Abstract: Cereals particularly maize, are the most essential food and cash crops for majority of smallholder households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In maize production, small-sized producers are confronted with different constraints including stemborers, Striga and degraded soil leading to poor crop yields. In response to these challenges, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and collaborators came up with a habitat management approach; the Push-pull Technology ...
Abstract In Kenya, there are more than 200,000 farmers who have been trained on organic farming technologies and systems. Currently certified land under organic management in Kenya stands at 104,211 ha while the organic sub sector employs 12,647 farmers who are directly involved in production of different organic products. Although there are many documented reasons that make farmers to adopt organic farming system, economic benefits present one of the major motivations. These benefits howeve...
Abstract In Kenya, there are more than 200,000 farmers who have been trained on organic farming technologies and systems. Currently certified land under organic management in Kenya stands at 104,211 ha while the organic sub sector employs 12,647 farmers who are directly involved in production of different organic products. Although there are many documented reasons that make farmers to adopt organic farming system, economic benefits present one of the major motivations. These benefits however...
ABSTRACT Tree Based Integrated Food-energy System is a farming system that combines food crops and trees for wood energy production on the same farm. This farming system aims at producing both food and wood energy on the same piece of land through sustainable crop integration and agro-systems. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining how this system can promote the livelihoods of small-holder farmers in Kenya, with particular focus on Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-county in Tharaka Nithi Cou...
ABSTRACT Agriculture is an important source of food and economic survival of rural populations in Tanzania however farming activities are highly affected by rainfall variability which cause loss in crops and livestock yield. This study explored adaptation strategies to rainfall variability, socioeconomic factors influencing maize production in mixed farming systems. Specifically, assessed the trends in rainfall and maize production, determined the relationship between trends, identified farm...
ABSTRACT This study analysed the economics of smallholder organic farmers in the Muleba district. Specifically, the study was conducted to identify the costs associated with organic and conventional coffee production, to assess the profitability of the two farming system and to determine the effect of premium price in compensation of yield in organic coffee. The study also addressed the coffee organic standard demanded by importers. Multistage, purposive and simple random sampling procedures...
ABSTRACT This study analyses the performance of small-scale-tobacco producers under contract farming system and farmer characteristics that influences tobacco production in Songea district. The Specific objectives were: (i) To examine the cost and return of tobacco small-scale farmers under contract farming scheme in the study area; (ii) To assess the influence of contract farming characteristics on tobacco production; (iii) To examine the resource use efficiency in contract farming; (iv) T...
ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted in Babati district to assess types and quality of crop residues and other feed resources available for feeding livestock, crop residue handling, quantity fed, milk yield and manure handling and use within the farming system. Experiment one covered three different villages across different agro-ecological zones, involving 143 farmers in six focused group discussion and 54 farmers in individual quantitative questionnaire while experiment two involved 24 f...
ABSTRACT Micronutrient and protein deficiencies are among the major public-health concerns in Tanzania. These deficiencies mainly affect children below five years of age and pregnant women. Malnutrition is a preventable problem if nutrition education and food-based approach strategies are effectively emphasised from the village to the national levels. The banana-based farming system of Kagera region of Tanzania has good edible food diversity. However, households mainly consume monotonous diet...
ABSTRACT Micronutrient and protein deficiencies are among the major public-health concerns in Tanzania. These deficiencies mainly affect children below five years of age and pregnant women. Malnutrition is a preventable problem if nutrition education and food-based approach strategies are effectively emphasised from the village to the national levels. The banana-based farming system of Kagera region of Tanzania has good edible food diversity. However, households mainly consume monotonous diet...
Abstract The prevalence of contract farming in the cotton industry of Zimbabwe implies that it has become the dominant marketing system. Even the independently produced cotton is eventually sold to the contracting cotton companies owing to enacted regulations which compel all prospective cotton buyers to finance production through contract farming to be licensed to purchase seed cotton from farmers. However, the prevailing seed cotton marketing system is riddled with challenges characterise...
ABSTRACT Microbial diversity and function in agro-ecosystems is influenced by various aspects linked to soil and agronomic practices for example, tillage, irrigation, crop rotation and application of organic and inorganic inputs. Farming systems practices may affect the dynamic interactions existing between soil, plant and microorganisms in different agricultural biomes. Due to limitations associated with conventional microbial cultivation strategies, only a fractional number of cultivable sp...
ABSTRACT Societies are dynamic: so too are the farming systems that provide their food and other needs. The study examines transitions in farming systems and their contribution to food security at the household level. This is important as most people in rural areas rely on farming for their basic needs. These systems are under pressure from both external and internal forces with diverse impacts on food and livelihoods. A mixed-methods approach, which combined a survey with different qualitati...
Abstract Background: With the increasing world population, there is increasing demand for food. This has led to overuse of agricultural farms causing reduced soil fertility and accumulation of phytopathogens. Inorganic fertilizers and pesticides have been extensively used in response to these challenges. Extensive integration of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides in the farming system has contributed to soil and water pollution worsening the eutrophication in rivers lake waters. Alternativ...
ABSTRACT Freshly extracted juices obtained from organically and conventionally produced orange and apple fruits were assayed in terms of their nutritional quality. Parameters used in the assessment were total soluble sugars, ascorbic acid content, folic acid concentration, acidity, glucose, fructose, maltose and sucrose contents, as well as the concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and copper. Total and individual sugars were detected using HPLC while brix concentrations we...