The socioeconomic context of farmers plays a complementary role in determining uptake of agricultural innovations. In Uganda, despite considerable agricultural interventions, farmers’ adoption rates remain low. This study evaluated socioeconomic factors affecting uptake by systematically analyzing cross-sectional survey data of 265 smallholder potato farmers in three districts of southwestern Uganda, under the Community Action Research Programme Plus (CARP+) Project. Findings of the study indicated that farmers travelled nine kilometers to tarmac roads and four kilometers to input shops with access to credit, income, education level, input markets, and location as the most significant factors for uptake of innovative agricultural practices. The study recommended the development of tailored financial products, income enhancement through value-addition, and improved market linkages to increase agricultural productivity and profitability. The findings indicate a need to invest in agricultural education and capacity-building programs, integrate potato intensification modules into adult education and farmer field schools, and establish decentralized input distribution centres in remote farming communities to improve physical access to input markets, thereby reducing travel time and transaction costs. Additionally, the study emphasized the need to promote integrated support systems through coordinated efforts among extension services, financial institutions, and input suppliers to deliver holistic support to farmers. Keywords: Agricultural innovation, agricultural markets, CARP+ Project, crop intensification, extension services, financial institutions, markets linkages, transaction costs.
The integration of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) with legumes provides innovative cropping systems that enhance land use, crop yields, soil health, and climate change adaptation among farmers in Malawi. Declining soil fertility, crop yields, and shrinking productive land continue to affect agricultural productivity and food security. Sustainable intensification of sweetpotato production is therefore essential. This study assessed sweetpotato–pigeonpea intensification options for productivity and land use efficiency in Malawi. Experiments were conducted at Chitedze, Baka, and Chitala during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 cropping seasons. Five spatial arrangements—(i) sole sweetpotato, (ii) sole pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.)), (iii) sweetpotato–pigeonpea (1:1), (iv) sweetpotato–pigeonpea (2:1), and (v) sweetpotato–pigeonpea within row (SP-PP_row)—were evaluated using a randomized complete block design in a split-plot arrangement with three replications. Analysis of variance was performed, and means were separated by LSD₀.₀₅. Land equivalent ratio (LER) and Absolute Mixture Effect (AME) were used to determine productivity. Cropping systems, locations, and seasons significantly influenced all measured parameters. Intercropping is more productive than sole cropping, with LERs exceeding one (LER > 1), indicating a yield advantage. The 1:1 and 2:1 arrangements showed the highest yield advantages of 3.57 and 2.55 tha⁻¹ above sole cropping, contributing 71% and 31% to total land productivity, respectively. Sweetpotato–pigeonpea intercropping enhanced land use efficiency, productivity, and pest and disease suppression, offering potential to improve food security, dietary diversity, and farmer incomes. The 1:1 and 2:1 arrangements are recommended for sustainable and productive farming systems in Malawi. Keywords: Sweetpotato - legume, intercropping, pigeonpea, productivity, yield, land use efficient
The limited uptake of innovative agricultural practices, despite their high potential to enhance yield and productivity, has directed attention towards more inclusive innovation processes. This study investigates actors’ roles, interactions, and linkages that facilitate uptake of potato crop intensification innovation practices within the Community Action Research Project Plus (CARP+) Project, a RUFORUM project that was launched by Makerere University in Southwestern Uganda. Data were analyzed using Social Network Analysis (SNA), using UCINET software. Results revealed that potato crop intensification innovation process evolved in five key stages, each involving players from various AIS domains interacting with each other. Thus, a network of multi-domain actors demonstrates the importance of versatile engagement in promoting the uptake of innovative agricultural practices. The innovation network had lower scores of network density and Arch reciprocity (about 21 and 47%). Thus, dominance of unidirectional ties, while other players remained in the periphery indicates potential limited integration and feedback, unidirectional flow of information and other resources within network. Similarly, some players remaining in the periphery of the network implies weak network which cripples innovation uptake. The study recommends for strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships that foster collaboration among diverse actors who perform diverse roles for effective performance of a network. Keywords: Agricultural practices, CARP+, collaboration, crop intensification, innovation process, limited uptake, network analysis, network density, reciprocity, RUFORUM
Despite their strong presence in agricultural production, very few women inherit or own land despite the existence of laws that give them full rights to do so.This paper aims to fill the gap of understanding of the factors that hinder access to land for agricultural women in the Commune of Zakpota in the Republic of Benin.To achieve this goal, we used socio-anthropological strategies to interview forty-six (46) women farmers and sixteen (16) men, heads of agricultural households, for data collection.The tools used for data collection were participant observation grid, survey questionnaire and an interview guide.Content-based analysis, access to and control of resources analysis, and constraints prioritizing grid were the methods used for data analysis.Results highlight several factors that hinder women farmers' access to land in the study area.In descending order of importance, these are: traditional norms and considerations related to access to land, women's poor purchasing power, women's low level of education, poor access to information and women's psychological predispositions shaped over time by their social activities and environment.Thus, this study has demonstrated that women's rights to land remain almost a taboo in Benin like in many other Sub-Saharan African countries.Therefore, relevant actions need to be taken to remedy this discriminatory vice in order to achieve sustainable development.
This paper estimates the competitiveness and the determinants of the competitiveness of tomato farms under irrigated and rainfed technologies from four ecological zones in Ghana.Adopting the PAM model on three-year panel data from 698 tomato farmers, comprising 206 irrigated and 492 rainfed farmers, the paper provides evidence that tomato farms under the two technologies are uncompetitive at the aggregate level, and otherwise at the individual farm level.The study found that access to credit, extension services, yield, fertilizer price, FBO membership, and farmer location have a significant impact on competitiveness.The paper recommends that policymakers prioritize agricultural finance and access to technical and extension services.
This study aims to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) for biopesticides among producers and identify the factors influencing this WTP for the use of biopesticides in tomato farms in the provinces of Houet, Sourou, Oubritenga and Passoré in Burkina Faso.A survey was conducted among a random sample of 904 producers using a semi-structured questionnaire and the referendum method to reveal the producers' preferences for biopesticides.Data analysis shows that producers are highly aware of the dangers associated with heavily agrochemical-based production methods.More than 80% of the sampled producers consent to paying for biopesticides, but with a relatively low average WTP of 14,180 FCFA.The estimation of a logistic model indicates that factors influencing producers' decision to pay include gender, household size, producer experience, income from vegetable farming, and the amount of the proposed bid.Additionally, perception variables such as the perceived effectiveness of biopesticides and the level of information about biopesticides positively influence the willingness to pay.However, contextual differences and significant heterogeneity among producers may introduce biases in estimating the average WTP and identifying these determinants.
The cultivation of mushroom on different non-conventional bed may have some nutritional and physiological benefit with an additional solution of environmental remediation.In the present study Pleurotus sajor-caju has been cultivated on three different bed materials i.e., Paddy straw (PS), Banana Leaf-base (BL) and Sugarcane trash (SC).In the present study some physiochemical characters and antidiabetic role of cultivated mushrooms has been studied.The Insulin receptor affinity of the phytocomponents of Pleurotus sajor-caju identified in the literature also have been studied by Autodock Vina.Results show that the moisture content, water solubility, water absorption and swelling capacity has been found highest in SC mushroom compare to PS and BL mushroom.The elevated FBS in STZinduced diabetic rats was recovered after dietary supplementation of mushroom cultivated on each bed materials.Interestingly, the recovery of elevated FBS was faster in rats which were treated with BL mushroom compared to that of other two groups.The affinity of phytocomponents (C22H34O4, C14H17O9N, C16H32O2, C17H34O, C18H32O2) towards Insulin receptors (pdbID: 1CE6 and 1gag) shows a good affinity value, that supports the probable antidiabetic role of Pleurotus sajor-caju.Therefore, it can be concluded that the more effective antidiabetic role of Pleurotus sajor-caju may obtained when cultivated on Banana Leaf-base.
Abstract This paper analyzes the impact of agro-ecological partitioning on the gender gap in cereal productivity in Burkina Faso. The pooled OLS regression method and an extension of the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition are used to estimate the effect of agro-ecological division on the gender gap in cereal productivity. The results show that women have 12.4% lower yields than men, and there is a 16.28% increase in the overall gap in the three environmentally less advantaged regions. A detailed analysis indicates that the gender effect is not significant in the region with high agricultural potentialities, whereas it is significant in the ecologically less advantaged regions. Considering the sample of household heads, we find that the Sahelian zone contributes to reducing the effect of agro-ecological characteristics on the yield gap. This result suggests that decision-making power within the household would allow women producers to improve their yields and close the gender gap. To reduce the gender gap in cereal productivity, policymakers should consider regional agro-ecological potentialities and women empowerment. Clinical trial registration Not applicable JEL codes: J16; D24; C49
The study was conducted in 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons at the research farm of Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa, Nigeria to examine the effects of nutrient management, vine cutting time and variety on growth, yield and quality of sweetpotato.The experiment was laid out as split-split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications.Results revealed that a combination of 2.5t/ha poultry manure + 200kg/ha NPK fertilizer or poultry manure alone significantly increased vine length, number of branches/plant, shoot dry matter and fresh shoot biomass compared to application of 400kg/ha inorganic NPK fertilizer alone and the no fertilizer application.The highest storage root yield and carotenoid content were obtained from combined application of 2.5t/ha poultry manure + 200kg/ha NPK fertilizer.A mixture of manure and fertilizer also significantly reduced decay of storage roots.No vine cutting significantly increased fresh shoot biomass but reduced carotenoid content compared to cutting at 16 or 17 WAP, while date of cutting had no effect on storage root yield.Sweetpotato variety white -fleshed TIS 87/0087 had significantly higher fresh shoot biomass and storage root yield than orange -fleshed Umuspo 3 but carotenoid content was higher in the latter than the former.
Brown spot (BS) disease caused byBipolaris oryzae has now become a major constraint in rice production globally.It could lead to yield loss of up to 6% at low severity level to total loss if left unmanaged.The present research was undertaken at GRDB, RRS, Burma, department of Plant Pathology experimental site in Guyana.The RCBD design with 4 replications used for each treatment.Nine fungicides at different rates, one plant aqueous extract of Neem (Azadirachta indica) at 15% concentration and a untreated control were evaluated under in vivo conditions during spring and autumn crop of 2020 and 2021.The results from the field evaluation showed Rodazim 50 SC (Carbendazim 50%) at 300 mL/ac., Amistar Xtra 28 SC (Triazol, Estrobilurtina., Cyproconazol, Azoxystrobin) at 200 g/ac.and Tridium 70WG (Azoxystrobin 4.7% + Mancozeb 59.7% + Tebucuzonal 5.6% WG) at 350 g/ac.showed an overall reduction in BS disease severity of 28.75%; Saaf 75 WP (Mancozem 63%, Carbendazim 12%) at 300 g/ac.(33.06%) and 500 g/ac.(37.36%), respectively; Antracol 70WP at 500g/ac. a 22.52%; Glory WG (Mancozeb + Azoxystrobin) at 1000 g/ac.a 37.82%; Manzate Pro Stick TM (Mancozeb 70%) at 300 g/ac.a 37.36%; Carbendazim 50SC (Carbendazim 50%) at 300 mL/ac.a 33.30% and the positive check Fugi One (Isoprothiolane 40% SC) at 300 mL/ac.a 43.31%.The Neem (Azadirachta indica) plant aqueous extracts at 15 % concentration demonstrated a 27.28% reduction in the overall average BS disease severity as compared to the untreated controls for the 2020 and 2021 trials.Further, these said treatments also demonstrated positive influence for plant growth, yield parameters and showed varying percent increase grain yields ranging from 0.36% to 29.30%.These treatments found to give superior control can be recommended as a protective treatment against the BS disease in BS disease prone areas.
Fresh tomato fruits have a very limited shelf life partly due to their high moisture content and respiration rate. A possible way of storing tomato fruits is to dry and process them into powder or paste. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the effects of drying methods and packaging materials on physical and sensory qualities of powdered tomato in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Harvested fruits of tomato variety, “Rio de grande” were subjected to blanching and subsequent drying methods and packaging materials. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD); with the drying methods placed in main plot while the packaging materials in sub-plot and repeated three times before storage for twelve weeks. At four weeks of storage, oven drying method was found to be statistically different (p≤0.05) in terms of water absorption capacity value of 3.19 (mg/100g). The glass jars performed better than polythene bags in color retention, taste and consistency at four weeks of storage. The study shows that tomato fruits can be successfully dried using oven, sun and shade drying methods but preferably oven drying method. The processed powder could be successfully stored for 12 weeks or above using either glass jars or plastic container without affecting the consumer appeal and this will also reduce the postharvest losses of tomato fruits.
Field experiment was conducted at University of Uyo Teaching, research farm during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to assess the effect of fertilization on cocoyam-based intercropping systems.The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications.Treatments were six fertilizers rates -0kg/ha, NPK200kg/ha, NPK400kg/ha, PM2.5t/ha, PM5.0t/ha, Mixture (NPK200kg/ha + PM2.5t/ha) and six crop mixtures -Sole Cocoyam, Sole Melon, Sole Maize, Cocoyam + Maize, Cocoyam + Melon and Cocoyam + Melon + Maize).Result analysed with analysis of variance revealed PM2.5t/ha, NPK400kg/ha and Mixture (NPK200kg/ha + PM2.5t/ha) gave higher plant height, leaf area, stem girth in sole cocoyam, maize and melon respectively.PM2.5t/ha favoured leaf area, stem girths of cocoyam, maize with cocoyam + maize, cocoyam + melon and cocoyam + melon + maize crop mixtures.PM5.0t/ha gave higher values of corm, cormels, cormels weight, cormels number and cormels length in both sole cocoyam and mixtures (cocoyam + melon, cocoyam + maize, cocoyam + melon + maize) in both seasons respectively.PM2.5t/ha gave higher values of maize grain yield with cocoyam + maize, cocoyam + melon + maize crop mixtures.PM5.0t/ha and NPK400kg/ha gave higher melon seed values with cocoyam + melon and cocoyam + Melon + maize.Conclusively, it is recommended that application of organic fertilizer promotes higher yields and yield components in both sole and crop mixtures of cocoyam and maize respectively.
Supply of cashew is lagging behind demand for both in the domestic and foreign markets.While the agro-allied industries face serious problems in procuring the kinds and quantities of the commodity they want, producers of the commodity have remained poorly linked to agro-industrial sector and availability of the commodity as raw material to agro-industry remained inadequate and irregular.In this connection, the key determinants of domestic supply and the prospects for diversification of increased supply of cashew to domestic agro-industry for manufacturing high value products of the commodity was examined.Time series secondary mainly collected from National Bureau of Statistics were used.Data were analysed using simultaneous equation regression model.The key determinants of cashew supply in Nigeria were price of cashew, price of complementary crop, rural wage rate, government investment in agriculture and interest rate charged on agricultural loans.Among the significant variables, rural wage rate has significant effect on cashew supply with coefficient of -0.38 at p<0.05.Government investment on agriculture with coefficient of 0.06, has significant effect on cashew supply at p<0.05.Interest rate on agricultural loans, with coefficient of -0.44, has significant effect on cashew supply at p< 0.05.Policy strategies to expand supply of cashew and enhance diversification to agro-industry include improved infrastructure that will ensure effective market linkages and maintaining stable macroeconomic policy environment.
Fifteen advanced rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding lines along with three check varieties were assessed for lodging incidence and grain yield stability under six environments in Guyana.The trials were conducted in the spring and autumn seasons of 2018.A RCBD with three replication was employed.Descriptive statistics was used to look at the lodging incidence and AMMI & GGE analysis was utilized to study the genotype and environment (G x E) interactions.All genotypes (except G15-11, FG15-01, and check GRDB 10) recorded mean lodging incidence of less than 5 percent.The average grain yield of the 18 genotypes ranged from 5504.44 to 7499.21Kg/ha.The biplot results showed genotype FG12-259 demonstrated consistently high stable grain yield performance followed by FG12-49, FG12-23, FG14-43, G13-126, G15-11, G14-10 and G16-104.Likewise, AMMI analysis found the environment at Rice Research Station, Burma, Region # 5, Spring crop, 2018 (E2) and Anna Regina, Region # 2, Autumn crop, 2018 (E4) to be the most representative environment with smaller average -environment axis (AEA) angle and closeness to the ideal test environment.Also, E4 followed by Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, Region # 6, Autumn crop, 2018 (E6) recorded low IPCA1 scores and showed small interactions.The what-wonwhere biplot pattern suggested the target environment consisted of three mega-environments since four environment falls in one sector and one each in another two sectors.The three check cultivars GRDB 10 GRDB 12 and GRDB14 also expressed a similar higher level of stable grain yields over all the test environments.Based on the consistently high and stable grain yield performance, along with other superior grain qualities and plant characteristics the genotypes viz.FG12-259 and FG12-49 were selected, developed, and released as commercial rice varieties called 'GRDB 16' and 'GRDB 15', respectively in Guyana for wider cultivation by the farmers.
