ABSTRACT Bean Foliage beetles (Ootheca spp.) are a major constraint to common bean production in Kenya. Two studies were carried out during the long and short rain seasons of 2015 to determine the effect of mixtures of bean varieties and other legume species and also to investigate the effect of different bean varieties on bean foliage beetle incidence, population density and severity of damage and grain yield. Field experiments were conducted in six sites (Madola, Bujumba, Busire, Nyalara a...
Maize production in Kenya is under threat due to infection by maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND). The disease is known to cause intensive complete yield loss. It is caused by a synergistic infection of maize by maize chlorotic mottle virus and sugarcane mosaic virus which are mainly vectored by corn thrips (Frankliniella williamsi, Hood) and corn leaf aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis, Fitch) respectively. This study was carried out with the aim of investigating the following aspects; farme...
ABSTRACT Flooding is by far the most destructive type of weather conditions that strikes humans and their livelihoods around the world. Smallholder farmers in rural communities are predominantly dependent on rain-fed agriculture which exposes them to the vagaries of floods. Flood extremes have become more unpredictable and smallholder farmers are more vulnerable to them as a result of their limited adaptive capacity. Local level assessment of flood vulnerability is thus necessary in order to ...
ABSTRACT The impact of climate variability on societies around the world is increasingly evident. Kenya is one of the most vulnerable countries and economic sectors and livelihoods are already frequently experiencing the manifestations of the problem. Households engage in adaptation strategies in order to mitigate the negative effect of climate variability. The extent to which these effects are felt depends mostly on the level of adaptation in response to climate variability. A better underst...
ABSTRACT Water conservation and food security are some of the problems facing developing countries. The challenges of water conservation could be tackled by adopting the drip irrigation method. The drip irrigation system is an irrigation system that involves the artificial application of water to the base or root zone of plants in a controlled slow frequent and steady manner. This study was developed drip irrigation system for rural farmer on a small sale plot of an area of 7m X 5m with a wa...
ABSTRACT Lameness is a cause of worry to dairy producers for being indicative of welfare problem with resultant economic losses from reduced milk yield, veterinary cost or premature culling. Risks for lameness are both animal and herd level factors, but the magnitude varies with housing conditions of the cows. This study compared farmer estimated and observed prevalence, types of lameness, risk factors and economic losses from lameness of cows in farms practicing zero- and pasture grazing. T...
ABSTRACT This study was undertaken to examine the factors that influenced the dissemination and adoption of soil fertility management (SFM) strategies to farmers in rural areas. It further assessed the communication channels that were deployed to spread information on SFM. This study was conducted in two separate districts – Kwaebibirem in the Eastern Region and Ada West in the Greater Accra Region – to compare findings from two different climatic zones. The diffusion of innovation and th...
PROPOSAL It has because very imperative to examine the role of commercial Bank in financing of A agricultural projects PLC, (1999 – 2003), is s topic so crucial that interested parties in the work many. It is very vital considering the role of commercial banks in general and first Bank in particular play in financing of Agricultural. Project in Enugu state, in sustaining the Economy. This creditable role being played by the above bank in sustaining the economy of Enugu state and the ...
Abstract Using animal power in agricultural production plays a vital role in reducing drudgery in farm operations and increasing productivity of small scale farmers in developing countries. This study was carried out to empirically investigate the relationship between Animal Traction Training intervention and farmers’ income in Kano State. Primary data were sourced via administering a structured questionnaire on two hundred farmers who benefited from the Training. Analysis of the data was...
This study was designed to establish farmers’ perception on climate change and weather variability and its impacts on input investments, crop yields and food security. The study was conducted in the Middleveld of Swaziland were three constituencies were selected within the region. Three communities were selected spatially from each constituency. Purposive sampling was used to select 30 households from each community to make a sample size of 270 households. Information was collected from hea...
ABSTRACT This research aimed to study the contribution of small scale coffee farmers‟ groups in Mbozi district, Mbeya region. The specific objectives included, identifying the factors that influenced the coffee farmers‟ groups formation, delineating the roles of the coffee farmers‟ groups in the coffee production, processing and marketing, assessing the performance of the coffee farmers‟ groups in facilitating the group members in coffee production, processing and marketing and ident...
The study aimed to analyze the socio economic determinants of the level of commercialization between male and female crop farmers in Iwo local government area of Osun state. A field survey consisting of 85 farmers were the registered arable crop farmers as other farmers specialized into other types of farming in the study area. The result of the commercialization index revealed cassava as the most commercialized crop by both farmers. Also, farming households were categorized into quintiles wi...
ABSTRACT This purpose of this study was to investigate the usage of ICTs, which ones are popular among the farmers and whether certain socio-economic characteristics influenced usage. It was to fill a gap on ICT usage among crop farmers in rural communities in Northern Ghana. The study involved a multi stage sampling of 210 crop farmers with equal numbers for males and females from seven (7) districts in the Northern Region of Ghana. It involved the use of structured interview questionnaires...
Abstract In Nigeria, as in many other countries, wastewater use in agricultural production by farming households is on the rise and there is a need to draw the attention of key players and urban authorities in fostering appropriate planning initiatives. For this reason, the perception and knowledge of vegetable farmers becomes necessary to improve their production activities and yield. While previous studies have confirmed limited or no awareness information and education to vegetable farmers...
ABSTRACT Coffee farming in Rwanda is an important sector that contributes significantly to the economy in terms of employment and income, especially for the smallholder coffee farmers in rural areas. In order to improve coffee production in terms of quality and quantity, farmers are encouraged to form and join cooperatives so that they can increase their vertical integration within the coffee value chain. Despite this strategy, level of participation of farmers in cooperatives is still low (...