Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics (JARTS)
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Effect of different levels of fluted pumpkin leaf (Telfairia occidentalis) in grower rabbit diets: Assessing growth parameters, haematological profiles, and serological responses
Full text linkThe effect of fluted pumpkin leaf (FPL) on the growth performance, haematology, and serology of growing rabbits were examined. Seventy-five weaned rabbits of Dutch breed, with a mean weight of 513 g, and different sexes were allotted into 5 treatments with 3 replicates and each replicate housing five weaned rabbits. The five treatment diets were formulated to contain FPL at inclusion levels of 0 % (control), 30 %, 50 %, 70 % and 100 % in a completely randomized design. The animals were fed twice daily and given water to drink ad libitum for the fifty-six days (Jan to Mar, 2023) of the feeding trial. The proximate analysis showed that FPL was rich in protein and minerals but low in fibre, hence a good protein and mineral supplement for weaned rabbits in the tropics. The final weight, weight gain, weight gain per day, average weight gain, and feed conversion ratio differed significantly (P0.05) amongst the rabbits fed the experimental diets. The blood parameters examined included packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin count (MCHC), which differed significantly in comparison (P0.05). The serum, total protein, albumin, and globulin analysed did not show any significant difference among the treatment. The inclusion of 50% FPL could be efficiently utilised and tolerated by growing rabbits without adversely affecting growth performance and blood profile
Association between metabolic and immunological changes during the transition period of dual-purpose cows in the Veracruz tropic, Mexico
Full text linkThe objective of this study was to identify changes and associations in body condition score (BCS), serum glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations, and white blood cell populations in dual-purpose cows during the transition period in the Veracruz tropic. BCS was evaluated and blood samples were taken weekly to determine white blood cell populations, serum glucose and BHB concentrations of 30 multiparous dual-cows (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) from 3 weeks before the expected date of calving to 3 weeks postpartum. During the prepartum period, BCS (3.56 vs 3.11 points), leukocytes (8.964 vs 7.032 × 103 cells µL-1), neutrophils (3.353 vs 2.201 × 103 cells µL-1), lymphocytes (4.750 vs 4.051 × 103 cells µL-1), and monocytes populations (222 vs 126 × 103 cells µL -1) were higher compared to the postpartum period. Contrarily, BHB concentration was higher in the postpartum period (1.34 vs 0.84 mmol L-1) than in the prepartum period. No differences in basophils and eosinophils populations and glucose concentration were identified. Associations between BCS, BHB, glucose, and populations of neutrophils, monocytes, and basophils were detected. The higher BCS, the higher the monocyte population (r = 0.22). The lower the glucose concentration, the higher the BHB concentration (r = −0.51). The higher the concentration of BHB, the lower the number of neutrophils (r = −0.22), monocytes (r = −0.32) and basophils (r = −0.23). In conclusion, low-producing dual-purpose cows experienced fluctuations in BCS, BHB, and immune cell populations during the transition period, suggesting similar metabolic and immune changes as in high-producing dairy cows
Contribution of dairy goat farming to household dietary diversity among smallholder farmers in the Central Highlands of Kenya
Full text linkIn Kenya, dairy goat farming has highly been practiced for food provision and as an income-generating enterprise. However, there is scanty information on the contribution of dairy goat farming to the quality of diets consumed at household level especially among rural smallholder farmers. This study therefore analysed the contribution of dairy goat farming to household dietary diversity of the smallholder farmers. Data was collected at the end of the wet season (April-May) from a sample of 385 households in Kirinyaga County, using structured questionnaires programmed in the KoboToolbox. Household dietary diversity scores (HDDS) was used as a measure for food security, where 12 food groups commonly consumed in the area were considered. Propensity to score matching (PSM) with a probit regression framework was used to minimize the selection bias while determining the effect that dairy goat farming (treatment) had on dietary diversity. The nearest neighbour matching (NNM) estimated the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT). Results revealed that vegetables, cereals, beverages, fats and oils were consumed more compared to meat, fish and eggs. Age, gender, title deed ownership, and monthly household income significantly influenced the likelihood of practicing dairy goat farming. The ATT showed that dairy goat farmers had higher HDDS by 1.014, an implication of diversified diets. The results suggest that dairy goat farming should be encouraged and improved among smallholder farmers in an effort to minimize malnutrition. Besides, there is need to conduct training on the optimal intake of the different food groups
The role of crop protection products of multinational brands for agricultural sustainability in the cotton-growing zone in Pakistan
Full text linkDespite the use of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton in Pakistan, the country is still far behind in farm harvest per unit compared to other cotton-producing countries such as China and Turkey. Cotton is a pest-sensitive crop, and inappropriate crop protection products contribute to lower agricultural sustainability. This issue attracts additional attention in developing countries such as Pakistan, where generic formulation/sub-standard crop protection products are easily and abundantly available. However, the impact of the application of crop protection products of multinational brands in contrast to generic formulation/sub-standard crop protection products on total farm revenue is explicitly not documented. We employ a stochastic frontier production framework using a survey of smallholder farming households in the cotton-growing zone in Pakistan (N=266). The estimates of stochastic frontier production models show a positive relationship between the use of crop protection products of multinational brands and total farm revenue. The estimates of technical inefficiency models show that specialisation and regional dummy, among others, emerge as the key to determining the smallholders’ technical inefficiency. To get higher farm revenue and technical efficiency, we propose the agricultural policy makers of Pakistan to explicitly focus on the quality of crop protection products. Moreover, agricultural policy makers are advised to revisit the cropping system in the study area. This revisit may positively contribute to agricultural sustainability
Factors influencing technology adoption among smallholder farmers: a systematic review in Africa
Full text linkSmallholder agriculture has been identified to be critical in the creation of employment, improving food security and improving the economy. However, smallholder agriculture in Africa is characterised by a low production level which has been linked to the limited use of technologies. Several factors influence the adoption of technologies among smallholder farmers in Africa. This systematic literature review focuses on the factors influencing technology adoption among smallholder farmers in Africa and identified 128 peer-reviewed papers in English between January 2000 to December 2019. The majority were carried out in Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi, with the major crops being maize, legumes and rice. This review identified 29 factors that were broadly classified into five main categories: (i) farmers’ characteristics; (ii) farm characteristics; (iii) technology characteristics; (iv) institutional factors; and (v) finance. Of these, finance (81 articles), gender of household head (71 articles), age (68 articles), education (64 articles), farm size (62 articles) and extension access (59 articles) are the most prominent factors mentioned. The factors identified in this review were then related to existing technology adoption theories, and it was concluded that finance does not adequately feature in any of these extant theories. As illustrated by the relatively high occurrence of finance, this review puts forward a comprehensive framework for technology adoption and also provides critical recommendations to improve technology adoption among smallholder farmers in Africa
Influencing factors of performance of agricultural cooperatives in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta
Full text linkThe study identifies the influencing factors of the performance of agricultural cooperatives (ACs) in the Mekong Delta (MD) of Vietnam. The study used a disproportionate stratified sampling method, with 308 valid samples collected from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the districts and the Management Boards of ACs in 9 provinces in MD. Performance of AC is measured against five indicators, namely return on sales (ROS), return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), responsiveness to cooperative members’ needs, and generation of jobs. Multivariate regression method was used for data analysis. The estimated results identified four factors that are positively correlated with cooperatives’ performance (namely management competency; contributed capital; membership size; and members’ participation) while indicating interaction between independent variables (management competency and contributed capital; management competency and membership size) in the relationship to performance of cooperatives. The study findings showed that the degree of influence of management competency on performance of cooperatives in fruit tree farming is always higher compared with those in rice farming. In addition, a number of recommendations are proposed to help the ACs' management boards make appropriate improvements to the support policy and performance evaluation indicators of the cooperatives. Cooperatives should also innovate in the use and optimization of resources
Determinants of sustainable agricultural intensification adoption and impacts on household productivity and consumption in Rwanda
Full text linkSustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) involves those farming systems that produce in ways that improve or maintain productivity with minimal effects on the environment so that critical farm resources can endure. The objective of this paper is to investigate the determinants and impacts of the adoption of three interdependent sustainable agricultural intensification practices (crop residue retention, minimum tillage, and maize-legume diversification) and their combinations on household productivity and consumption in Rwanda. We used data obtained from a survey of 327 households conducted in 2020 in the districts of Kirehe, Bugesera, and Nyagatare of the Eastern Province. The study uses a multinomial endogenous switching regression model to control for selection bias and endogeneity arising from observable and unobservable factors. The results reveal that the adoption decisions are driven by factors such as education; farm size, livestock ownership; group membership, extension services, soil fertility, slope, and drought stress. The adoption of interdependent and a combination of sustainable agricultural intensification practices increases maize yields, maize income, household total expenditure, and household food expenditure. From a policy perspective, the findings of this study suggest that government and other development partners should promote the adoption of these practices through the provision of extension services that enable farmers to better understand the benefits of alternative sustainable agricultural intensification practices. To increase the adoption of SAI, policies should also geographically target regions that experience frequent droughts and that are characterised by steep slopes and good fertile soils since they determine the need for adoption
Pyrolytic transformation of indigenous biomass wastes into biochar: an insight into char structure and physicochemical characteristics
Full text linkBiochar, the product obtained by the pyrolysis of organic materials with little or no available air, acts as a long-term recalcitrant source of organic carbon when applied to soil. In the present study an in-farm method has been standardized for the pyrolytic conversion of four indigenous biomass resources into biochar. The biomass feedstocks viz. bovine bone (BB), coconut shell (CS), rubberwood (RW) and water hyacinth (WH) were dried and subjected to proximate, ultimate, biochemical analysis and were subjected to slow pyrolysis (563oC). The biomass feedstocks showed an ash content ranging from 1.04-61.23%, moisture content of 8.46-20.83%, volatile matter of 27.92-74.92% and fixed carbon of 1.17-18.75%. The biochar yield was maximum for BB (56.65%). Scanning electron microscope analysis of the biochar samples showed aligned honeycomb like groups with the greatest porosity (3.90-8.43 µm) in WH biochar. X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis showed highest number of elements in WH biochar. The electrical conductivity, bulk density and water holding capacity of the biochars ranged from 102.56-7569.03 µs cm-1, 16.83-72.58 g cm-3 and 57.89-431.17%, respectively. The Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (FTIR) analysis of biochar samples showed several functional groups which help them to act as a good soil conditioner. Characteristics of the biochar produced from these biomass wastes revealed its potential as good soil conditioners in crop production systems
Prevalence of bovine mastitis and antimicrobial sensitivities of the bacterial causes in smallholder farms of Kisumu County, Kenya
Full text linkPrevalence of bovine mastitis in Kisumu County, risk factors and antibiotic sensitivities of the causative bacteria were determined in this cross-sectional study. Sub-clinical mastitis (SCM) was diagnosed using California Mastitis Test (CMT). Risk factors were identified through the administration of 64 questionnaires and assessment of 134 lactating cows. Bacteria were identified by culturing 72 CMT-positive udder quarter milk samples and their sensitivities to antibiotics investigated using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test. Only SCM was detected and had cow level prevalence of 33% (44/134). Prevalence of SCM was significantly (p0.05) higher in cows under complete and semi-zero grazing systems, at mid lactation, those pregnant and with parity of 1-3. Staphylococcus species was the most common (63.8%, n=58) isolate. Other isolates were E. coli (13.8%), Streptococcus species (12.1%) and Pseudomonas (5.2%). Staphylococcus and Streptococcus isolates were 100% sensitive to streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamycin and chloramphenicol. Additionally, Streptococcus species were 100% sensitive to ampicillin, tetracycline and cotrimoxazole. Staphylococcus species had developed varying levels of resistance against sulphamethoxazole, cotrimoxazole, ampicillin and tetracycline. Streptococcus species was 100% resistant to sulfamethoxazole. A significantly high SCM prevalence was reported in this study thus an appropriate control strategy is needed that consists of awareness creation, good milking hygiene practices, teat disinfection, regular screening for SCM and preventing spread of mastitis in the herd by milking infected cow(s) last.
Perceptions and practices of pesticides safety measures of rice farmers in the central region of Vietnam
Full text linkThe use of pesticides is increasing rapidly and the pesticide use crisis is badly damaging the environment, the economy, and public health in Vietnam. However, the country is yet to become successful in reducing pesticide use mostly because of policy implementation and inadequate understanding of farmers. This study examined and discussed the perceptions and safety level of using pesticides by applying a widely used index of 39 indicators equivalent to 39 safety measures grouped into four categories to assess the safety behaviour of rice farmers in the central region of Vietnam. A field survey of 320 rice farmers and 12 local leaders was conducted in Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces. The result revealed that there exists a significant difference (p0.001) between the perception and practices of pesticide safety measures of rice farmers in the study area. The overall score appears relatively high (4.09 and 3.89 out of 5.0 for perception and practices, respectively), indicating that farmers believe what they are doing is safe, though there are significant variations among the categories and among farmers in practicing pesticide safety measures. Regarding the farmers’ safety level, it was observed that there are still 18.1% and 34.4% of rice farmers are under unsafe and potentially unsafe conditions, respectively. Hence, an effective extension and communication program regarding the management and safety use of pesticides is the most vital policy solution to protect the rice farmers from potential health risks and ensure the sustainability of agriculture