Advances in Food Science and Technology

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-012, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Market access, intensification and productivity of common bean in Ethiopia: A microeconomic analysis

E. Katungi¹*, D. Horna², S. Gebeyehu³ and L. Sperling⁴

¹Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Africa, P.O.BOX 6247, Kampala Uganda.

²Environment and Production Technology Division (EPTD), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington DC, USA.

³Melkasa Agricultural Research Center of the Ethiopia Institute of Agriculture Research, Nazareth, Ethiopia.

⁴Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Africa, Arusha office, Tanzania.

Accepted 28 December, 2018

Abstract

This work analyses on-farm adjustments in land allocation and intensification in a commercial crop following the increases in market demand in a developing economy. Drawing from the survey conducted among common bean producers in Ethiopia in 2008, a two stage econometric method was used to investigate the contribution of market access and other micro-level factors in facilitating crop intensification and productivity. Ethiopia is the leading commercial producer and exporter of common bean in Africa but also one of the countries in Africa with high levels of soil nutrient depletion. Understanding factors that influence input use and productivity is critical for food security and agricultural sustainability in the country. Based on farm survey data, it was shown that most farmers had expanded their area under common bean but the use of fertilizer and improved varieties was still low. Increase in the intensity of fertilizer and seed use produces an increase in yield and so is market access. Market access has intensification as well as specialization effects on common bean yield. Access to credit, extension and household wealth are other factors that facilitate common bean intensification while risk increasing factors constrain it.

Key words: Common bean, intensification, productivity, Ethiopia.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Graphical visualisation and domain partitioning of minerals in clay fraction of soils from Capricorn District, South Africa

G. I. E. Ekosse¹*, K. S. Mwitondi² and F. T. Seabi³

¹Directorate of Research Development, Walter Sisulu University, P/Bag 11 Mthatha, Eastern Cape 5117, South Africa.

²Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, S1 1WB, UK.

³Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.

Accepted 28 July, 2018

Abstract

Modeling techniques were used to study minerals in clay fraction of soils from Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Minerals in the clay fraction of soils were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and semi-quantified. The minerals were then subjected to a combination of exploratory data analysis (EDA), graphical visualisation and domain-partitioning techniques in order to determine their cross-influence to one another in terms of abundances. Quartz and kaolinite were major dominant minerals in the soils; smectite, feldspar and mica were in minor to trace quantities. Consensual associations among other traces and high quantities of minerals were detected. Evidence of relationship using EDA portrayed general skewness in favour of quartz and kaolinite. Quartz remained dominant in the soils but with a consistent high probability of co-existence with kaolinite. Where there is low quartz content, kaolinite increased with the drop in quartz made up for by a combination of smectite, mica and feldspar. The nested nature of interaction also revealed indirect relationship between quartz and mica. The tree model, which yielded 100% accuracy, showed smectite as the first important mineral in identifying whether there is high, medium or low quartz content in the sols. Down the line the model relies heavily on both mica and kaolinite. Collating the minerals contents and data modeling procedures, inter alia, it could be inferred that the weathering of feldspar and mica may have an impact on the mineralisation of kaolinite and smectite; which are both important minerals in several agricultural applications.

Key words: Conditional probability, decision trees, domain-partitioning, feldspar, kaolinite, smectite.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-011, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing the contribution of alternative agriculture to poverty reduction and employment creation: A case study of sugar beet cultivation in Kenya

Nicodemus Mandere Mandere^1,2*, Stefan Anderberg¹, Frederick Ato Armah³ and Samson Wakuma Abaya³

¹Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), P.O. Box 170, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.

²Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sweden.

³Lund University Master’s Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES), Lund University, Sweden.

Accepted 14 September, 2018

Abstract

In Kenya, the government is promoting high-value and drought resistant crop varieties in an effort to reduce poverty in rural areas. Sugar beet is one such crop. This study was conducted with two objectives: 1) to assess the opportunities and challenges for sugar beet cultivation and adoption in the Nyandarua district of Kenya and 2) to assess whether sugar beet adoption can offer an opportunity for escaping poverty for smallholder farmers in the district. The factors favoring sugar beet cultivation and adoption in the district include: adequate land area suitable for sugar beet cultivation and the high sugar beet yield that can be attained per unit suitable land area, farmers’ awareness of the positive aspects of sugar beet cultivation, and the willingness of many farmers to grow the sugar beet crop. Notwithstanding these favorable conditions, some socio-economic factors - mainly the affordability of sugar beet production and possible lack of appropriate farming technologies, will present challenges to widespread sugar beet adoption, particularly to those farmers in the low- and medium-income categories. The sugar beet profit analysis showed that depending on the market price, sugar beet can potentially increase household net income. However, since the majority of households are in the low-and medium-income categories, for sugar beet to pull the smallholder farmers out of poverty, interventions from government and other stakeholders is of vital necessity. The impact of sugar beet adoption and cultivation will vary from household to household. Those households within the high-income category who can raise the required start up capital are likely to benefit, while the low- and medium-income households may not, which is true for any new crop with high start up costs. Alternative agriculture alone is therefore not a sufficient strategy to address the problems of poverty and unemployment. Any successful strategy to address these issues must be broad-based, and include alternative agriculture and other growth and development strategies. Provision for the entire necessary infrastructure should precede or accompany all of these strategies in order to optimize implementation benefits.

Key words: Kenya, sugar beet, poverty, household income, prospects, challenges, alternative agriculture.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effective factors on the employment status of agricultural graduates in Iran

Ali Asghar Mirakzadeh¹* and Fereshteh Ghiasvand Ghiasy²

¹Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Razi University, Emam highway. Shohada square. Kermanshah, Iran.

²Islamic Azad University. Takestan Branch, Iran.

Accepted 19 November, 2018

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to analyse the effective factor(s) on employment status of agricultural graduates. It was quantitative and applied research that conducted through descriptive-survey method. Questionnaire (that developed by researchers base on literature review) and interview consisted the means for data gathering. Statistical population of research consisted of all agricultural graduates in seven field of agriculture since 2006 to 2008 (N = 530). 156 graduates as a statistical sample by using Cochran's equation were chosen. Results showed that "absence of employment capacity in public sector"; "unsuitable conditions for employment in public sector" and "discordance of university education with agricultural profession" was three most important components that had effect on unemployment of graduates. Result also showed that there was significant difference between viewpoint of employed and unemployed graduates about the effect of "having entrepreneurship spirit”; interest to employment in agricultural jobs; and experience having in computer skill" on employment status of agricultural graduates. Results based on factor analysis showed that the effective components on employment status of agricultural graduates were categorized into six factors that named; educational history, professional skills, entrepreneurship spirit, practical experience, communication skills and socio- economic context. These six factors totally determined 70.03% of total variance of graduate's employment status.

Key words: Agriculture, employment, higher education, graduates.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 6 (12), pp. 001-007, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Regression analysis of effective factor on people participation in protecting and revitalizing of pastures and forests in Ilam province from the view of users

Bagher Arayesh

Agricultural Extension and Education Islamic Azad University Ilam Branch, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 00988412223906, 00989183410451. Fax: 00988412223906.

Accepted 14 May, 2018

Abstract

The purpose of this study is the regression analysis of effective factor on participation in Protecting and revitalizing of pastures and forests in Ilam province. This study is a casual comparison, and application of it to one sample was taken from natural resources users .The sample size of groups was obtained by cochran formula and it was 317 for users respectively for sample selection, stratified, cluster and multiple sampling were utilized with regard to research factors (objective, problem,….) document analysis, library research and field study, were employed by using questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were obtained by experts and pilot study and its Alfa level was 88%. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used and data was analyzed by spss 15. To test the hypothesis, correlation, multiple regression were employed. The result indicated that level of education, rate of media using, users trusting on natural resources executive, consulting with users before implementation the plans, number of cattle's, kind of occupation, users membership in public institution and organization, social status of users, technical knowledge of users, present status of natural resources extensive plans, political and low full support of users, amount of loan received by users and organizing nature assistant, have a significant role on people participation on protecting and revitalizing of pastures and forests.

Key words: Participation people, natural resources, extension, public organization.