ABSTRACT The study shows Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) from groundnut samples collected from the six markets in the Central Region of Ghana namely: Swedru, Mankessim, Cape Coast, Fosu, Jukwa and Kasoa. All groundnut sellers interviewed were females and have no knowledge about aflatoxins. Thirty five percent 35% of the groundnut sellers had no formal education whilst 26.7% had basic primary education and 23.3% had Junior high school educatio...
ABSTRACT Maize streak disease (MSD), one of the most destructive maize diseases causes an estimated yield loss of about 20 % in Ghana. A baseline survey was conducted from July to August, 2015 across three agro-ecological zones within the Volta Region to assess the level of MSD incidence and severity in the zones. In addition, field experiments were conducted at Nkwanta during the cropping seasons of 2015 to assess the effects of tillage practices, maize variety and fertilizer application on ...
ABSTRACT The Agricultural Sector Rehabilitation Project (ASRP) is one of key rural development projects whose impact is yet to be understood. The purpose of the study was to determine farmers’ perceived impact of the ASRP on their livelihoods in Careysburg and Todee districts, Liberia. The study sought to describe the socio-economic characteristics of farmers who participated in the project, ascertain the perceptions of beneficiaries on the relevance of the ASRP and examine the perceived le...
ABSTRACT Despite the fact that information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been proposed as a means to improve extension delivery in Nigeria, very little has been done to identify the ICT training need of agricultural extension agents. The study examined the ICT training need of agricultural extension agents in Bayelsa and Rivers States of Nigeria. A descriptive survey design, content validated and pretested questionnaire were used to collect data from 100 public extension agents i...
Abstract Uncontrolled harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) poses a serious risk of extermination to several of these species in Nigeria. Yet, there is a paucity of information on the distribution, population status and sustainable management of NTFPs in most of the tropical lowland rainforests. We, therefore, assessed the population, distribution and threats to sustainable management of NTFPs within the tropical lowland rainforests of Omo and Shasha Forest Reserves, south western...
ABSTRACT Triplochiton scleroxylon, Tectona grandis, Gmelina arborea, Nauclea diderichii and Teminalia ivorensis wood blocks were biodegraded in situ in the laboratory by Lenzites palisoti a white rot fungus. The test blocks were cut into 10xlOx20 mm and exposed into the infection region of pure culture of Lenzitespalisoti for 16 weeks. The test blocks were examined for weight loss at 4 weeks interval. The percentages of weight loss obtained after 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of incubation of the t...
ABSTRACT This study examined the characteristics and management of street trees in Damaturu, the growing capital city of Yobe State, located in the Sudan savanah ecological zone of Nigeria. Enumeration of street trees was carried out in the major roads of Damaturu to identify tree species and determine population of the species. Data on the management of amenity trees in the town were collected through administration of questionnaire to forestry officials in the State’s Ministry of Environ...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was four-fold: First, to estimate merchantable logging residues left in the forest after logging; second, to investigate the natural durability of stem and branch wood of five species; third, to compare the bending strength of solid and finger-jointed lumber; and finally to investigate the influence of anatomical properties on natural durability and mechanical properties of wood. The five wood species were Entandrophragma cylindricum (sapele), Entandrophrag...
ABSTRACT The study investigated whether progeny of Sarotherodon melanotheron from two different populations would have higher reproductive capacity and also exhibit desirable aquaculture traits. Broodstock of S. melanotheron were collected from Kakum Estuary and Benya lagoon and bred to the second filial generation stage. Reproduction was higher in the parents from the Estuary than those from the lagoon. Water quality parameters were within the acceptable range for fish culture. Three diffe...
ABSTRACT Maize streak disease (MSD) is the most important viral disease affecting maize production in Ghana. Management options employed to mitigate the effect of the disease has not been successful. Breeding for disease resistant is the most sustainable option. Mutation breeding was used in this study to develop maize mutants’ lines that are resistant MSD. Radiosensitivity was first carried out to determine the optimum dose for mutation induction in six cultivars of maize grown in the stu...
ABSTRACT Aspects of the ecology and spatial context of Etse Lagoon at Abandze, in the Central Region of Ghana were studied from April 2014 and March 2015. Water temperature ranged from 24.0 ⁰C to 36.6 ⁰C (mean = 29.43 ± 0.12 ⁰C). Salinity varied from 0.72 ‰ to 22.30 ‰ (mean = 13.42 ± 0.30 ‰), pH from 4.6 to 8.9 with a mean value of 7.6 ± 0.03, DO from 1.65 mg/l to 11.15 mg/l with a mean value of 5.08 ± 0.08 mg/l and conductivity from 7.35 mS/cm to 43.3 mS/cm with a mean value...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the catch trends, spatial distributions, exploitation status, and reproductive potential of the sparids – Pagrus caeruleostictus, Dentex canariensis and Dentex gibbosus, in the coastal waters of Ghana. Samples of the species were obtained from commercial catches at Tema, Elmina and Sekondi from February 2016 to July 2017. Also used were secondary data from the Fisheries Scientific Survey Department and Fridtjof Nansen cruise reports. P. caeruleostictus was ...
ABSTRACT The main aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which communities in the Gomoa East District participate in improving basic education delivery. Specifically, the study looked at the activities that communities perform and the extent to which they engage in those activities to improve access, infrastructure development and academic performance, as well as ensuring effective monitoring and supervision. The sampled respondents consisted of basic school heads and teachers, ...
ABSTRACT One of the problems accounting for the relatively low level of cocoa production in Ghana is the decline in soil fertility. The Cocoa High Technology Programme (CHTP) was introduced by the Government of Ghana in 2003 with the aim of improving the fertility of the soil thereby increasing the yields and incomes of cocoa farmers. The study was carried out (using a descriptive-correlational survey design) in Birim South, East Akim, Fanteakwah and Birim North districts in the Eastern Reg...
ABSTRACT The environmental conditions, composition of benthic macrofauna, and richness, diversity, as well as food habits and aspects of reproductive biology of fish species in the Kakum Estuary wetland (located 2 km west of Cape Coast, Ghana) were studied from July 2009 to February 2010 in an effort to broaden our knowledge of the biodiversity and ecological value of wetland ecosystems. Sampling was conducted on five pools in the wetland. Oligochaeta and Diptera (chironomid larvae) were the ...