ABSTRACT The study examined the efficiency of the legume market with respect to post - harvest handling and the structure, conduct and performance of the marketing process. The legume crops involved in the study are cowpea, groundnuts and bambara beans. Bambara beans was however studied only at the farm level because of its limited sale at the wholesale level. The techniques employed for primary data collection include Rapid Reconnaissance Survey, Participatory Rural Appraisal, Direct Observa...
ABSTRACT The establishment of agro enterprises is influenced by various factors identified in the theories of enterprise establishment which most entrepreneurs do not pay particular attention to when establishing and managing their enterprises. The aim of this study is to examine how enterprise establishment factors contribute to the growth of the pineapple industry. The enterprise establishment or founding factors identified and examined in this study are the basic tasks identified by the en...
ABSTRACT The establishment of agro enterprises is influenced by various factors identified in the theories of enterprise establishment which most entrepreneurs do not pay particular attention to when establishing and managing their enterprises. The aim of this study is to examine how enterprise establishment factors contribute to the growth of the pineapple industry. The enterprise establishment or founding factors identified and examined in this study are the basic tasks identified by the en...
ABSTRACT Two separate field experiments were conducted at Sogakope (Tordome), in the South-Tongu District of the Volta Region and at the University of Ghana Research farm, Legon, in the Greater Accra Region from August, 2017 to March, 2018. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield performance of four introduced varieties of onion namely, Dayo, Trophy, Red-Creole, and Orient against the commonly grown variety ‘Bawku-Red’ under two different ecozones in Ghana. The experimental design...
ABSTRACT The rapid population growth and urbanization has brought about the challenge of organising food on asustainable basis with the use of inputs such asfertilizers. The present study was conducted to investigate the potential fertilizer value of poultry manure produced in the Accra-Tema metropolitan area.Structured questionnaires were used to interview 30commercial farms. Also, three farms were chosen for case studies. The results indicate that poultry manure contains high levels of...
GENERAL ABSTRACT The reactive nature of phosphate leads to the formation of insoluble Fe, Al and Ca bound P compounds in highly weathered tropical soils. Biochar amendments can change the surface chemical properties of highly weathered tropical soils, and hence affect phosphorus retention and distribution in soils. The overall objective of this study was to investigate P reactions with biochar and biochar amended soils of Ghana for effective P management. To achieve this, three major experime...
ABSTRACT The study was carried out to investigate the contribution of Ghana Oil Palm Development Company Limited (GOPDC) outgrower scheme to small-scale farmers‘ livelihood. A total of 214 respondents were involved in this study. The respondents were selected from four communities in the Kwaebibirem district of the Eastern region of Ghana. They were both outgrower and non outgrower farmers (small scale farmers). The data gathered were analysed using SPSS. Similarly, chi square test was used...
ABSTRACT The study looked at the economic potential of black pepper production in the Western Region of Ghana. The objectives of the study were: to determine whether there is comparative advantage or disadvantage of producing black pepper; to determine the competitiveness of black pepper production; to determine whether the prices paid by local and international markets give any incentives for black pepper production; and to identify constraints that militate against the production of black p...
Abstract The local Government Service Act 203 of L.I 1961, was passed in 2011 and as part of its implementation, extension services at the local level was ceded to the local government service and Departments of Agriculture became units under the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. Given the importance of extension in agricultural development at the local level, this research aimed to assess the functionality and effectiveness of Departments of Agriculture under the Local Governm...
ABSTRACT The study was carried out to understand the genetic basis for yield under drought environments, and to map quantitative trait loci associated with yield and yield related components under drought stress in sweetpotato. The sweetpotato BxT mapping population, generated from a cross between sweetpotato varieties Beauregard and Tanzania was used for this study. Genotypes were evaluated in irrigated and drought environments to evaluate the effect of drought on yield and yield related par...
ABSTRACT The study was designed to assess researchers‘ utilization of e-learning and e-reporting of research findings in selected institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. Some specific objectives were to identify the e-learning and e-reporting technologies available for use by agricultural researchers; determine the mastery level of skills in the application of elearning and e-reporting technologies possessed by the respondents; assess the level of utilization of these technologies by agricultu...
ABSTRACT The majority of the world’s silk is mulberry obtained from the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) with wild silk being minimal. A survey was undertaken in three agro-ecological zones in Ghana to document the wild silkmoth populations and their host plants. In addition, the effect of three mulberry varieties; Mysore local, Kanva 2 and S36 on the performance of five B. mori L. strains; G2xV2xH1xKK, M2xN2xSN1xI1, Z/Y, ICIPE I and ICIPE II was evaluated in ...
ABSTRACT The properties of similar soils under two agroforestry systems, a sole Leucaena leucocephala woodlot and alley (one with cassava and the other maize in between Leucaena leucocephala hedgerows) were compared at two depths (0 - 15 cm and 15 30 cm) to assess the relative changes in soil properties due to the agroforestry practices. Similar soils under conventional tillage, adjacent natural fallow and forest reserve were also used in the study for comparison of data and evaluation of imp...
ABSTRACT Sweetpotato has immense potential for food and nutrition security in Ghana. It is however, infrequently used in local cuisines. Breeders have attributed this low utilization to the fact that sweetpotato lacks quality characteristics that make it amenable to local food preparation. The present study was carried out to develop varieties that combine high dry matter, low sugar and high β-carotene traits, to meet the needs of Ghanaian consumers. A Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and...
ABSTRACT The purpose of agricultural credit is to provide funds to people who are engaged in agricultural activities in order to improve their living conditions. These credits are normally to be repaid within the stipulated period to enable others benefit. However, credit recovery is an impediment to agricultural credit delivery in the Nadowli/Kaleo district of the Upper West Region. Microfinance has been advocated as the solution to both the failure in the public sector agricultural lending ...