Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 265-269, February, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of socio-economic factors on the adoption of ginger (Zingiber officinale) production technologies in Southern Kaduna State, Nigeria

*¹Bokulo N. Husman, Attahiru K. Atiku² and Mohammed H. J¹

¹Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

²Faculty of Agriculture, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 6 January, 2015

Abstract

The study examined the effect of socio-economic factors on the adoption of ginger (Zingiber officinal) production technologies in Southern Kaduna State of Nigeria. 200 respondents were randomly selected for this study. Data were collected by means of questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result revealed that the average age of the respondents was 35.5 years, household size was 10 persons, farm size was 2.55 ha and years of farming experience constituted 15.5 years. The result also revealed that 62.70% of the respondents were married and 84.00% attained one form of education or the other. The result also revealed that educational level and scale of farming influenced the adoption of ginger farming innovations at P ≤ 0.05. It was concluded that the level of education attained by a farmer and his/her scale of farming ease the farmers’ ability to adopt improved ginger farming innovation hence a higher productivity level. It was recommended that extension agents should gear their effort towards adequate technology transfer to farmers and adequate provision of agricultural credit facilities and farm inputs to farmers at low interest rates and prices to enhance the adoption of farming technologies to boost their production capacities.

Key words: Ginger, adoption, socio-economic, tafin giwa, yatsun biri

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 3 (1), pp. 259-264, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of forage yield and nutritive value of natural pastures at varying levels of maturity in North West Lowlands of Ethiopia

 *Isaias Nega Gudina, Seyoum M. Tsegaye and Berhanu M. N

Department of Animal Science Research, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 9 December, 2015

Abstract

A study was conducted to describe forage yield and nutritive value of natural pasture at varying harvesting time from Metekel area. An area of 2,414 m² natural pasture was enclosed in three districts at the beginning of the main rainy season in two consecutive years and harvesting was made at 10 days interval starting from late July to November. The average yield of the natural pasture in the study area was 5.40 ton DM/ha. The dry matter yield was significantly (P<0.05) increased in advancing flowering while crude protein and in vitro organic matter digestibility was decreased, as expected. Unlike acid detergent fiber which increased significantly (p<0.05) with maturity, the neutral detergent fiber and hemicellulose level of the pasture was not significantly different (p>0.05) between harvestings. Despite poor balance of grass and legume combinations which contributed for lower protein content and digestibility, the natural pasture of Metekel zone has a high productivity in relation to total DM yield. It could be concluded that appropriate harvesting time for quality hay making is at 40 to 80% of flowering and after 17±2 weeks of precipitation.

Key words: Metekel lowlands, ruminant, grazing land, biomass yield, chemical composition, Benishangul-gumuz.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 3 (7), pp. 306-316, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Climate change risk on agriculture and response strategies by small holder farmers in Lake Victoria Basin, Tanzania

*Hasheem Mkapa, Nakaaya  Gertrude Sumari and Paul C. Benjamin

Department of Land Resources Research, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.

Accepted 29 June 2015

Abstract

Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) forms an important ecosystem which to a large extent maintains the flow of the River Nile waters, and supports agricultural activities in the region. Climate change is among major challenging factors to communities that depend on agriculture for their livelihood in the basin including Tanzania. This study investigated the current status of climate change in particular temperature and rainfall and their implication on people’s lives and potential adaptations required. A combination of methods was used including trend analysis of both temperature and rainfall data and risk assessment. Social economic data and communities perceptions on climate issues were obtained through literature review, discussion with key respondents, and household (HH) survey to 10% of total number of HH in selected case study village followed with Focus Group Discussion (FDG) and a stakeholder’s discussion meeting. Results showed that out of 21 and 30 years, from 1979 to 2008 and from 1985 to 2011 for Mwanza and Magu stations, only 11 and 10 years respectively had chances of receiving rainfall less than 400 mm during rainfall season. The risk of having seasonal rainfall less than 400 mm in 30 and 21 years time was found to be 40% for Mwanza and 47% for Magu. In both cases much observed were increased rainfalls showing climate change. In this case the risk was categorized as moderate. Although climate change risk in the basin is characterized to be moderate, communities are now experiencing negative impacts on agricultural and water sectors such as increased crop pests and diseases, change in rainfall seasonality and drying of water sources of which all affects both crops and livestock production. Although there are adaptations in place these need to be strengthened through capacity building of the local existing innovation systems.

Key words: Agriculture, adaptation, climate change, Lake Victoria, impacts.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 298-303, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the application of HA in the presence of biofertilizer along with P to see if the P use efficiency can be improved

*Imran H. Sharif, Fawad Shoaib Khan and Nawaz Nusrat Bhutto

Department of Land Resources Research, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 18 April 2015

Abstract

Optimization of phosphorus (P) fertilizer for mungbean (Vigna radiata) was studied during kharif 2012 through integrated use of humic acid (HA), chemical fertilizers and biofertilizer viz., plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) at NARC. The plots were arranged in split-split design under three factors (HA, P levels and PGPR inoculation). Results indicated that application of HA at 50 kg ha^-1 along with 45 kg ha^-1 P₂O₅ (75% P) in presence of PGPR inoculation recorded the highest grain yield (1.96 t ha^-1) that is 19% more than the treatment receiving 100% P application alone (no HA and PGPR). The highest concentration of P (0.3 %) and N (3.5%) in whole shoot mung bean were observed in the treatment where HA was applied at 50 kg ha^-1 along with 60 kg ha^-1 P₂O₅ (100% P) and PGPR inoculation. However mungbean yield and P concentration was statistically at par with the treatment where P was applied at 75% of recommended rate along with H.A and PGPR. Based on findings of this study it can be suggested that HA and PGPR inoculation have significant effect on grain yield and improved P use efficiency (PUE). It showed that HA and PGRP enhanced P availability through chelation and reduce soil P fixation.

Key words: Humic acid, bio fertilizer (PGPR), P use efficiency, and mung bean.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 270-280, February, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of how climate change adaptation within agriculture sector can be strengthened using innovation approaches

*Chakufwa C. Kachali, Hastings L. Chilima and Justin Bingu

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 14 February, 2015

Abstract 

Smallholder agriculture underpins most rural livelihoods and national economy in Tanzania and Malawi. Agricultural production by small holders in such countries is frustrated by several factors including climate change and variability (CC&V). Non agriculture community livelihoods activities and ecosystems are also negatively affected, adding costs to adaptation. The overall objective of the paper is sharing research experience on how climate change adaptation within agriculture sector can be strengthened using innovation approaches. Findings are based on a four years action research project funded by DFID through IDRC in Tanzania and Malawi. A total of 16 villages, 8 each in Tanzania and Malawi were involved and a Participatory Action Research was used. In total 360 farmers were initially involved in the project. Findings showed thas CC&V is affecting farming communities, institutions and organizations differently. Communities could adapt better if relevant information on climate and required products reaches them on time. Behaviour changes of different boundary partners like farmers, extension workers, agricultural based NGOs, stockists, media, with policy support (at both national and local levels) positively reduced vulnerabilities to CC&V and as a result sorghum, maize, beans and sunflower crop yields improved. For local innovation systems to work better a collective mobilisation of resources and collaboration of different boundary partners is required in this context. Adaptation program should focus more in supporting action oriented research or programs if capacity to adapt need to be strengthened in agricultural sector using innovative approaches.

Key words: Boundary partners, Tanzania, innovation system, Malawi, sustainable, livelihood.