Assessing the host status of banana and other plant species to the enset root mealybug Paraputo ensete (Williams & Matile-Ferrero) (Hem.: Pseudococcidae) in Ethiopia
December 2022
Ninety backyard gardens in the south-eastern Ethiopian highlands with enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman), banana and various annual crops were assessed for the presence of enset root mealybugs (Paraputo ensete (Williams & Matile-Ferrero)). This study presents the first observation of enset root mealybugs on banana. This pest has until now been exclusively recorded on enset in Ethiopia. In the Dilla Zuria...
Heavy metals levels and adult health risk assessment in horticultural systems in Mbare Musika and Mutoko, Zimbabwe
December 2022
Levels of cadmium, chromium, cobalt, nickel and lead were determined in cabbages, tsunga (mustard), green beans and tomatoes from Mbare Musika vegetable market in Harare and one of its major supplier, Mutoko. Cabbages and tsunga exceeded the stipulated safe limit for lead levels whereas the tomatoes and sugar beans went above the 0.02 ppm threshold for cadmium. Hazard Quotients (HQ) of the vegetables showed adult health...
Development and testing of a vertical-spikes shelling machine for bambara groundnuts
December 2022
This paper aim to develop a low-cost Bambara groundnuts sheller that uses vertical spikes as the shelling mechanism. A vertical spike shelling machine was designed, constructed and evaluated. The Bambara groundnut shelling machine consisted of a hopper, shelling system, frame, motor and power transmission system. The Bambara groundnut sheller used a low-cost shelling mechanism of spikes and shaft system, as it has...
Cassava use in southern Benin: Importance and perception of actors involved in the value chain
November 2022
In Benin, many families resort not only to consumption but also to the therapeutic use of cassava (Manihot esculenta). The study assessed the impact of socio-economic factors on the use of cassava, and the perception of the actors involved in the value chain in Benin. Four areas of high production and processing, with 516 producers and processors of cassava roots were surveyed. The results reveal that...
Production and utilisation of Bambaranut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) in Northern and Eastern Uganda
November 2022
Bambaranut (BN) (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) Is a nutrient rich, drought tolerant food legume that can contribute to food security and community resilience. In Uganda however, production and utilization remain in relative obscurity. A study was conducted in Northern and Eastern Uganda to determine production and utilization practices and identify challenges and opportunities for BN improvement. Primary data on...
Farmers’ perceptions of fertilizer micro-dosing adoption and continued use in Burkina Faso
November 2022
This study analyzes fertilizer micro-dosing adoption and focuses on farmers' perceptions. Data used are from households selected based on agroecological characteristics. The bivariate probit model estimation results show that fertilizer microdosing adoption is a process. After the first adoption, 22.67% of farmers continued to apply fertilizer micro-dosing compared to 33.25% who discontinued. In addition, analysis...
Influence of altitudes on the cultural and morphological variation of Colletotrichum kahawae isolates, the causal agent of coffee berry disease in the West Region of Cameroon
November 2022
Coffee berry disease (CBD) caused by Colletotrichum kahawae, is the main disease that affects arabica coffee production in Africa. Isolates of C. kahawae were collected from different altitude in the West Region of Cameroon and characterised for cultural and morphological variations. The results showed a significant variation among C. kahawae isolates related to their morpho-cultural features with respect to altitude....
Variation of some growth, agronomical and biochemical parameters of Vigna unguiculata (L. Walp) under salinity stress
November 2022
The variation of some growth, agronomical and biochemical parameters of Vigna unguiculata (L. Walp) under salinity stress were investigated in the greenhouse and farm conditions. Plants were subjected to 0, 50, 100 and 200 mM NaCl. The increases of NaCl in the culture medium significantly (P< 0.001) decreased the growth parameters (number of leaves, noose diameter, leaf area and stem height), dry biomass (roots,...
Differences in smallholder farmers’ compost pits in terms of production and quality across Burkina Faso: The case of Eastern Region
November 2022
Sub Saharan African soils have low organic matter contents, hence applying compost is therefore instrumental to improve their fertility. This study investigated the quantity and the quality of compost produced by smallholder farmers in five provinces (Gnagna, Gourma, Komondjari, Kompienga and Tapoa) from Eastern Burkina Faso. Compost quality was determined by the main physical and chemical characteristics including bulk...
Views and perspectives of local farmers on crop diversification in the North-Western Free State, South Africa
November 2022
The North-Western Free State is a main contributor of South Africa’s maize production which has recently been put under enormous pressure by climate change, pests, diseases, economic factors and population growth. Crop diversification, by means of crop rotation, has potential to alleviate some of the challenges faced by the farmers and communities of the North-Western Free State. Crop rotation can improve soil...
Evaluation of a naturally ventilated solar-venturi dryer environmental effect on the quality of dried sweet-potato slices
November 2022
A naturally ventilated solar-venturi dryer (NSD) was constructed using locally available materials to improve the quality of dry sweet potato slices (SPS) for small to medium scale farmers. The study investigated the efficiency of the NSD to reduce relative humidity (RH), solar radiation and temperature effect on firmness and color of dried SPS. The maximum temperature inside NSD was 44.4°C (12:00 pm) in an empty...
Evaluation of seventeen cowpea genotypes across years for grain yield, yield components and yield stability in Nsukka, South-east Nigeria
November 2022
Fifteen improved and two local genotypes of Vigna unguiculata were evaluated for their performance in grain yield, yield components and yield stability from 2016 to 2018. Experiments were laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design, with three replications. Data were collected on grain yield and yield components and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Stability analysis for grain yield was conducted using...
Study of the combined effect of sowing date and sowing method on vegetative development of new rice paddy (Oryza sativa) varieties in Senegal River Valley under low temperatures
November 2022
Rice paddy cultivation in Senegal is subject to climatic fluctuations that affect its vegetative development. Although climatic conditions are a concern, we hypothesized that the new rice paddy ISRIZ would be better adapted to these fluctuations and would allow double cropping. We studied the vegetative behavior according to the date and mode sowing under low temperatures. An experiment was carried out in a split-split...
Selected soil properties and small-holder dairy farmers’ perceptions on improved forage varieties in the Southern highlands of Tanzania
October 2022
The current study was aimed at assessing selected soil properties of forage gardens and perceptions of small-holder dairy farmers to newly introduced improved forage in Southern highlands, Tanzania. A total of 101 respondents were randomly sampled and interviewed on the issues relating to management, preferences, and adoption challenges of different pasture varieties. Some surveyed households (38) were purposefully...
Comparative efficacy and economic efficiency of different insecticides against cotton thrips (Thrips tabaci L.) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on cotton in the Middle Awash, Ethiopia
October 2022
Thrips, Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on the cotton plant is an extremely invasive and destructive pest that reduces yield. Field studies were conducted at Werer Agricultural Research Center, Middle Awash, Afar, Ethiopia, for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) to determine the effectiveness of different synthetic chemical insecticides for the control of cotton thrips (T. tabaci) on the Deltapine-90 cotton...
Survey of fungal diseases associated with amaranth (Amaranthus species) in peri-urban vegetable farms in Kumasi and Tamale metropolis of Ghana
October 2022
Amaranthus species is an important leafy vegetable in Ghana; however, foliar diseases of the crop reduce the marketable and edible portions as well as income to farmers. To facilitate the development of disease management strategy, there is the need to document various diseases limiting amaranth production. In view of this, surveys were carried out in forty-three peri-urban vegetable farms in the Kumasi and Tamale...
Social cultural factors as key determinants of agricultural technology adoption: the case of new rice for Africa (NERICA) adoption in Migori County, Kenya
October 2022
Agricultural technologies have been identified as one of the key ways to improve smallholder farmers' food security and livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the adoption of these technologies remains low. Previous studies have focused more on the agronomic and socio-economic aspects influencing agricultural technology adoption. The social and cultural dimensions of adoption have hardly been addressed. The...
Polycentric irrigation water governance: Irrigation water users associations service delivery in Ketar subbasin, Ethiopia
October 2022
Polycentric irrigation water governance allows community institutions to deliver better irrigation services. This study examined the Irrigation Water User Associations (IWUAs) service delivery performance in the Ketar subbasin, Ethiopia, focusing on four irrigation schemes. The irrigation water user associations in the subbasin were measured on their legal registration and financial status, while the four schemes were...
Analysis of farm-household adoption and choice of natural resource management innovation (Soil and Water Conservation Technologies) in Ethiopia: The role of poverty
October 2022
The study examined factors that determine adoption and choice of SWC technologies under CGIAR-related agricultural innovations in Ethiopia, using data from Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey (ESS4). Specifically, the study assessed the effect of poverty, socioeconomic and plot level factors on adoption and choice of SWC technologies. Poverty is found as an important factor in adoption and choice of SWC technologies by farm...
Combined effects of water retaining agent and green manure on trace elements concentration in tobacco farming purple soils
October 2022
Green manure (GM) is widely adopted for agricultural productivity and sustainability. The present study supplemented the GM effect with that of water retaining agent (WRA) to enhance the sustainability of tobacco planting purple soils in Sichuan Province, China. The study employed three GM legumes varieties (Trifolium repens, Vicia villosa and Medicago sativa), while the WRA used was polyacrylamide at different...
Genetic diversity and indigenous knowledge of fonio (Digitaria exilis stapf) produced in Burkina Faso
October 2022
Fonio (Digitaria exilis [Kippist] Stapf) species is from Africa. In Burkina Faso, the genetic diversity of fonio is little known. It is the same for its mode of management and the understanding of its culture. The objective of this study is to contribute to a better knowledge of fonio grown in Burkina Faso. Prospecting collects a permit to identify production areas and collect 60 accessions. The ethnobotanical survey...
Spatiotemporal evolution and identification of oil palm phenolic compounds in response to vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. elaeidis in Côte d'Ivoire
October 2022
Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. elaeidis (Foe) is a fungus that attacks oil palm and affects its production. This study aimed at characterizing phenolic compounds and evaluating their spatiotemporal evolution in two cultivars (sensitive and tolerant to fusariosis). For this, total phenols were quantified during the latency period [0 to 28 Days After Inoculation (DAI)] of Foe. Thereafter, phenolic extracts from plant organs...
Morphological characterization of purple-grain maize (zea mays L.) diversity in Côte d’Ivoire
October 2022
Purple-grain maize is a marginal cereal grown exclusively and consumed in the Central-North of Côte d'Ivoire. However, few studies have been done on the diversity of this cultivar. Whereas, the use of local genetic resources available for breeding purposes requires a good knowledge of their agronomic and morphological characteristics. Thus, 70 accessions of purple-grain maize collected in the Hambol region...
On-station evaluation of straws and stovers with urea to increase utilization in Somali Region
September 2022
Wheat straw (WS), barley straw (BS), sorghum stover (SS), and maize stover (MS) were subjected to different times of ensiling and urea treatment levels in order to identify the most effective ensiling time and urea treatment level to attain preferable nutritional aptitude. Both straws and stovers were treated with 0.40 and 0.50 g concentration levels of urea solution dissolved in 0.8 L of water and sealed plastic sheet...
Assessment of leaf spot disease on water leaf (Talinum triangulare (jacq.) Willd and in vitro effect of three medicinal plant extracts on pathogen(s) in the Northwest Region of Cameroon
September 2022
Cultivation of waterleaf improves the life quality of families and provides additional income for farmers. However, waterleaf production in Cameroon has suffered a major blow from leaf spot disease. Ten farms with dimensions of 4 m by 3 m each in Nkwen, Bamenda, Cameroon were surveyed for leaf spot disease of Talinum triangulare. Disease incidence and severity were assessed by surveying the farms after every fourteen...
Analysis of inputs variability on rice growth stages in Mbeya region
September 2022
As rice develops from sowing to harvesting stages require a combination of both natural and non-natural inputs. Thus, at every stage, specific proportions are demanded as aggregates which contribute to the final yields. Understanding these inputs and their impacts on rice yield will help the small scale rice farmers in Tanzania to boost rice yields. This study pursues to (i) characterize rice farmers’ in Mbeya...
Farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies to rainfall variability in northwestern Katsina State, Nigeria
September 2022
The research examined farmers’ perception and adaptation strategies to rainfall variability in north-western Katsina. The objectives were to determine the level of rainfall variability using 1976 to 2015 rainfall data; find-out farmers’ perceptions of rainfall variability; determine its effects on farming activities, and identify adaptation strategies within the farming systems. Rainfall data were sourced...
Determining the appropriate period of herbicide application in irrigated wheat in Awash Valley, Ethiopia
September 2022
Weed infestation is one of the main menaces of irrigated wheat production and productivity in Ethiopia. This experiment was conducted at Amibara and Fentale districts, to determine the appropriate period of herbicide application in irrigated wheat in Awash Valley. A total of ten treatments; 13, 18, 23, 28, 32, 38, 43 and 48 days after sowing along with a weed-free and weedy check were laid out in a Randomized Complete...
Screening and identification of antagonistic bacterial strains against Botrytis cinerea in Panax ginseng
September 2022
Endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from healthy mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves, and Botrytis cinerea was responsible for the fungus disease. Antagonistic strain was identified based on morphological characteristic and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The results showed that 56 endophytic bacteria were isolated from healthy mountain-cultivated ginseng leaves, and FS-1 strain has good inhibitory effect on B....
Anaplasma phagocytophilum in cattle parasitism in Benin: An emerging pathogen transmitted by ticks
September 2022
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a bacterium transmitted by ticks, is responsible for granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging zoonosis that has never been reported nor identified previously in Benin and in the West African sub-region. This study is designed not only to investigate the prevalence of the disease and evaluate mortalities recorded at Kpinnou farm after importing Girolando cattle from Brazil in 2014 but also to...
Pursuing development on the Eastern Flank of Mt Cameroon: Implications on its heavy metal status, environmental quality and human security
September 2022
In order to maintain environmental quality and ensures food security, this study evaluated baseline heavy metal contents in agricultural fields in the Eastern Flank of Mt Cameroon. It specifically (a) determined the physicochemical properties of soils and the heavy metal concentrations; (b) produce geochemical maps for the heavy metals; (c) determined the major factors controlling the distributions of the metals. Twenty...
Status of Ethiopian durum wheat varieties for the stem rust disease resistance under field condition
September 2022
Production of wheat in Ethiopia is under danger from wheat stem rust, which is brought on by the disease Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici and has resulted in a yield loss of 100%. An investigation was conducted in a hotspot area (Debere Zeit, Ethiopia) to evaluate the status of Ethiopian durum wheat cultivars for their level of stem rust resistance in the field. During the main seasons of 2017, 2020, and 2021, 34 durum...
Unravelling systems of inequality and debating pro-poor policy results in drought prone areas of South West Ethiopia
September 2022
A desk review, survey, interview and on-site observation were used to collect data. The impact of external systems on smallholder water scarcity management institutions in the context drought stress was analyzed in this study. The findings show that the external intervention eliminated resilient people’s institutions such as water scarcity (in droughts). Interventions introduce new water management systems that...
Effect of soil-applied and foliar fertilizer on rice (Oryza sativa)
August 2022
Utilization of foliar fertilizer is not a common practice in field crop production in Ghana, upon this background this research was carried out to assess the combined effect of soil-applied and foliar fertilizer on growth and yield parameters of rice. Four treatments comprising of a control, soil-applied fertilizer and three others comprising of a combination of soil-applied and foliar fertilizer were used. The analyzed...
Performance of mustard varieties under saline prone areas of Bangladesh
August 2022
This study was conducted at farmers’ field with three disperse replicas in three different places viz. Satkhira (AEZ-11), Koyra (AEZ-13), and Bagerhat (AEZ-11) of Khulna division in the Rabi season of 2019-2020 to determine salt tolerant varieties for maximizing mustard yield, as well as farmers’ income. Characterization was done with six varieties namely BARI Sarisha-11, BARI Sarisha-14, BARI Sarisha-16,...
Use of termites as protein supplement for indigenous chicken on smallholder farms in Siaya County, Kenya
August 2022
Smallholder indigenous chicken (IC) production systems have been associated with low productivity thereby contributing to food insecurity and reduced livelihoods. Despite this scenario, smallholder IC producers have been harvesting and feeding termites supplementarily. This study determined the demographic characteristics that influence the use of termites as protein supplement for indigenous chicken by...
Evaluation of the residual effect of bioslurry effluent on biological yield and nutritional content of swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.)
August 2022
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the residual effect of inorganic fertilizer and bioslurry application on biological yield and nutrient content of Swiss chard. The study was conducted at Döhne Agricultural Development Institute (DADI) (32°31’ 34.077” S; 27°27’ 37.473” E) in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Following planting and harvesting of two Swiss chard cultivars...
Implications of diet and quality consistence of feed on poultry layers egg quality
August 2022
Impaction of different brands of commercial layers feeds on egg quality was assessed in a complete block design with five treatments in three blocks replicated with twenty birds each. Hyline birds and the deep litter system were used. Feed constituents from proximate analysis were linearly correlated to quality parameters measured on the eggs. Results showed that nutrition impacts on most egg quality parameters except...
Factors that influence the dominance of X-Jigna cultivar under smallholder rice production in Fogera Plain, Northwest Ethiopia
August 2022
The aim of this study is to learn more about the status and factors that influence the uptake of improved rice varieties in the Fogera plain, a well-known rice-growing area in Ethiopia. A total of 155 rice-producing households were chosen through a systematic random sampling method. Simple descriptive statistics like mean, frequency, percentage, and standard deviation were utilized to characterize the sample households,...
Influence of FBO interaction with research and extension on the adoption of technologies by FBO members in the Central Region of Ghana
August 2022
The study examined the influence of Farmer Based Organization (FBO) interaction with research and extension service providers on the adoption of technologies by members of FBOs in the Central Region of Ghana. In conducting the study, a combination of purposive and convenient sampling methods was utilized in selecting the FBOs and other key players in the field. In all, the study covered 177 respondents. The approach...
Effects of the naked neck phenotype and feed withdrawal on growth performance and carcass characteristics of F1 crossbred broilers from a cross between local naked neck males and Hubbard Flex 15 broiler females
August 2022
An eleven-month experiment was conducted to establish the influence of phenotype and feeding systems on growth performance and carcass characteristics of F1 crossbred broilers. One hundred normal feathered broiler breeder females were mated with 10 naked neck males to obtain the F1. Two hundred and seventy-two chicks obtained from the F1 generation and from four hatches were randomly assigned into four treatments...
Morphological and molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated to Carica papaya L. rhizosphere in two agro-ecological zones in Cameroon
August 2022
The papaya tree is not very exploitable on the international market because of the post-harvest decline of the fruits. In this study, we identified arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from the rhizosphere of papaya in two agroecological zones of Cameroon (Njombe-Pendja: NP and Yaounde: Y). Morphological studies on the density, the rate of root colonization, the diversity of AMF species were evaluated. Molecular...
Social network analysis of innovation platforms in the local rice value chains in Benin: Shield or showcase for endogenous innovation?
August 2022
Innovation platforms (IPs) bring agricultural value chain stakeholders together to successfully overcome constraints in agricultural systems. In Bénin, they are introduced to foster collaboration, partnership, and mutual focus to generate innovation on the commodity such as the local rice production and processing systems. Based on Social Networks Analysis, this research examines this IPs in influencing the...
Investigating the resistance of barnyard grass populations to pretilachlor in direct-seed rice in the Central Region of Vietnam
July 2022
Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.) is a major weed widely distributed across the world and causes serious damage to rice production. Yield loss due to barnyard grass was estimated at about 7 to 27% in Vietnam. This study aimed to investigate the rice production, weed impacts, herbicide usage and herbicide resistance in the Central Region of Vietnam. A survey of farmers producing rice and yield loss due...
Technical efficiency of pineapple production and challenges in Southern Benin
July 2022
The need to improve the productivity and quality of pineapple produced to meet demand and supply with international standards necessitates exploring production potentials. So, assessing the technical efficiency of pineapple producers is essential to avoid waste of resources and above all to target advices for improving the productivity of the pineapple producers. Studies conducted on pineapple in Benin have paid less...
Analysis of agro-morphological diversity among plantains (Musa species AAB) in Benin Republic, West Africa
July 2022
The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological diversity of plantain accessions from three main plantain growing districts in Benin Republic. Sixteen descriptors were used including 5 quantitative. Overall, 31 cultivars were identified and associated with various names depending on the sociolinguistic groups. Results indicated the presence in each district of the three types of inflorescences (male...
Understanding the role of finance in technology adoption among smallholder maize farmers in Nigeria
July 2022
Maize is an important staple food in Nigeria; however, Nigeria’s local maize production only meets about 60% of its demand due to low yield (t/ha). The low maize yield has been linked to limited technology adoption, while finance has been identified to strongly impact technology adoption. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through focus group discussions and interviews to identify the typology of...
Effects of lime, NPK fertilizer and intercropping on selected properties of an acid mollic andosol in potato (solanum tuberosum) production systems
July 2022
This study investigated the effects of intercropping, liming, and NPK fertilizer application on soil pH, available soil phosphorus (P), and total soil nitrogen (N) in potato production system during a two season’s field experiment in Molo sub-county, Kenya. A randomized complete block design with a split-split plot arrangement of treatments and three replicates was used. Main plot factors were NPK fertilizer...
Influence of Ca CaCl2 dipping on postharvest quality and shelf life of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. California Wonder)
July 2022
Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) experiences significant loss during postharvest handling. This study aimed to provide an alternative postharvest handling technology for the vegetable. The factor studied was Ca CaCl2 at 4 levels: 0% (distilled water), 3, 6 and 9%. Weight loss and total soluble solids were determined at an interval of 3 days whereas total chlorophyll, Fe, ascorbic acid and Ca content were determined at...
Agriculture in sub-Sahara Africa developing countries and the role of government: Economic perspectives
July 2022
Recent agricultural and economic growth has been impressive in sub Saharan Africa (SSA), and explained in part by decades of donor investments. Sustaining recent progress will hence require a fundamental reshaping of SSA host country government policy priorities, which traditionally underinvest in agricultural research. This article investigates country-specific factors that explain government’s tendencies towards...
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