ABSTRACT In response to the challenges of using traditional farming practices and in order to boost smallholder productivity on sustainable basis, many civil society organizations, NGOs and international donor agencies including USAID, under the auspices of its Agriculture Development and Value-Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) project, has initiated many intervention programmes geared towards the development and dissemination of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). The study aimed at identifying t...
ABSTRACT Anthracnose is the most serious leaf and vine epiphytotic disease of yam that causes yield loss. Severe infection results in vine dieback, defoliation, and tuber rot. Aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica A Jus seed (Neem tree seed), Jatropha curcas ( L) seed (Jatropha plant seed) and Nicotiana tabacum (L) leaf (Tobacco plant leaf) extracts were evaluated for the control of anthracnose disease of yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir). The pathogen was isolated, identified and its growth w...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the nutritional composition of “niri” (Citrullus vulgaris) seeds and its effect as an extender in beef sausages. The nutritional composition of whole “niri” seed, its purees (raw and roasted) and Chaffs (raw and chaffs) were determined using standard procedures. The purees and chaffs were used as extenders at 0, 5, 15 and 25 % inclusion levels in beef sausages. Sensory analyses were conducted using the British Standard procedures on days...
ABSTRACT Research work was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station to determine the disease status of the seedlings and budlings in the nursery. Field surveys were carried out on three separate occasions between October and December 2003 during the dry season and repeated in March to May 2004 in the rainy season. Four diseases were detected. These were citrus scab, citrus canker, greasy spot-like disease and brown leaf spot of rough lemon. The causal agent for brown leaf spot was co...
ABSTRACT This study evaluated pedological differences in three soil profiles of the Amo series following cessation of seasonal flooding due to the construction of the Volta Dam. Three Pedons were used in this study. Pedon 1 is a modal profile; Pedon 2 is sited about 500m downslope from an oyster shell deposit site while Pedon 3 is on the oyster shell site. Soil properties determined include particle size distribution, hydraulic conductivity, pH, organic carbon, available and total phosphorus...
ABSTRACT The association between leguminous plants and rhizobia helps to meet the limiting nitrogen in the soil by producing about 40 to 60 million metric tons (Mt) per hectare per year of nitrogen. However, the focus of legume-Rhizobium symbiosis has been on biomass productivity, nodulation and nitrogen fixation of the major and domesticated food legumes whereas little research has been conducted on the indigenous legumes which hold promise in retaining agricultural diversity and achieving f...
ABSTRACT Land degradation, unreliable rainfall, population growth and chronic poverty in subSaharan Africa challenge the sustainability of soil fertility, crop yields and general livelihoods (food security) for smallholder farmers. Several soil fertility management interventions have been introduced to farmers in groups over the years, but different levels of uptake, determinants and socio-economic effects have been reported in separate studies. However, the determining role of social networ...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the impact of value chain intervention strategies on gender outcomes. The study was conducted in the Sagnarigu District, Tolon District, and Tamale Metropolitan. Simple random sampling, and Purposive sampling methods were used to identify and collect data from 150 shea actors. The research revealed that 68.7 per cent of shea actors had no formal education, and 18 per cent had non-formal education. The research also revealed that shea actors benefitted from bo...
ABSTRACT This purpose of this study was to investigate the usage of ICTs, which ones are popular among the farmers and whether certain socio-economic characteristics influenced usage. It was to fill a gap on ICT usage among crop farmers in rural communities in Northern Ghana. The study involved a multi stage sampling of 210 crop farmers with equal numbers for males and females from seven (7) districts in the Northern Region of Ghana. It involved the use of structured interview questionnaires...
ABSTRACT A survey was carried out to assess the extent of rot, and susceptibility of different types of sweet potato, and methods of storage in Ghana. Pathogens were isolated, identified and their pathogenicity established. The effectiveness of curing in extending the shelf-life of sweet potatoes was also studied. The market survey revealed that there are four types of sweet potato tubers (based on external colour). The local names of three of the sweet potato types are “Fante” (yellow sk...
ABSTRACT Low output of cocoa has resulted in Ghana losing out to Cote d‟Ivoire as the leading producer. The aim of this study was to explore farm households‟ adoption of inorganic fertilizer and technical efficiency, using cross-sectional data collected from 305 cocoa producing households in the Western Region of Ghana. The Heckman two-stage model was used for both the discrete decision to adopt fertilizer and intensity of fertilizer use while the stochastic frontier framework was used t...
ABSTRACT The high cost of sausage production coupled with the need to impede rancidity without the use of artificial ingredients is a major concern. Of all the various processed meats, sausage is the most appetizing and widely consumed. This study investigated the effects of three varieties of sweet potatoe: orange, purple and white-fleshed sweet potato purees on the sensory, nutritional and oxidation rate of beef and frankfurter sausages. A complete randomized design was used for the experi...
ABSTRACT This study assesses consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for safer vegetables in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 350 vegetable consumers selected through a multi stage sampling procedure from ten districts of the capital city, Ouagadougou. Descriptive statistics was used in identifying the mean Willingness to Pay (MWTP). Ordered probit and Multinomial logit were used to estimate the factors influencing consumers’ WTP and consumers’...
ABSTRACT Stable and affordable food commodity prices are important for food security. Higher food prices reduce a family‟s expenditure on other life sustaining expenditures such as health and education. In 2007/8, the world experienced an unexpected rise in both food commodity prices and fuel (petroleum products) prices, which drew the attention of world leaders and researchers. The effect of this continues increases in gasoline prices on the price of maize have implications for Ghanaians ...
ABSTRACT This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the possible causes of production volatility that has characterized rice production in the Greater Accra and Volta Regions of Ghana. The output gap that exists between actual yield and achievable yield presents an opportunity for output growth. Using cross sectional data, this study presents an empirical analysis of production risk and technical efficiency of 356 irrigated rice farms from the two regions. This study adopts t...