ABSTRACT The study determined the feasibility of “Black Soldier Fly Larvae” composting and its utilization for vegetable farming in Greater Accra, Ghana. Discounted measures of project worth such as NPV, BCR and IRR were used in viability analysis. The gains obtained from replacing farmer practice with the new compost practice were estimated using the partial budget approach. Through field experimentation, the cost of using BSFL-compost and conventional fertilizer to produce lettuce for...
ABSTRACT Biochar is a type of charcoal that can be used to condition agricultural soils. The application of Biochar to agricultural soils as a conditioner can improve soil fertility and crop productivity. The agricultural sector of Ghana is characterized by low productivity and low level of technology use. The study sought to assess the factors that influence Biochar technology adoption in amending soils for vegetable production in the Kwahu East district of Ghana. Primary data was collected ...
ABSTRACT A study was conducted in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania to investigate the bacterial load found on African indigenous leafy vegetables, their sources and their sensitivity to commonly used antibiotics. A total of 126 samples of fresh African indigenous leafy vegetables (amaranth, nightshade and sweet potato leaves), water used for irrigation from rivers and shallow wells and manure fertilised soils were collected at farm sites and market outlets for bacteriological analysis. Bacteri...
ABSTRACT The recent increase in consumers’ concern about safe food, particularly, certified food, is fueled by a number of food scandals that have resulted in illness and many death cases. This study assessed consumers’ perceptions and willingness to pay (WTP) for certified vegetables in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A two stage random sampling method was employed to select 400 consumers from ten (10) sectors in Ouagadougou. A semistructured questionnaire which contained contingent valuati...
ABSTRACT The main objective of this study is to create an understanding of the existing niche market arrangements for high value products and to determine how small scale farmers can tap into and sustain the niche markets channels. The study specifically assessed niche market requirements for fruits and vegetables and the institutional arrangements that develop and sustain trade relations between buyers and sellers. The study also analysed the effects of transaction costs on market arrangemen...
Abstract: Poultry and fish are important sub-sectors in Kenya providing rural farmer households with income and contributing to their food and nutritional security. Although ownership of these enterprises is not gender specific women are the ones involved in taking care of them. The study utilized cross-section data from a sample of 386 poultry farmers and 278 fish farmers randomly selected from three counties which are Nakuru, Kisii and Kirinyaga Counties. The feed demand for both poultry a...
Vitamin deficiencies are health hazards in some parts of Kenya. These are attributed to inadequate access to vitamin-rich foods occasioned by decline in agricultural production due to unfavourable climatic conditions, low purchasing power due to poverty, over reliance on staple foods and dependence on highly refined foods, which are poor in vitamins. Higher intake of vitamin-rich vegetables and grains can alleviate this problem. Grain amaranth (GA), which is relatively a new crop in Kenya, is...
ABSTRACT Vegetables are important in the diets of both human being and their livestock. Vegetables improve appetite and supply consumers with fibre, protein, flavour, essential oils and flavonoids (Klansmewyer et al., 2004). The problem of food poisoning especially vegetables is not limited to personal hygiene while cooking but is also widely dependent on source and handling before it gets to the consumer. Common vegetables brought for sale in markets within Bauchi metropolis, Bauchi State fo...
ABSTRACT Biofuels made from plant sources, usually used to run in diesel engines are of two types namely bioethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol is mostly derived from maize and sugar cane molasses, while biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. A wide range of biofuels can be used as renewable resources of energy, including tallow and waste vegetable oil from hotels and fish vendors. Presently waste vegetable oil is discarded into sewerage systems, causing pollution in water w...
ABSTRACT Quality seeds constitute one of the basic and the most important inputs in any vegetable crop production endeavour. A post-certification surveillance was undertaken to evaluate the quality of certified imported and local vegetable seeds at commercial retailers’ end in the distribution and marketing chains in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Structured questionnaires were administered to 18 commercial vegetable seed retailers who constituted the main vegetable seed delivery channe...
ABSTRACT Vegetables constitute an important part of the human diet as a source of nutrients such as vitamins. The emerging lifestyle changes and need to live a healthy life have led to increased consumption of vegetables. There are, however, growing concerns over the indiscriminate use of pesticides and lack of clear safety standards for maximum residue levels for vegetables sold in the local market. This study was done to assess human exposure to pesticide residues through consumption of exo...
ABSTRACT Declining soil fertility has been found to be the main cause of reduction in crop yields. These soils lose their fertility through erosion, leaching and crop removal. Organic fertilizers prepared from human waste has been found to have a greater potential of being used to manage soil fertility and hence increase crop yields. The present study is to determine the nutrients content and effect of Asase Gyefo Organic Fertilizer (AGOF) prepared from human waste on the growth, yield and sh...
EXTENDED ABSTRACT Urban Agriculture is crucial to the supply of food especially fresh vegetables in many urban areas including Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. In addition to the supply of food, it serves as a source of employment and income for many urban dwellers. However, the intensive and continued growing of vegetable on same piece of the land tend to trigger enormous pests pressure of diverse species which calls for the most effective and robust pest management practices. As such, most urban...
Abstract: This study was intended to identify the factors influencing use of mobile phone in vegetable marketing in Fogera district. Use of mobile phone in vegetable marketing and factors influencing mobile phone use were specific objectives of the study. Three kebeles from Fogera district were selected purposively based on their vegetable production potential. Simple random sampling technique (lottery method) was used to select 153 vegetable producer farmers. Interview schedule and key info...
ABSTRACT Beneficial bacteria that colonize the root of plants and are capable of stimulating the growth of plants directly or indirectly are called plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria from the rhizosphere of some selected vegetables collected at different locations in Ago-iwoye, Oru and Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu-North local Government Area of Ogun state, using general microbiological and biochemical t...