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Influence of Homemakers’ Spending Practices and Consumer Credit Use on Family Welfare at Sakumono Estates, Tema   ABSTRACT   This study was conducted to assess how the spending practices and consumer credit use among homemakers at Sakumono Estates in the Tema Municipality influenced family welfare. The specific objectives were to: examine the income and expenditure patterns of homemakers, investigate the management principles applied by homemakers in the use of money, investigate the perception and consumer credit use by homemakers and identify factors that influenced homemakers’ spending practices and credit use. Five null hypotheses were stated. Ho1: There is no relationship between homemakers’  demographic characteristics (age, educational level, marital status, occupation, income status) and spending practices. Ho2: There...

Characterisation of the Causal Agent of Mango Anthracnose Disease in Ghana ABSTRACT   This research work was carried out to update information on the nature, the identity of the causal agent and the importance of mango anthracnose disease in Ghana. It was also to determine the effect of the disease on the juice quality of fruits and come up with appropriate control measures in the country. A field survey was carried out in 12 administrative districts of Ghana in 2010 and 2011 to assess the disease incidence and severity. The effect of the disease on yield/fruit quality was assessed in a commercial farm by determining the percentage of fruits that dropped or could not be marketed due to the disease. The pathogen causing the disease was isolated from the diseased lesions and characterised using cultural, morphological, biochemical and...

Hectarage and Output Responses of Major Crops to Market Liberalisation and Price Risk in Nigeria   ABSTRACT Liberalization is part of the ongoing domestic market reforms and globalization policies that redefined government responsibility and actions, which affect agricultural development, and the welfare of farmers. This study examined hectarage and output responses of major crops to market liberalization, price risk and financial support. The objectives were to describe trends of output, hectarage and prices of these crops, as well as describe trends of non-price factors and estimate the effects of these factors on hectrage and output of selected crops. The study covered a period of 38 years from 1970 to 2007. Secondary data were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Statistics Data Base, Publications of Central...

In Vivo Stimulation of Axillary Bud Initiation, Growth and Development of Plantain (Musa Aab.) Using Coconut Water and Indole-3-acetic Acid ABSTRACT   The study was carried out at the University of Ghana Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre (FOHCREC), Kade from 2008 to 2012. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of coconut water (CW) alone or in combination with varying concentrations of auxin (IAA) on axillary bud initiation, growth and development of plantain (cv. Asamienu). In the first experiment, coconut water from fully matured dried fruits was supplemented with three different IAA concentrations, 10-4 M, 10-3 M, and 10-2 M to produce five different coconut water : IAA ratios (v:v), viz: 8:0, 6:2, 4:4, 2:6, 0:8. Three weeks after the injection treatments, variations were seen in the rate of axillary bud...

Evaluation of Hybrid Maize Varieties in Three Agro- Ecological Zones in Ghana ABSTRACT   Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop in Ghana, but its productivity in farmers‟ fields throughout the country is generally low. The low grain yields can be attributed partly to the use of traditional low-yielding maize varieties. Farmers‟ adoption of hybrid varieties would reduce deficit of demand and supply of maize in the country. A study was undertaken to assess the relative yielding abilities and stability of 20 hybrids selected from the breeding programme of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement maize breeding program together with three locally released varieties. The trial was conducted in the coastal, savannah and transitional forest zones over major and minor seasons in 2012 and 2013. A randomized complete block design with...

Knowledge Gaps, Training Needs and Bio-ecological Studies on Fruit-infesting Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Northern Ghana ABSTRACT   Tephritid fruit flies are a major threat to the horticultural industry in sub-Saharan Africa owing to the heavy losses they cause to fruit and vegetable crops, and the resultant quarantine restrictions. Addressing the fruit fly menace in Ghana requires effective stakeholder training along the fruit value chain, coupled with adequate research information on management strategies. Baseline studies were conducted in northern Ghana to determine the priority management training needs of fruit growers and Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs), and to document the host range, species composition, seasonal phenology and parasitoid fauna of the pests. The studies involved the use of questionnaire for surveys coupled...

Women Labour Utilization in Crop Production in Abia State, Nigeria   ABSTRACT The main aim of the study was to analyze women labour utilization in crop production in Abia State. The specific objectives included (i) identify specific farming operations that utilize women  labour in the study area; (ii) compare the relative contribution of women and men to total labour utilization in different levels of farm operation in the study area; (iii) identify factors that affect the participation of women in different levels of farm operations; (iv) determine the effect of women labour utilization on the value of farm output ; and (v) identify  and analyze the constraints facing women farmers in crop production in the study area. Using multi-stage sampling technique, the study area was zoned into three using the existing zoning arrangement...

Studies on Oil Palm Based Cropping Systems in Ghana ABSTRACT A survey was conducted in 1994 to gather information on the practice of intercropping food crops in oil palm on small-scale farms in the oil palm zones of southern Ghana.   The objective was to identify and study intercropping systems used in oil palm production. Data was collected by interviewing a tOtal Of 72 oil palm farmers from the oil palm growingregions,(Eastern, Central,Western,Ashanti,Brong-Ahafo,and Volta) at their farm locations.       The responses indicated that the small-scale oil palm farmers in Ghana commonly intercrop oil palm with maize, cassava and plantain especially during the first three years of the crop. The three staple crops, maize, cassava and plantain were intercropped in oil palm between 1994 and 1997 at the Oil Palm Research Institute, Kusi, Ghana...

Analysis of the Impact of Physical and Social Capital Asset Holdings on Poverty Among Farm Households in Nigeria   ABSTRACT The study was conducted to analyze the impact of physical and social capital asset holdings on poverty among farm households in Nigeria as a contribution towards finding a panacea to the poverty plague in the agricultural sector. The study used secondary data obtained from the Nigeria living Standard Survey data conducted in 2003/2004. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Forster-Greer-Thorbeck poverty measures and Propensity score matching. Results showed that 90% of the households were headed by males, 54% had household sizes of 1-4 and 79% were within the active productive age of less than 60 years while 62% had no formal education. About 96% were married whereas only 18.83% of the married...

Genetic Studies of Physiological and Morphological Traits Associated With Drought Tolerance in Cassava Genotypes ABSTRACT   This study was undertaken to identify key traits that are closely related to cassava yield under drought stress and also identify stable high yielding cassava genotypes under varying environments. A survey was conducted using in semi-structured questionnaire in three districts in the Northern Region involving 120 farmers to identify farmers’ perception on drought in cassava cultivation, production constraints, mitigation strategies and preferences for improved cassava genotypes. To identify ideal genotypes that meet farmers’ preferences, 150 cassava genotypes from local and exotic sources were assembled and assessed for diversity using morphological traits and simple sequence repeat markers. Subsequently 20...

Cocoyam Marketing in South East Nigeria ABSTRACT Cocoyam is highly perishable and considerable economic losses occur after it is harvested. This is as a result of rot, sprouting and other physiological changes. These losses could be reduced through efficient storage, processing and marketing. This study is about economic study of cocoyam marketing in south-east Nigeria. It specifically ranked market participants preference for cocoyam cultivars and the reasons for such preferences. It showed the main marketing channels and socio-economic and institutional factors affecting the choice of marketing channels. It showed the structure and conduct of cocoyam marketing and socio-economic and institutional factors affecting the volume of cocoyam marketed. It estimated the costs and benefits of cocoyam marketing as well as the net income of six...

Yield and Storability of Sweetpotato (Ipomoea Batatas (L.) Lam) as Influenced by Chicken Manure and Inorganic Fertilizer ABSTRACT Two field experiments were conducted at the Multipurpose Crop Nursery of the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti campus during the minor and major rainy seasons from September, 2011 to January, 2012 and April to August, 2012 respectively to verify the yield and storability of sweetpotato roots as influenced by chicken manure and inorganic fertilzer in the forest transitional agro-ecological zone of Ghana.. In both cropping seasons sweetpotato root tubers were stored for three (3) months after each harvest using three storage methods (Pit, Ash and Grass). The experimental design used for the field experiment was a 2 x 8 factorial arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates in both...