ABSTRACT The knowledge and perception of farmers in the Akatsi North District of Volta region on harvest and postharvest losses in rice (Oryza sativa L.) during harvesting, in-field stacking, threshing and cleaning were assessed using semi-structured questionnaires. Data were collected on 40 farmers who were selected through a multi-stage, purposive, and simple random sampling methods from September 4 to November 23, 2018. Majority (75%) of farmers interviewed had no formal education on pos...
ABSTRACT Soya bean is an important legume used in fortifying cereal-based complementary foods for children. Despite its high protein content, it also contains anti-nutrients which makes the proteins unavailable. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge of consumers on anti-nutritional factors and their perception of how it could be processed out of soya bean as well as the efficacy of heat, sprouting and acid treatment in the removal of protease inhibitors in soya bean. The study w...
ABSTRACT The biological activity of neem oil and neemazal against the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) was assessed in maize grain in the laboratory. The bioassays carried out were toxicity of the products against adults and immature stages, effect of the products on progeny production, damage assessment, repellent action and persistency of the products in grain and their effect on seed viability. Neemazal was highly toxic to P. truncatus than neem oil. The highest dosage of ...
ABSTRACT The study was conducted in three phases. Phase one was to assess the postharvest management practices along the tomato value chain in the Fanteakwa District of Ghana. Semi–structured questionnaires were administered randomly to fifty tomato farmers and fifty tomato traders. The value chain of tomatoes as observed in this study, started from pre-harvesting stages and ended with the consumer. Harvesting was done manually and fruits were harvested by majority of farmers when fully ri...
Abstract The potentials of aqueous seed extract and seed oil of the coral plant, Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) were evaluated as a biopesticide compared with aqueous seed extract of neem (Azadirachta. indica A. Juss) and cymethoate, (a commercially used synthetic insecticide) in the control of insect pests complex of aubergine (black beauty), Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae) both in the laboratoiy and in the field. Three major insect pests of aubergine namely, Urentius hystericellus Ri...
ABSTRACT Vegetable production in southern Ghana suffers grave setbacks from purple nutsedge infestation. Several attempts to identify effective and environmentally friendly management methods using the traditional weed research methods have so far not been successful. Hence, this study aimed at designing efficient and environmentally sound management methods by developing an ecological model of the population dynamics of purple nutsedge in vegetable fields. The study comprised three major pha...
ABSTRACT Soya bean is an important legume used in fortifying cereal-based complementary foods for children. Despite its high protein content, it also contains anti-nutrients which makes the proteins unavailable. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge of consumers on anti-nutritional factors and their perception of how it could be processed out of soya bean as well as the efficacy of heat, sprouting and acid treatment in the removal of protease inhibitors in soya bean. The study wa...
ABSTRACT Small-scale farmers in the Greater Accra region of Ghana grow vegetable crops including tomato, cabbage, pepper, okra and garden eggs and apply many types of pesticides to control pests and diseases that attack these crops. This study was conducted in the Accra Metropolitan District, Adenta Municipal District, Ashaiman Municipal District, Dangme West District, Ga South Municipal District and Ga West Municipal District. The purpose of the study was to estimate the postharvest losses i...
ABSTRACT A study was conducted into the traditional method of storing maize in Ghana to determine the best form of storing maize to minimise losses in storage and to evaluate the effectiveness of using insecticides in crib storage. Two separate experiments were conducted, one with maize variety Abrotia and the other with maize variety La Posta. In each experiment, a split-plot design was used with the main plot factor being insecticide application and the subplot factor being husking. Actell...
ABSTRACT Rainfall variability and early season drought are among the most severe consequences of climate change in the Sahelian zone of Mali in West Africa that affect the production of key staple crops such as Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Therefore, a three-step research was conducted with trials in the laboratory, pots and field to improve seed germination and reduce crop establishment failure. The experiments were set up to evaluate the effects of heat and drought stress, priming...
ABSTRACT Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) is a major pest of maize and sorghum in East Africa and indigenous natural enemies have been unable to maintain the pest population at a level acceptable to farmers. In Kenya, a classical biological control programme was initiated in an attempt to increase natural suppression of Chilo partellus and other stemborers. To do this, a natural enemy of Chilo parfellus, Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), has been introduced into Kenya from Pakista...
ABSTRACT The study was carried out at the University of Ghana Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre (FOHCREC), Kade from 2008 to 2012. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of coconut water (CW) alone or in combination with varying concentrations of auxin (IAA) on axillary bud initiation, growth and development of plantain (cv. Asamienu). In the first experiment, coconut water from fully matured dried fruits was supplemented with three different IAA concentrations...
ABSTRACT The high cost and increasing disposal problems associated with polyethylene mulch and greater availability of organic mulches prompted an investigation into the effects of organic mulches on growth and yield of sweet pepper at the University of Ghana Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre, Okumaning near Kade. Two field experiments were conducted in the raining season, that is from July, 2012 to December, 2012 and in the dry season from December, 2012 to March, 2013. In ...
ABSTRACT The efficacy of Spent Brewery Grain of Pito (SBGP) and Brukutu (SBGB), used as sources of protein baits, were compared with two standard products - SUCCESS Appat (GF-120) and Great Fruit Fly Bait (GFFB)) as attractants in the field for the management of fruit flies in four mango farms in the Coastal Savanna ecological zone (Christian Farms, Adom Farms, Prosper and Boko Farms). Five plots (SBGP, SBGB, GF-120, GFFB and Control) were set up in each farm, with a total of 20 plots used f...
ABSTRACT The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 was to assess the handling and management of watermelon along the value chain in the Ada-East district of Ghana. One hundred open and close ended questionnaires were administered to farmers and dealers of watermelon. From the study, it was observed that the value chain of watermelon starts from land preparation and ends at the point it gets to the final consumer. The key players along the chain were identified to be farmers, dealers (tr...