This study was conducted to determine the reactions of 19 sorghum lines, of which 18 had been used for Colletotrichum sublineola pathotype determination to other foliar and panicle diseases in two agroecological zones in Niger. The anthracnose resistant check SC748-5 was infected with leaf blight, oval leaf spot, and zonate leaf spot but free of long smut, rough leaf spot, and target leaf spot. BTx623 and TAM428 which are susceptible to anthracnose were infected with leaf blight, long smut, oval leaf spot and zonate leaf spot. Across locations, all the lines tested were infected with leaf blight, caused by Exserohilum turcicum. PI570726, an accession from Sudan was infected with only leaf blight but free of all the other diseases observed in both locations. This work showed that some of the sorghum anthracnose differentials, especially PI570726 may possess genes for resistance to multiple sorghum diseases and can be utilized as parents in breeding programs in Niger.

Participatory agricultural production constraint analysis was conducted in AGP-II project supported district; Biyo-Awale district from Dire Dawa Adminisrative Councile (DDAC) of Ethiopia with the objective to assess agricultural production constraints of the target community in the study area. The study was used Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA) approach to collect and generate the required data and infortation. The study used PRA tools which included reviewing secondary data, focus group discussions, pair-wise ranking, and field observation. Results of PRA study revealed that the main crop production constraints facing the study area are shortage of improved crop varieties for cereal and horticultural crops, pest infestation (weeds, crop disease, and insects), moisture stress due to eratic rainfall distribution and inadequate moisture management practices. The PRA study also revealed that crop production was constraints facing are drought, deforestation, depletion of water resource and declining of soil fertility. The PRA study further indicates shortage of financial capital, and inadequate support in the income source diversification have been identified as major institutiona constraints that are limiting the capacity of the communities to diversify their livelihoods. Hence, there is need for research, development and institutional interventions to alleviate the identified constraints to crop production and socioeconomic in the study area through holistic approach.

Sustainable Agriculture Technologies (SATs) significantly contribute to addressing the negative effects of land degradation, poor soil health and climate variability in the agriculture sector. Despite efforts made by different stakeholders in promoting SATs to improve maize productivity in Mzimba South in Malawi, the adoption of the technologies among small-scale farmers remains unsatisfactory. As a result, most of the farmers continue to realize low maize yields. A survey was conducted from July to September 2019 to investigate the influence of selected institutional and technological factors on the adoption of SATs in maize farming among the small-scale farmers in Mzimba South. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a representative sample of 132 small-scale maize farming household heads. Data was collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire. Multivariate probit, ordered probit and ordinary least square (OLS) models were applied to determine the influence of the selected factors on the adoption of SATs at a level of .05 using STATA and SPSS. Qualitative data was analyzed by a deductive approach, in which responses were categorized and summarized under the related themes. The study established that the adoption of SATs was significantly influenced by membership in farmer organizations (FOs), access to extension services, and the levels of relative advantage and complexity associated with the SATs. The findings of the study implied that the Government of Malawi and relevant stakeholders in the agriculture sector need to train and recruit more extension field staff to improve coverage and frequency of extension services delivery on sustainable agriculture. The stakeholders should also promote affiliation of the small-scale farmers to FOs to improve access to agricultural extension services and production resources on sustainable farming. In addition, efforts should be made to develop and promote affordable mechanization options for reducing farm drudgery associated with the implementation of SATs. Furthermore, the Government of Malawi should facilitate the formulation, enactment, and enforcement of local by-laws for safeguarding the SATs and their related inputs (or raw materials) against vandalism, livestock damage, and bushfires.

Drought stress is seen as the major abiotic stress in the modern day agriculture and hinders crop germination and seedling establishment and maize suffers the problem more as a summer season crop. Priming is a physiological method to overcome such deleterious effect of water stress with the main aim of increasing the germination of seed. A lab experiment was therefore performed with maize seed priming using Mannitol @ 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% (w/v) concentrations subjected to germination under induced drought of 0 Mpa, 0.15 Mpa, 0.5 MPa, 1.0 MPa and 1.7 MPa using NaCl. The experiment was laid in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Priming with mannitol reduced the Mean Germination Time (MGT); the best result obtained in seeds primed with 2% mannitol. However, the final germination count, Relative Water Content (RWC) and root and shoot length remained unaltered. Germination activities reduced with increasing moisture stress. The study indicated that priming with mannitol could improve the speed of germination in maize seeds.

Poverty reduction has been one of the main objectives of major international organisations like FAO, World Bank, UNICEF and governments’ especially those of Africa. This study contributes to the fight against poverty through the analysis of market gardening as a strategy to poverty reduction in the Jakiri municipality. Data were collected through household interview, focus group discussion, interview of personnel of the ministry of agriculture and rural development, councils, religious heads and local chiefs) and field observations. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics, correlation and regression. The findings revealed that 73% of the market gardeners in Jakiri subdivision did not attend secondary school, lack skills to compete for jobs in urban areas. Agriculture particularly market gardening was their major source of income generating activity as more than 75% of the household income comes from market gardening. Also, more than 80% of what is produced is sold. Moreover, 90% of the gardeners in Jakiri subdivision think that if government could help them improve on their productivity their livelihoods will improve and this will take them out of poverty. There are high expectations that the income and the number of market gardeners will rise over time and space. This can be seen by the number of farmers involved and their earning where more than 70% earn from 1,000,000FCFA and above per year, an average of 83,334FCFA and above per month. Targeted marketing development strategies need to be followed by market gardeners and various stakeholders in Jakiri to better exploit the economic potential of these crops and at the same time maintaining its contributions to the local crop diversity.

Seventeen sesame genotypes were tested at ten environments in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia during 2014-2015 cropping seasons. Randomized Complete Block Designs (RCBD) with three replications was used in the study. According to the GGE bi-plot different sesame growing environments grouped into two mega-environments: The first mega-environment contained the favorable environments Dansha area with a vertex G4 and Sheraro area with winner G3 and the second environment included medium to low environments E2 (Humera-2), E4 (Dansha-2), E5 (Sheraro-1), E7 (Wargiba-1), E8 (Wargiba-2) and E9 (Maykadra) for seed yield. Three mega-environments identified for oil content: The 1st environment contained G12, G7 and G2 in the mega-environment group of Humera, Dansha and Gendawuha, The 2nd environment, Sheraro location contained G9 and the 3rd environment Wargiba, was containing G17. G1 (HuRC-4) identified as an “ideal” genotype and E1 (Humera-1) also identified as an ideal environment the most representative of the overall environments and the most powerful to discriminate genotypes. The multivariate approaches AMMI and GGEbi-plot were better for partitioning the GEI into the causes of variation. According to different stability models, G1, G7, and G3 were high yielder and the most stable both in terms of seed yield and oil content. Moreover, showed yield advantages over the released and local varieties. The stable genotypes recommended for wider areas while G14 and G4 were for specific favorable environments Sheraro and Dansha, respectively.

Groundnut is an important oil seed crop, grown throughout the tropics and sub tropics worldwide. It is one of the three economically important oilseed crops grown in Ethiopia. Groundnut is commonly produced by small scale farmers as food and cash crops in the study area. The area has potential to the production of Ground nut for food and nutrition security as well as export commodity. However, scarcity of varieties that fit to the environment is one of the major constraints of production. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate five Ground nut varieties and select early maturing varieties with considerable yield and agronomic traits. The field experiment was conducted in 2017 and 2018 at Abaya and varieties were planted in Randomized complete block design (RCBD). Data were collected on yield and important agronomic traits. The computed analysis of variance revealed significant variations among varieties for days to maturity, number of primary branches, number of pegs per plants, Grain yield and shelling percentage. The pooled over year mean of varieties indicated , Tole- 1 variety ( Check) is high yielding with mean grain yield of 4174.7kg followed by variety Sedi (3552.5kg/ha) and Babile local (3550.4kg/ha).Variety Sedi has special merit in terms of earliness and therefore recommended for moisture stress areas of Abaya and location with similar agro ecologies while Tole -1 (Standard check) is high yielding varieties and should be used in production until new varieties will be developed through selection/breeding program.

Besides the lack of soil fertilization, the primary biotic stressor limiting the production of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) in Indonesia is pest and disease attacks (PDAs). As a part of the efforts to find out the appropriate solution for the farming constraints, a field trial was carried out for 14 months (2015 – 2016) in Genggelang - North Lombok Regency, Indonesia. The main objective of the experiment was to identify the effects of the use of locally-available materials, i.e., liquid-silicate rock fertilizer (LSRF), botanical pesticide (BP) of neem, and black ants (BA) of Doliccoderus thoracic, on PDAs, bean production, and polyphenol and lignin contents of cocoa pod shell. A randomized complete block design was laid out in three blocks, and the treatments were LSRF, LSRF+BP, LSRF+BA, BA, and control. Results reveal that the application of those materials reduced the intensity of pest and disease attacks (e.i., respectively, 6 - 24 % and 3 - 9 % lower than for that of the control), increased 18 – 119 % of bean production, and improved the polyphenol and lignin contents of pod shell. The highest increase (119 %) of bean production was due to the foliar application of LSRF. The positive effect of the treatments, especially the use of LSRF, associated with the improvement of the resistance of cocoa to PDAs and appropriate supply of plant-essential nutrients. Therefore, the foliar application of LSRF may be promoted as a proper method to improve the production of cocoa, especially of that grown on less fertile soils.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important food crops in the world. Purple rice, as a special rice with important nutritional and health functions, has important scientific significance and application value for genetic improvement of purple rice and breeding of new varieties through in-depth study on its agronomic and related quality traits and products processed, and analysis of its genetic basis. In this paper, the new progress of purple rice in agronomic traits, quality traits, environmental impacts on purple rice and genetic basis of purple rice seed coat in recent years were reviewed and analyzed, and the application prospects of purple rice processing products and purple gene in rice genetic improvement were also prospected. Thus, our results will provide important information and reference for breeding new purple rice varieties with good quality and high yield.

Field experiment was carried out under rain-fed conditions during the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Agricultural Technology, Adamawa State College of Agriculture, Ganye, solely to develop an integrated pest management for the control of groundnut Aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) [Homoptera: Aphididae]. The experimental Design used was the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Parameters measured were, average number of leaves per plot at 6 weeks after sowing, number of branches at 3 weeks after sowing, number of branches at 6 weeks after sowing, number of pods per plot, weight of harvested seeds per plot. The result obtained shows that, there was significant difference among the treatments in all the parameters measured at 0.05 level of probability using the Least Significant Difference (LSD). According to the results recorded, the highest mean yield of groundnut was obtained on plots treated with the combination of chemical and physical control methods (1444g) followed by plots treated with physical, chemical and cultural control methods combined (1296g). The highest mean number of pods per plant was recorded in the combination of physical, chemical and cultural control methods (18.00) followed by chemical and physical control methods as combined (15.00). The work shows that, the cultivation of groundnut with the control of groundnut Aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) using integrated pest control applied as recommended facilitates better growth and guarantees good crop yield. The use of physical, chemical and cultural control method is profitable in Ganye Area of Adamawa State and is therefore suggested for use to local farmers.

Mitigation of climate change requires the decrease of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and the increasing use of renewable energies replacing fossil fuels. Agricultural greenhouses are energy-intensive agricultural systems using mainly fossil fuels. The use of renewable energies during their operation is limited so far. The possibility of using renewable energies for covering their energy needs has been investigated, focused on the Mediterranean region. Various sustainable energy technologies which are reliable, mature, cost-effective and broadly used in various applications are examined. These include solar-PV systems, low enthalpy geothermal energy, solid biomass burning, co-generation systems, high efficiency heat pumps and reuse of rejected industrial heat. Combined use of these systems in greenhouses can cover all their energy requirements in heat, cooling and electricity, reducing or zeroing their net CO2 emissions into the atmosphere due to operational energy use. It is concluded that depending on their local availability in Mediterranean countries, these benign energy technologies can assist greenhouse crop growers in the reduction of their carbon emissions, contributing in the achievement of the universal goal for climate change mitigation.

Cocoa farmer faces increasing challenging environment through exposure to risks factors which have impacted negatively on their production or output. Since farmers are primary producers and often times lack capacity to control risks factor, it is important to manage this factors. This study examines the cocoa farmers’ risk preferences and crop insurance perception and isolates the drivers of decision to uptake crop insurance among cocoa farmers in Ekiti state. The sample for the study consist of 200 cocoa farmers who were household heads selected through multi-stage sampling across four Local government areas of Ekiti State who are predominantly cocoa producers. Data collected on socio-demographic characteristics, perception of crop insurance and risk preferences, were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic model. Results showed that majority of the cocoa farmers were without crop insurance, with higher enrolment in Membership of cooperative society, owned their land, larger household size and lower educational level but higher level of farm experience when compared to cocoa farmers who are holding crop insurance. Farmers risk preferences showed no significant difference between farmers with or without insurance. Education (ß=0.59), Household size (ß=0.0029) and Debt use (ß=0.02), Membership of cooperative (ß=-4.53), Farming Experience (ß=-2.51), Owned Land (ß=-2.19) and Non-Farm Income (ß=-0.65) were among the significant determinants of insurance uptake. Risk mitigating measures such as provision of necessary incentives such as improved varieties of cocoa seedling, as well as provision of fertiliser and approved pesticides, financial assistance, and simple processing technologies that produce standard cocoa bean plus a re-jigged Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) for an improved discharge of its function are recommended.

Cocoa farmer faces increasing challenging environment through exposure to risks factors which have impacted negatively on their production or output. Since farmers are primary producers and often times lack capacity to control risks factor, it is important to manage this factors. This study examines the cocoa farmers’ risk preferences and crop insurance perception and isolates the drivers of decision to uptake crop insurance among cocoa farmers in Ekiti state. The sample for the study consist of 200 cocoa farmers who were household heads selected through multi-stage sampling across four Local government areas of Ekiti State who are predominantly cocoa producers. Data collected on socio-demographic characteristics, perception of crop insurance and risk preferences, were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic model. Results showed that majority of the cocoa farmers were without crop insurance, with higher enrolment in Membership of cooperative society, owned their land, larger household size and lower educational level but higher level of farm experience when compared to cocoa farmers who are holding crop insurance. Farmers risk preferences showed no significant difference between farmers with or without insurance. Education (ß=0.59), Household size (ß=0.0029) and Debt use (ß=0.02), Membership of cooperative (ß=-4.53), Farming Experience (ß=-2.51), Owned Land (ß=-2.19) and Non-Farm Income (ß=-0.65) were among the significant determinants of insurance uptake. Risk mitigating measures such as provision of necessary incentives such as improved varieties of cocoa seedling, as well as provision of fertiliser and approved pesticides, financial assistance, and simple processing technologies that produce standard cocoa bean plus a re-jigged Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) for an improved discharge of its function are recommended.

In the past, conservation effort has primarily focused on establishment of forest reserves for timber production, with minimal or no consideration to how these natural resources will help sustain or improve livelihoods of adjoining communities. This study examined the contribution of Aramoko forest reserve to the livelihoods of the adjoining communities in Ekiti State. One hundred and twenty pre-tested questionnaires were administered among the products collectors in the study area. Data collected were analysed and the result showed that 78.3 % of the respondents are married with 52.3 % of them male, while 50.8 % of the respondents aged between 51-70 years with 64.1 % having at least secondary education. Twenty-five (25) different products were collected by the respondents in the study area. These products include among others; timber with highest frequency of (120) followed by herbal plants (115), Archantina marginata (105), Thaumatococcus danielli (89), Bridelia ferruginea (70) and Irvingia garbonensis (65). The use of motor cycle accounted for 41.4 % of the respondents means of transportation, while 31.3 % of the respondents sell their product in bit at the village market. Picking, digging, plucking, cutting and uprooting were methods used for harvesting by the respondents while illegal felling (24 %) and indiscriminate bush burning (22.4 %) were the major conservation problem in the study area. Specifically, some of the products harvested are used for food, medicine, fuelwood, herbs and cultural purposes. The study recommends that research should be conducted into how these products can be artificially raised in the nursery for plantation establishment.

Keeping in view of lack of recommended rates of N and NPS fertilizers, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the newly introduced NPS fertilizer and nitrogen on growth, physiology and above ground biomass of garlic. Four NPS (0-0-0, 78.75-69-12.75, 105-92-17 and 131.25-115-21.25 kg N-P-S ha-1) and three nitrogen fertilizer rates (114.13, 228.26 and 278.33 kg N ha-1) were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Significantly highest plant height (28.02 cm), leaf diameter (1.27 cm), dry and fresh weight (4.71 g and 6.11 g) and leaf length were recorded on garlic plants supplied with 105-92-17 kg N-P-S ha-1 and also the highest plant height (27.75 cm), leaf length (24.02 cm), fresh and dry weight (6.23 g and 5.04 g) were recorded on garlic plants supplied with 278.33 kg N ha-1. The interaction effect also show a significant effect in almost all the growth parameters; the early day to 50% emergence was recorded from a plot which received 228.26 kg N ha-1 and 105-92-17 kg NPS ha-1 and the highest plant height, leaf length, fresh and dry above ground biomass and leaf diameter were 29.62 cm, 25.60 cm, 6.93 g, 5.59 g and 1.4 cm, respectively were observed by the interaction of 278.33 kg N ha-1 and 105-92-17 kg N-P-S ha-1 with no significant difference with 228.26 N and 78.75-69-12.75 kg N-P-S ha-1. From this one season experiment, fertilizer rates 307.01-69-12.75 kg N-P-S ha-1 could be recommended for garlic production.

Few years ago National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) launched melon sheller to reduce burden of obtaining melon oil and cake, and to enhance rural women’s productivity. This study looked at the productivity of promoted melon shelling technology and preference by rural women in Nigeria. Data were gathered from the NCAM workshop and survey of melon processors in Niger State. In the workshop, it was found that time allowed for soaking melon and covering with piece of clothes contributed to the productivity of the sheller. Results from survey revealed that 95.1% of the respondents’ preferred Internal Combustion technology and 90.2% liked electric-driven melon shellers over the manual one. Also, 69.5% obtained the shellers from local fabricators rather than NCAM. The technology led to increased turnout of melon (378kg/hr) and reduced wastages to 1.26kg out of 75.6kg. The study concluded that the promoted melon sheller is efficient and have positive implication on the rural women’s productivity and revenue. The study recommends that the rural women should put the melon sheller into its maximum capacity use. The NCAM should extend training to the local fabricators so that they can improve on the technology most especially in the areas of winnowing and washing of melon kernels.

Irrigation experiments of cocoa tend to concentrate on yield of matured cocoa trees compared to field establishment of young seedlings. Seedling survival leading to optimum population density are fundamental to obtaining maximum yield of crops. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of mulching and irrigation on survival of hybrid cocoa clone raised in three different growing media during the establishment phase. The experimental design was a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arranged in a split-split plot design, with irrigation as the main plot factor, mulching as the subplot factor and growing media as the sub-sub plot factor with three replications. Cocoa pod husk (CPH) was used as the mulching material and each plant received 5kg at a rate of 5.6 t/ha. Irrigation was done daily by applying 4L of water except when it rains. Data was collected on soil moisture, plant height, leaf number, stem girth and plant survival. Results indicated that irrigation and mulching significantly (P<0.01) enhanced soil moisture. Cocoa seedlings raised in topsoil, mulched and irrigated significantly (P<0.05) increased survival rate (94.5%) compared to seedlings raised in soil without irrigation and no mulching (47.1%). Similarly, the survival rate of seedlings raised in growing media M2, mulched and irrigated (93.0%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than similar seedlings without irrigation (73.4%). However, the survival rate of seedlings raised in M3 without mulching but irrigated was significantly (<0.05) higher 92.1% compared to seedlings raised in M3 mulched and irrigated 67.1%. Irrigation is very important in ensuring high survival rate during early field establishment. Mulching with cocoa pod husk without irrigation did not improve cocoa seedling survival.