ABSTRACT In spite of the efforts and the emergence of numerous group based interventions for technology dissemination, the productivity and technology uptake levels of smallholder farmers of South Kivu, democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) still remain low. The objectives of this study were therefore to describe the changes in input use, value of production and incomes, determine changes in institutional linkages resulting from group based interventions, quantify the economic gains from the gr...
Small scale potato enterprises play a central role in creation of jobs and wealth creation for 3.8 million potato farmers along the potato value chain in Kenya. Although, potato roduction and marketing emerges as a promising farm enterprise that can contribute to increased incomes fosmallholder potato farmers. There is little or lack of mpetitiveness among potato farmers.This study intended to fill this knowledge gap by determining the effect of entrepreneurial behaviour on the competitive ad...
ABSTRACT The study was carried out in Rwamagana district in Rwanda. It was carried out on the challenges of sustainability of coffee projects in Rwanda using a case study of coffee washing stations in Rwamagana. The main objectives of the study were to examine the contributions of coffee washing stations in promotion of sustainable development of coffee industry, to establish the challenges of sustaining coffee washing stations and to identify the strategies being adopted to enhance the susta...
ABSTRACT A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in sheep and goats kept under traditional management system in Meru district, Tanzania in September 2014, with the objective of determining the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthosis in small ruminants, identification of the most prevalent helminths, determination of helminth infection intensity in traditional management system and assessment of farmers awareness on small ruminants helminth control practice. In this study a tot...
Abstract: Dairy production is a biologically efficient system that converts large quantities of roughage in the tropics to milk. Milk production levels are determined by the levels of technologies applied to the dairy enterprise. However, information on levels of adoption of dairy technologies especially in the arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) of Kenya is scanty. This study thus sought to evaluate the extent of adoption of modern dairy technologies and its impact on milk production in Nzaui ...
Abstract: Production of cereal crops in sub-Saharan Africa is threatened by parasitic striga weeds and attack by stemborers and the invasive fall armyworm (FAW), compounded by increasing hot and dry conditions. A climate-smart push-pull technology (PPT) significantly reduces effects of these biotic challenges. To improve further resilience of the system to climate change, more adapted and suitable companion plants were identified and integrated in a new version of PPT, termed ‘third genera...
Abstract Banana is one of the most important fruits in Kenya as it contributes to about 32% of the foreign income of the total exported fruits. Despite this contribution, banana farming is facing numerous challenges such as lack of clean planting material, pest and diseases and poor agronomic and crop husbandry practices leading to low productivity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate technology adoption along banana value chain and its effects on productivity among smallholder farmers...
ABSTRACT The National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP) utilizethe Shifting Focal Area Approach (SFAA), to build the capacity of Common Interest Groups (CIGs) for performance improvement. A number of institutional factors play a role in determining how the CIGs perform. NALEP was designed to explore some of the institutional factors which include access to agricultural credit, commodity markets, and training among others so as to improve the performance of CIGs. Inspite of...
ABSTRACT Food Security is a vital cog in every fiscal and monetary growth of all countries worldwide. It is a state when all people have economic, social and physical access to nutritious, safe and sufficient food that meets food preferences and dietary needs for a healthy and active life at all times. Lack of funding confines farmers’ productivity and improved income hence a major impediment for farmer’s especially small-scale farmers in third world countries. The purpose of the project...
ABSTRACT Climate variability which is a reality in Kenya is manifested by fluctuations in climatic parameters, low agricultural production, land fragmentation, soil degradation, and loss of biodiversity. Addressing climate variability requires the use of ecologically based traditional climate smart agriculture systems such as agro forestry. In the past decade human lives, crops and livestock worth millions of shillings have been destroyed by increased intensity of extreme weather events in Ke...
ABSTRACT This study was undertaken to identify key traits that are closely related to cassava yield under drought stress and also identify stable high yielding cassava genotypes under varying environments. A survey was conducted using in semi-structured questionnaire in three districts in the Northern Region involving 120 farmers to identify farmers’ perception on drought in cassava cultivation, production constraints, mitigation strategies and preferences for improved cassava genotypes. To...
ABSTRACT The study was conducted among one hundred and thirty (130) participants; 120 farmers and 10 buyers. The purpose of the study is to examine the production of watermelon as a high value crop in contributing to livelihood of smallholder farmers in the Bawku West District (BWD) in the Upper East Region (U/E/R) of Ghana. Specifically, the study sought to achieve the following objectives: to determine the relationship between personal characteristics of smallholders and level of participat...
ABSTRACT Livestock development projects are aimed at increasing livestock productivity and increasing household incomes of participating livestock farmers and processors and traders in Ghana. Ghana has implemented two of such projects within the last two decades: The “National Livestock Services Project” and “Livestock Development Project”. The components of these projects were development of animal production, development of animal health, credit provision, and capacity building. T...
ABSTRACT Rice yields in developing countries in general and specifically in Tanzania remain low due to limited adoption of new innovations by smallholder rice farmers. The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is believed to have promising potential for increasing rice yields. However, the factors influencing the adoption decisions as well as adoption impacts have been a subject of debate. This study was conducted to analyse the adoption of SRI and its impact on rice yields in Mbarali Distri...
Extension strategies that stimulate commercialization of smallholder farming aim to increase agricultural productivity. The National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP) working with smallholder farmers introduced Common Interest Groups (CIGs) approach. CIG is a congregation of farmers brought together for the purpose of imparting technologies to increase farm productivity. When farmers come together through indigenous chicken Common Interest Groups, it is expected that ...