Presence of metals in farmland edible termites in Mazabuka District, Zambia
January 2022
Edible termites have played an important role in the history of human nutrition due to their nutritional value. Despite their nutritional body content, it is known that during their termitarium construction, termites accumulate metals in their bodies. This study examined the heavy metal content in selected edible termites for food safety. The household survey was carried out in 8 camps of Magoye and Stateland farming...
Assessing the effects of Lecanicillium lecanii in the biological control of early and late leaf spot of peanut in vitro (Burkina Faso, West Africa)
January 2022
Early and late leaf spots caused by Cercospora arachidicola and Phaeoisariopsis personata respectively, are the most widespread peanut fungal diseases in West Africa. These diseases lead to notable crop losses in the rural area. In the recent decades, chemical fungicides are used to fight against crop losses, but these chemical substances cause big damages to the environment including the animals and human beings....
Robustness of food security and policy trust on smallholder participation in Ghana’s planting for food and jobs programme
December 2021
The Planting for Food and Jobs programme was initiated in 2017 as a strategy to create jobs, promote food production and enhance food security in Ghana, especially among smallholder farmers. This research applies mixed research approach to explore the robustness of policy trust and food security risk on smallholder participation in the programme. Using multistage sampling, a total of 164 respondents were selected for...
Determinants of rural households’ livelihood diversification decision: The case of Didessa and Bedelle District, Bunno Bedelle Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
December 2021
Beside its greatest contribution to Ethiopian economy, agricultural sector has been highly affected by climate change. Consequently, masses of people have been left food insecure every year. As an option, rural households have been participating in diversifying their livelihood sources. The present study aims to identify the major factors affecting rural household’s participation in livelihood diversification...
Suitability analysis for scaling chickpea varieties in Ethiopia using multi-criteria evaluation and geographic information system (GIS)
December 2021
The land suitability analysis and mapping were carried out using a geographic information system and multi-criteria approach for scaling chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties in Ethiopia. Therefore, the biophysical variables of climate, topography, and soil were considered for suitability analysis. The environmental factors’ layers of chickpea varieties pixel values were classified and given a rate and ranked....
Effect of green manures and mining waste composts on the growth and yield of Abelmoschus esculentus L., Corchorius olitorius L. and Glycine max from Togo
December 2021
In West Africa, agriculture faces many problems including soil degradation. In this study, the effects of four composts on okra and soybean have been evaluated. The plants were sown using a Fisher block design with 5 treatments and 4 replicates/treatments. The green manure of three selected fertilizer species was also evaluated on the growth and yield of okra and of jute mallow in order to identify the best organic...
Inter row spacing and Np fertilizer application rates effect on economics, growth, yield and yield component of mung bean (Vigna radiata L) cultivation at Mirab Abaya, Southern Ethiopia
December 2021
Mung bean, the most important and short duration pulse crop, grown for grain from tropical to sub-tropical climates is low in productivity and lacks recommended inter-row spacing and NP fertilizer rate for various agro-ecologies. A study was conducted to determine inter-row spacing and NP fertilizer rates for yield and yield components of mung bean at Mirab Abaya. The experiment consisted of three inter-row spacing (15...
Utilisation of Zai pits and soil fertility management options for improved crop production in the dry ecosystem of Kitui, Eastern Kenya
December 2021
This study sought to address challenges faced by smallholder farmers in the drylands of Eastern Kenya including soil fertility decline and low profitability resulting from poor soil and water conservation measures. An experiment was set up at Kabati, Kitui County, Kenya in the year 2018/2019 seasons to evaluate the effects of the interaction of zai pits, cattle manure and fertilizer inputs on soil nutrients, sorghum...
Effects of fertilizer application on yield and yield related parameters of low yielding potato varieties in Uganda
December 2021
The study was carried out in the first and second seasons of 2015 and the first season of 2016 at Kachwekano and Kalengyere stations of Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Rubanda county, Kabale district. A Completely Randomised Block Design was adopted with three replications and 4 treatments. The treatments composed of T1: Control, T2: 100 kg/ha N:P:K, T: 150 kg/ha N:P:K, and T4: 200...
Yield variations of six common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties under salt-affected soils in the Lower Shire Valley, Southern Malawi
December 2021
Performance of six released bean varieties was assessed under salt-affected soils at Nkhate and Masenjere irrigation schemes in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts, respectively in Malawi. The six varieties, Chimbamba, Napilira, Kalima, BCMV-B1, BCMV-B3 and Maluwa, were grown during the 2014/2015 growing season, employing a randomized complete block design. There were five replicates at each site, arranged in the upper,...
Knowledge of vegetable insect pests, diseases and control measures in Morogoro and Iringa regions in Tanzania: A call for integrated pest management
December 2021
This study investigates vegetable growers’ knowledge about insect pests, diseases and control methods. The study adopted cross-sectional research design, employing survey method and involving 400 randomly selected vegetable growers. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to summarize raw data. Colored cards of important pests coupled with field visits were used for pest identification. The...
Traditional processing and quality attributes of Dambou, a steamed coarse semolina
December 2021
Dambou is a traditional cereal-based food consumed in northern Benin. The traditional production method, marketing and consumption of Dambou were evaluated through a field investigation. A semi-structured questionnaire composed of socio-cultural profile of the stakeholders, nature of raw materials and processing methods used in Dambou production, quality attributes and consumption forms of Dambou was administrated to...
Evaluation of the effect of the use of anti-insect nets on vegetable production in southern Benin
November 2021
The objective of this research is to assess the effects of the use of insect nets in vegetable production. To achieve this goal, data were collected in four departments of southern Benin (Mono, Couffo, Ouémé and Plateau) using an interview guide and a structured questionnaire. A total of 223 producers chosen at random from these areas where the CRSP Horticulture Project is located were surveyed. The...
Determination of proximate composition, amino acids, and some phytochemical properties of sesame seed capsule (Sesamum indicum L.) in semi-arid Zone of North-Eastern Nigeria
November 2021
The study was conducted to determine sesame seed capsules' proximate composition, amino acid, and phytochemical properties as a potential feed resource. Homogeneous triplicate representative samples were analyzed following scientific protocols. The results indicated that the sesame seed capsule contained 75.41% carbohydrate, 3.59% ether extract, 4.32% protein, 93.57% dry matter, 12.01% crude fiber, and 4.77% ash....
A case study analysis of extension service provision in Malawi
November 2021
Evidence suggests that a lack of extension agents impedes the effective delivery of agricultural extension services in Malawi and many other developing nations. The purpose of this study was to examine the initiatives taken by the Malawi Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services Delivery (MaFAAS) to address the extension shortage. The research questions were addressed using a qualitative case study approach. MaFAAS and...
Water and nutrient balances under selected soil and water conservation practices in semi-arid Ruzizi plain, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
November 2021
Soil water deficit is a major production-limiting factor in the predominantly rainfed agriculture of the Ruzizi plain, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Appropriate soil and water conservation (SWC) practices would be a valuable option for maximizing water uptake by plants in the context of water demand and supply unbalance. This study assessed the efficiency of selected SWC practices in improving water and...
Soil fertility status for potato production in the central highlands of Malawi
November 2021
The potato is one of the most important food and cash crops in Malawi, but current yields are low and the fertilizer recommendations rely on outdated soil fertility information. To understand the influence of soil factors in limiting current potato production, the mineralogical and physicochemical soil characteristics of 26 farms in the central highlands of Malawi were evaluated. Cluster analysis with clay, crystalline...
Optimization of fertilizer recommendation for bread wheat production at Adiyo District of Kaffa Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia
November 2021
An experiment was conducted on farmer's fields during the main cropping season of 2016/2017 in Adiyo district, Southwestern Ethiopia to optimize fertilizer rate recommendation for major cereal production systems by using bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as test crop. Experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications for sixteen treatments. The grain yield and yield...
Economic efficiency of cricket production reared under improvised cage system for improved food production
November 2021
In the recent past, cricket production has attracted a myriad of interests in the Global Food Sector. However, low production, limited input resources and rearing systems constrain the utilization of crickets. Scanty information exists on sundry input resources for upscaling of cricket production and how such inputs can be efficiently managed. This study sought to determine economic efficiency of improvised cricket...
Contribution of mechanization in rice production in Niger: Case of River Niger Area
November 2021
The study was carried out in three villages in the Niger River region where thirty producing farmers per village were surveyed. These surveys concerned the field’s methods of acquisition, the tools used, the labor productivity and the cultivated area extent. The results obtained show that the most dominant mode of acquisition of the rice fields is through contract. In all the three villages, the areas cultivated...
Soil fertility status, fertilizer application and nutrient balance in SNNPR, southern Ethiopia in contrasting agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia
November 2021
Soil fertility status evolution is a decision making tool for the sustainable soil nutrient management. To evaluate its status, about 29 research data were collected and meta data analysis were made using SPSS for the selected soil chemical parameters. The soil was moderately acidic and salt free, 93.2% of Zinc (Zn), 100% of Manganese (Mn), 100% of Iron (Fe) and 79.3% of Copper (Cu) status were in sufficient range...
Field performance of some potato varieties under different saline conditions of Bangladesh
November 2021
In the rabi season of 2019-2020, an experiment in three distributed replicas at three different locations: Satkhira (AEZ-11), Koyra (AEZ-13) and Bagerhat (AEZ-11) were conducted in the farmer’s field of Khulna division to select suitable soil salinity resistant varieties. Fourteen exotic potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum) have been characterized under saline stress conditions of the coastal areas of Bangladesh....
Characterization of Alternaria brassicicola isolated from tomato in Burkina Faso, and use of two essential oils for its control in vitro
November 2021
Alternaria brassicicola is considered a weak pathogen of tomato in the field, but with a high potential for mycotoxin production in fruit. However, this species belongs to a diverse and closely related group of species (Alternaria with small spores), which often makes their morphological identification and control difficult. In the present research, a molecular identification of tomato Alternaria isolates was made using...
Food-fodder performance of food and malt barley cultivars in Ethiopian highlands
November 2021
In Ethiopia, barley selection has focused on grain yield traits. Limited information is available on straw yield and its nutritive value. The aim of this study was to screen cultivars for grain and straw yield and nutritive value using forty cultivars of food and malt barley types at two locations in Ethiopia (Bekoji and Kofele) in 2018. Food-fodder quality traits investigated were crude protein (CP), neutral detergent...
Impact of small-scale irrigation schemes on household food security in the context of persisting droughts: Comparative quasi-experimental analysis of irrigation water users and non-users in Southwest Ethiopia
November 2021
A comparative quasi-experimental analysis was made on the impact of small-scale irrigation interventions on household food security, taking irrigation water and farm extension users and non-users in persisting drought contexts in South West Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was employed to collect data from randomly selected respondents from both groups. The daily calorie intake was significantly different for the two...
Nutritive value of common housefly (Musca domestica) prepupae reared on broiler by-products as source of animal feed
October 2021
Common housefly (Musca domestica) is one of the insects that is found in almost all parts of the world, it is found in diverse habitats making its life cycle stages such as larvae and pupae readily available for foraging poultry on free range systems. Large commercial poultry farms world-wide are experiencing low supply of animal based proteins and excess organic wastes generated from the farms. Common housefly prepupae...
Performance evaluation of a cassava solar dryer in Busia County
October 2021
Cassava roots are processed by peeling using knives, chopping into small pieces, then dried and milled into flour with dried maize, sorghum or millet. This traditional method of drying takes 7 to 14 days and is prone to contamination. The objective of this study was to add value to small scale farmers’ cassava in Busia County through solar drying. Fresh cassava roots were peeled and washed in running water and...
Developing optimal irrigation scenario for onion (Allium cepa L.) in view of leaching requirement and drainable excess water at Werer Agricultural Center, Amibara, Middle Awash, Ethiopia
October 2021
The field experiment were performed on the site of Werer Agricultural Research Center (Ethiopia) to study optimal irrigation scenario by taking in to account the leaching requirement and drainable excess water for three successive years. Six irrigation treatments were evaluated at different growth stages of onion plant namely at initial growth stage four irrigation event 23 mm (T1), 16.2 mm (T2) 21.0 mm...
On-farm phenotypic characterization of indigenous Tswana sheep population in selected Districts of Southern Botswana
October 2021
This study aimed to phenotypically characterize indigenous Tswana sheep under its natural environment and develop prediction equations for body weight using linear body measurements in Kgatleng, Kweneng, Southern and South-East districts of Botswana. Multistage purposive sampling was used for selection of districts. Data on qualitative characters and quantitative measurements were made on 665 sheep stratified by...
Environmental factors influencing the presence of the Stone Partridge (Ptilopachus petrosus) and phytoecological characterization of its habitat in Benin, Western Africa
October 2021
Understanding the habitat preference of the Stone Partridge (Ptilopachus petrosus) is a crucial step for its conservation and management across different ecosystems. This study was focused on the environmental factors and the vegetation data of the species habitat which were collected from 60 plots surveyed along 6 perpendiculars transects. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between the...
Impacts on access to factors of production among smallholder farmers in central Uganda during COVID-19 lockdown
October 2021
The novel coronavirus 2019 which has brought about the covid 19 pandemics has hit the whole world starting from the super economies to underdeveloped economies. The impacts are being felt hard in developing countries whose economy relies on agriculture especially Sub-Saharan Africa. Uganda is amongst the countries in Africa which observed the longest period of total confinement during the Covid 19 outbreak. Hence this...
Simultaneous selection for grain yield and stability of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes in Northeast Ethiopia
October 2021
Sorghum is an important crop in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is low owing to lack of farmer-preferred and stable improved varieties. To identify suitable cultivars, multi-environment evaluation of sorghum genotypes was carried out at four locations for two years. The result of AMMI ANOVA showed that genotype (G), environment (E) and genotype-environment interaction (G×E) significantly (P<0.01) affected...
Dynamics and sustainability of urban and peri-urban vegetable farming in Yaoundé City, Cameroon
October 2021
In the context of rapid urbanisation of Cameroon, it is estimated that 70% of the total population will be dwelling in urban centres by 2060. Meanwhile, vegetable production has become an important economic activity for the urban and peri-urban poor because of its shorter production cycle. Thus, this study aims at describing the dynamics of the changes and sustainability within vegetable production systems in urban and...
Effect of fertilizer placement on storage root yield and leaf elemental concentration of ‘Whatley/Loretan’ sweetpotato variety
October 2021
Field studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of various fertilizer placements on nutrient uptake, growth responses, storage root yield and leaf elemental concentration of Whatley/Loretan sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]. The fertilizer placement treatments comprised broadcast (Br), banded at two different widths (Ba), side dressing (Sd) or applied in various combinations of the above, and an untreated...
Assessment of the parasite load of lettuce, tomato and cucumber from some large vegetables production sites in Mali
October 2021
Fresh vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Consumed raw, they could be agents of transmission of intestinal parasites. The frequency and variability of parasites eggs on thirty-two samples each of lettuce, tomato and cucumber form irrigated vegetable farms in Bamako, Kati, Baguineda, Samanko, Sikasso and Niono were evaluated. The parasite load was assessed using Uga et al. method, which consist the...
Economic and environmental benefits of sunflower contract farming: Evidence from a Greek region
October 2021
Contract farming involves agricultural production carried out on the basis of an agreement between buyers and producers. The aim of the research is to study the extent to which contract farming affects the income of producers. In addition, to study the indicators for the choice of contract cultivation. A quantitative, descriptive and correlational survey was conducted using an original questionnaire which consisted of...
Screening of rice endophytic natives biofertilizers with plant growth-promoting characteristics
October 2021
In Mali, rice cultivation is faced with declining yields due to insufficient soil nutrients and diseases with yield losses of up to 80%. The use of endophytic bacteria and fungi is a more ecological and effective alternative compared to chemicals. This study aims to select at least one endophytic rice bacterium in combination with mycorrhizal fungi to improve the rice production in Mali and effectively control the...
Response of plant spacing on the morphology and yield of five hot pepper lines
October 2021
This study aimed to determine the effects of plant spacing on some morphological traits and yields of 5 hot pepper lines. The trial was laid out in a 5 × 3 factorial in randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Five pepper lines (ICPN16#3, ICPN16#4, ICPN16#6, ICPN16#7, and ICPN16#9) and 3 plant spacing (70 cm × 30 cm, 70 cm × 40 cm and 70 cm × 50 cm) were used. The results revealed...
Allometric functions for apple banana leaf area and above ground biomass
September 2021
Allometric relationships have been used widely as a fast approach to estimate biomass and leaf area in many plant species without destructive sampling. Several allometric functions have been developed to estimate above-ground biomass (AGB) in field-grown East African Highland Bananas (EAHB). However, it is not clear if these functions apply to potted apple bananas hence the need for this study. Plants were randomly...
Agronomic performance of provitamin A-rich banana cultivars in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo
September 2021
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major global health issue, contributing to morbidity and mortality. East and Central Africa face VAD prevalence that exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold of 15%. In Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), VAD prevalence is greater than 43% in rural communities. Promoting vitamin A-rich foods (including banana) is an effective and sustainable strategy to...
Gender disparity in cassava farmers’ access to agricultural productive resources in Rongo Sub County, Migori County, Kenya
September 2021
The disparities in access to productive resources keep on smothering agricultural growth and development, particularly in developing countries. This study was informed by the feminist political economy (FPE) framework to assessing the relationship between gender and access to agricultural productive resources among cassava farmers in Kenya. The research utilised mixed methods including the use of a survey instrument and...
Bioformulations based on plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for sustainable agriculture: Biofertilizer or Biostimulant?
September 2021
Integrated production in sustainable agriculture aims to improve the efficiency of biological inputs through plant-based bioformulations or microorganisms, which are an excellent source of natural fertilisers. A variety of plant stimulants are increasingly used in crop production for environmentally sustainable agriculture. These products have different names and the designations are confusing. The aim of this work is...
Chemical composition and bioactivity of Lantana camara L. essential oils from diverse climatic zones of Kenya against leaf miner (Tuta absoluta Meyrick)
September 2021
In recent years, essential oils (EOs) as alternatives to synthetic pesticides in managing pests have been assessed. The use of bioinsecticide in pest management is encouraged in agroecology for a sustainable agricultural system. Essential oils of Lantana camara L. leaves from different climatic zones of Kenya were extracted by steam distillation and analyzed through GC-MS to identify...
Status and management of coffee plantations in Burundi: Reasons to worry
September 2021
Coffee is an important cash crop for smallholder farmers and provides more than 80% of hard currency in Burundi. To highlight coffee growing conditions, agronomic practices and coffee yield, a survey was carried out in Buyenzi, Kirimiro and Mumirwa natural regions of Burundi in 2008. Data on coffee yield, age after planting or after rejuvenation and agricultural practices were collected through interview with coffee...
Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): State of knowledge and control methods
September 2021
The objective of this article is to review the knowledge on Spodoptera frugiperda and the possible management strategies against the pest to identify research areas for its integrated management. A review of the literature shows that S. frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has been causing considerable damage to maize and many other crops since its detection in several African countries and it is one of the most...
A review of microfinance banks’ effects on smallholder development in Nigeria
September 2021
The inauguration of Microfinance Banks (MFBs) in Nigeria in 2007 by the federal government was to provide finance to the low-income poor rural entrepreneurs, which is inclusive of the smallholder farmers located in rural areas that are often excluded from conventional banks’ financing. This paper systematically reviewed literature between January 2007 and April 2019 from the Web of Science and Scopus databases on...
Assessment of small holder farmers garlic (Allium sativum L.) production practices under irrigated farming system in the Highlands of Ethiopia
September 2021
Garlic is a fundamental component of many dishes in Ethiopia. However, there is a low production of this crop in the Yilmana Densa district of Amhara Region (Ethiopia). Thus, a study was initiated in 2014/2015 to assess farmer’s garlic production practices under an irrigated farming system in the Yilmana Densa district (Adet Zuria, Goshaye and Ambesit kebels) of Ethiopia. Production data were collected using...
Cherry tomato production with different doses of organic compost
September 2021
Cherry tomato cultivation in protected environments ensures production in the off-season, reaching yields up to 100 t ha-1 with 150 days of cultivation. Fertilization with organic composts can influence the production components of cherry tomato. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate different doses and organic composts, based on their nitrogen contents, on the production components of cherry tomato. The...
Effect of drip and furrow irrigation at different irrigation levels on water use efficiency and economics of maize (Zea Mays L.) at Werer, Middle Awash, Ethiopia
September 2021
Water is a vital resource to sustain civilizations and pecuniary development and most importantly agriculture. Agriculture is the main contributor to the Ethiopian economy. The field experiment was conducted at Werer Agricultural Research center to evaluate the effects of drip and furrow irrigation under different irrigation levels on maize water use efficiency. The experiment was laid out in an RCBD split-plot...
Food production: Changing the job opportunities narrative by demonstrating agro-processing possibilities
August 2021
The potential of the agro-processing sub-sector in South Africa is under siege. This paper makes a critical view of this sector by identifying its opportunities and constraints so as to guide its improvement as well as the required interventions to unlock its potential. Given the contemporary issues of exponential population growth and soaring rates of unemployment and poverty, this paper explores agro-processing...
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