Abstract: Diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella L.), a pest of cruciferous vegetables worldwide, is resistant to major groups of insecticides, and attention has shifted to biological control using parasitoids. However, DBM and its parasitoid species have individual climatic requirements which, when not met adequately due to climate change, will potentially disrupt biological control of the pest. The response of this pest and its parasitoids to climate change at a local scale is less do...
ABSTRACT Keeping agro-ecologically highly productive cattle breeds remains critical to the transformation of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in developing countries from subsistence to commercial cattle production. A study was conducted to investigate the probability and potential for destocking, cattle commercialization and livelihood diversification in Kilosa district, Tanzania. Data were gathered from 132 households randomly selected from pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. Likert ...
Abstract: Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a major horticultural crop that relies on insect mediated pollination. In avocado produc-tion, a knowledge gap exists as to the importance of insect pollination, especially in East African smallholder farms. In thisstudy, conducted in a leading smallholder avocado production region in Kenya, we assessed the dependence of avocado fruitset on insect pollination and whether current smallholder production systems suffer from a deficit in pollination ...
Abstract: Edible insects are a sustainable source of high-quality animal protein. Insect farming is gaining interest globally, particularly in low-income countries, where it may provide substantial nutritional and economic benefits. To enhance insect farming practices in Africa, new farming systems are being developed. However, knowledge on how to best promote uptake of these systems is lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the effectiveness of educational interventions ...
ABSTRACTThe study was carried out in Kamwengye district Kicheche Sub County in the westernpart of Uganda to assess the role of organic agriculture /farming in improving theagriculture of small scale farmers.It focused on the farming practices, potential benefits of organic farming, level ofawareness and the factors constraining the adoption of organic farming.The traditional practices that characterize the farming systems of smallseaie farmers andland size in most developing countries due to ...
This report presents findings of a visit to Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in Western Province of Kenya. The visit, which was undertaken within INMSAP project, lasted four days and covered the period 15th-18th January 2002. The objectives of INMSAP are: • To develop an institutional sustainable approach of identifying, testing, monitoring and evaluation of farm or catchment level technologies addressing soil nutrient management constraints using principles and institutional aspects of Farmer Fi...
ABSTRACT Cocoa is Ghana's dominant cash crop and the major economic activity for over 800,000 households, with around 6.3 million Ghanaians but insect pest is causing devastating effect on yield. This study sought to obtain information about insect diversity, to generate species list of entomofauna in cocoa farms, to compare the diversity and abundance of the insect and to determine the monthly variation of insect species under differently managed systems in Semi-Deciduous Rain Forest (Suhum...
ABSTRACT In Kenya, fish farming has been expanding in recent years, with Government support through financial and input subsidies to small scale farmers. The sub sector generates a variety of benefits such as food and nutrition and develops trade. However, the sub sector faces the challenges of fish diseases, given that the fish production facilities support high-density living conditions that are favorable for spread of parasitic diseases. Besides, when fish that is infected is consumed by h...
ABSTRACT Sugarcane farming systems can adversely affect soil properties especially total soil organic carbon stocks (TSOCst) and fractions. This study was carried out in Western Kenya sugar zones to assess impacts of tillage systems (Tractor and Oxen ploughing), and plantation ages (continuous mono-cropping system, more than 20 years, 11 ̶ 20 years, 0 ̶ 10 years) on TSOCst and fractions (particulate soil organic carbon, POC, and the mineral associated soil organic carbon, MOC) in three diff...
ABSTRACT Tobacco farming is well established as the traditional cash crop in Tabora region. However, in recent years, groundnut is one among the cash crops which have been introduced in the area as an alternative source of income for smallholder farmers. Using 2007/2008 cropping season survey and the data from 121 randomly selected smallholder farmers from three villages, this study provides a comparative economic analysis for tobacco and groundnut farming systems. The analysis of quantitati...
ABSTRACT Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is among the most important export crops in Tanzania, contributing directly to peoples‘ livelihood and economic development. Cotton is grown under both conventional and organic farming systems and both farming systems are characterised by low cotton yield. Low fertilizer input use and low fertility contributes to such low yields. A quick solution to address the low cotton yield seems to be enhanced use of fertilizer and pesticide, which is also challe...
ABSTRACT The temporal distribution of four important cocoa mirid species (Distantiella theobroma Dist, Sahlbergella singularis Hagl, Helopeltis bergothii and Bryocoropsis laticollis) was studied in three differently managed cocoa farming systems from May 2013 to April 2014. In addition, the incidence of Bathycoelia thalassina, Characoma stictigrapta, Anomis leona, Earias biplaga, Eulophonotus myrmeleon, Oecophylla longinoda and Crematogaster africana, were recorded. The three systems were: Or...
ABSTRACT The limitations of conventional technology development gave birth to Farming Systems Research perspective which look at farming practices from a holistic view. This however has innate flaws in its implementation. Recent emphasis therefore is strengthening the need to appreciate a hitherto neglected indigenous knowledge systems. This indigenous knowledge for instance, has been influencing the indigenous practices associated with small-scale plantain production. Before now Plantain has...
Abstract Crop productivity in most smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa experience low use of soil amendment resources, low and erratic rainfall, frequent dry spells, and droughts. Rain-fed agriculture has a high crop yield potential if rainfall and soil nutrient input resources are utilized effectively. Thus, in 2011, we set up an on-farm experiment in Meru South (sub-humid) and Mbeere South (marginal sub-humid) sub-counties in upper Eastern Kenya to assess conservation-effecti...
Abstract Sustainable agricultural production in Kenya requires improvement of yields per unit of land while still conserving soil resources. Besides poor soil nutrient status, water is a limiting factor to crop production in the rain-fed farming systems of central highlands of Kenya. Hence, there is need to address soil water scarcity challenges in order to increase crop production. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of tillage and mulching on maize (Zea Mays. L) yield, ...