Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 281-283, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An assessment of leguminous plants (Centrosema pubescens) as feed additive for growth stimulation on broilers

Uzuomfor M. Kenneth

Department of Agricultural Science, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

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

Accepted 27 February, 2015

Abstract

The study was carried out in the Poultry session of the Rivers State University of Education, Ndele Campus Demonstration Farm. Seventeen (17) day old chicks, which has been previously broided for three weeks were used for the study. The birds were divided into four groups and fed three times daily under the following treatments – Leaf + feed + Soya bean cake, leaf + water + feed, chaf + soya bean cake + feed and control + feed + water. The birds were tested on weight gain and growth rate. Data were collected and analyzed using Annova. Result shows that Centrosema pubensecs leaves enhances growth rate, weight gain and feed utilization, thereby reducing long period of intake for broilers to mature.

Key words: Centrosema pubensces, growth stimulation, birds and production.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 284-297, April, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Innovations in agricultural policy and services as a drive for successful extension

*¹Merlyna C. Bijevleveld, Weibe Rob Kok¹ and Adriaan Bijker²

¹Departement of Economics, Socio-Anthropology and Communication, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands.

²Department of Communication and Innovation Studies, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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

Accepted 17 March, 2015

Abstract

In many parts of the world, agricultural policy is being restructured to promote changes which advance new mechanisms of financing knowledge-based services. In Bénin, a Project for Restructuring Agricultural Services (PRSA-Bénin) is achieved. This study considers this project journey and the recent changes in agricultural policy. A key concern of the Béninese government in advancing these changes, as argued in this article, is to make it a better policy instrument for more intensive involvement of farmers and other private sector organizations in funding arrangements. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, and reconstruction ex-post of activities undertaken were used to investigate the project journey. Additionally, to support our analysis, we made use of the results of evaluative studies, documents and project reports, and findings of meetings of a specified forum designed for three days. Results show that the perspective and management of agricultural policy and knowledge-based services changed. Several private sector organizations have interests, including farmers’ organizations, NGOs, commercial companies and micro-finance institutions. New mechanisms of financing agricultural policy and services are institutionalized. Results also question the conventional understanding and practices of agricultural knowledge-based services.

Key words: Agricultural policy, knowledge-based services, privatization, financing mechanisms, private sector organizations, demand articulation, Bénin.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 2 (10), pp. 256-258, October, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Selected strategies for work motivation in some fast food Firms in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Tefue Odubu, Adiohwo Chris and Mike Ikechwuku

Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics/Extension, University of Port-Harcourt, P.O. Box 47, Rivers, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 18 September, 2014

Abstract 

The study examined employers' strategies for workers' motivation in selected fast food companies in Port Harcourt. Specifically, the study identified the motivational techniques adopted by the fast food companies, examined the workers' perception on the motivational techniques used and ascertained the extent to which the motivational techniques enhance workers' performance. A sample of three fast food companies was chosen. They included Mr. Biggs, Tantalizers and Best-Bite. In each of these companies, opinions of one hundred workers were sought giving a total of 300 respondents. Data percentages, means scores, regression analysis and analysis of variance. The results were collected by the use of structured questionnaires, and the data were analysed using established prompt payment of salary (85.3%), job rotation/ shift duty (95%), good working environment (95%), gift and material benefit outside regular salary (95%) as the most effective motivational techniques used. These factors agreed with the perception of the workers on the motivational tools that enhance workers' performance. The result reveals also that a unit increase in motivational tools increases workers' performance showing positive relationship. There was significant difference in the motivational techniques used by the three fast food companies at P<0.05. The study recommended, among others, that in addition to prompt payment of salary, the salary of the workers should be increased to motivate and enhance workers' performance considering the economic melt-down that have affected the prices of goods and services globally.

Key words: Employers’ strategies, workers’ motivation, food companies.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 2 (9), pp. 249-255, September, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Measurement of household food security in India

Singh Jumi, Raj Vadewki and Vijay P.

Department of Siddha Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, Tamil University, P O Box 1549, Thanjavur-10, India.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 26 August, 2014

Abstract  

Household food security has attained significance due to mounting food crisis. Food, being one of the most basic needs for living, has become one of the most vital concerns for the world, as more and more people are living in poverty and hungry. The present study examines the dynamism of quality food availability, access and affordability by the rural households in two selected districts, that is, Bhandara and Chandrapur in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India. Two blocks each from Bhandara (Sakoli and Pauni) and Chandrapur (Bhadravati and Warora) districts were selected randomly. Furthermore, two villages from each block were selected randomly. Twenty-five (25) respondents were selected randomly from each of the sampled eight villages. Thus, a total of 200 respondents from two districts constituted the sample for the study. The study revealed that household food security status of the rural households was found low (59%) followed by very low (20%) and medium (16.50%) status of household food security. The overall household food security status was found low among below poverty line (BPL) household as compared to above poverty line (APL) households.

Key words: Household food security, food availability, food accessibility.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 2 (8), pp. 243-248, August, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Difficulties of Food Production and water resource management in areas with unstable climate in Kenya

Kabatila Bedan

School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Department of Geography, University of Ongata Rongai, Kenya.      

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 28 July, 2014

Abstract 

The Tropics depend upon rain as the main source of water supply for agriculture. Concerns of food security and water scarcity in the wake of climate change are global and real particularly in the sub-Saharan Africa. As communities struggle to adapt to the challenges of food insecurity caused by climate change, they are also sensitive to the diminishing and management problems of water resources. Kenya with an estimated population of 36 million people of whom 10 million are faced with starvation is highly vulnerable to climate change effects. There is evidence from Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) that 850 million people in the world are affected by food insecurity, of whom 820 million live in the developing countries. To come up with climate change associated challenges on food security and water resource management in Kenya, the study carried out climate and food related researches on agriculture in Arid and semi-arid parts of Kenya (ASAL), irrigation and fishing activities in the ASAL districts, evaluated climate and socio- economic data from Drought Monitoring Centre Nairobi (DMCN). It also evaluated and collected data from selected industrial towns in the country. It was established that Kenya faces severe food insecurity problem caused by climate change and mismanagement of water resources. Many seasonal rivers dry up due to poor management of irrigation processes, a lot of fish die due to release of industrial effluent to rivers, there is drying up of seasonal rivers, lakes and boreholes due to prolonged droughts, there is persistent crop failure and animal death and increased environmental migration from the ASAL due to increasing aridity. Proper management of water resources therefore, calls for the implementation of such measures as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for industrial operations, Assessment of sustained yields for rivers before abstraction is allowed, re-afforestation and forest protection for sustained river yields and increased rainfall for increased food production.

Key words: Food production, water resources, eutrophication, abstraction, water pollution, industrial effluent, sustained yields, droughts.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 2 (8), pp. 238-242, August, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Rheological distinctiveness of food gum

Suya M* and B. I. Dele

Department of Food Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.O.Box 2541, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 11 July, 2014

Abstract

The rheological characteristics (consistency and flow behavior indices) of food gum (Cissus populnea) exudates obtained from the fresh leaves and stem as well as dried leaves and stem were determined at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60°C using a rotational viscometer at shear rates of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 rpm for effective design and simulation of its momentum transfer process and system. The experimental design used for the study of consistency and flow behavior indices of C. populnea at 20 - 60°C was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The study revealed that consistency index (K) of C. populnea exudates generally increased with increase in temperature. The K values for the fresh were generally higher than the dried materials. The K values of the fresh stem exudates, which is more viscous, were significantly (P< 0.05) different from the less viscous fresh leaves exudates, but did not show significant (P 0.05) difference with the dried leaves which became concentrated due to drying. The flow behavior index did not show any defined trend with changes in temperature, and was not significantly (P 0.05) different. The exudates generally exhibited pseudoplastic behavior at all the temperatures studied. A study of the apparent viscosity of the exudates between temperatures of 20 - 150°C shows that apparent viscosity increased with increase in temperature below the boiling point of 70°C. However, above the boiling point, the apparent viscosity decreased with increase in temperature. The viscosity-temperature data were fitted in Arrhenius-type equation and yielded activation energies between 0.997 to 2.431 KJ/mol°C, corresponding to temperature range between 20 - 70°C and 1.632 to 2.580 KJ/mol with K corresponding to temperature range between 70 - 150°C.

Key words: Rheological characteristics, consistency index, flow behavior index, Cissus populnea.