ABSTRACT Niger’s rice production has not been able to match growth in demand. The slow growth in domestic rice production has been attributed to salinity, non-adapted germplasm, and low farmer adoption of improved varieties. This study was carried out to: determine farmers’ perception on influence of salinity in rice production and their preference for rice varieties in salt affected areas; identify potential sources of genes for salt tolerance from local and exotic rice germplasm; determ...
ABSTRACT Agriculture in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is under serious threat due to water shortage, population pressure and climate change. Cowpea, a protein-rich legume crop complements staple cereal and tuber crops in the diets of rural and urban people of the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It therefore, plays a significant role in the sustainability of food and nutrition security in SSA. Cowpea, though reported to be inherently drought tolerant; but because it is mostly grown...
ABSTRACT Acaricides in tick control, had been thought to be in Africa the panacea for over a century. Environmental and economic constraints, development of acaricide-resistant strains due to acaricide misuse, have brought about the need for an alternative tick control strategy. The use of tick resistant cattle has then been advocated and echoed in the USA and Australia where it got its full expansion. In Africa, few works have been undertaken on tick resistance despite the fact that many tic...
ABSTRACT OF THE STUDY Dairying is a young and developing industry in G hana, and one o f the m ajor problem s it faces is the low dem and o f the m ilk produced. This is partly due to public concerns over the safety and quality o f the m ilk produced, and also the hygienic practices o f informal agents. However, the extent o f risks posed to hum an health by consum ption o f m ilk and dairy products in the country is not well docum ented. This project w as therefore carried out to study the ...
ABSTRACT This research was carried out to determine the growth performance, carcass characteristics and selected blood parameters of broilers fed increasing levels of corn cobs (CC) as a replacement (50% or 100%) for wheat bran (WB), with or without fibre degrading enzymes (E). A total of 175 day-old chicks were used in this trial which lasted 42 days. Birds were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments in a completely randomised design. Treatments were labelled as T1 (0% CC), T2 (3% CC),...
ABSTRACT The System of Rice Intensification involves transplanting single, young seedlings in wider spacing and in a square pattern, and an intermittent water application in the field. The conventional method involves broadcasting rice seeds or randomly (or densely) transplanting rice seedlings and flooding the field with water throughout the production season. Rice production in Ghana is primarily done using the conventional method of production. However, the conventional method of rice prod...
ABSTRACT The use of recommended agricultural practices such as the safe adoption of pesticides is influenced by several factors as identified in the evaluative frame of reference. These factors have often led to the existing gap between farmers‘ knowledge and pesticide use. The purpose of the study was to examine the contribution of socio-economic factors to the application of skills acquired through training on the safe use of pesticides in vegetable production in the Accra Metropolitan As...
ABSTRACT The present study quantifies the effects of the determinants of commercialisation of maize production in the East Akyem District of Ghana. The Tobit model is used. The conventional t-test is also performed to examine the differences between the characteristics of the commercial and non-commercial maize farmers in the East Akyem District of Ghana. The study observes, inter alia, that farmer age, marital status, time farmer spends on maize fanning, farming system, whether male family m...
ABSTRACT Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an edible crop produced in Ghana for both the local and export markets. The perishable nature of the fruit results in huge postharvest losses. The use of edible coatings to preserve commodities is inexpensive, easy to apply, requires less labour, technology and improves fruit qualities. However usage of this technology has raised some concerns with major stakeholders of the fruits and vegetables industry regarding health, safety, availability and cost...
ABSTRACT Pineapple farmers in Ghana are not able to meet their potential yield. Organizations are making conscious efforts to help boost pineapple production by training farmers on topics such as input use and farm management. It is necessary to ascertain if some gaps in production still exist that need to be addressed. The study sought to identify the influence of inputs on pineapple production in conjunction with the production of other crops. It also estimated the technical efficiency s...
Abstract The effect of three different moisture and shade regimes on the seedling growth of three Dura x Pisifera oil palm progenies was investigated at the Oil Palm Research Institute, Kusi between July 1998 and February 2000. A split plot design with four replications was used. Data were collected on leaf number per plant, plant height, butt circumference and leaf area as well as dry weight of plant parts and total plant dry weight. Growth analysis was performed and correlation among trait...
ABSTRACT Groundnut has been identified as the most important leguminous crop in Ghana both in terms of volume of production and export. Its production has faced numerous challenges over the past decades in Ghana as the productivity of groundnut continues to decline despite the abundant resources that support its growth. The question is, what then is responsible for the declining productivity levels of groundnut in Ghana? The study sought to estimate the productivity levels and technical ef...
ABSTRACT Opportunity International, a private financial institution has made efforts to support cocoa farmers in Ghana through the establishment of input credit scheme with the aim of enhancing access to inputs to improve productivity of farmers. The primary objective of the study is to determine whether access to inputs improves productivity of smallholder cocoa farmers in the stated districts of the Western Region of Ghana. Purposive sampling was used to select two districts from the regio...
ABSTRACT Pension contributions address old age income, insecurity and vulnerability and also improve the standard of living. It is the only investment that qualifies an individual to enjoy regular income, and other benefits till death, after contributing for a minimum number of years. This thesis therefore assessed poultry agribusiness workers’ perception, knowledge and attitude towards informal voluntary pension. It also assessed the factors that influence a poultry workers’ choice, wi...
ABSTRACT The potential of cowpea to address food security in Burkina Faso in particular is well established. However, there is limited information on drought tolerance and diversity in the germplasm in Burkina Faso and farmers’ perceptions on the effects of drought and their varietal preferences are not known. The present study was, therefore, conducted to: (1) identify farmers’ perceptions on the impact of drought on cowpea production and identify their preferences regarding cultivar...