ABSTRACT The study was conducted at Deder District, in East Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to investigate farmers’ shade tree species preference and evaluate selected soil physicochemical properties under and out-side shade tree canopy. To address the objectives of this study, all necessary data were collected through key informant interview, questionnaire survey and soil sampling. A total of 15 key informants and 60 households were participated for preference ran...
The purpose of this descriptive study was to assess pedagogical competency needs of agriculture teachers in Senior High Schools in Tamale aimed at determining their perceived level of importance, ability, and most suited training needs based on Borich’s Needs Assessment Model. To keep Senior High School agriculture teachers up-to-date of their pedagogical competency needs, the professional development needs of the agriculture teachers must be assessed regularly for efficiency. Based on the ...
The participation of large-scale agricultural investors in African land transactions raises concerns about the impacts on a rather hitherto local and smallholder dominated land market. However, there is still limited empirical study on how large-scale agro-investments have influenced changes in land markets and smallholder participation in agricultural land markets in West Africa. Hence, this study examined how large-scale land acquisitions in Ghana have influenced land market changes and imp...
The Agricultural Sector is important for supplying foods to the world's population. A country's resourcefulness in developing its agricultural sector is an indication of its ability to provide sufficient food for its population. In Ghana, agriculture involves crops, fisheries, livestock and all other related activities. However despite its role, food security still remains a challenge in the Wa West district. The study sought to find out the role and nature of Agricultural extension services ...
Ghana’s “Planting for Food and Job” programme aims to improve farmers’ access to farm inputs. The idea is that through improved access to quality seed varieties, fertilisers and good agronomic practices, output would increase leading to an increased market surplus. This study sought to investigate whether engagement in ‘Planting for Food and Job’ (PFJ) programme influences farm households’ maize commercialization level in Savelugu Municipality, in the Northern Region of Ghana. T...
In an attempt to boost sorghum production, the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute in Ghana, over the years, has released a number of improved sorghum varieties to farmers in northern Ghana. The purpose of this study was to estmate the level of adoption, and to identify the factors that influenced the adoption of the improved sorghum varieties, using a probit model. It was found that age, available family labour, non-farm income, farmers' perception about the varieties, farm size and far...
The government of Ghana and Non-governmental Organizations have constructed a number of small scale irrigation dams and dug-outs in the Sissala West District of the Upper West Region. The purpose of the small scale irrigation dams is to give irrigation farmers access to enough water during the dry season. The variation of rainfall and high temperatures poses serious threat to dams, hence making it difficult for the reservoirs to have enough water for irrigation activities. The study investiga...
Abstract Chronic stress poses a challenge to aquaculture, with cortisol and glucose traditionally used as stress markers. Recent doubts about the reliability of scale cortisol as a chronic stress determinant have surfaced due to its role in calcium homeostasis. While cortisol affects gene expression in stress responses, its impact on metabolic pathways in cultured Nile tilapia remains understudied. We explored the connection between cortisol signatures of chronic stress in Nile tilapia and t...
Abstract/Overview Background: Natural forest succession often affects soil physical and chemical properties. Selected physical and chemical soil properties were studied in an old-growth forest across a forest successional series in Dinghushan Nature Reserve, Southern China. Methodology/Principal Findings: The aim was to assess the effects of forest succession change on soil properties. Soil samples (0–20 cm depth) were collected from three forest types at different succession stages, na...
Abstract Cattle rustling has become a threat and a major crime in Nigeria recently. To minimize this, there is a need to ensure cattle safety and provide substantial security when rearing cattle both in ranches and open fields. This necessitates the need to deploy technology to attenuate cattle rustling. This study developed and tested an animal tracking device using the Internet of Things (IoT). The developed system consists of three units that were interfaced together. These units are the G...
ABSTRACT This study analyzed the effect of agricultural productivity on Nigeria’s economic growth during the 1991-2022 period. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the effect of agricultural productivity on Nigeria’s economic growth from 1991-2022; examine the contribution of agricultural sector to Nigeria’s economic growth; Investigate the relationship between agricultural productivity and overall economic growth in Nigeria from 1991-2022; make recommendations for pol...
Abstract Background: Peasant agroecosystems in Kenya are considered to be a continuum of integrated traditional farming systems and natural ecosystem conservancy programs. Hyphaene compressa (doum palm) exists in arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) of Kenya. While research in these areas is focusing on new plants to be brought to the areas, there is no focus on doum palm, which is already adapted to these areas. Scanty ethnobotanical knowledge exists in the form of unpublished material. The stud...
Abstract/Overview Over 6% of agricultural land is affected by salinity. It is becoming obligatory to use saline soils, so growing salt-tolerant plants is a priority. To gain an understanding of the genetic basis of upland cotton tolerance to salinity at seedling stage, an intra-specific cross was developed from CCRI35, tolerant to salinity, as female with Nan Dan (NH), sensitive to salinity, as the male. A genetic map of 5178 SNP markers was developed from 277 F2:3 populations. The map sp...
Abstract Integrated soil fertility management and soil water conservation practices are possible solutions to persistent soil quality decline and low availability of soil moisture which are affecting agricultural productivity in the dry lands of Tharaka-Nithi County. Nonetheless, the rate of uptake of these technologies and practices by smallholder farmers has stagnated over the years despite recommendations for their use. Lack of effective communication between the extension agents and rese...
Abstract Degraded landscapes and soil water stress are long-standing problems to smallholder agriculture in the drylands. Despite the important roles of soil and water conservation in restoring degraded landscapes and improving agricultural productivity, the technologies are yet to be adopted to their fullest extent. This can be attributed to gender-linked disparities in agricultural technology utilization. This study, therefore, sought to evaluate gender-specific choice and use-intensity de...