Asian Research Journal of Agriculture
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Improving Food and Nutrition Security in Kenya’s Arid Lands-A Mini Review
No full textThis paper presents a review of the literature on food and nutrition security in Kenya’s arid counties. It also provides strategies that can be adopted to improve food and nutrition security in the counties. Due to their aridity, they are associated with low economic, health, literacy and food and nutrition security indicators. They bear the brunt of food and nutrition insecurity and a proportionately higher percentage of their population faces starvation, whenever droughts occur. Stunting and wasting in the region’s children averages 28 and 14%, respectively. The figures compare poorly with the national averages of 4% and 11%, respectively. As the indices are related to quantity, diversity and quality of food intake, there is need to reduce food and nutrition insecurity in these Counties. Past efforts to reduce food and nutrition insecurity have failed, due to lack of long-term commitment from the National-level of Government, the use of inefficient farming technologies and low level of mechanization. Poverty, low and unpredictable rainfall for rain-fed agriculture, inconsistent livestock marketing of poor quality livestock, high crop production costs, high food prices also contribute to food and nutrition insecurity of the region. To improve food and nutrition security, it is recommended that the National-level of Government cedes the implementation of food production programmes to County Governments, while it strengthens food production policies, diversification of livelihoods and supports resilience-building. Other recommendations include innovating solar and wind-power devices to run machinery for food production, processing and preservation. Improvements in water harvesting, storage and pumping with wind and solar-powered equipment can also be explored. These improvements should eventually reduce dependence on food importation, which raises food prices, and de-incentivizes local farmers. Diversification of livelihoods, good governance and the application of appropriate technologies in food production, value addition and cooperation of the two levels of Government, are likely to gradually improve access and availability of quality and affordable food. The potential result is an improving food and nutrition security situation in Kenya’s arid Counties
Production and Adoption of Transgenic Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textFood insecurity is high in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been estimated that 29 out of the 40 low income countries and countries with the highest rates of malnutrition are found in this region. Therefore, increasing agriculture productivity in sub-Saharan Africa is a priority and utilization of scientific and technological advances could enhance agricultural productivity. While the use of transgenic crops has been floated as one of the key solutions, to this effect, the region has continuously experience low levels of adoption compared to other regions. This paper reviews the state of production and adoption in sub-Saharan Africa, with an in-depth explanation of factors that may have led to low adoption levels. Furthermore, biosafety measures meant to regulate production and utilization of transgenic crops have also be discussed
Analysis of the Stability and Yield Performance of Biofortified Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Genotypes under Low Altitude Conditions
No full textThe supply of biofortified material to areas affected by malnutrition or micronutrient deficiency remains one of the major concerns of breeders. Nevertheless, this material must be efficient and stable. The evaluation of this performance and stability requires statistical indices. Biofortified genotypes are evaluated for the first time by these indices.
The objective of this work is to analyze the performance and stability of biofortified common bean genotypes under low altitude conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The present contribution uses the evaluation of twenty-six genotypes of biofortified common beans over six crop years using parametric (Wᵢ², σ²ᵢ, s²dᵢ, bi, CVi, θ₍ᵢ₎, θᵢ) and non-parametric (S(1), S(2), S(3), S(6), NP(1), NP(2), NP(3), NP(4), KR, AR) indices for the identification of successful and stable genotypes.
The results indicate the presence of the genotype x year interaction. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) shows similarities between the indices. Mean sum rank (AR) identifies NYIRAMUHONDO, G59/1-2, CODMLV 086, MBC 23, NABE 4, and K 131 as performing and stable genotypes.
In the end, the best genotypes are those that are both efficient and stable. However, where stability is much more desired in relation to performance, the use of ecovalence (Wi) is more appropriate in the stability calculation
Influence of Downward Tapping Delay on Agronomic Parameters of Upward Tapping Rubber Trees
No full textThe nine-year period of downward tapping prior to upward tapping is often considered too long and irrelevant. Thus, a study was carried out to determine the minimum time needed for downward tapping for which the agronomic parameters (rubber production, vegetative growth) of the rubber trees could best be expressed in upward tapping. Clones with slow (PB 217 and IRCA 41), moderate (GT 1) and fast (PB 260 and IRCA 18) metabolisms were used as plant material in the experiments carried out in Gagnoa, Bettié, Daoukro, San Pedro and Divo. The rubber trees were tapped in a half-spiral downward direction at different times followed by quarter-spiral upward or upward tapping. The experimental design was a Fisher block design with 9 treatments and 4 replications. The results showed that upward tapping preceded by downward tapping for 5 and/or 6 years was the best regardless of the metabolic activity class of the clone. Rubber production expressed in kg.ha-1. year-1 [Slow (5y-2675 ± 79) (6y-2488 ± 59) (T9y-2238 ± 45); Moderate ((5y-5417 ± 127) (6y-5094 ± 141) (T9y-3993 ± 58); Fast (5y-5210 ± 239) (6y-4733 ± 500) (T9y-3723 ± 245)] resulting from these upward tappings increased with an increasing gradient of clone metabolism without, however, detrimental to vegetative growth (cm. yr-1) [Slow (5 yr-3.90 ± 1.27) (6 yr-4.05 ± 1.48) (T9 yr-3.40 ± 1.13); Moderate ((5 yr-3.02 ± 0.25) (6 yr-2.80 ± 0.05) (T9 yr-2.39 ± 0.02); Fast (5 yr-4.27 ± 0.42) (6 yr-3.97 ± 0.28) (T9 yr-3.60 ± 0.05)]. These results show that upward tapping in year 6 is more advantageous than tapping in year 10
Agrophysiological Characterization of Maize (Zea mays) Plants from EV 8728 Seeds Irradiated to Gamma Radiation
No full textMaize (Zea mays L.) is a tropical annual herbaceous plant of the Poaceae family. It is a cereal cultivated under very varied conditions ranging from tropical to temperate climates. However, the accentuated climate change causes abiotic and biotic stresses reducing the development and the production of the plants. To improve these plants, it is important to understand the mechanisms involved in these stresses. Two doses of gamma irradiation (200 and 300 grays) were applied to the seeds of a variety (EV8728) of maize grown on an experimental plot at the Jean Lorougnon Guédé University (UJLoG). Thus, the morphological, physiological and biochemical behaviors of the plants were evaluated. The results showed that gamma radiation significantly reduces morphological parameters. However, this reduction is accentuated at 300 grays. At the physiological and biochemical level, the radiation reduced the chlorophyll a, b and total (t) contents and the carotenoid content. Additionally, the contents of proline, total protein and total sugar increased with 200 grays and decreased for 300 grays. However, the phenolic compounds content increases with the irradiation dose
Application of 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) for Delaying the Ripening of Banana: A Review
No full text1- Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) has been identified as a safe chemical tested successfully in extending shelf life while maintaining quality of plant products. 1-MCP, at very low concentrations, usually blocks ethylene receptors and then inhibits the action of ethylene delaying further ripening and senescence. Several studies have been conducted elsewhere for delaying ripening of different banana cultivars such as Cavendish, Prata, Tella Chakkerakeli, Beragan and Kolikuttu. Physiological reactions related with ripening of banana are delayed by inhibition of ethylene perception, while ethylene synthesis of banana fruit can be regulated at suppressed levels of ACS and ACO by 1-MCP. The effectiveness of 1-MCP on bananas varies with the maturity of the fruit. Fumigation, the conventional application method, has some limitations, particularly long exposure duration, uneven ripening and green ripening in bananas. Application of 1-MCP in aqueous form is recently developed to minimize these limitations. Micro-bubbling and controlled release packaging technologies are effective tools of application of 1-MCP on bananas. This review compiles and critically analyses the existing knowledge on the technological use of 1-MCP, clarifies inconsistencies in different publications
Comparative Assessment of Vegetable Crop Performances and Ecological Indicators during Transition from Conventional to Ecological Agriculture
No full textSelected field vegetable crop combinations and increasing dosage of bio-char application, together with other alternative agronomic components of ecological agriculture (EA) were compared with conventional agriculture (CA) during the first three seasons of transition from CA to EA under hot-humid tropical conditions and sandy regasolic soils in Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka. The recommendations of the Department of Agriculture (Sri Lanka) was followed for managing conventional agriculture plots while alternative ecological options were followed for plant nutrient and pest managements. Capsicum-beet, Okra-beet and mae-spinach and radish-onion crop combinations could be selected for intercropping under ecological as well as conventional cropping systems based on their yield performances (Land Equivalent Ratio -LER) or other yield components. Even though plant growth rates and crop yields were lower at the beginning, EA was able to outrank CA by the third consecutive season. A bio-char amendment of 2 kg m-2 could be identified as the best among the different dosages tested. Soil N, P and K contents were increased while accumulation of Cd and Hg were reduced at the end of a three season long ecological agriculture practices. Insect pest/natural enemy incidence were not different between two cropping systems
Evaluation of the Agromorphological Determinants of the Spread of the Bacterial Disease in Orchards of the Main Mango-Producing Regions in Côte d\u27Ivoire
No full textThe use of agroecological practices for the management of phytosanitary problems has become a major issue in the context of sustainable development. It is with this in mind that this study was initiated in the regions of Bagoué, Poro and Tchologo. This study consisted of investigating the determinants likely to promote the spread of the bacterial disease in 720 mango trees of the Kent variety distributed in 20 orchards in the regions of Poro, Tchologo and Bagoué. During this study, the incidence and severity of bacterial disease on leaves and fruits (IsFe, IsFr, IcFe, IcFr) as well as agromorphological parameters such as East-West and North-South spans, total leaf area, fruit load, trunk circumference, total height and number of main branches (En EO and NS, SFT, ChFr, CirTr, HaTr and RamP) were measured. The performance of the pearson correlation test revealed that spans (N-S and E-O), HaTr, SFT and ChFr are the 4 agromorphological determinants that promote the spread of bacteriosis in orchards of the three (3) regions. The synthesis of the results of the ACP and the CAH supplemented by a multivariate analysis (MANOVA) made it possible to structure the mango orchards into three (3) homogeneous groups. Group 1 orchards (VB4, VB8, VS1, VF5, VK1, VB7, VF2 and VK2) expressed the lowest severity indices and the incidence of bacteriosis on the leaves (respectively 15.21 ± 8.87% ; 12.21 ± 6.54%) and fruits (respectively 13.11 ± 4.75%; 10.40 ± 2.93%). These orchards featured mango trees with medium trunk circumferences (99.14 ± 17.24 cm), medium trunk heights (145.29 ± 7.24 cm) and smallest spans (6.85 ± 1, 13 m for the NS span and 6.79 ± 1.18 m for the EO span) and total leaf area (15.61 ± 0.06 cm). These results could help develop an agroecological control strategy for the sustainable management of bacterial disease
Productivity and Profitability Assessment of Lemon Based Agroforestry Systems in Bangladesh
No full textA field experiment was conducted from May 2017 to February 2018 at the research farm of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University to evaluate the performance and profitability of three seasonal (Broccoli, Cabbage and Okra) and two annual crops (ginger and turmeric) in lemon-based agroforestry systems. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated thrice. For seasonal crops the treatments were sole field (T0), 50 cm distance from tree base (DTB) with ginger (T1), 50 cm DTB with turmeric (T2), 100 cm DTB with ginger (T3) and 100 cm DTB with turmeric (T4). For annual crops (ginger and turmeric) the treatments were sole field (T0) and four distance regimes (50, 100, 150 and 200 cm) from the lemon tree base in agroforestry systems. The results of the study revealed that the yield of seasonal crops decreased and the yield of annual crops and perennial trees increased in agroforestry than respective sole cropping systems. The yield performance of crops component was significantly decreased with the decreasing distance towards tree base in agroforestry systems. The economic analysis showed that the net return, benefit-cost ratio (BCR) and land equivalent ratio (LER) was higher in the lemon-based agroforestry system than sole cropping. Therefore, the cultivation of cabbage, broccoli, okra, ginger and turmeric under lemon-based agroforestry systems are economically profitable
Nutritional Potential of Two Maturity Stages of Eggplant Solanum aethiopicum "Striped Toga" Variety Harvested in Côte d’Ivoire
No full textAfrican eggplant Solanum aethiopicum var. striped toga is a vegetable-fruit widely consumed in Côte d\u27Ivoire. However, observations have shown that the cortex was removed from the pulp during culinary preparations for various reasons. The objective of this study is to contribute to the valorization of this eggplant by showing the nutritional interest of the cortex and the pulp. The samples used in this study were collected in a market garden located south of Abidjan. After separating the cortex from the pulp, they were ground into powder and used for physicochemical analysis. The results concerning physicochemical parameters showed that the ripe pulp (Pm) compared to the ripe cortex (Cm) contained more total sugars (165±0.7 versus 107±0.70 mg/100 g DM). Whereas, the unripe pulp Pnm contained significant amounts of polyphenols and tannins compared to the unripe cortex (636±0.25 versus 328±0.04 mg/100g DM for total polyphenols; 577±0.09 versus 171±0.21 mg/100 g DM for tannins). Oxalate contents decreased in ripe parts of the fruit (Pnm: 332±2.52 and Cnm: 131±1.00 mg/100g DM in unripe eggplant versus Pm: 157.75±1.52 and Cm: 55±0 .00 mg/100g DM in ripe eggplant). Also, Solanum aethiopicum var. striped toga could play an important role in human nutrition because of their nutrients content, thus contributing to better health