Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics (JARTS)
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Yak mortality in free-range grazing systems: A case study in Laya Block, Bhutan
Full text linkYak 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
Effect of pretreatment on pecan nut germination and rootstock production
Full text linkPecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] is a deciduous tree of the Juglandaceae family, native to temperate regions and growing wild in North America. In Italy, pecan trees are cultivated mainly in the southern regions, where the climatic conditions are optimal for their development. However, the area under cultivation is limited and most of the nuts are imported from the USA and Mexico. A major limiting factor for Italian pecan cultivation is the scarcity of rootstocks suitable for local pedoclimatic conditions. To evaluate the effect of stratification on the germination of pecan seeds to obtain rootstocks, seeds of 5 different cultivars were stratified and compared with those not stratified. The results indicated significant differences in nut germination related to stratification treatment and cultivar. In general, stratification process reduced the germination time from on average 50.4 days for untreated seeds to 12.6 days for treated seeds. The Wichita cultivar exhibited the highest germination rate under stratification whereas the lowest values were observed in non-stratified Cape Fare seeds. On average, better seedling development was observed in the first 6 weeks with stratification, while non-stratified nuts showed better seedling development between week 7 and 11. Shawnee and Wichita cultivars particularly benefited from the treatments, showing superior growth metrics values (35.0±7.9 and 34.9±7.8 cm height; 0.5±0.8 and 0.5±0.6 cm diameter, respectively). Cold stratification produced uniform and robust plants, providing nurseries with quality grafting material. Seeds stored at room temperature for two seasons completely lost their viability, rendering them unusable
Cattle farming practices, trait preferences and breeding failures in smallholder cattle farming in Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Full text linkCattle productivity can be significantly enhanced through breed improvement, but farmers’ trait preferences must be considered when improving the genetic make-up of local cattle breeds. This study investigated the breeding practices, trait preferences, and factors contributing to breeding failures among cattle farmers in the Hambantota district, Sri Lanka. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire administered to 200 randomly selected smallholder cattle farmers from all the veterinary regions in the Hambantota district. The analysis revealed that 52%, 34% and 14% of the farmers had an extensive, semi-intensive or an intensive farming system, respectively. All the famers (99.5%) practised crossbreeding system while natural service was the predominant breeding method. Traits i.e., milk yield, body size, calf survival, heat tolerance, disease and tick resistance, and calving interval affected (p0.001) the selection of a cattle breed with the highest mean ranking value for milk yield. Feed shortage, harsh environmental conditions, improper application of artificial insemination, inadequate housing, predator attacks, poor veterinary services, limited knowledge in breeding and heat sign detection contributed to breeding failures (p0.001). In the extensive and semi-intensive systems, feed scarcity, harsh environmental conditions, and predator attacks contributing to breeding failures are inherent in rural smallholder cattle production in Hambantota district. The study recommends that future cattle breeding programmes need to prioritise milk yield without compromising body size, calf survival, heat tolerance, disease and tick resistance, and calving interval. Regular and expanded veterinary services also need to be prioritised
Husbandry practices among peri-urban free-roaming pigs in Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Full text linkInteractions at the human-animal-environment interface have increased significantly as a result of globalisation, increased urbanisation, environmental degradation and the growing need for animal-based foods, leading to the growth of peri-urban agriculture. We investigated peri-urban free-roaming pig (FRP) production husbandry practices to identify production constraints in a district municipality in South Africa. Pig farmers (n=124) were identified using snowball technique and interviewed. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS V28.0. Most of the FRP farmers were men (70.2%), aged ≥ 36 years (80.7%), and individuals with ≤ high school education (84.6%). The majority (75.8%) did not have a weaning protocol, and a large proportion (93.5%) conducted peri-urban FRP without permission from the local authority and were not registered for animal identification (72.6%). Over 94.4% of the farms didn’t employ routine disinfection and were unaware of transboundary animal diseases and zoonosis (87.1%). Most pigs in the study area (72.5%) were exotic breeds, or their crosses and most sows (51.6%) farrowed 6-10 piglets per litter. Exotic breeds or their crosses weaned larger litters (11) compared to indigenous breeds. Pigs scavenging in residential areas had a significantly higher risk of theft and accidents. The widespread poor husbandry practices among FRP farmers provides an opportunity to develop tailored risk communication and community engagement materials for farmers and communities. Municipalities should adopt a fit-for-purpose peri-urban livestock policy, with clear incentives and penalties to promote animal identification and good practices. Given the potential for pigs to spread disease to humans, good practices will reduce the risk of humans contracting diseases from animal-derived food
Livelihood assets analysis of vanilla farmers in Jembrana district, Bali, Indonesia
Full text linkVanilla (Vanilla planifolia) cultivation plays a significant role in supporting the local economy and livelihoods in Bali, Indonesia. Despite its high market value, farmers face economic vulnerability due to the long cultivation period and maintenance challenges. This study aims to evaluate the livelihood assets of vanilla farmers in Jembrana district and their implications for the sustainability of vanilla farming. Data were collected through a survey with structured interviews of 93 vanilla farmers in Jembrana district, from July to September 2024. Quantitative data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistical methods. The study findings revealed that while physical assets were moderately high in value, human and natural assets were low, and financial and social assets were moderate. The study underlines the need for targeted government support, particularly in the form of training programmes to improve agricultural skills, the provision of low-interest finance or subsidies for input costs, and the establishment of cooperative networks to improve market access. Such interventions are critical to address the human and natural capital gaps and to ensure the long-term sustainability of vanilla farming in the region
Genetic structure and diversity of dairy cows in commercial herds in Burkina Faso using microsatellite markers
Full text linkThe present study provides knowledge about the genetic diversity and population structure of cows in peri-urban cattle herds that are urgently needed for the planning of systematic selection programs. We considered 21 microsatellite markers to identify genetic clusters for 112 dairy cows from Burkina Faso and a reference dataset of European cattle breeds (n = 179). Unsupervised clustering and a model-based approach were used for identification of latent classes and inference of genetic diversity within classes. Overall, the genetic diversity of cows in commercial dairy herds in Burkina Faso was high. Clustering results suggest four genetic clusters. Almost all cows from Burkina Faso shared the same ancestry and were grouped together in cluster 3. The highest expected heterozygosity (HE = 0.74) and inbreeding coefficient (FIS = 0.08) were obtained for this cluster. The other genetic clusters included Original Braunvieh and Tarentaise (cluster 1), Red Holstein (cluster 2) and Fleckvieh (cluster 4). The genetic distances of cluster 3 to the other clusters were large. In conclusion, the poor population structuring, and the low genetic contribution of European cattle breeds underline the need for effective (cross-)breeding strategies for optimal exploitation of heterosis effects and maintaining genetic diversity in dairy cows in Burkina Faso.
Growth promoting and health enhancing effects of aged palm sap-enriched activated biochar in broiler nutrition
Full text linkThis study aimed to assess the impact of aged palm sap-enriched activated biochar (AC+APS) supplementation on the growth performance, carcass yield, haematological parameters and biochemical indices of broilers. Two hundred and forty (240) male day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were assigned to five dietary treatment groups with six (6) replicates in a completely randomized design (CRD). The control group was fed a basal diet (A0) containing no additives. Groups A1 and A2 were fed a basal diet containing activated biochar (AC) at 0.50 and 1.00%, respectively, while groups A3 and A4 were fed a basal diet containing 0.50 and 1.00% activated biochar enriched with aged palm sap (AC+APS), respectively during an experimental period of 6 weeks. The results revealed significant (p0.05) improvements in growth performance in 0.50% AC+APS-supplemented broilers compared to those in the AC-supplemented or control group during the finisher and overall production stages. The effect of AC and AC+APS inclusion on average daily feed intake was pronounced (p0.05) only during the finisher (22-42 days) period. All the test groups exhibited similar (p0.05) carcass traits to those of the control group and the treatments had no deleterious effects on organ development. Moreover, the AC+APS additive improved (p0.05) haematopoietic processes / parameters, serum protein profiles, glucose synthesis, and decreased serum enzyme activities while increasing mineral retention in broilers compared to those in the control or AC-supplemented broilers. The 0.50% AC+APS therefore proved to be the most beneficial additive for improving productive and physiological functions in broilers and could be a useful substitute for antibiotic growth-promoting additives in poultry diets
Determinants of the intention to practise aquaculture after graduation among university students of aquaculture and fisheries in Ogun State, Nigeria
Full text linkThis 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, p0.05) 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
Impact of potato business on household food security: An empirical study from Tigray regional state, Ethiopia
Full text linkFood insecurity remains a persistent global challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the role of cash crops in influencing household food security continues to be debated. To address this gap, this study examines the impact of potato cash crop production on household food security in the Atsbi Wonberta District of Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia. A comprehensive survey of 173 households was conducted. The study employed a binary probit model to analyze factors influencing farmers’ participation in potato production and used propensity score matching to assess the impact of this participation on food security. The results show that factors such as oxen ownership, educational attainment, access to irrigated land, and training opportunities were positively associated with farmers’ involvement in potato production. Furthermore, participation in potato production significantly improved household income and food security. Based on these results, the study recommends the implementation of capacity-building initiatives, including targeted training programmes for smallholder farmers. In addition, governments and stakeholders should prioritise investment in rural infrastructure and irrigation development to increase the positive impact of potato production on household food security
Behavioural drivers of agricultural resilience: Evidence from Nigeria’s NG-CARES social protection programme in Zamfara State
Full text linkThis 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.