Abstract Development organizations in Africa have been at the forefront in fighting for women inclusion in agriculture but little has been documented on how these initiatives impact on women's lives'. This study explored the extent at which MARKETS II – an agricultural value chain project whose stated objective is to economically empower female farmers – has increased women’s participation in agricultural activities in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria. The objectives of the study include:...
Majority of the rural households in Kenya depend mainly on agriculture as a source of food and livelihoods. Agricultural productivity has been declining due to many factors including climate change. Declining agricultural productivity has in turn resulted in increased food insecurity in the country. Consequently, there is a renewed interest in promoting drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum, which are known to perform well in the arid and semi-arid lands of the developing world. Owing to its...
Abstract River catchments sustain human civilization and related biodiversity. The numerous resource bases from river catchments include: drinking water supply, abstraction of water for agriculture, for hydropower generation, recreation, transport, construction materials and fishing. However, despite their value to mankind river catchments are under pressure and are facing degradation and threat from communities and from climate change. Kasikeu River catchment is located within the Kilungu ca...
Abstract: Most developing countries like Ethiopia are striving hard to solve acute protein deficiency in the diets of their increasing populations through cultivation of mushrooms in the urban areas without heavily depending on agricultural lands and capital. This study was conducted in Debre Berhan University, College of Natural and computational Sciences, with the aim of assessing the proximate chemical composition, biological efficiency and suitability of the selected substrates (Millet s...
The role of agricultural extension is vital to the diffusion of new technologies, but extension is currently not very effective in many African nations, with conventional extension approaches having minimal impact. In Kenya, there have been gaps on the availability of studies and documentation of the specific extension approaches and their influence on the acquisition of knowledge and skills for improved farm productivity despite the various extension efforts and resources put in place in man...
Abstract: Continuous conversion of land for different agricultural production purpose has resulted in degradation of soil resources. The decline of soil fertility and soil organic carbon stock become notable phenomena in the highlands of Ethiopia. The present study was conducted to analyse and quantify the land use/land cover changes over the periods of 28 years and to investigate the influence of A. decurrens tree-based farming system on selected soil properties and soil organic carbon stoc...
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY The continuous increase in food demand requires a rapid improvement in food production technologies. Food insecurity is a major challenge in developing countries. In a country like Nigeria where the economy is mainly not agriculture based, use of technology to improve on yields is paramount. Agriculture in Nigeria is mainly rain fed. Global warming has led to climate changing thus rendering the rain fed agricultural system...
hrough the farms of the future (FotF) approach, the CCAFS climate analogue tool can be used to connect farmers to their possible future climates through farmer-to-farmer learning exchanges. In East Africa, this has already been piloted in Lushoto, Tanzania (Nelson et al. 2012), and recently implemented in Nyando, Kenya. The Farms of the Future approach focusses on two main objectives: First, to build on farmer-to-farmer exchanges to analogue sites as a valuable option to improve adaptive cap...
ABSTRACT Inefficiencies in maize production do not only have adverse effect on the output of maize but it also poses a serious threat to income generation, food security and the general welfare of the people. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the level and determinants of technical efficiency of maize farmers. The proportionate stratified and simple random technique was used to select 306 maize farmers. Descriptive statistics was used to describe farm and farmer specific characte...
ABSTRACT In Nigeria several small scale farmers make use of organic materials such as compost and manure to maintain soil organic matter and as sources of nutrients. The advantages of organic farming could include increased productivity and enhanced biodiversity of the farm lands and surrounding environment. This paper examined the utilization of organic of practices and materials, with highlight on farmers' demographics, knowledge of organic farming, attitude and constraint to use of organic...
ABSTRACT This study analyzed the factors that influence the adoption of improved maize varieties and the extent of adoption in northern and eastern zones of Tanzania. Data were collected from a sample of 548 households in northern and eastern zones by adoption pathway project in 2013 by using household survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were employed to determine the improved maize varieties adopted in the two regions and Heckman two stage sample selection model was used to determin...
ABSTRACT Gender inequalities are said to be a stumbling block to development efforts. Conversely inequalities are reported in many agricultural production and marketing. Therefore, understanding of gender participation differences within coffee production and marketing is important in promoting sustainable and equitable opportunities in agriculture. This study was set to assess gender inequalities in participation in coffee production and marketing in Kigoma district council. A cross-sectiona...
ABSTRACT Agriculture is the main pillar of Ghana’s development and the majority of food producers are women. However, women and men do not always have equal access to farmlands. Disparities in access and control over agricultural productive resources contribute to a high incidence of poverty especially for women. This study therefore used Abokobi in the Ga-East Municipality as a case to examine the gender difference in access to and use of farmland. The objectives of the study were to exami...
Abstract Household livelihood across Africa 50 years after independence have recorded lean improvements especially in terms of access to essential production inputs. Household rate of land access, means of access, Household rate of land access, means of access, welfare and investment capacities, land cost and the linkage between access to land and the above measured parameters were investigated using a set of questionnaires administered to urban and rural settlements. Descriptive results show...
Abstract/Overview Land degradation is a problem facing humanity on earth today as it threatens food security as well as viable land use activities. This study considered quarrying as a form of land degradation using human beings as geomorphic agents. The study established the extent of quarrying effects on land degradation on land use activities such as agriculture, transportation and biodiversity. The indicators of land degradation were soil erosion marked by presence of gullies, sand bu...