Drought has substantially affected agricultural productivity in Kenya. For example, farmers experience income losses due to reduced crop yields, deterioration in crop quality, insect infestations, including recent locust outbreaks in Kenya, high irrigation costs, plant diseases and a reduction in productive, arable land. Persistent drought in parts of Kenya has created a need for coping strategies, including growing alternative crops and the adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) innovations. KALRO has been promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations in sorghum production in Kericho County to increase production and alleviate food insecurity among small-scale farmers. However, despite these efforts, production levels have remained low. The study hypothesised that limited adoption of CSA innovations among farmers may be a contributing factor. The study examined the socioeconomic and institutional factors that influence the adoption of these CSA innovations among smallholder sorghum farmers in Soin Sigowet Sub-County, Kericho County. A descriptive survey research design was used, and a multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 239 respondents from a population of 629. Both structured and unstructured questionnaires were used in data collection. A binary logistic regression model was analysed to determine the factors affecting the adoption of CSAs. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25. The results indicated that land size (p =0.000, β =1.237), years of schooling (p =0.000, β =1.877) and household size (p =0.007|β =0.319) significantly and positively influenced the adoption of CSA innovations. However, the age of the household head (p =0.002, β =-0.15) significantly and negatively influenced the adoption of CSA innovations. The study recommends that more farmers receive training in the use of CSA interventions. Furthermore, policymakers should develop policy directives that encourage intensification of farm production that could increase agricultural production and incomes among small-scale farmer households.
Banana is an important crop, supporting food security, nutrition, income generation, employment, and livelihoods. However, banana cultivar diversity is influenced by complex interactions among several factors that remain inadequately documented in Kenya’s main production areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate factors influencing the diversity and distribution of banana cultivars in three Kenyan counties to inform appropriate management. A survey of 509 farmers was conducted using structured questionnaires and observations. Cultivar diversity was assessed using cultivar richness (S), Shannon diversity index (H), and Pielou’s evenness index (J). County differences were evaluated using the Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by Dunn’s pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni adjustment for significant differences. The results identified 35 banana cultivars from 1,947 observations. Overall diversity was relatively high (H=2.59), while evenness was moderate (J=0.73). Significant differences were observed in diversity index (H=6.496, P=0.039) and evenness (J=6.630, P=0.036), but not in richness (S=3.893, P=0.143). Although Shannon diversity differed significantly overall among the counties (P=0.039), Dunn’s pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni adjustment did not identify significant differences between county pairs. However, cultivar evenness was significantly higher in Embu than in Meru (P=0.030). Gender, education, farming experience, labour availability, income contribution, market orientation, land allocation, and cultivar selection criteria varied significantly across the counties (P < 0.05) and were associated with differences in cultivar distribution and management. Marketability (Meru 37.6%, Tharaka-Nithi 33.3%, Embu 29%) was the leading criterion for cultivar selection, and selection criteria differed significantly between counties (χ² = 56.609, df = 16, P < 0.001). Commercialisation encouraged the adoption and wider distribution of improved cultivars, which, in turn, may reduce traditional cultivar diversity. The study concludes that banana cultivar diversity and distribution remain substantial but are shaped by socioeconomic and market dynamics. Strengthening gender-responsive extension services, indigenous cultivar conservation, farmer-to-farmer germplasm exchange, and promotion of both improved and locally adapted cultivars are recommended to support productivity, climate resilience, and sustainable conservation of banana genetic resources.
Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) is an important commercial fruit crop in Nepal, but its high perishability and inadequate postharvest management contribute to considerable quality deterioration and storage losses. This study evaluated the effectiveness of selected botanical and chemical treatments in maintaining postharvest quality and extending the shelf life of mandarin fruits under ambient storage conditions. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomised design with seven treatments and four replications at the Horticulture Laboratory of the Citrus Development Centre, Tansen, Palpa, from January to April 2026. The treatments consisted of 15% Aloe vera extract, 15% ginger extract, 15% garlic extract, 4% calcium chloride, 4 mM salicylic acid, 30 ppm gibberellic acid, and distilled water as the control. The experiment was conducted from January to April 2026 under ambient storage conditions (23–27°C and 65–75% relative humidity). Physicochemical quality parameters were assessed at seven-day intervals until 42 days after treatment (DAT), while shelf-life monitoring continued separately until 50% of the fruits exhibited visible decay or became unmarketable. The treatments significantly influenced several quality attributes during the later stages of storage. Aloe vera extract was the most effective in reducing physiological weight loss and retaining juice content, whereas calcium chloride showed greater retention of titratable acidity. Aloe vera-treated fruits also maintained a comparatively lower TSS/TA ratio, indicating better retention of the sugar–acid balance. Shelf life differed significantly among treatments, with Aloe vera providing the longest storage life (70.75 days), followed by calcium chloride (64.25 days), compared with 47.25 days for the control. Overall, Aloe vera extract 15% showed the most consistent performance, followed by calcium chloride 4%, in maintaining postharvest quality and extending the marketable shelf life of mandarin fruits under ambient conditions. These treatments may therefore provide practical options for reducing postharvest deterioration and losses in mandarin.
The manuscript addresses the need for efficient and economical fertiliser management in sesame production. Fertiliser micro-dosing involves applying small, targeted quantities of nutrients close to the root zone, which can improve nutrient-use efficiency and reduce fertiliser losses. This approach may support sustainable sesame production, particularly in nutrient-deficient and low-input farming systems, by optimising fertiliser use, reducing unnecessary input costs and improving productivity. An experiment was conducted under rain-fed conditions during the 2016/17 season at Abu Gebeha, eastern South Kordofan, Sudan. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of NPK (15-15-15) fertiliser micro doses (0.9 g/hole: 0.6 g/hole: 0.0 g/hole) on the yields of four sesame cultivars: Promo, Umshagra, Abukhatra and Alimahadi. The experiment comprised twelve treatments. The treatments were arranged in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The results showed that the highest seed yield was obtained from Abukhatra cultivar (69.38 g plant-1), Alimahdi (58.87 g plant-1) whereas a lower yield was obtained from Promo (29.77 g plant-1). The 0.9 g NPK micro-dose produced the highest number of branches per plant (5.2), the highest number of capsules per plant (107.8), the highest number of seeds per capsule (130) and the highest seed yield (56.1 g plant-1), compared with the other treatments. The results indicated that the 0.9 g NPK fertiliser micro-dose produced the highest seed yield under rain-fed conditions in South Kordofan, Sudan. Furthermore, the study recommended the Abukhatra cultivar for sesame farmers in South Kordofan to attain higher grain yields.
Soil and water salinity increasingly shape rice-production decisions in coastal Bangladesh, yet the availability of salt-tolerant (ST) rice does not automatically translate into farm-level adoption. This study examines the extent and spatial pattern of ST-rice adoption, varietal choice, decision-making factors, and production constraints among 250 rice farmers surveyed across the nine upazilas of Bagerhat District from December 2025 to February 2026. Farmers were selected through a population-proportionate random-sampling procedure, and responses were recorded digitally using KoboToolbox. Adoption was defined as cultivation of at least one recognised ST rice variety during the reference production period. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Welch's t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and binary logistic regression were used to compare adopters and non-adopters and identify factors associated with adoption. Overall, 39.6% of respondents were adopters. Adoption was highest in Mongla (53.3%) and Rampal (51.4%) and lowest in Chitalmari (20.0%). Among adopters, BRRI dhan97 (28.3%), BRRI dhan99 (23.2%), and Binadhan-10 (21.2%) accounted for 72.7% of primary ST varietal choices; 83.8% of adopters used ST rice in the Boro season. Mean adoption intensity was 65.0% of rice land. Adopters reported greater education, extension contact, ST-rice knowledge, quality-seed access, perceived yield advantage, profitability, farm compatibility, and trust, while non-adopters reported a substantially larger knowledge gap. In the adjusted logit model, perceived salinity severity (OR = 1.73, p < 0.001) and ST-rice knowledge (OR = 1.63, p < 0.001) were the strongest independent correlates of adoption; quality-seed access was positive at the 10% level. Labour requirement, saline intrusion, market-price uncertainty, and input cost ranked as the most severe overall constraints. The findings indicate that ST-rice adoption in Bagerhat is jointly shaped by salinity pressure and farmers' capacity to recognise, access, and manage suitable varieties, supporting integrated interventions that combine seed access, extension, demonstration-based learning, water management, and market-risk reduction.
