism or other than GIP/GLP-1 combinations could soon represent a new standard for pharmaceutical interventions. KEYWORDS: tirzepatide; obesity; type 2 diabetes; weight reduction; GIP; GLP-1.

Improving Rainfall Prediction Accuracy in the USA Using Advanced Machine Learning Techniques

The key aim of this research project is to design and evaluate advanced machine learning models for increasing accuracy in rainfall forecasting over the USA. We intended to investigate nonlinear relationships typical of the atmospheric variables using state-of-the-art ML methods for more accurate rainfall predictions. For this research project on rainfall forecasting in the USA, we utilized an extensive dataset that comprises historical rainfall data collected from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other meteorological agencies. The main dataset we use in this paper consists of daily rainfall measurements across various geographical locations of the USA, thus capturing the wide-ranging historical data necessary for both training and validation of the model. Besides measuring rainfall, we included meteorological data from sources such as NOAA's Global Historical Climatology Network and NASA's Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications. These datasets further provided key variables that are known to affect rain, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. The performance metrics used in this research work for the models considered include accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The above table shows that the Random Forest Classifier outperformed the other models, achieving perfect accuracy. That indicated that it rightly classified all the instances in the test set. The Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machine models gave a quite good performance by giving above average accuracy but had lower precision and recall for the rainfall prediction. Accurate rainfall forecasting has direct consequences on agriculture, greatly empowering farmers and agricultural planners to make more effective decisions regarding planting, harvesting, and crop management. The forecasts of rainfall are also of critical importance in disaster management regarding planning for flood emergencies. Moreover, precise forecasting of rainfall, particularly in sustainable water resources management, presents the most important data in planning for and conserving these resources.

Nintedanib alleviates polypropylene mesh-induced adhesion in rabbit ventral herniorrhaphy

Abstract BACKGROUND: Nintedanib (previously known as BBIF 1120) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and European Medical Agency to treat idiopathic lung fibrosis in the year 2014 and 2015, respectively. It is now gaining interest for its anti-fibrotic activity in other organs and disease conditions. Although a surgical mesh is used as a mainstay therapy for herniorrhaphy, postoperative peritoneal adhesion with a polypropylene mesh is a significant drawback. This study aims to assess the efficacy of nintedanib in preventing postoperative adhesion incited with a polypropylene mesh in a rabbit model of ventral hernia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ventral hernia was induced surgically in ten adult healthy New Zealand White rabbits of either sex. Hernioplasty was performed with a polypropylene mesh, and the rabbits were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either oral 1 ml sterile water or 100 mg nintedanib in 1 ml of sterile water for 7 days. The adhesion of the implanted mesh with the intra-abdominal organs was assessed clinically, by histological and ultrastructural studies with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: All rabbits were clinically healthy for 30 days post-surgery with no complication at the site of surgery. The incidence of peritoneal adhesion and tenacity was less in the nintedanib group versus the control group (P = 0.00105). Histopathological and SEM evaluations also indicated less fibrosis and adhesion in the nintedanib-treated group versus control. CONCLUSION: Our results show successful prevention of mesh-associated adhesion with nintedanib, but further studies on the mechanistic pathway, pharmacokinetics, dose standardization, and evaluation of systemic side effects are warranted.

Current Landscape of Tofersen in SOD-1-associated Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Since the identification, in 1993, of the causative gene for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is associated with SOD1 mutations, research has focused on the pathogenesis and therapeutics of ALS for more than 30 years. Tofersen, a highly anticipated gene-specific therapy that has been aligned with the disease-specific pathology, has been approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) However, as significant data on tofersen's safety and efficacy are required, the evaluation of this treatment is ongoing. This paper introduces the current clinical and commercial status of Tofersen, along with expectations for its approval in Japan.

Traceability for strengthening supply chain systems and enhancing real-time visibility: Focus of NAFDAC on advancing vaccine traceability in Nigeria

This study explores the successful implementation of activities aimed at scaling traceability for COVID-19 and routine immunization (RI) vaccines to the local government area and selected healthcare facilities in Nigeria, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The study was executed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and sought to enhance supply chain systems by deploying advanced traceability mechanisms and ensuring real-time stock visibility. The article discusses the accomplishments, challenges, and regulatory framework of NAFDAC, emphasizing GS1 technology-driven traceability, and presents the results of the field scanning activities conducted in July 2023. The approach involved a phased public sector pilot, showcasing the feasibility and challenges of tracking vaccine movement through the supply chain. The result shows the detection of 43 unique products across 1022 facilities from a total of 110,113 scans, offering valuable insights into vaccine distributions. The strategic goals of the project aligned with developing safety surveillance systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to facilitate patient access to global health products. Similarly, significant improvement in traceability through automated data capture (barcode scanning) and expanded coverage for COVID-19 and selected RI vaccines in Nigeria was found. Against this background, the information derived from this report will build confidence in patients regarding vaccine authenticity, establish a transparent and robust supply chain, and foster pharmacovigilance capability through integration with the track-and-trace systems. Thus, the study provides invaluable insights and opportunities for global health practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to incorporate track-and-trace into regulatory systems by other national regulatory authorities.

The political economy of minimum wage setting: The Factories and Shops Act of Victoria (Australia), 1896–1913

AbstractThe Victorian Factories and Shops Act of 1896, the second minimum wage law in the world, empowered administrative agencies (‘Special Boards’) to set trade‐specific minimum rates on the basis of age, sex, and occupation. Some Victorian supporters of minimum wages looked to end sweating and protect women and children, while others sought to use the law to protect adult men. Opponents argued that they would disrupt labour markets, increasing employers’ costs and creating unintended consequences for workers. Evidence from actual minimum wages suggests that boards were loosely constrained by market factors, but also that they had some discretion. Some Special Boards essentially followed the market for their trades while others set rates that were binding for some workers. To the extent that minimum rates were binding, they tended to reduce inequality among adult male workers, particularly after a 1907 federal law established a living wage covering employers with operations in multiple states. However, they also increased inequality across groups, increasing wages of adult men relative to those of women and youths. The act formally institutionalized gender‐based pay differences, a practice that continued in Australian minimum wage setting for more than 70 years.

Determinants of net value added to produced and processed paddy rice in South East, Nigeria

The study principally examined the determinants of net value added to produced and processed paddy rice in South east Nigeria It specifically, identified the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, analyzed the determinants of net value added to produced and processed paddy rice as well as ascertained the constraints to processed and produced paddy rice. Multi-stage sampling technique involving purposive and random sampling methods was used to select 240 respondents. Primary data were collected on rain-fed production season using structured questionnaires administered to the respondents by personal interview. Descriptive statistics,, multiple regression and principal component analysis were used to analyze the data. Results obtained showed that gender distribution of the respondents was 63%males and 38% females. More respondents are between the ages of 41-50 and31-40 respectively and house hold size of 4-6 .Farming experience showed that 136 respondents representing 57% had engaged in the business between 11-20yrs.The results also showed that 67% of the respondents accessed farm credit while 25% did not.66% of the respondents belonged to farmers association while 75% were not visited by extension agents. Variables (age, gender, years in school, household size, years of experience, training/extension visits, costs incurred, value addition technique and market price) significantly influenced the net value added while marital status, membership of cooperative, and access to credit did not. Constraints to paddy producers and processors were accessibility to farm machine, poor infrastructure and scarcity/high cost of labor, low access to credit/grant; low proactive measures to flood and drought control; insufficient knowledge of agro-chemicals, and late provision of essential training and services; and processors: use of outdated rice milling machines, high cost of modern rice processing machines, low access to modern rice processing machineries and low acceptability of local rice. Recommendations include; establishment of farm machinery hiring centers for producers and supply of modern rice milling machines to rice processing clusters, development of dams and irrigable lands, training and re-training on access to fund, utilization of biodegradable wastes from paddy rice, proactive measures of flood and drainage control, adequate use of agro-chemicals, use of modem techniques, and involvement of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in quality control. Keywords: Agriculture, Paddy Rice, Value Addition, Nigeria.