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Challenges and opportunities to scaling smallholder mechanization in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
No full textAs governments heighten the drive to mechanize agriculture, critical information is required on (i) existing mechanization options, (ii) barriers and challenges, (iii) opportunities for scaling and effective demand for mechanization. This paper combines quantitative and qualitative surveys to help elucidate on some of these key issues in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe where mechanization is part of national policy priorities. Data were collected through Qualitative surveys involving 484 participants in focus group discussions and 109 key informants. Focusing mainly on farm mechanization and irrigation options for smallholder farmers, we found that animal draft power is still dominant for land preparation, ahead of two-and four-wheel tractors. Common options for post-harvest management include shellers, improved granaries and hermetic bags. In terms of demand, there is nascent literature suggesting that farmers in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are willing to pay positive amounts for different mechanization services, indicating prevalence of effective demand and good opportunities for mechanization. Supply side barriers to scaling mechanization include limited availability of machines and spares, poor after sale, and repair and maintenance services in the vicinity of farmers. On the demand side, high capital requirements, limited awareness and technical knowledge and the high cost of hire services are some of the main barriers to scaling. Based on these findings, there is need for inclusive and innovative financing mechanisms, demand creation and awareness raising to scale up and scale out mechanization.30 page
Diallel analysis, maternal effect and heritability in groundnut for yield components and oil content
No full textBackground: Groundnut is one of the world’s major food and oil crops. Being sources of nutrition and vegetable oil, rich in affordable and digestible protein, it is a strategic crop in Burkina Faso for food security, nutrition, and cash income. Understanding the nature of gene effect and genetic variation affecting yield and yield component traits will contribute to designing appropriate breeding methods for groundnut improvement and increase selection efficiency in Burkina Faso. Methods: In 2018, a total of 30 F 2 progenies were generated through a 6 x 6 full diallel mating using six different and contrasting varieties. In 2019, parents and progenies were evaluated in a lattice square design in 3 replications at ICRISAT-Mali experimental field to assess the general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects, the inheritance and the maternal and reciprocal effects for yield component traits (YCT) and oil content (OC). Results: Significant variabilities were observed among the parental genotypes and their F 2 progenies for DTH, PSR, HPW, PL, PWD, SL, SWD, and OAC. Mean performance of the six parents were HPW (117.05g), HSW (57.24 g), PYH (1914.76), SYH (1312.73), PL (2.52), PWD (1,19), SL (1.38), SWD (0.83), OC (49.43), OAC (50.43) and LAC (33.61). Parent QH243C presented the highest value for SWD (1.02 cm) and OAC (60.76) while the parent ICGV09195 had the highest value of OC (50.36). Chalimbana presented the highest value of HPW (169.61 g), PL (2.98 cm), PWD (1. 41 cm), and SL (1.57 cm) while CG7 presented the highest value for HSW (75. 14 g), and SYH (1639.28 kg). Both YCT and OC are controlled by additive and non-additive gene effects with a predominance of additive gene action for HSW, SL, and SWD, whereas HPW, PL, PWD, and OAC were found to be more controlled by non-additive gene effects. Maternal effects as well as nuclear and cytoplasmic interaction effects were observed for both YCT and OC indicating that YCT and OC are influenced by a combination of genetic factors from both the maternal parent and the nuclear genome, as well as cytoplasmic factors such as mitochondrial DNA. Broad sense heritability ranged from 3.76 % to 91.56 %, and higher broad sense heritability values were recorded for pod length (91.56 %), hundred pod weight (83.71 %) and pod width (80.95 %). Conclusion: The study yields valuable insights into the inheritance of YCT and OC. The parents, Chalimbana and CG7, showed promise as good combiners for both yield component traits and oil content when used as male parents while TE3, Sh470P and QH243C can be used as female for the oil content and its components (oleic and linoleic content)
Menú de tecnologías validadas – Maíz en Oaxaca – Version 2024: Alternativas para incrementar la productividad y garantizar la sustentabilidad de cultivos de maíz en regiones del estado de Oaxaca
No full textResumen de resultados de investigación agronómica realizada por CIMMYT y sus colaboradores en plataformas de investigación, módulos demostrativos y otros ensayos en el Hub.31 page
Situation report on Nepal’s agrifood systems: August 2024
No full textThe year-on-year annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached its lowest for 2023/24 at 3.6 but the CPI for food and beverage was higher than the national CPI indicating higher costs for these essential items compared to other non-goods and services. Annual remittance inflow increased by 16.5 percent in July 2024, although the increase was lower than the same period of the previous year. The number of Nepali workers applying for entry renewal declined by 1.4 percent.9 page
Subsoil acidity in sub-Saharan Africa: What relevance for the soil health investment agenda?
No full textSoil acidity has recently reemerged as a priority topic in agricultural policy discussions in sub-Saharan Africa. However, most of the (still limited) existing data on soil acidity is focused on conditions in the top 20 cm of the soil profile. While addressing topsoil acidity is a logical starting point for most cropping systems affected by acidity-related production constraints, the potential importance of addressing subsoil acidity remains unclear. In the face of deepening seasonal weather variability associated with climate change, addressing subsoil acidity may be strategically important. In periods of water stress, staple crops such maize may develop deeper root systems to enhance water uptake capacity and thereby overcome drought related stress. Such capacities, however, may be severely curtailed by subsoil acidity which may impede root growth in the soil profile. This elevates the question from an esoteric soil science concern to a practical large-scale soil health management inquiry. However, because so little empirical work has been done to date on this topic, the strategic relevance of this adaptation pathway is not yet well understood. We outline the main conceptual issues of relevance to agricultural development, summarize the available information, and suggest priority areas for further empirical research within the region.11 page
Applications of dry chain technology to maintain high seed viability in tropical climates
No full textSeed storage life in tropical areas is shortened by high humidity and temperature and the general inaccessibility to dehumidifying and refrigeration systems, resulting in rapid decreases in seed viability in storage as well as a high incidence of fungal and insect infestations. The dry chain, based on rapid and deep drying of seeds after harvest followed by packaging in moisture-proof containers, has been proposed as an effective method to maintain seed quality during medium-term storage in humid climates, even without refrigeration. In addition, seed drying with zeolite drying beads can be more effective and economical than sun or heated-air drying under these warm, humid conditions. In this paper, we review recent published literature regarding the dry chain, considering different crop species, storage environments and seed traits. In addition, we provide new original data on the application of dry chain methods and their implementation at larger scales in South Asia, Latin America and Pacific Island Countries. The clear conclusion is that the combination of reusable drying beads and waterproof storage containers enables the implementation of the dry chain in tropical climates, enhancing seed viability and quality in storage of many crop species. The dry chain approach can therefore significantly enhance seed security for farmers in many tropical countries. Finally, we propose actions and strategies that could guide further scaling-up implementation of this technology
Modeling the growth, yield and N dynamics of wheat for decoding the tillage and nitrogen nexus in 8-years long-term conservation agriculture based maize-wheat system
No full textContext: Agricultural field experiments are costly and time-consuming, and their site-specific nature limits their ability to capture spatial and temporal variability. This hinders the transfer of crop management information across different locations, impeding effective agricultural decision-making. Further, accurate estimates of the benefits and risks of alternative crop and nutrient management options are crucial for effective decision-making in agriculture. Objective: The objective of this study was to utilize the Crop Environment Resource Synthesis CERES-Wheat model to simulate crop growth, yield, and nitrogen dynamics in a long-term conservation agriculture (CA) based wheat system. The study aimed to calibrate the model using data from a field experiment conducted during the 2019-20-2020-21 growing seasons and evaluation it with independent data from the year 2021–22. Method: Crop simulation models, such as the Crop Environment Resource Synthesis CERES-Wheat (DSSAT v 4.8), may provide valuable insights into crop growth and nitrogen dynamics, enabling decision makers to understand and manage production risk more effectively. Therefore, the present study employed the CERES-Wheat (DSSAT v 4.8) model and calibrated it using field data, including plant phenological phases, leaf area index, aboveground biomass, and grain yield from the 2019-20-2020-21 growing seasons. An independent dataset from the year 2021–22 was used for model evaluation. The model was used to investigate the relationship between growing degree days (GDD), temperature, nitrate and ammonical concentration in soil, and nitrogen uptake by the crop. Additionally, the study explored the impact of contrasting tillage practices and fertilizer nitrogen management options on wheat yields. The experimental site is situated at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, representing Indian Trans-Gangetic Plains Zone (28o 40’N latitude, 77o 11’E longitude and an altitude of 228 m above sea level). The treatments consist of four nitrogen management options, viz., N0 (zero nitrogen), N150 (150 kg N ha−1 through urea), GS (Green seeker based urea application) and USG (urea super granules @150 kg N ha−1) in two contrasting tillage systems, i.e., CA-based zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT). Result: The outcomes exhibited favorable agreement between the model’s simulations and the observed data for crop phenology (With less than 2 days variation in 50% onset of flowering), grain and biomass yield (Root mean square error; RMSE 336 kg ha−1 and 649 kg ha−1, respectively), and leaf area index (LAI) (RMSE 0.28 & normalized RMSE; nRMSE 6.69%). The model effectively captured the nitrate-N (NO3−-N) dynamics in the soil profile, exhibiting a remarkable concordance with observed data, as evident from its low RMSE = 12.39 kg ha−1 and nRMSE = 13.69%. Moreover, as it successfully simulated the N balance in the production system, the nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilization pattern as described by the model are highly useful to understand these critical phenomena under both conventional tillage (CT) and CA-based Zero Tillage (ZT) treatments. Conclusion: The study concludes that the DSSAT-CERES-Wheat model has significant potential to assess the impacts of tillage and nitrogen management practices on crop growth, yield, and soil nitrogen dynamics in the western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) region. By providing reliable forecasts within the growing season, this modeling approach can facilitate better planning and more efficient resource management. Future implications: The successful implementation of the DSSAT-CERES-Wheat model in this study highlights its applicability in assessing crop performance and soil dynamics. Future research should focus on expanding the model’s capabilities by reducing its sensitivity to initial soil nitrogen levels to refine its predictions further. Moreover, the model’s integration with decision support systems and real-time data can enhance its usefulness in aiding agricultural decision-making and supporting sustainable crop management practices
The nutritional impact of diversified cropping systems: Comparing diversified cropping patterns in Dinajpur, Bangladesh
No full textThis trial brief summarizes the results of nutritional yields from diversified cropping systems after one full cropping cycle. The area for the trial was selected based on factors such as food security and nutrition adequacy, environmental degradation, and climate challenges, which are critical for achieving TAFSSA’s goals. Therefore, this research trial aims to highlight the importance of crop diversification and identify strategies to increase the cultivation of nutritionally rich crops that provide essential macro- and micronutrients.14 page
A mid-density single-nucleotide polymorphism panel for molecular applications in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp)
No full textMolecular markers are increasingly being deployed to accelerate genetic gain in crop plants. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of a mid-density genotyping panel for molecular applications in cowpea breeding. A core set of 2,602 targeted diversity array technology (DArTag) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was designed from an existing 51,128 Cowpea iSelect Consortium Array. The panel's usefulness was assessed using 376 genotypes from different populations of known genetic backgrounds. The panel was informative, with over 78% of SNPs exceeding a minor allele frequency of 0.20. The panel decoded three stratifications in the constituted population, as was expected. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay was correctly depicted as slower in a biparental subset than in other populations. A known flower and seed coat color gene region was located on chromosome Vu07, suggesting that the mid-density panel may be used to hypothesize genomic regions underlying target traits in cowpea. Unexpected heterozygosity was detected in some lines and highly among F-1 progenies, divulging the panel's potential application in germplasm purity and hybridity verification. The study unveils the potential of an excellent genomic resource that can be tapped to enhance the development of improved cowpea cultivars