Equipment Suppliers Research Articles

Pivoting and pandemics: A game-theoretic framework for agile personal protective equipment supply chains

Supply chain models frequently tackle manufacturing issues but must also account for the distinctive nature of the disease. Conversely, most epidemiological models solely concentrate on the disease’s spread but must address logistical challenges. The medical supply chain encounters numerous problems during a pandemic, requiring adaptation through pivoting strategies. For instance, when the COVID-19 outbreak began, several nations prohibited the export of medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE). Consequently, in times of crisis, many countries adopt a localization strategy that encourages domestic companies to adapt their operations and produce medical items. Nevertheless, an interconnected system is essential to align suppliers with the actual demand for medical supplies. This study focuses on the design of a game model for the supply chain that considers manufacturers’ equilibrium behaviors in response to the real demand for medical items. We propose a game model that incorporates both the medical supply chain and the unique characteristics of pandemics. Various decisions are taken into account, such as production volume, actual demand for medical products, price, distribution of medical supplies, and investment costs in manufacturing technologies. To determine the Nash Equilibrium solutions for the proposed game model, the Variational Inequality (VI) theory is implemented.

ИМПОРТОЗАМЕЩЕНИЕ АВТОМАТИЗИРОВАННЫХ СРЕДСТВ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИМИ ПРОЦЕССАМИ

The causes of the existing problems of the industrial automation market are determined and an analysis of analogues, proven components of industrial automation in the Russian Federation market is carried out. The use and purchase of sanctioned equipment is complicated by the fact that manufacturers of "unfriendly" countries indicate individual identification numbers on the manufactured equipment. With the help of a single identification database, the manufacturer controls the volume of equipment supplies to serviced industrial facilities in other countries. If the volume of supplies exceeds the annual limit, the equipment manufacturer asks the customer to send the disabled equipment for examination, or sends its specialist to the serviced enterprise. In case of detection of resale of the supplied equipment in the Russian Federation by parallel import, this enterprise ceases to fall under warranty service and later personal sanctions are imposed against it. This article discusses the issue of the process of import substitution of automated process control systems in the territory of the Russian Federation. The main focus is on analyzing the current state of the industry, identifying the main problems and determining the prospects for the development of domestic manufacturers. After analyzing the topic, the authors conclude that import substitution is a key factor in ensuring the technological independence and security of the country, as well as stimulating innovation and development of the Russian economy. Import substitution of automated process control systems is one of the priority areas of development of the Russian economy. The main purpose of this process is to ensure the technological sovereignty of the country by creating and using domestic developments that are not inferior in quality and functionality to imported analogues.

Analysis of the Manufacturability of the Design of the Crankshaft of the Plunger Pump NTP-175, Produced at PJSC “Izhneftemash”

Currently, mining and processing of minerals plays an important role in the economy of the country. In conditions of creating artificial economic problems for the supply of high-quality equipment, there is a high demand for inexpensive plunger pumps with suitable output characteristics and a sufficiently high resource. High-pressure pumps, which create high productivity, are urgently needed in mining, chemical, processing and other industries. Domestic enterprises have long been producing this type of product in the required quantity in mass production. But even a well-established and mastered structure in production must be constantly improved to improve operational performance. In all areas of application of high-performance pumps, an increase in specific characteristics is required, and of course, everyone expects an increase in the life of this equipment. An important factor in the choice of such equipment by the operating organization is the price. Production costs consist not only of initial capital investments for the purchase of pumping equipment, but also the cost of operation and repairs. In the mining industry, transportation costs associated with long distances to remote mining sites and repair or operating bases account for most of the increase in production costs. In this case, the less obvious specific characteristics of power and performance in relation to weight and dimensions provide huge advantages when transporting such equipment to the place of operation. Thus, the improvement of such a product as a pumping unit should follow all the laws of the development of technical systems with an increase in specific characteristics, and finally, a reduction in cost, which can be obtained only by improving the manufacturability of this design in the conditions of existing production. Only by improving the design can an increase in technology and an increase in specific characteristics be achieved simultaneously. This study describes the stages of design testing for the manufacturability of one of the key elements of a plunger pump mass-produced at the PJSC “Izhneftemash”.

Practice of Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Emergency Department of Nepal

Background: The study intends to explore the effects and practice of healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic at the emergency department of B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among the healthcare workers of the Emergency Department of B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences from August 2020 to Jan 2021. Data were collected by using a semi-structured interview among all the participants in the survey. A convenient sampling method was used and analysed using descriptive statistics. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Majority of the healthcare workers (90%) stated that their role has increased during COVID 19 first wave pandemic. A similar percentage (71%) noticed change in their duty hours and subsequently Isolation/ Quarantine. More than half (53%) stated that efforts been undertaken to bring additional health care workers to emergency department on basis of safety and preservation of workforce. The institute was able to train (47%) health care workers regarding proper handling of personal protective equipment despite of its insufficient (70%) supply. Conclusion: The results take exceptions in the emergency department despite insufficient supply of personal protective equipment, longtime exposure to large numbers of infected patients and insufficient care to quarantine a majority of the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessment of the readiness and maturity for Industry 4.0 adoption in Indian automobile industries

Purpose: This paper addresses the urgent need to comprehensively assess the preparedness of the Indian automobile industry for adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, a critical imperative for sustaining global competitiveness in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive sectors. The study introduces the Maturity Assessment and Readiness for Industry 4.0 in the Indian Automobile Industry (MARI-IA) Scale, offering a novel contribution to the scientific discourse on this vital issue.Literature Review: The existing literature review underscores the scarcity of tailored tools specifically designed to evaluate Industry 4.0 readiness in the distinctive context of the Indian automotive industry. Methodology: To bridge this gap, the paper employs a survey methodology involving 55 participants from 14 diverse organisations, spanning original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), supplier industries, and service centers. The chosen research object is these organisations, strategically selected to represent the spectrum of the industry. Utilising the MARI-IA Scale, the study systematically assesses maturity and readiness across five pivotal dimensions: Vision, Machines, Practices, Products, and People. Results: The findings reveal discernible variations in readiness levels, with OEMs exhibiting the highest preparedness, followed by supplier and service industries. Large-scale industries consistently outperform their medium, small, and micro-scale counterparts, indicating a pronounced scale-dependent disparity. Notably, the ‘People’ dimension garnered the highest rating, suggesting an existing readiness for skill enhancement initiatives and heightened customer awareness initiatives. In contrast, the ‘Vision’ dimension is rated the lowest, signalling a pressing need for increased strategic commitment and top management involvement in implementing Industry 4.0 initiatives. Value: The empirical analysis conducted substantiates the relevance and applicability of the MARI-IA Scale in effectively evaluating ndustry 4.0 readiness in the unique context of the Indian automobile industry. Beyond a mere assessment tool, the results of this study carry significant practical implications for stakeholders, offering a roadmap for enhancing Industry 4.0 preparedness and maintaining a competitive edge in the global automotive landscape. This research is a foundational resource for scholars, industry practitioners, and policymakers navigating the dynamic landscape of Industry 4.0 adoption in the Indian automobile sector.

Performance Evaluation for Operation Scenarios of Supply and Exhaust System in Delaying Smoke Spread in MLCC Factory

Downdrafts are generated indoors because of the water supply and exhaust equipment installed in the clean room of the MLCC factory. In the event of a fire, this downdraft may interfere with the exposure of combustion products, such as heat, smoke, and toxic gases generated from the fire source, to the smoke detector installed on the ceiling. There is a high risk of this adversely affecting people and damaging property, depending on the diffusion of the combustion product. In this study, we analyzed the smoke diffusion patterns according to the operation methods of the supply and exhaust facilities. Modeling was performed using a fire simulation program, and the performance of the water supply and exhaust facilities installed at the analysis site were investigated based on the actual testing, adjusting, and balancing test results to increase the reliability of the modeling results. The analysis indicated that the downdraft from the air-conditioning supply system prevented smoke from the fire source from spreading to the ceiling.

Influence of the leakage in air supply networks on the efficiency of application of pneumatic backfill equipment

Purpose. Determining the influence of the degree of pneumatic energy losses in the non-hermetic air supply network on the efficiency of using installed equipment in the pneumatic method of waste utilization from mining and beneficiation of minerals. To achieve this purpose, a tightness control device was developed using the method of fixed volumes. Methods. Using the molecular-kinetic theory of gases, the thermodynamics and hydrodynamics laws, the characteristics of an open thermodynamic system under excess pressure and with a degree of a capillary-type leakage are investigated. Pneumatic energy losses in the pneumatic supply pipeline are determined by the mass of compressed air leaked due to its poor tightness. Findings. The peculiarities of the tightness control of hollow products by the method of fixed volumes have been summarized. The dependences of non-production losses of compressed air and the corresponding pressure drop on the geometric characteristics of the air supply pipeline, the leakage in supply pipeline, and the time of assessing the degree of leakage have been determined. Originality. For the first time, the relationship between the parameters of compressed air in an open thermodynamic system under excess pressure during air leakage and its heat exchange with the environment has been revealed. The influence of compressed air leakage in air supply networks on the efficiency of using vibration-pneumatic machines with an annular ejector in backfill technologies has been determined. Practical implications. The research results can be used to improve the existing or develop the new technological schemes of air supply equipment that use pneumatic energy at mining and metallurgical enterprises. Minimization of energy consumption can significantly expand the scope of application of pneumatic backfilling method.

Organization of Work with Project Stakeholders

In the context of macroeconomic instability, the issue of managing the interaction with stakeholders of projects that have various types of resources necessary for successful project activities is of particular importance. The identification of stakeholders and the subsequent preparation of a strategy of interaction and communication with them contribute to a more accurate and effective implementation of project activities. The purpose of the study is to analyze stakeholders from the point of view of a diagram of interest and degree of influence on the project and develop a communication plan for the most influential parties to the project. As examples of stakeholders in a construction project, we can identify the customer, the project team participant, the expert of state expertise, the general contractor, the supplier of technological equipment, the representative of administration. During the existence of the modern theory of stakeholders, a number of models have appeared by which it is possible to determine the strategy of interaction with stakeholders and organize their types. To visualize the level of influence of stakeholders on the project and work out an information exchange plan, it is recommended to produce a special diagram. The chart of interest and impact on the project should be periodically checked against the list of stakeholder data and changes should be observed. Based on the above scheme, it is proposed to develop a communication plan for the most influential parties. Continuous monitoring and timely adjustment of the stakeholder engagement strategy creates the conditions under which maintaining a strong relationship with these persons becomes possible throughout the life cycle of the project.

Designing and maintaining a rescue extracorporeal life support program: A holistic simulation approach.

Rescue Extracorporeal Life Support Programs based at non-cardiac surgery centers have unique needs to be able to ensure successful outcomes despite low patient volumes. In this paper we describe the important role simulation had in each stage of development, implementation, and maintenance of our pediatric Rescue ECLS Program. Systems-focused simulations were used to develop robust workflows, processes, and bundles. Simulation-based education targeted the acquisition and maintenance of clinical skills for individual team members, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of local clinicians who do not routinely perform pediatric cannulation related tasks. Translational simulation ensured continued improvement by addressing adverse events or latent safety threats observed during system-focused or educational simulations. Realism of all simulations was our priority, and was achieved through in situ simulations, participation of multidisciplinary teams, use of real equipment and medical supplies, and use of a high-fidelity cannulation manikin. This holistic simulation approach allowed us to overcome the barriers to high quality care, and maintain outcomes comparable to high volume centers. A similar approach can help other centers design simulation for their own Rescue ECLS Program, and can be translated to other high-risk and high-acuity critical care programs.

The challenges of using lignocellulosic biomass in pioneer industrial plants

AbstractTo use residual biomass in industrial plants it is necessary to fulfill conditions that have proven challenging when developing production processes based on renewable sources. Relatively recent efforts to produce second‐generation ethanol (2GE) have led to some caveats regarding obstacles that can arise in the large‐scale conversion of residual lignocellulosic biomass to biofuel. Even after years of research to develop technological packages that would make the production of 2GE feasible, the first plants installed could not operate continuously within the design, and they failed to meet market expectations. By interviewing managers from the 2GE pioneer plants, the research reported in this paper identified the methods used by the 2GE pioneers, from decision‐making processes to startup and plant operation. Analyzing the challenges they faced and their relationships with innovation processes, it found that industrial handling of lignocellulosic biomass was the main reason for the relative operational failure of the pioneer 2GE production plants. It also found that changes of policy and lack of efficient communication between the equipment suppliers and the users might also lead to the failure of the pioneer plants. Based on these findings, this paper considers the significance of these projects for biobased industries using lignocellulosic biomass in pioneer plants. The conclusions suggest that filling the knowledge gap related to the industrial handling of lignocellulosic biomass, as well as understanding that new relationships between biorefineries and their equipment suppliers may generate new paths for innovation processes, should be fundamental for the implementation of first‐of‐a‐kind plants within the scope of bioeconomy.

Assessing the practical implications of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation – revisiting the acquisition of Vossloh Locomotives by CRRC

The EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation became applicable last year. To assess its potential impact, this article explores what might have happened had the Regulation been applied to the acquisition of Vossloh Locomotives by CRRC, the Chinese state-owned supplier of rolling stock equipment. The Bundeskartellamt cleared the merger in 2020, even though it concluded that CRRC had ‘theoretically unlimited access’ to subsidies. This article highlights how, from an economics perspective, the assessment might have been different under the FSR, with the potential to lead to a different outcome.

Landscape Analysis of Primary Healthcare Integration; Understanding Barriers and Enablers for People-Centered Care in Low-And-Middle Income Countries

Background: Healthcare interventions in Low-and-Middle Income Countries (LMICs) are mostly disease-specific and exist independently, leading to fragmentation of services and inefficiencies in healthcare delivery. Therefore, the need to integrate interventions and share resources between programs is exigent. The dearth of evidence on the barriers and enablers for seamlessly integrated interventions in LMICs compared to high-income settings, necessitated the conduct of a landscape analysis of integration in LMICs to understand the extent of integration, barriers, and enablers for people-centered care in three countries – Nigeria, Nepal, and Madagascar. 
 Method: The study adopted a mixed-method approach involving a systematic review and qualitative study. Relevant literature and policy documents on healthcare integration in LMICs were reviewed. Also, 76 interviews (IDI and KII) were conducted with healthcare administrators at the national and local levels, healthcare workers, and caregivers in Nigeria, Madagascar, and Nepal. Content and thematic analyses of the systematic review and interviews were then conducted using Covidence software and Dedoose software respectively.
 Result: The result of the landscape analysis showed the different factors that impede health integration in LMICs include the inadequate number of the skilled health workforce, poor financing, inadequate supply of medicines and equipment, poor monitoring of policies and guidelines, poor supervision and M&E systems, and poor community engagement. To address these barriers, large investments in structural reforms must take place in these settings. From the policy landscape of the three countries, health integration of primary health care services is on the agenda of the health system as a priority. However, strong political will which is pivotal to monitoring the implementation of existing healthcare integration policies and advocating for sustainable funding opportunities from development partners will help to address the infrastructure deficits in the countries and subsequently help to promote integrated care. A key enabler for integrated care is community engagement; human-centered approach should be adopted from the program design phase to the implementation phase to ensure acceptance and uptake of integrated care especially when financial protection is not provided by the government.
 Implications for healthcare integration in LMICs: Integrated health services directly improve well-being and quality of life, which will bring important economic, social, and individual benefits. Integration has been proposed as a strategy to improve coverage and/or efficiency of immunization and other health programs. Therefore, to mitigate the bottlenecks to health integration in LMICs, efforts should be geared towards (i) building the capacity of health workers through training across all cadres. (ii) Government at all levels should recruit more staff to fill HRH gaps. (iii) Supervisory efforts should be increased as a key enabler to health integration. (iv) Provision of funds for healthcare integration in LMICs, and the development of a sustainable Financing plan (v) Strengthening supply chain support through investments in supplies, equipment, diagnostics, human resources, medicines, and commodities to support the provision of integrated services. (vi) Addressing the gaps and the design of integrated service delivery at the national and sub-national levels, considering feasibility, compatibility between the interventions, care plan needs, and goals of all stakeholders.

Analysis of world military expenditures on production and armaments in the context of modern geopolitical threats

Geopolitical threats and military conflicts in the first quarter of the 21st century have led to changes in the structure of countries' expenditures, with an increase in defense spending on production and armaments, as well as financial support for humanitarian, economic and military needs of the warring countries. The main reason for the increase in military spending in the world is the russian-Ukrainian war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and other geopolitical risks in the Middle East and Taiwan. The growth of these risks encourages countries to increase defense spending, which further complicates the issue of financing socially important and public initiatives. It has been established that global military spending tends to increase during 2015–2023. Last year's military expenditures amounted to up to $2,240 billion, and this figure is the highest of the analyzed periods. Among the world's regions, such as North America, East Asia, Oceania, South Asia, and Europe, there is an increase in defense spending. The only region where military spending fell in 2022 was Africa, due to natural disasters and catastrophes within the region. The share of country expenditures in the structure of global defense spending has increased in countries such as the United States, China, russia, Saudi Arabia, and India. The United Kingdom, France and Japan are maneuvering in almost the same amount of spending during 2015–2023. There is also a trend in the countries of the former Eastern Bloc states, which have been increasing their spending since 2014, after the occupation of Crimea. Military and humanitarian support for Ukraine from Western partners remains a key necessity for deterring the russian aggressor, but the plan for the supply of equipment and weapons does not cover all possible needs of Ukraine, which leads to the search for other ways to maintain the country's military defense capability.

Assessment of the results of modernisation and prospects for the development of the Russian oil refining in the context of sanction restrictions

The implementation of the programme for modernisation of Russian oil refineries, launched in 2011, has already significantly increased the depth of oil refining and the quality of petroleum products. It has had a positive effect on reducing the country’s dependence on crude oil exports and has made it possible to obtain a significant positive environmental effect. However, at the same time, there has been a decrease in marginality. At the present stage, the main problems of the Russian oil refining, which affect, among other things, the implementation of modernisation projects, are associated with a ban on the supply of equipment and software for oil refining, the imposition of an embargo and a price ceiling for oil products. The article analyses the results of the implementation of the modernisation programme in terms of the impact on economic and environmental performance of oil refineries and the impact of sanction restrictions on the further modernisation of enterprises. It also considers possible ways to solve problems through the development and implementation of modern production technologies in combination with digital solutions.

Joint Caching and Computing Offloading Strategies for Power Supply Chain Services Under Cloud Edge Collaborative Computing Environment

Aiming at the problem of long task calculation delay of traditional edge computing offloading strategy (COS), a joint caching and COS for power supply chain services under cloud edge collaborative computing environment is proposed by introducing the master-slave game model. First, for the network of information interaction between power grid system and electrical equipment suppliers, the corresponding overall model of cloud edge collaborative network is constructed by combining cloud computing, edge computing, supplier terminal communication and remote cloud. Then, the cloud-side collaborative network model is analyzed and solved by building the service function cache model, task unloading and data transmission model and power business data calculation model, respectively. Finally, by introducing the master-slave game model, the whole system is divided into three different interests of power service providers, communication providers and communication network terminal providers and the joint caching and COS for power supply chain services is given. Through simulation experiments, the proposed computing unloading strategy and the other three methods are compared and analyzed under the same experimental conditions. The results show that the service cache hit rate of the proposed method is the highest, reaching 96.35%. Compared with the other three comparison methods, it increased by 14.96%, 11.24% and 4.85%, respectively. In addition, its task computing delay is the least affected by agent computing power and agent computing resources, and its performance is better than the other three comparison methods.

Knowledge and perceived barriers for care provision regarding COVID-19 among hospital nurses in Nepal

COVID-19 pandemic is significantly affecting the overall health and healthcare system globally. It has not shown mercy to Nepal either. All the health facilities are full of COVID-19 patients. Almost all death from COVID-19, has occurred in hospital. Adequate knowledge of nurses regarding the source, transmission, symptoms, and preventive measures of COVID-19 helps to provide effective care and prevent spreading infections from patients to patients, and nurses to patients. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the knowledge regarding COVID-19 and perceived barriers for care provision regarding COVID-19 patients among hospital nurses in Nepal. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in different COVID-19 care designated hospitals of Nepal. Data were collected by using self-administered validated questionnaire through online survey. Descriptive analysis was done by using SPSS-16. More than 80% of nurses had adequate knowledge regarding symptoms, route of transmission, vulnerable population and preventive measures of COVID- 19 and only 15.0% had got training related to COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses perceived negligence of the patients and community people on COVID-19 prevention (84.6%), fear of being infected and carrier to family and community while contacting with patients (80.0%), long duty hour (75.0%), inadequately supply of personal protective equipment and insufficient institutional preparedness (74.0%) were the major barriers for providing care of COVID-19 patients. Thus, hospital authority, nursing administration and nursing professionals’ organizations should play an important role in organizing training to nurses and awareness program to community people. It is also essential in providing required supplies, and facilitates the motivating environment for effective care and prevention of COVID-19.

Safety culture development at an industrial enterprise (on the example of «Atommash» Branch of «AEM-Technologies» JSC in Volgodonsk)

The article chooses Atommash Branch of AEM-Technologies JSC in Volgodonsk as the object of study, which is a supplier of integrated solutions including engineering, design, manufacturing, supply, installation and service of power equipment for nuclear power facilities, thermal power plants, as well as for enterprises of the gas and petrochemical industries. The subject area chosen is safety culture (SC), which the enterprise implements in order to fulfil the strategy of ROSATOM to achieve technological leadership and sovereignty on a global scale. The purpose of the study is to identify the main characteristics of this phenomenon based on the analysis of existing theories and practices of safety culture management and to correlate them with the specifics of the process of implementing the safety culture at the Atommash the branch of JSC AEM-Technologies in Volgodonsk. The theoretical analysis of scientific literature on the research problem, graphical method, statistical data analysis, retrospective analysis and study of local acts of the research object in terms of safety culture provision are the main methods used in writing the paper. The main result of the research is the conclusion that safety culture of the branch as well as its organisational culture, refers to collective values and beliefs. Formation and maintenance of high level of safety culture is achieved by prioritising safety over economic and production goals, ensuring that each employee understands the impact of their activities on safety and the consequences that may result from non-compliance or poor performance of safety culture requirements;#, ensuring that each manager and employee understands the inadmissibility of concealing errors in their activities, the need to identify and eliminate the causes of their occurrence, the need for continuous self-improvement, изучения и внедрения передового опыта.

FROM CRISIS TO CONTROL THROUGH COVID-19: NURSING HOME LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES ON DELIVERING QUALITY CARE

Abstract A year after the US Government announced that the COVID-19 pandemic has transitioned to an endemic phase, nursing home (NH) leaders are still challenged to deliver quality care. This study aimed to describe NH leadership perspectives on preparing and maintaining quality care during times of diminishing resources as experienced through the COVID-19 pandemic to gain a perspective on how best to support NHs moving forward. We used convergent mixed methods to explore experiences of NH leaders (N=15) participating in the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) study. Data were collected through publicly reported survey data and individual interviews conducted at 12-month follow-up. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using verbatim transcripts and inductive thematic coding subsequently organized by a guiding framework. Convergent analysis indicates that participating NHs (N=136) align with national trends in infection rates of residents, staff, access to resources such as personal protective equipment and testing supplies. Leadership from a sub-sample of these homes (N=14; 43% rural; 71% not-for-profit) perceived their NH to be in varied states of operations needed so support quality infection control at the transition to endemic COVID-19 phase. Leadership reported continued challenges in addressing resident & staff vaccinations, securing testing supplies, obtaining financial resources to maintain acceptable levels of personal protective equipment, and isolation practices. Leadership valued providing person-centered care even in times of crisis. These results indicate socio-cultural reasons behind why NHs continue to struggle delivering quality care post-pandemic and offers areas to focus support efforts.

ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF GURARA DAM IRRIGATION SCHEME TO POVERTY REDUCTION AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed the contribution of Gurara dam irrigation scheme to poverty reduction among farming households in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data on respondents’ poverty status, and the constraints faced by farming households in utilizing the Gurara irrigation facilities was collected using structured questionnaire during the 2019 cropping season. A four-sampling stage technique was employed in this study to select randomly 340 farming households made up of 170 each of beneficiary and non-beneficiary. The analytical tools used to achieve the objectives were descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) index, and Tobit regression models. The poverty headcount, poverty gaps and severity indices of the Gurara dam beneficiary farming households were 0.24, 0.03 and 0.005, respectively. Decomposition of poverty status of the Gurara dam beneficiary and non-beneficiary farming households based on socio-economic characteristics, institutional and living conditions characteristics was estimated using mean per adult equivalent household expenditure. The Tobit regression model showed that the marginal effects of household size (0.176), cooperative membership (-0.168), farm income (-0.157), farm size (0.404) and credit utilized (-0.193) for farm production were statistically significant determinants of the poverty status of household farmers. The result of analysis of constraints encountered by Gurara dam farming households were ranked from most critical to the least critical; these include inadequate irrigable land and water; excessive cost of irrigation equipment, inadequate inputs, inadequate and untimely supply of inputs, inadequate extension visits and research. Farming households should be encouraged by government and Non-Government Organization (NGO) as well as their cooperative empowerment to engage in small scale irrigation farming to enable increase production of food and alleviate their poverty status.

Resource Potential of the Oil and Gas Complex of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and Its Development Prospects

Abstract. In recent years, the Russian oil and gas complex has been undergoing sanctions and restrictions related to the political situation in the country and in the world, which negatively affects the economic development of the country. The consequences of sanctions include: disruption of logistics of export supplies of oil and gas raw materials, replacement of Russian hydrocarbons with supplies from other countries, reduction of foreign investment and participation of foreign companies in Russian oil and gas projects, restriction of imports for the supply of equipment and technologies, etc. First of all, these problems cause the need to expand sales markets and build new production and logistics chains, replacing imported equipment and technologies with domestic ones. In order to solve the difficult economic relations that have arisen with the EU countries, it is proposed to redirect the market for oil and gas raw materials towards Asian countries. In this regard, the study of oil and gas resources of the Far East, including the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is a very relevant task. The purpose of this article is to identify the level of availability of mineral resources of the oil and gas complex. The object of the study is the oil and gas complex of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia): industrial balance reserves and forecast resources of oil and gas fields in the region, and the main subsurface users of oil and gas fields. The subject of the study is the analysis and assessment of the state of the mineral resource base of the oil and gas resources of the region and the prospects for its development. Based on the analysis of the current state of the potential of the oil and gas resources of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), as well as a review of the global oil and gas market, promising directions for the development of the regional oil and gas complex are identified in the article.