ABSTRACT Biochar is a type of charcoal that can be used to condition agricultural soils. The application of Biochar to agricultural soils as a conditioner can improve soil fertility and crop productivity. The agricultural sector of Ghana is characterized by low productivity and low level of technology use. The study sought to assess the factors that influence Biochar technology adoption in amending soils for vegetable production in the Kwahu East district of Ghana. Primary data was collected ...
ABSTRACT There is an overwhelming evidence to suggest that environmental change drives conflicts, and that resource depletion and degradation undermine food security and livelihood wellbeing in communities where people are dependent on land and water resources. Therefore, understanding the vulnerability, food security, adaptation and resilience aspects of climate shocks in the context of land degradation and conflicts has immense practical significance particularly in the climateimpacted and ...
Abstract Various methods have been proposed for the improvement and maintenance of soil structure. In Ghana, the effects of agroforestry in the improvement of soil physical properties have not attracted much attention. This study seeks to determine the effects of agroforestry on the chemical and physical properties of soils in the semi-deciduous ecological zone. Three plots under Alley cropping and one plot under Woodlot (Leucaena leucocephala) were used. The soil properties determined includ...
ABSTRACT This thesis analysed the production, productivity and market participation of smallholder cowpea producers in the Northern Region of Ghana. It estimated the factors influencing cowpea production participation, productivity and market participation decisions. A multi-stage random sampling was employed in selecting four major cowpea producing districts and communities. Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed to select a sample of 300 respondents comprising of 240 cowpea ...
ABSTRACT MiDA, in March 2008, instituted a four year project in the Afram Basin with the aim of enhancing the productivity of the farmers (including maize farmers) in the basin. Although the project ended in February 2012, the question of the effect of the project on the productivity of maize farmers in the zone from the point of view of an independent body remains unknown. Therefore this study assessed the effect of MiDA intervention on the productivity of maize farmers in the Afram basin of...
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...
Soil erosion is a major threat to sustainable agriculture in the humid tropics. Management practices adopted to control soil erosion and improve soil quality include mulching and the use of Vetiver Grass Strips (VGS). Integrating VGS with mulch could be more effective in controlling soil erosion than VGS or mulching alone. However, information on the effectiveness of combined utilisation of VGS and Vetiver Mulch (VM) in controlling soil erosion and improving crop yield is scanty. Therefo...
Women are responsible for the bulk of agricultural processing activities in rural areas. Dearth of effective processing facilities has limited their productivity, thus predisposing them to low welfare status. Development Partnership in Higher Education (DELPHE) intervention sought to enhance women processors‟ capacity, however, its effect on their welfare status is yet to be ascertained. Therefore, the effects of DELPHE project on welfare status of rural women processors in Oyo and Osu...
ABSTRACT The root knot nematode species (Meloidogyne incognita) is a devastating pest in the tropical and sub-tropical regions, and is known to infect a wide variety of crops, leading to economic damage to these crops. The objective of this laboratory experiment was to investigate egg hatch of M. incognita exposed to aqueous root and leaf extracts of the African marigold (Tagetes erecta), Moringa (Moringa oleifera), and (Gboma) Solanum marcrocarpon plants at five (5) ..concentrations (0%, 10%...
Clash of interests between custodians of government Forest Reserves (FRs) in Ogun State and farmers operating within them, often results in conflicts causing disruption of socio-economic activities and sometimes loss of lives. Information on the causes and effects of these clashes would better inform policy makers and forestry professionals on workable and sustainable land-use practice. Therefore, factors responsible for such conflicts and their effects were investigated. Seven hundred a...
Inadequate access to agricultural information contributes largely to low productivity among farmers in Nigeria. The print media has been especially implicated on its low coverage and provision of agricultural information, thus limiting readership among farmers. To validate this observation, the extent of coverage of agricultural news in print media and farmer’s readership were therefore assessed. Content analyses of Nigerian Tribune, New Nigerian, This Day, The Punch and The Comet new...
Conventional vegetable protein ingredients in poultry feed are costly and relatively scarce. Moringa oleifera Seed Meal (MSM) is an oil seed rich in protein, which can be exploited as an alternative vegetable protein source. However, the potential of MSM as a protein source for broiler production has not been adequately documented. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the utilisation of MSM as a protein source in the diets of broiler chickens. Moringa seeds were harvested a...
Tourism is one of the main foci for economic revitalisation globally and especially, in developing countries (Awodele and Ayeni, 2011). In Africa, tourism has been seen as a means of growth and development (Kester, 2003) as well as launching the image of the continent to the outside world (Eja et al., 2012). Within the world tourism industry, ecotourism is the fastest growing sector (Weaver, 2005). It may be viewed as an intervention in the tourism industry (Manu and Kuuder, 2012). Ecoto...
ABSTRACT The study evaluated the performance of the table egg marketing system in Ghana by analysing the market, structure, price integration processes and the impediments to table egg. marketing efficiency. The methods of analysis employed included descriptive analysis, marketing margin analysis and econometric (regression) analysis. The market structure analysis, using the commodity sub-systems approach, showed that marketing channels for the table egg are moderately organised with the prod...
Weed infestation of soyabean field causes 65% yield reduction in the forestsavanna transition ecosystem of Nigeria. Single weed control method is often less effective. However, Integrated Weed Management (IWM), will ensure more effective and environment friendly control. There is little information on IWM application on soyabean field. This study was therefore aimed at investigating response of soyabean to IWM. Field study was carried out in the 2008 and 2009 planting seasons to asses t...