This study examines the relationship between per capita protein consumption and poverty levels in Indonesia using a Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) approach within a simultaneous equations framework. The analysis employs panel data from 34 provinces over the period 2015-2024, based on provincially aggregated household-level data, to capture the reciprocal interaction between nutritional outcomes and economic well-being, while accounting for socio-economic factors such as income, education, food prices, and income inequality. The results show that protein consumption variations are more strongly linked to structural factors, especially education and income inequality, rather than short-term income fluctuations. Income inequality significantly shapes protein consumption patterns, reflecting unequal access to animal-based protein across income groups. In terms of prices, beef prices exhibit a more pronounced effect on aggregate protein consumption, while chicken prices tend to be absorbed through substitution mechanisms and price stabilisation, resulting in a weaker direct impact. The findings also confirm a bidirectional relationship between protein consumption and poverty, where higher poverty levels are associated with lower protein intake, and improved protein consumption contributes to poverty reduction through indirect channels such as health and productivity. These results emphasize the need to address poverty reduction and improved access to protein as complementary policy goals. Policy interventions should therefore focus on reducing income inequality, strengthening human capital, and maintaining food price stabilisation to promote more inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.
Despite numerous innovations introduced to the agricultural domain to achieve food sufficiency and promote smallholder social-economic growth, limited research has been conducted on the post-adoption stage. This study aims to identify the determining factors of continuance intention in agricultural innovation. A systematic literature review was performed using the PRISMA protocol, with peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2006 and 2024 sourced from Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Following a rigorous selection process, 21 relevant studies were synthesized. This study classified agricultural innovation into program, technological, and administrative scope, each with unique variables affecting continuance intention. The research identified two primary categories influencing farmers' intention to continue: internal and external variables. Internal aspects comprised personal and cognitive elements. Methodologically, regression analysis was predominantly used to examine personal elements, while both regression and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were employed for external factors and cognitive elements. This review demonstrates that the determinants of continuance intention in specific agricultural innovation characteristics is valuable in understanding farmers' decisions. By gaining insights into factors influencing continuance intention, stakeholders can more effectively modifying the actionable factors and contribute to the long-term engagement of agricultural innovation despite the inherent complexities in agriculture.
This study evaluated the anti-methanogenic and nutritional effects of Moringa oleifera leaf slurry (MLS) in growing Yankasa rams. Sixteen rams (16.6 ± 3.00 kg) were assigned to four treatments supplying 0, 4, 8, or 12 g MLS kg⁻¹ DM intake in a completely randomised design. All animals received the same total mixed ration at 5% of live weight for 85 days, followed by a 7‑day digestibility trial. Enteric methane was measured using a portable IRCD4 infrared gas analyser. MLS supplementation improved (p < 0.05) nutrient utilisation and growth performance, and reduced CH₄ per unit of feed intake and CH₄ per unit of NDF digested. Rams receiving 8 and 12 g MLS kg⁻¹ DM showed higher (p < 0.05) volatile fatty acid concentrations than the control. Principal component analysis revealed negative associations between MLS phytochemicals and CH₄/feed intake, CH₄/NDF digestibility, and feed conversion ratio. Overall, MLS inclusion up to 12 g kg⁻¹ DM increased feed intake (3.70–8.64%), weight gain (41.4–44.7%), feed efficiency (19.6–24.5%), nutrient utilisation, and volatile fatty acids, while lowering methane emission ratios. Although 4 g MLS kg⁻¹ DM appears effective for improving performance, further research should explore alternative feeding strategies and higher MLS levels in Yankasa rams and other ruminants.
Digital agriculture technologies are widely promoted as enablers of climate-resilient and efficient farming, yet empirical assessments of their financial, social, and ecological viability in tropical small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain limited. This study evaluates the perceived return on investment, cost efficiency, and socio-environmental co-benefits of DATs among 389 agro-SMEs across Costa Rica's seven provinces using a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. The analysis focuses on three commonly adopted technologies: sensor-based irrigation systems, GPS-enabled machinery, and drone-assisted crop monitoring. The analysis integrates the Technology Acceptance Model, Technology-Organisation-Environment, and classical investment theory to explain adoption behaviour and performance outcomes. Results show a mean return on investment of 34.8% and a median pay-back of 2.4 years, driven primarily by improved input management. Financial access significantly moderates the relationship between technology use and economic returns, with supported adopters achieving higher economic returns. Socio-environmental benefits, such as reduced resource use and improved labour quality, are partially mediated by gains in cost efficiency. Robustness checks confirm that outcomes are consistent across regions, firm sizes, and digital service types. The findings suggest that digital agriculture technologies represent a viable investment even in fragmented, resource-constrained contexts, provided that financial and infrastructural barriers are addressed. Policy recommendations include targeted loan guarantees, rural broadband corridors, inclusive training programmes, and results-based public–private partnerships. The study contributes to the evidence base for scaling digitalisation in tropical agriculture and positions digital technologies as drivers of productivity, inclusivity, and sustainability. Future research should expand longitudinal tracking, explore fintech-enabled models, and quantify environmental co-benefits for climate-finance eligibility.
The study examined how socioeconomic factors shape the use of Digital Communication Tools (DCTs) among poultry farmers in South-West Nigeria. The research aimed to describe the farmers’ socioeconomic profiles, gauge their awareness of DCTs and assess the extent to which these tools are used in poultry production. A multistage sampling technique was adopted to select 322 poultry farmers. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares regression (OLS). Findings showed that the majority of respondents were male (76.2%) with an average age of 45±8.42 years, indicating a relatively mature and active farming population. While there was near-universal awareness of platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Google and YouTube, fewer respondents (55.8%) were familiar with more specialised tools such as poultry management software. Notably, only 47.3% reported frequent use of DCTs, pointing to gaps between awareness and actual adoption. The OLS regression results identified age (β = -0.438), marital status (β = 0.190), income (β = 0.313) and stock size (β = 0.128) as significant factors influencing DCTs usage. Younger farmers with higher incomes and larger flock sizes were more inclined to adopt these tools. The study concludes that socioeconomic characteristics play a crucial role in DCTs adoption. Bridging the awareness-utilisation gap through targeted interventions may help drive wider adoption and enhance productivity in poultry farming.
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated response measures significantly affected household food consumption and security. In Benin, the most stringent intervention was the establishment of a sanitary cordon to restrict movement. This study examines the impact of the pandemic on urban household diets and consumption behaviours, as well as their coping strategies. A total of 149 households were randomly selected across four cities, both within and outside the sanitary cordon. Data on food consumption, dietary diversity, and expenditure were collected for 2019 and 2020, covering pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods. Findings reveal that dietary diversity declined more sharply within the sanitary cordon—up to 11.9% for male heads of households, and 7.2% and 5.3% for female heads of kitchens inside and outside the cordon, respectively. Children under five experienced reductions of 2.7% and 6.0%, respectively. Meat consumption was the only dietary component significantly affected, while household income remained stable. To cope, households relied on savings, borrowed money, and cut non-food expenses. These findings highlight the vulnerability of urban food systems to mobility restrictions and provide insights for designing adaptive responses to future public health crises.
The nutritional status of the Mbororo, a Fulbe minority group in Cameroon’s Northwest Region, is often inadequate. This cross-sectional study assessed the impact of a home garden project combined with nutrition education on the nutritional status of Mbororo women, using dietary diversity score (DDS), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and haemoglobin levels as indicators. Data were collected from 70 healthy, non-pregnant Mbororo women aged 65 years or younger. These women were randomly selected from communities with and without home gardens. Women in home garden communities had significantly higher mean DDS (5.4 ± 0.9) than those in non-garden communities (4.2 ± 0.7; p = 0.001), indicating improved dietary quality. However, no significant differences were found in MUAC or haemoglobin levels between groups. Anaemia prevalence across all communities was 52.9%, a severe public health concern, with 27.1% of women underweight and 15.8% overweight, highlighting the double burden of malnutrition. While home gardens improved dietary diversity, they did not resolve broader nutritional challenges. The study concludes that addressing malnutrition in minority communities requires integrated, nutrition-sensitive interventions. These should include nutrition education, home gardening alongside small-scale livestock rearing and fish farming to enhance access to iron-rich foods and diversify nutrient sources. Such approaches are vital for improving long-term nutrition and health outcomes in underserved populations like the Mbororo.
Between 2020 and 2023 Ethiopia faced its worst drought for four decades, losing over four million livestock and placing over twelve million people into food insecurity. The overall aim of this study was to gain detailed, real reflections on the livestock-related humanitarian interventions used during the 2020-2023 drought to improve future efforts. More specifically this study aimed to evaluate the livestock-related drought interventions in Ethiopia; identify key areas requiring improvement for future responses; and explore potential solutions which could improve relevant interventions for future droughts in Ethiopia, given the trends of climate change. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted of in-depth key informant interviews of experts in Addis Ababa and the Borana district, using open/inductive and axial coding techniques (n=7). This yielded four major themes and thirteen sub-themes, The main findings of this study include that during the 2020-2023 drought in Ethiopia, the interviewed experts felt that timing of funding release/response was too late; responses such as vaccination, de-stocking and Index Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) were not used optimally; and that rangeland and water management need prioritisation to improve sustainability and resilience. This study argues that further research is needed to understand why resources were not mobilised in a timely manner, why organisations continue to provide responses against guidelines and what resources and partnerships are needed to improve existing efforts. It recommends a focus shift towards core, natural resource inputs and that a streamlined resource mobilisation procedure be designed and implemented.
This study investigated the potential for supplementing the diet of the climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) with Ipomoea aquatica by evaluating its growth performance, amino acid composition and biochemical parameters. A 60-day feeding trial was conducted using five isonitrogenous diets that incorporated varying levels of Ipomoea aquatica: IP0 (0%), IP5 (5%), IP10 (10%), IP15 (15%) and IP20 (20%). Growth parameters, amino acid profiles and biochemical markers were analysed to determine the optimal dietary inclusion level. The results revealed that 15% inclusion of I. aquatica resulted in the highest final weight (FW), body weight gain (BWG) and specific growth rate (SGR), as well as an improved feed conversion ratio (FCR). This group also exhibited enhanced fish muscle amino acid composition, particularly of essential amino acids such as methionine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan. A similar increase in total immunoglobulin (TIg), lysozyme (LYZ) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities was observed in this group, suggesting improved immunity and health. No significant changes were observed in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) or thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) activities across the different levels of inclusion. These findings suggest that I. aquatica can serve as a sustainable alternative protein source in A. testudineus feed, with a 15% inclusion level providing optimal growth, nutritional benefits, and immune enhancement. This study highlights the potential of I. aquatica as a viable alternative to conventional fishmeal and promotes sustainable aquaculture practices.
Most of Afghanistan’s population lives in rural areas where poverty remains a persistent challenge, shaped by conflict, environmental stress, and limited livelihood opportunities. This study examines the factors driving household poverty in two villages, Meli Khel and Tarakhel, in the Sayed Abad district of Maidan Wardak province. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire based on the Likert scale, which was administered to 105 household heads. These were selected using the Cochran formula and a cluster sampling approach to enhance representativeness. A total of 113 questionnaires were distributed to household heads, who were chosen because of their role as breadwinners and their involvement in agriculture. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27. The findings show that prolonged warfare was the factor that exacerbated poverty the most (mean score 4.79), followed closely by climate change and drought (4.65), declining agricultural productivity (4.59), unemployment (4.57), the depletion of groundwater resources (4.51) and widespread illiteracy (4.50). These results highlight how conflict and environmental pressures, combined with limited economic diversification and low educational attainment, perpetuate rural poverty. Policy interventions should prioritise climate-resilient agricultural development, job creation, improved water management and stronger education systems in order to mitigate these interconnected challenges and support the development of sustainable rural livelihoods in Afghanistan.
Neglected crops often harbour cryptic diversity maintained through informal seed systems, particularly in urban gardens of the Sahel. This study investigates phenotypic variation within a black-seeded Amaranthus spp. population cultivated in Niamey, Niger, where seed colour guides local selection practices despite limited scientific documentation. A total of 180 plants were evaluated at the vegetative stage for plant height and number of leaves under a randomised complete block design, with three replicates of 60 plants each. Descriptive statistics revealed considerable intra-population variability (CV = 39.4% for height; 27.2% for leaf number). Robust Principal Component Analysis (rPCA) captured 93.5% of total variance along a single axis reflecting strong trait correlation. Unsupervised clustering identified a dominant phenotypic core with peripheral structuring but no extreme outliers. This exploratory study documents the extent and internal organisation of phenotypic variation in a black-seeded landrace cultivated in Niger’s urban gardens, highlighting the contribution of farmer-maintained populations to the conservation of agrobiodiversity in underutilised crops. Conducted over a single growing season, this work provides a quantitative description of morphological variation within a Nigerien black-seeded amaranth landrace and establishes a baseline for future multi-environment or molecular studies.
Smallholder irrigation schemes in Morogoro, Tanzania, underpin rice-based farming systems, which are further supported by maize, cassava, and small-scale trade. These households face recurrent flooding, waterlogging, and persistent pest infestations, which threaten crop yields and income stability. Using surveys (n = 192) and key informant interviews, the study examines how cooperative irrigation schemes foster climate resilience through governance, shared infrastructure, and training. Results show high exposure to hydrological hazards, moderate livelihood diversification alongside rice cultivation, and higher adoption of climate-smart practices among members who received cooperative training and access to pooled inputs. The study identifies three cooperative mechanisms, resource pooling (including shared inputs), learning systems (including training sessions), and financial intermediation (such as access to credit), that reduce adaptation costs and increase the uptake of drought- and flood-tolerant practices. The study argues that cooperative governance links individual, farm-level adaptations to create a cohesive, system-level resilience within the irrigation command area.
Sustainable rice production in tropical systems increasingly depends on farming strategies that balance productivity, input efficiency, and environmental integrity. Integrated pest management (IPM) is widely promoted as a pathway toward safer and more sustainable rice (paddy) cultivation; however, evidence on its economic performance and efficiency relative to conventional practices remains mixed, particularly in Indonesia. This study compares the economic efficiency of IPM and non-IPM rice farmers in Kampar District, Kampar Regency, Riau, Indonesia, using cost-based stochastic frontier analysis applied to cross-sectional survey data from 100 farm households. The results indicate that IPM farmers achieve significantly higher economic efficiency (0.67) than non-IPM farmers (0.46). This performance difference is primarily driven by higher technical efficiency, while allocative efficiency remains comparable between the two groups. IPM practices reduce pesticide expenditure by 63.1% and increase yields by 43.4%, although they require substantially higher labour inputs, highlighting a key barrier to adoption in regions experiencing labour-saving transitions. Strengthening IPM-aligned farmer networks and enhancing extension-based training may help accelerate progress toward ecologically resilient and economically competitive rice production systems in Indonesia.
Rural Ethiopian women play a critical yet under-documented role in farm production and household welfare, but entrenched socio-economic and cultural barriers persistently hinder their empowerment. This study examines the determinants of empowerment among 415 women farm households in Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, using a mixed-methods approach that combines the Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI), binary probit regression, structured surveys, and focus group discussions via multi-stage sampling (purposive selection of four districts, random selection of eight farmer associations, and stratification into microfinance participants and non-participants). Findings reveal that only 18% of women exceed the empowerment threshold, highlighting severe disempowerment driven by excessive workloads, lack of leisure time, limited social group involvement, and nervousness in public speaking a WEAI leadership indicator reflecting constrained agency amid cultural norms. Probit analysis identifies age, education, landholding size, livestock ownership, total assets, savings, aspirations, social capital, and dependency ratio as significant positive influencers, with education boosting empowerment probability by 19.2% and total assets by 30.9%. These results underscore the need for integrated, context-specific policies to enhance access to education, economic resources, and social networks, thereby fostering women's agency, inclusive rural development, and amplified agricultural contributions.
This paper examines stakeholder perspectives on the challenges facing livestock traceability in Botswana, focusing on systemic, institutional, and usability constraints that hinder effective implementation. Using a mixed-methods design, the study collected quantitative survey data and qualitative interview narratives from 66 participants, including farmers, veterinary officers, and policy actors, across all nine administrative districts. An NVivo-based analysis revealed that the current Botswana Animal Identification and Traceability System (BAITS) is widely perceived as fragmented, inaccessible, and poorly adapted to local practices, particularly by older and less digitally literate farmers. Key concerns included unreliable infrastructure, lack of inter-institutional coordination, and limited user engagement. Despite these challenges, participants expressed interest in affordable technologies, localised training, and cross-sector integration. While this paper focuses on empirical insights, a separately published solution framework offers a technical response to the issues raised. This study provides a grounded, context-sensitive understanding of livestock traceability in sub-Saharan settings, offering policy and design recommendations for inclusive, interoperable systems.
Uganda's pig sector has expanded significantly, supporting households and value chain actors, and stimulating development in boar semen production. Despite this growth, the relationships and roles among actors within the boar semen production node remain unclear. This study conducted key informant interviews with six companies that were operating in Uganda between 2019 and 2023. These interviews examined a range of issues including the boar breeds reared and sourcing information, semen production and quality control practices, as well as constraints and opportunities. High-quality genetics enter Uganda through imported boars and gilts, with the six semen-production companies keeping a total of 23 boars (between two to six per company) predominantly of Duroc, Large White and Landrace breeds. Semen quality control involved both macroscopic (colour, temperature, smell) and microscopic (motility, concentration, viability) analyses, which conform to the set semen quality assessment methods. However, challenges remain in maintaining semen viability during storage, controlling storage temperature at 17℃, the high cost of boar genetics, and the lack of clear standards and regulations. Despite these issues, opportunities exist with the growing demand for quality genetics and farmers’ investment interests. Therefore, improved coordination and collaboration between actors along the boar semen value chain could streamline the sector and increase the productivity of Uganda's pig industry.
Roses (Rosa chinensis) are widely favoured ornamental plants due to their captivating blooms and vibrant colours. Propagation through stem cuttings allows for the replication of superior traits from parent plants but often faces challenges due to suboptimal environmental conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cloche duration and types of auxin-based plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the growth dynamics of rose stem cuttings. A factorial completely randomised design (CRD) was employed with two factors: cloche duration (P) and auxin-based PGRs (A), each with three replications. Cloche duration (P) included: P1: 2 weeks, P2: 4 weeks, and P3: 6 weeks, while auxin-based PGRs (A) included: A1: No PGR, A2: commercial PGR containing 6 mg naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)/10 mL, A3: mung bean sprouts extract containing 6 mg indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)/10 mL, and A4: garlic extract containing 6 mg IAA/10 mL. The experiment involved 36 plots, each with three plants, totalling 108 plants. Results indicated that the interaction between cloche duration and auxin-based PGRs had no significant effect on the observed parameters, which included bud sprouting time, survival rate, plant height, number of branches, number of flowers, and root volume. However, the individual factors—cloche duration and auxin-based PGRs—showed significant effects on several of these parameters. . A cloche duration of 6 weeks (P3) significantly improved survival rate and root volume, while a duration of 2 weeks (P1) promoted plant height. Among the PGR treatments, commercial PGR (A2) significantly enhanced plant height, whereas garlic extract (A4) increased branch numbers. These findings highlight the potential of optimizing cloche duration and natural auxin-based treatments to improve propagation efficiency in roses.
Yak farming is economically and culturally vital to highland communities, providing protein-rich products in harsh environments. Despite their resilience, yak mortality presents a serious challenge. This study aims to examine the causes of yak mortality to inform effective management strategies for sustaining this essential species. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using semi-structured questionnaires via the Epicollect5 mobile application. All 53 herders from Laya Block were interviewed to gather information on mortality causes, herders’ characteristics, and income. Approximately 94.3% of herders reported yak mortality, with an annual mortality rate of 7.9% and a mean loss of 5.3 yaks per household. Yak mortality is primarily caused by wildlife depredation, which accounts for 58.8% of total proportional mortality. On average, each household loses 3.1 yaks annually to wildlife predation, representing a 4.6% mortality rate relative to the total yak population. The second leading cause is Gid (Coenurosis), responsible for 23.7% of deaths, with an average of 1.2 yak losses per household and a 1.9% mortality rate per total population. Other factors such as winter fodder shortages, accidents, harsh winter conditions, and natural causes contribute smaller shares to the overall yak mortality. However, no significant difference in mortality rates was observed between the two leading causes across age groups (P > 0.05), indicating equal vulnerability and highlighting the urgent need for intervention strategies to mitigate these challenges and promote the conservation of this vital ruminant species in highland communities.
This study examined the factors influencing the intention to practise aquaculture (ITPA) among university fisheries students in Ogun State, Nigeria, after graduation. A multistage procedure was employed to select 198 fisheries students from two universities offering aquaculture and fisheries-related courses within the study area. Data were obtained via a questionnaire administered via the Kobo Collect application. The data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and binary logistic regression. The results revealed that the students’ mean age was 24.3 years, and that 60% of them were females. The majority (97.0%) were single, and 21.8% indicated that their parents were involved in aquaculture enterprises. The results also showed that 91.4% intended to practise aquaculture after graduation, with 60.8% preferring to start a feed milling enterprise. The motivations for ITPA after graduation included the desire to create jobs (93.6%), and persuasion by parents and relatives (94.1%). Those who did not intend to practise aquaculture reported lack of access to loan facilities (94.1%), and a lack of professionalism (88.2%) as demotivating factors. Additionally, 94.9% had a positive perception of youth involvement in aquaculture, but required further training in pond construction (x̄=1.57±0.64), and fingerling production/breeding (x̄=1.58±0.65). The perception of youth involvement in aquaculture was found to be a significant predictor of students’ ITPA (β=0.116, p<0.05) with an odds ratio of 1.123. It was concluded that the intention of fisheries students’ intention to practise aquaculture after graduation was significantly influenced by their perception of youth involvement in aquaculture rather than by personal characteristics. It is recommended that stakeholders should provide fisheries graduates with access to land and financial support.
This study applies a theory-driven approach to assess the impact of Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, focusing on result area 2 (RA 2), which targets agricultural productivity and food security among smallholder farming households in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria. Implemented in response to pandemic-induced disruptions, RA 2 aimed to improve on-farm productivity and food access through the provision of agricultural inputs, climate-smart technologies, and extension services. A mixed-methods approach was employed using a quasi-experimental design based on cross-sectional household survey data from 723 respondents across four Local Government Areas. The analytical framework integrates the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), social cognitive theory (SCT), and the NG-CARES theory of change to examine behavioural, institutional, and economic pathways linking programme participation to welfare outcomes. Programme impacts were estimated using endogenous treatment effect (ETE) and augmented inverse probability weighting (AIPW) models. Results show that NG-CARES participation significantly increased yield by 34–37 % (kg ha-1), farm income by 86–87 % (₦ ha-1), and reduced household food insecurity scores by 0.64 points on the household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), with all effects statistically significant at the 1\,\% level. The study provides empirical evidence of the behavioural impact of NG-CARES in fragile rural contexts. It emphasises the importance of incorporating behavioural insights into programme design, highlights the usefulness of integrated econometric tools for evaluating non-randomised interventions and stresses the need for gender-sensitive strategies to enhance inclusion. The policy recommendations are to scale up behavioural-informed input support systems, enhance extension platforms, institutionalise routine impact evaluations and target female farmers more effectively in order to inform adaptive programme design.
