CHAPTER ONE1.0 INTRODUCTION Irish potato is also known as (solanum tubersum L) among crops Irish potato contribute significantly to economic development in Nigeria. It is now grown extensively throughout the world and it one of the important agricultural crops, world production reached a record of 320 million tones in 2007 and production in the developing countries has almost doubled since 1991, with a corres...
SummaryThe rapid spread of the invasive crop pest, the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), across Africa in recent years has attracted considerable interest, especially the effect on maize farmers. The purpose of this study is to understand and assess the economic costs of the fall armyworm invasion in Ghana under different control scenarios. Three different scenarios are modelled: one with no farmer applied control measures, one with limited control measures and one with proactive c...
IntroductionAgriculture Research have benefited from incorporation of technological advances primarily developed for other industries. The industrial age brought mechanization and synthesized fertilizers to agriculture. The technology age offered genetic engineering and automation. The information age brings the potential for integrating the technological and industrial ...
ABSTRACT Despite the apparent importance of the dairy sub-sector to Kenya’s economy, the sector is plagued with low milk production. The general objective of the study was to assess dairy performance among the small-scale farmers in Meru County. The specific objectives were (i) to characterize small-scale dairy farmers; (ii) to assess the profitability of small-scale dairy enterprises; and (iii) to determine the factors influencing profitability among small-scale dairy farmers in Meru...
ABSTRACT Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a valuable vegetable crop in Kenya, grown mainly by small-scale farmers.It provides food security, nutrition and income for many small-holder farmers. Despite its economic importance, tomato production faces major challenges including scarcity of high quality fruits, insect pests and diseases. Currently farmers have relied on application of pesticides to manage the tomato pests. Pesticides are expensive to the farmer and have a negative impac...
AbstractAdaptation to Climate Change (CC) is the adjustment in natural or human system in response toactual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects. To cushion and curb the devastating impactsof CC in South East Nigeria, there is great need to build resilience and capacities of institutionstowards more lasting and far reaching approach to CC adaptation. With the phenomenon of CCbecoming so alarming, building adaptive capacity, including providing tools and information,raising a...
ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the impact of the extension services of Green River Project (GRP) on fishfarmers in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Specifically, it sought to ascertain fishery technologies receivedby GRP fish farmers; determine adoption of fish farming technologies by fish farmers; determineimpact of extension services of GRP on socioeconomic condition of the fish farmers as at theyear 2012; ascertain farmers’ perceived constraints to adoption of GRP fish farmingtechnologies; ascer...
ABSTRACTThe study identified strategies for ensuring food security in Taraba State. Specifically, the studywas designed to identify the determinants of food security; examine the production patterns offood by farmers, identify the factors responsible for food insecurity: and determine thestrategies of ensuring food security. The study was carried out in Taraba State of Nigeria in theyear 2011. The population of the study comprises all heads of households in Taraba State. Amulti stage sam...
ABSTRACTKenyan smallholder cotton production has remained low despite the spirited effort by the government and the private sector to revive the sector. Several factors combined seem to be responsible for this perpetual low production. Among the factors are constraints ranging from, inadequate extension services, limited access to information on production and poor marketing systems. The purpose of this study was to investigate how these selected factors (cluster group extension approach, inf...
ABSTRACTThe role of agricultural extension is vital to the diffusion of new technologies, but extension is currently not very effective in many African nations, with conventional extension approaches having minimal impact. In Kenya, there have been gaps on the availability of studies and documentation of the specific extension approaches and their influence on the acquisition of knowledge and skills for improved farm productivity despite the various extension efforts and resources put in plac...
ABSTRACT Implementation of Farmer Field School (FFS) extension approach in disseminating knowledge and skills on management technologies for crop production, crop pests, soil and water conservation (CPSWC) has had proven successes. To replicate its successes, FFS was extended to smallholder dairy production as an alternative to the conventional extension approaches (NFFS) which had proved ineffective in disseminating knowledge and skills on dairy management technologies (DMTs). However many m...
Women farm enterprises in Kenya have in the recent past gained considerable prominence and attention. Several research studies have underpinned the role they can play in economic development and poverty reduction through increased production and employment. However,these farm enterprises have had limited access to credit to enhance their growth. Table banking (TB) is a concept that has been promoted, particularly among women, to enhance access to credit. The role of ...
ABSTRACTThe National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP) utilizethe Shifting Focal Area Approach (SFAA), to build the capacity of Common Interest Groups (CIGs) for performance improvement. A number of institutional factors play a role in determining how the CIGs perform. NALEP was designed to explore some of the institutional factors which include access to agricultural credit, commodity markets, and training among others so as to improve the performance of CIGs. Inspite of ...
Small import-dependent countries in the world, especially in Africa, are deeply affected by the food insecurity and economic crises. To solve this problem, the Government of Ethiopia has adopted a different strategy in agricultural sector by focusing on how to increase the volume of production. However, marketing aspect has been given less attention. In order to improve the market efficiency, significant numbers of empirical studies have been conducted on market integratio...
ABSTRACT Arid and Semi-Arid Lands are faced with environmental challenges which affect the productivity of their agricultural enterprises and consequently the level of food security and livelihoods of people. Tambach Ward in Kerio Valley of Elgeyo-Marakwet County is an ASAL area and Households living face similar challenges. The major farm enterprises practiced are maize, Drought-tolerant crops and livestock. Despite the support provided to households by Government and Non-Government...