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Seasonal variation in mycoflora associated with asymptomatic maize grain from small-holder farms in two provinces of South Africa
(2020-11-27)
Seed quality plays an important role in the establishment of healthy crop stands. The aim of this study was to identify the mycoflora associated with maize grain collected over two growing seasons, one experiencing severe drought, from small-holder farms across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape (EC), two important provinces with maize producing small-holder farmers in South Africa. Asymptomatic maize ears were collected at harvest during two maize growing seasons from farms located in Hlanganani (KZN), ...
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A comparative cost-benefit analysis between fairtrade certified and non-certified cocoa production in the South-West region of Cameroon
(2021-12-31)
In order to promote cocoa agroforestry by encouraging cocoa farmers to integrate fruit trees inside their cocoa orchards, cocoa certification was initially launched since 2012 in Cameroon. Nowadays, cocoa certification is adopted by a few farmers and makes up only 3% of the national cocoa production. Using the most predominant Fairtrade certification in the South-West region, this study compared certified and non-certified cocoa production via a cost-benefit analysis. The results indicated that, in spite of its ...
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Effect of different mechanical seed scarification methods on germination and emergence dynamics of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)
(2021-10-28)
The African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is a multipurpose fruit-producing tree that is indigenous to the African savannahs. Commercial interest in the species has grown in recent years. The major obstacle of seed-based propagation of baobab is its inherent seed dormancy. Therefore, in this study the effects of different mechanical seed scarification methods on seed germination parameters and seedling development of A. digitata were tested. The results show that mechanical scarification had a significant effect on ...
Aufsatz
Growth performance and immunological response of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) juveniles reared in biofloc system
(2021-06-08)
This study was conducted to examine the growth and immune performance of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) juveniles cultured in a biofloc fish farming system. To achieve this, 900 C. gariepinus juveniles (9.0 ± 0.23 g) were cultured in an intensive zero water exchange biofloc system for 72 days in 9 separate tanks (2 m3 each) aerated by an air blower, after which growth assessment of fish was conducted. The trial consisted of three treatments in triplicates, a control without carbon source addition, and two biofloc ...
Aufsatz
Scaling up community-based goat breeding programmes via multi-stakeholder collaboration
(2020-05-01)
Community-based livestock breeding programmes (CBBPs) have emerged as a potential approach to implement sustainable livestock breeding in smallholder systems. In Malawi and Uganda, goat CBBPs were introduced to improve production and productivity of indigenous goats through selective breeding. Scaling up CBBPs have recently received support due to evidence-based results from current implementation and results of CBBPs implemented in other regions of the world. This paper explores strategies for scaling up goat CBBPs ...
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Mixed method survey of vegetable farming and rural farmers’ livelihood in Enugu State, Nigeria
(2021-12-07)
Studies on the role of agriculture on the improvement of livelihood of farmers have primarily focused on staple crops. Increased awareness on the importance of vegetables in urban and rural areas in Nigeria has led to a rise in demand of vegetables. In both rural and urban communities, smallholder farmers are responding to this demand by increasing vegetable production and thereby creating economic opportunity for themselves. The purpose of this paper is to assess the role of vegetable farming on rural farmers’ ...
Aufsatz
Choice of savings instruments among rural women maize farmers: evidence from Uganda
(2021-05-25)
Households in developing countries employ a wide range of mechanisms for making cash and in-kind (goods and services) savings which are either formal or informal. Yet, literature on how choices about appropriate savings instruments are made remains scanty. We examine the patterns and choice of these saving instruments using household data from women farmers in eastern Uganda. In particular, the paper focuses on the choice between formal cash saving instruments like commercial banks, village savings and loans associations ...
Aufsatz
Demonstration of improved feed trough for efficient feed utilisation by small ruminants in Southern Mali
(2021-12-21)
The ruminant feeding systems of smallholder farmers in mixed crop and livestock systems in Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa are characterised by waste. To promote efficient feed use, the use of improved feed trough for small ruminants was demonstrated in Sirakele, Zanzoni and M’Pessoba in Koutiala district in southern Mali in the late (March/April 2019) and early dry (February 2020) seasons. Forty-five farmers were selected randomly in the study sites and were each provided with one improved feed trough which was ...
Aufsatz
Farmers’ attitudes and perceptions of adoption of agricultural innovations in Kenya: a mixed methods analysis
(2022-08-20)
Attitudes and perceptions are key constructs in decision making. Their nature and influence on agricultural technology adoption among smallholder farmers in Kenya has not been adequately researched. The research applied a mixed methods approach to assess the influence of attitudes and perceptions in adoption of agricultural innovations by smallholder farmers in Kenya. The quantitative phase used a survey (n=245) while the qualitative consisted of focus groups (n=28) to elicit subjective farmer views of innovations. ...
Aufsatz
Malaria and pneumonia effects on rice, vanilla production and rural household income in Madagascar: case of the Sava region
(2022-12-05)
In Madagascar, malaria remains the leading cause of consultation and deaths at hospital at all ages and pneumonia is one of the main causes of the under-five mortality and account for 45% of children hospitalizations. The number of these cases and deaths has not decreased during the last ten years. This paper aims to determine the effects of malaria and pneumonia cases on rice and vanilla production and income. We used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2016 by the authors on 975 rural households and ...