International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Sources of damages and losses that affect productivity and livelihood of cocoa farmers in Western Nigeria

Lelia Nkechinyere Dongo¹, Dele Omoyele Adeniyi¹* and Evarestus Uche Asogwa²

¹Plant Pathology Section, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5244, Ibadan.

²Entomology Section, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5244, Ibadan.

Accepted November 11, 2018

Abstract 

This study reports possible sources of damages and losses that affect productivity and livelihood of cocoa farmers in Western Nigeria. Primary data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaire and collected data were analyzed. The results of 208 farmers showed that cocoa farming is the primary work of 86.5% in Ondo State and 75.8% in Osun State whilst the rest are either produce buyers or engaged in other businesses. Majority of the farmers are male, literacy level is high as only 2.7 and 3.5% of the farmers did not have formal education in Ondo and Osun States respectively and over 90% of the farmers are member of one association or the other. The losses of cocoa bean by farmers in Ondo and Osun States are significant as about 96% have one loss or the other ranging from 10 to 70 bags annually, out of which 40% of the losses were identified to be due to insect damage, 50% of the losses caused by disease infections, 3.4% jointly caused by insects and diseases and 6.6% of losses could be attributed to other factors. Most (93%) of the non-growers respondents’ dealt with raw cocoa beans of which 43.5% of them export less than 250 tons of cocoa annually and 60% agreed that damages of cocoa beans are of multiple sources. The analysis of data showed negative linear correlation between gender and the level of education, size of farm, farmers’ group and household size and also between size of farm and sex, age category and primary occupation. Significant correlation was observed between age category and age of farm, level of education and primary occupation as well as between size of farm and age of farm and household size and between age of farm and size of farm, age of farm and household size.

Key word: Cocoa, losses, value chain, damages, productivity, farmers, buying agents.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 1476-1479, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Performance of different varieties and plant spacing on growth and yield of knolkhol (Brassica oleracea var.gongylodes)

Silatar, P., Patel G.S.*, Acharya S.K and Vadodaria J.R.

Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, S.D. Agricultural University, Jagudan, Gujarat, 382710, India.

*Corresponding Author: Email: [email protected]

Accepted 17 May, 2017

Abstract

Knol-khol varieties with different plant spacing were evaluated for growth and yield. Highest plant height (26.33 cm), plant spread East-West and North-South (36.89 cm and 36.48 cm, respectively) and leaf area (261.45 cm²) was observed with the plant spacing of 30 cm × 30 cm. Whereas, maximum stem thickness (11.90 cm) was recorded with variety Purple Vienna. Minimum days taken (52.08) for harvesting, maximum yield per plot    (10.33 kg) and per hectare (36.15 t) were recorded with the plant spacing of   20 cm × 20 cm. Though, plant spacing of 30 cm × 30 cm showed best for fresh weight of knob (308.25 g). Among varieties, maximum fresh weight of knob (277.36 g), yield per plot (9.51 kg) and per hectare (33.28 t) were found with variety Purple Vienna.  From the findings of the study conducted, it is inferred that 20 cm x 20 cm plant spacing and variety of Purple Vienna is most suitable for knolkhol cultivation under North Gujarat condition.

Key words: Plant spacing, varieties, knoll-khol, knob, yield etc.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 1465-1475, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Trading prices for India’s major cereals during WTO regime: Growth rates, TOT, elasticities and foreign trade policies                                                                              

Madiga Bala Dastagiri¹, Cherukumalli Srinivasa Rao² and AnjaniSneha Vajrala³

¹Principal Scientist, ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030. India.

²Director, ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030. India.

³Junior Research Fellows, ICAR-NAARM, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030.

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

Accepted 16 June, 2018

Abstract

World price influence on international trade and hence economic precision is required. This is basically foreign trade research study. The exports and imports of major cereals viz., rice, wheat, maize and total cereals from 1990-91 to 2015-16 were selected. Estimated CAGR, Instability Index, Terms of Trade, Export import price elasticities of commodities and their top destinations. The results found that wheat export prices more than import prices indicating India has comparative advantage in wheat. The terms of trade for wheat and total cereals were found to be more than rice and maize crops. The exports price growth rate of wheat was more than imports, while remaining crops witnessed reverse trend. The rice witnessed high export elasticities. Export import prices of all cereals were unstable. The study found that the highest exports and imports growth rate for cereals was observed in Bangladesh and Australia respectively, while same countries also emerged as top export import destinations in cereals. The study suggests that India should make multilateral agreements in these countries. Multilateral trade relationship with high CAGR countries would help in smooth trade of agricultural crops.

Key words: CAGR, cereals, price elasticity, destinations, World Trading prices, India.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 1457-1464, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of factors that influence livestock insurance adoption by livestock farmers in Namibia

Utoni Nahas, Iyambo Sam and Nyamu Nehova

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Khomas, Namibia.

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

Accepted July 12, 2017

Abstract 

A sample survey of 269 questionnaires was administered to commercial and communal cattle farmers in the two regions of Namibia, (Omaheke and Otjozondjupa) to identify factors which affect the adoption of livestock insurance. About 205 questionnaires were collected and the 64 questionnaires were regarded as irregular responses or not returned. A computer software programme was used to generate a logit model. This model was used to test the alternative risk management strategies used by farmers in the two regions. In addition, this research took into account the off-farm investment and farm enterprise diversification. The logit model produced results that are statistically significant and negative estimated coefficient of the household characteristics. This implies that the Namibian livestock industry growth can be achieved with improved education, experience and support from other income as way of diversifying risk strategy. However, the positive relationship of variables FTHEFT and PROD implies the sector is suffering from continuous risk of theft and requires quality production to get market access. This necessitates the need for policy makers and insurers to design programme to educate farmers so that they can adopt proper risk management tools and thereby increase their participation in insurance. The low level of education of many farmers in the study area may have negatively influenced the decision to purchase livestock insurance in addition to other factors.

Key words: Risk management strategies, logit model, Namibia livestock industry.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 1444-1451, May, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the socio-economic status indicators for heads of farm families in Delta State, Nigeria

Abel Ekuke

Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 11 April, 2017

Abstract

The specific objectives were to collate a universe of socio-economic status indicators; carry out item analysis to validate socio-economic status indicators; select valid socio-economic status indicators for heads of farm families; and discuss the sociological implication of the valid items. Stratified and simple random sampling designs were used in selecting the towns and villages. Twelve percent of heads of farm families in selected Ibo speaking Local Government Areas of the state comprising Aniocha South (41), Ika South (47) Ndokwa West (55) and Oshimili North (31) were selected to give a sample size of 174 heads of farm families. Structured interview schedules were used in data collection. Data were analysed using point-biserial correlation coefficient and t-test. A universe of 106 items were collated from a pre-research survey. Sixty nine (69) items were found as valid indicators of socio-economic status. The number of relatives trained by the individual, axe, yam barn, motor cycle, motor car, bicycles and water cistern toilet had very important social and economic implications among the people. The indexes are recommended to development agencies for evaluating changes in socio-economic status of heads of farm families particularly after an agricultural development intervention programme.

Key words: Indexes, item analysis, valid items, socio-economic status indicators, farm families.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 1452-1456, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of professional competencies of agriculture officers to cope with problem of weeds in North West Frontier Province-Pakistan

*Haroon Raza¹, Afaq Patel¹ and Qadri Ahmed²

¹Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.

²Department of Agronomy, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal, Balochistan, Pakistan.

Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted December 11, 2017

Abstract

Professionally competent Agriculture Officers (AOs) play an important role in increasing the agriculture production through communicating new findings about the damage caused by weed. It has been tried to find the professional competency of AOs to cope with the weed problem in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan. This study was initiated during in January, 2007 where 112 questionnaires were distributed among the AOs across all 24 districts of NWFP. One hundred and eleven AOs returned the questionnaires and the data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. The analysis revealed that all the officers had basic understanding of weed science. However; 7% of AOs had the required knowledge related to weeds. Majority of the respondents were not in a position to point out the weeds of major and minor crops. Same was the case regarding lack of farmers’ guidance in herbicide application. About 95% respondents rated weed science related knowledge from important to very important. The present findings recommends that the AOs are supposed to be trained in weed related problems, so that they can cope with the weed management problem of the farming community, for the increase of the quality and quantity of agricultural commodities and to raise the socio-economic status of rural people.

Key words: Agriculture Officers, weeds, professional competency.