Categories: Academic Research

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...

Market Age, Enterprise Size and Relative Efficiency in Broiler Production in Imo State of Nigeria   ABSTRACT The study focused on market age, enterprise size and relative efficiency in broiler production in Imo State . The main aim was to determine resource use efficiencies in broiler brooding and rearing enterprises as well as large-scale and small-scale outfits in the two enterprises. Using multi-stage sampling technique, the study area was zoned into three using the existing zoning arrangement of the Imo State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP). A total of nine L.G.As were randomly selected and a total of 180 broiler farmers (made up of 90 brooders and 90 rearers) were selected. A set of structured questionnaire was administered on the farmers to obtain required information. Data were analysed using simple statistical tools,...

Studies on the Immune Response to Amblyomma Variegatum in Cattle and the Effects of Haemoparasitism on the Acquisition of Tick Resistance ABSTRACT Acaricides in tick control, had been thought to be in Africa the panacea  for over a century. Environmental and economic constraints, development of acaricide-resistant strains due to acaricide misuse, have brought  about  the need for an alternative tick control strategy. The use of tick resistant cattle      has then been advocated and echoed in the USA and Australia where it got      its full expansion. In Africa, few works have been  undertaken  on  tick  resistance despite the fact that many tick species are found on the continent. Studies on acquisition of immunity to tick and especially to A. variegatum in Africa are very scarce so several questions need  to be answered before...

Market Integration and Pricing Efficiency of Soyabeans in Benue and Enugu States, Nigeria   ABSTRACT The study analysed market integration and pricing efficiency of soyabeans in Benue and Enugu States, Nigeria. Low household demand for soyabeans makes its production and marketing less popular amongst farmers and marketers which leads to marketing inefficiency. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select 207 respondents. Secondary data comprising monthly retail prices (urban and rural) of soyabeans  from 1999 to 2013 was also collected BNARDA and ENADEP. Descriptive statistics, regression, Herfindal Hirschman Index, Gini Coeffiient, Johansen Co-integration, Spatial price model, t-test and correlation analysis were the analytical techniques used. It was found that soyabeans marketing was dominated by married (80%), literate...

Breeding for Drought Tolerance in Cowpea [vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walp.] Using Marker Assisted Backcrossing ABSTRACT   The potential of cowpea to address food security in Burkina Faso in particular is well established. However, there is limited information on drought tolerance and diversity in the germplasm in Burkina Faso and farmers’ perceptions on the effects of drought and their varietal preferences are not known. The present study was, therefore, conducted to: (1) identify farmers’ perceptions on the impact of drought on cowpea production and identify their preferences regarding cultivars and traits, (2) identify drought tolerant varieties in cowpea germplasm, (3) determine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based genetic diversity in the cowpea germplasm, and (4) implement marker-assisted backcrossing to transfer yield and...

ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of climate change adaptation strategies on food crop production efficiency in Southwestern Nigeria. The study used multistage sampling technique and primary data were collected from 360 food crop farmers (i.e. 180 respondents were randomly selected from each selected state from the savanna and the rainforest agro-ecological zones that dominates the region). The analytical techniques involved descriptive and inferential statistics. Results of the multinomial logit analysis showed that household size negatively influenced the use of multiple crop varieties, land fragmentation (i.e. multiple farm plots), multiple planting dates and crop diversification. Age of household head had an inverse relationship with the choice and use of multiple crop varieties, land fragmentation (multiple farm plots), multiple...

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Insulin-like Growth Factor (Igf) Genes and Their Associations With Growth in Local Guinea Fowls (Numida Meleagris) of Ghana ABSTRACT   Due to the pivotal role of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) and Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) in growth regulation of poultry, the IGF1 gene (gIGF1) and IGF2 gene (gIGF2) in guinea fowl were examined as candidate genes for early growth in helmeted guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) from three populations of Northern Ghana (TPNG). Keets hatched from eggs collected from 32 sample locations comprising 11 subpopulations across three main populations located in Upper East Region, Upper West Region, Northern Region, North East Region, Savannah Region and an experimental flock maintained at Animal Research Institute (ARI) were raised and appraised for body weight and growth...

Linking Programme Planning Approaches to Livelihood Outcomes of Farmers: a Case Study of Agricultural Extension Services in Ghana ABSTRACT   This study aimed to find out the effect of linking programme planning approaches to livelihood outcomes of farmers and verify which approach is likely to reduce poverty among farmers. The research problem confronting us is that livelihood outcomes of rural farmers have not been improved over the years despite several planning approaches used by Agriculture Extension Services to deliver programmes to farmers. The population of study was Agricultural Extension Agents of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and farmers they provide services to. A multi-stage stratified sampling technique was used to randomly select eight districts out of a total of two hundred and sixteen (216) districts from the ten (10)...

Mechanisms and Pathways for Climate-sensitive Transformational Change of Smallholder Agriculture in Ghana ABSTRACT   Efforts to transform smallholder agriculture and improve productivity have yielded some positive results. Yet, smallholder productivity in Africa remains low relative to America, Asia, and elsewhere, threatening food security and livelihoods. A major reason is the slow pace of transformation in the agricultural production, research and development processes, and the effects of climate change impacts. This thesis examined smallholder transformational change processes using the Transtheoretical (Stages of Behaviour Change) theory in a mixed-methods survey conducted in the Keta Anglo area, in the Coastal Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana with over 400 smallholder vegetable farmers. The study found that over 91% of...

Social Preferences for Wetland Attributes and Its Implications for Agricultural Households Wellbeing in Oueme Delta in Benin ABSTRACT   In Benin, Oueme Delta wetlands, as an ecological life support system, play a vital role in contributing to the local population’s livelihood, health and wellbeing. The paucity of knowledge about the value of the Oueme Delta wetlands and their attributes to society, especially to agricultural households undermines the ability of decision makers to develop and implement sustainable wetland use and management policies that maximize societal welfare. To fill that gap, this thesis has been undertaken to reveal to society and specifically to Benin’s wetland managers and policy makers, the value local populations attach to the Oueme Delta wetland attributes, so as to assist decision makers in the decision...

Smallholder Farmers’ Adaptive Capacity and Choice of Adaptation Strategies Against Weather Risks in Northern Benin ABSTRACT   Understanding smallholder farmers’ behaviour in terms of adaptation to weather risks provides the means to design policies that will help farmers address weather risks and have an effective impact on farmers’ livelihoods. This study is undertaken with this perspective by analysing how smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity affects their choice of adaptation strategies to weather risks. The research sought to, i) analyse farmers’ perceived vulnerability to weather risks, their adaptation responses and assess their perceived and adaptive capacities; ii) identify the factors that influence the choice of adaptation strategies; and iii) assess the link between farmers’ adaptive capacity and the effectiveness of...

Risk Attitudes, Risk Management and Business Success of Micro and Small Informal Agribusiness Entrepreneurs in Ghana: the Case of Agri-food Processors ABSTRACT   Entrepreneurs operating micro and small informal firms including agribusinesses in Ghana face many risks which adversely affect the growth of their firms and subsequent business success. Although risk management is very critical to agriculture related firms, agricultural policies in Ghana have been designed without much consideration to this important aspect of firm management. The impending ‘one-district-one-factory’ policy of the current government for example would need to consider risk management of the firms that would be involved since risk management would influence managerial decisions. The success of the policy would partly be hinged on the ability of entrepreneurs...