Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.23465
CI Guero, Abdou Mmm, KI Adamou, M. Issa, Issoufou Guero Chekaraou
The development of Djelli cattle breeding in Niger remains a challenge due to prejudices about its productivity. The particularities of its production systems have not been sufficiently developed. The aim of this study is to develop a typology of local Djelli cattle production systems in six localities in the communes of Gothèye, Sinder and Say in Niger. A survey was carried out among 150 breeders. Discriminant factor analysis (DFA) and hierarchical ascending classification (HAC) were used to identify three types of production system: The first type is made up of transhumant herders whose main activity is livestock rearing and who belong to the Peulh ethnic group. This type is characterized by large herds (27 head). They have 3 breeding cows and 4 suckling cows for 16 breeding females. The second type is made up of sedentary breeders. Their main activities are fishing and trading, and they belong to the Sonrai socio-cultural ethnic group. Their herds are modest (17 head), comprising 2 breeding and 5 suckling cows for 11 breeding females. The third type is made up of semi-transhumant herders. Their main activity is farming, and they belong to the Sonrai socio-cultural ethnic group, with an equally modest herd size (18 head). The number of breeding cows is similar to that of the sedentary herders (2 head). However, the number of sucklers is reduced to 3 head for 10 breeding females. The daily intake of bran concentrate per suckling female is the highest (5 kg of bran concentrate per day). The ratio of lactating females to females of breeding age was r =0.45 in the sedentary group, compared with r =0.30 in the semi-transhumant group and r = 0.25 in the transhumant group. The results also showed that the rearing environment is dominated by a diet of rice straw (39%) and rice bran (49%). The most frequently vaccinated disease on the farms was pasteurellosis (87.3%), and the highest deworming rate was 40%. The environment also revealed a variation in lactating females for the riparian localities of Say and Yelwani (5.4±2.6b and 6.0±2.8b respectively), which are very significantly different (P<0.001) from the non-riparian localities of Koulbaga and Tassikoirey (2.9±1.2a and 2.8±1.20a respectively). In conclusion, sedentary farmers are the most productive in a food environment dominated by rice crop residues and diseases such as pasteurellosis and endoparasites. Key words : Production systems, herd size, sedentary breeders, lactating female
{"title":"Typologie des systemes de productions du bovin de race djelli (Bos taurus indicus) dans les communes de Gotheye, Sinder et Say au Niger","authors":"CI Guero, Abdou Mmm, KI Adamou, M. Issa, Issoufou Guero Chekaraou","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.23465","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.23465","url":null,"abstract":"The development of Djelli cattle breeding in Niger remains a challenge due to prejudices about its productivity. The particularities of its production systems have not been sufficiently developed. The aim of this study is to develop a typology of local Djelli cattle production systems in six localities in the communes of Gothèye, Sinder and Say in Niger. A survey was carried out among 150 breeders. Discriminant factor analysis (DFA) and hierarchical ascending classification (HAC) were used to identify three types of production system: The first type is made up of transhumant herders whose main activity is livestock rearing and who belong to the Peulh ethnic group. This type is characterized by large herds (27 head). They have 3 breeding cows and 4 suckling cows for 16 breeding females. The second type is made up of sedentary breeders. Their main activities are fishing and trading, and they belong to the Sonrai socio-cultural ethnic group. Their herds are modest (17 head), comprising 2 breeding and 5 suckling cows for 11 breeding females. The third type is made up of semi-transhumant herders. Their main activity is farming, and they belong to the Sonrai socio-cultural ethnic group, with an equally modest herd size (18 head). The number of breeding cows is similar to that of the sedentary herders (2 head). However, the number of sucklers is reduced to 3 head for 10 breeding females. The daily intake of bran concentrate per suckling female is the highest (5 kg of bran concentrate per day). The ratio of lactating females to females of breeding age was r =0.45 in the sedentary group, compared with r =0.30 in the semi-transhumant group and r = 0.25 in the transhumant group. The results also showed that the rearing environment is dominated by a diet of rice straw (39%) and rice bran (49%). The most frequently vaccinated disease on the farms was pasteurellosis (87.3%), and the highest deworming rate was 40%. The environment also revealed a variation in lactating females for the riparian localities of Say and Yelwani (5.4±2.6b and 6.0±2.8b respectively), which are very significantly different (P<0.001) from the non-riparian localities of Koulbaga and Tassikoirey (2.9±1.2a and 2.8±1.20a respectively). In conclusion, sedentary farmers are the most productive in a food environment dominated by rice crop residues and diseases such as pasteurellosis and endoparasites. Key words : Production systems, herd size, sedentary breeders, lactating female","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"231 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140489885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.23445
DD Khumbanyiwa, Kaunda, WL Jere, M. Limuwa, Davison Daniel, Khumbanyiwa
Fish is an important resource in Malawi as a source of food for the majority as it provides affordable source of dietary animal protein as well as income. A number of fish species in the Malawi water bodies have their population dwindling. One of the species under serious threat of extinction is the Opsaridium microlepis - a potamodromous fish species that migrate to the rivers during its spawning period and its management seems a nightmare. A number of studies reveal contrasting results on genetic makeup and morphological aspect of this fish species. With changes in the ecosystems of the rivers connecting Lake Malawi, coupled with absence of strong management measures in the major rivers adjoining the lake, problems have arisen in the conservation of potamodromous fish species. This necessitated the present study to investigate if the morphological features of stocks of O. microlepis are the same or not and if they have changed to adapt to changes in the ecosystems. One hundred and eleven O. microlepis fish samples were collected from Linthipe River (48), Bua River (59) and North Rumphi River (4) monthly from March to August 2020 using trawled and static gillnets. Twenty-four morphometric characteristics were measured to determine if any morphological differences existed among the fish samples from the three rivers. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compare morphology of the fish. Results of the study showed no significant morphological differences among stocks from the three rivers, implying that O. microlepis in these rivers belong to same stock morphologically. The study reveals that the species do not differ morphologically even though they migrate to different rivers for breeding. The study further notes that numerous activities taking place along the tributary rivers (as observed during the study) such as modification of fishing gears as well as fishing methods and the deterioration of the spawning grounds due to siltation from soil erosion caused by deforestation and agriculture, are putting the potamodromous fish species such as O. microlepis under serious threat. The study recommends that the populations of O. microlepis from the rivers can be managed equally since they are morphologically similar. Adopting uniform catchment management and sustainable exploitation of O. microlepis (such as regulations on mesh sizes and fishing methods, closing the rivers from fishing activities during spawning period, river bank and catchment management and restoration) with the aim of conserving the stocks from further overexploitation in these rivers is recommended so that the communities and the people at large continue to utilize the resource sustainably and at the same time, sustaining their livelihood. Key words: Potamodromous, Linthipe River, Bua River, North Rumphi River, principal component analysis
鱼类是马拉维的重要资源,是大多数人的食物来源,因为它提供了经济实惠的动物蛋白膳食来源和收入。马拉维水体中的一些鱼类物种数量正在减少。其中一种濒临灭绝的鱼类是 Opsaridium microlepis--一种在产卵期洄游到河流的钾洄游鱼类,其管理似乎是一场噩梦。多项研究显示,该鱼种的基因构成和形态方面存在着截然不同的结果。随着连接马拉维湖的河流生态系统发生变化,再加上毗邻马拉维湖的主要河流缺乏强有力的管理措施,洄游鱼类的保护出现了问题。因此,有必要开展本研究,调查小鳞鲑种群的形态特征是否相同,以及是否为适应生态系统的变化而发生了变化。2020 年 3 月至 8 月期间,使用拖网和静态刺网每月从林思培河(48 个)、布阿河(59 个)和北伦斐河(4 个)收集了 111 个 O. microlepis 鱼类样本。对 24 个形态特征进行了测量,以确定三条河流的鱼类样本之间是否存在形态差异。采用主成分分析法(PCA)对鱼类形态进行比较。研究结果表明,三条河流中的种群之间不存在明显的形态差异,这意味着这些河流中的 O. microlepis 在形态上属于同一种群。研究表明,即使这些鱼类洄游到不同的河流繁殖,它们在形态上也没有差异。研究进一步指出,支流河流沿岸发生的许多活动(如研究期间观察到的),如渔具和捕鱼方法的改变,以及森林砍伐和农业造成的水土流失导致的淤泥淤积造成的产卵场恶化,都使 O. microlepis 等钾洄游鱼类物种受到严重威胁。研究建议,由于小鳞鲤的形态相似,可以对河流中的小鳞鲤种群进行同等管理。建议采用统一的集水区管理和可持续开发方式(如规定网目尺寸和捕鱼方法、在产卵期禁止在河流中捕鱼、河岸和集水区管理与恢复),以保护这些河流中的鱼类种群,避免进一步过度开发,从而使社区和广大民众继续可持续地利用资源,同时维持生计。关键词钾洄游鱼类、Linthipe 河、Bua 河、North Rumphi 河、主成分分析
{"title":"Morphometric variations among Opsaridium microlepis (Günther, 1864) from Lake Malaŵi migrating to different rivers for breeding","authors":"DD Khumbanyiwa, Kaunda, WL Jere, M. Limuwa, Davison Daniel, Khumbanyiwa","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.23445","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.23445","url":null,"abstract":"Fish is an important resource in Malawi as a source of food for the majority as it provides affordable source of dietary animal protein as well as income. A number of fish species in the Malawi water bodies have their population dwindling. One of the species under serious threat of extinction is the Opsaridium microlepis - a potamodromous fish species that migrate to the rivers during its spawning period and its management seems a nightmare. A number of studies reveal contrasting results on genetic makeup and morphological aspect of this fish species. With changes in the ecosystems of the rivers connecting Lake Malawi, coupled with absence of strong management measures in the major rivers adjoining the lake, problems have arisen in the conservation of potamodromous fish species. This necessitated the present study to investigate if the morphological features of stocks of O. microlepis are the same or not and if they have changed to adapt to changes in the ecosystems. One hundred and eleven O. microlepis fish samples were collected from Linthipe River (48), Bua River (59) and North Rumphi River (4) monthly from March to August 2020 using trawled and static gillnets. Twenty-four morphometric characteristics were measured to determine if any morphological differences existed among the fish samples from the three rivers. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compare morphology of the fish. Results of the study showed no significant morphological differences among stocks from the three rivers, implying that O. microlepis in these rivers belong to same stock morphologically. The study reveals that the species do not differ morphologically even though they migrate to different rivers for breeding. The study further notes that numerous activities taking place along the tributary rivers (as observed during the study) such as modification of fishing gears as well as fishing methods and the deterioration of the spawning grounds due to siltation from soil erosion caused by deforestation and agriculture, are putting the potamodromous fish species such as O. microlepis under serious threat. The study recommends that the populations of O. microlepis from the rivers can be managed equally since they are morphologically similar. Adopting uniform catchment management and sustainable exploitation of O. microlepis (such as regulations on mesh sizes and fishing methods, closing the rivers from fishing activities during spawning period, river bank and catchment management and restoration) with the aim of conserving the stocks from further overexploitation in these rivers is recommended so that the communities and the people at large continue to utilize the resource sustainably and at the same time, sustaining their livelihood. Key words: Potamodromous, Linthipe River, Bua River, North Rumphi River, principal component analysis","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140489954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.24065
Mebarkia El, Al-Abdullahal-Sawalha, R. Mashal, Basem Al-Sawalha
The current study aimed to include natural ingredients (rosemary and thyme extracts, as well as a combination of them) in the formulation of chicken burgers in an attempt to improve their fatty acid profile, lipid oxidation, quality and some fat health related indices. Four batches of chicken burgers were manufactured: product 1: control burger, product 2: burger fortified with rosemary extract, product 3: burger fortified with thyme extract, product 4: burger fortified with rosemary and thyme extracts. The samples were analyzed for their chemical characteristics (moisture, ash, fat, protein, and carbohydrates), fatty acid profile, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) to determine lipid oxidation, and nutritional quality of chicken burger by calculating the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (PUFA/SFA) ratio, and omega-6 / Omega-3 (ω 6/ω 3) fatty acid ratio. The results showed that the incorporation of extracts in the chicken burger caused a significant decrease in the percentage of trans-fat from 0.06 to 0.02 and atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic (IT) indices from 0.30 to 0.26 and from 0.79 to 0.72, respectively. A non-significant decrease in saturated fatty acid (SFA) from 27.33 to 27.23was noted. However, a significant increase in the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) from 15.36 to 19.67, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) from 47.28 to 48.88, ω 6/ω 3 ratio from 13.49 to 15.85, and PUFA/SFA ratio from 0.56 to 0.72 in chicken burger was observed. Whereas addition of the extracts had a variable influence on the sensory characteristics of the freshly prepared and stored burgers. It was concluded that the fortification of chicken burger with rosemary and thyme extracts improved the nutritional and quality properties and gives a desirable change in sensory evaluation. Key words: Rosemary extract, Thyme extract, Fatty acid profile, Health indices
{"title":"Effect of rosemary and thyme extracts on the fatty acid profile, lipid oxidation, quality and some fat health related indices of chicken burger","authors":"Mebarkia El, Al-Abdullahal-Sawalha, R. Mashal, Basem Al-Sawalha","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.24065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.24065","url":null,"abstract":"The current study aimed to include natural ingredients (rosemary and thyme extracts, as well as a combination of them) in the formulation of chicken burgers in an attempt to improve their fatty acid profile, lipid oxidation, quality and some fat health related indices. Four batches of chicken burgers were manufactured: product 1: control burger, product 2: burger fortified with rosemary extract, product 3: burger fortified with thyme extract, product 4: burger fortified with rosemary and thyme extracts. The samples were analyzed for their chemical characteristics (moisture, ash, fat, protein, and carbohydrates), fatty acid profile, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) to determine lipid oxidation, and nutritional quality of chicken burger by calculating the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (PUFA/SFA) ratio, and omega-6 / Omega-3 (ω 6/ω 3) fatty acid ratio. The results showed that the incorporation of extracts in the chicken burger caused a significant decrease in the percentage of trans-fat from 0.06 to 0.02 and atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic (IT) indices from 0.30 to 0.26 and from 0.79 to 0.72, respectively. A non-significant decrease in saturated fatty acid (SFA) from 27.33 to 27.23was noted. However, a significant increase in the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) from 15.36 to 19.67, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) from 47.28 to 48.88, ω 6/ω 3 ratio from 13.49 to 15.85, and PUFA/SFA ratio from 0.56 to 0.72 in chicken burger was observed. Whereas addition of the extracts had a variable influence on the sensory characteristics of the freshly prepared and stored burgers. It was concluded that the fortification of chicken burger with rosemary and thyme extracts improved the nutritional and quality properties and gives a desirable change in sensory evaluation. Key words: Rosemary extract, Thyme extract, Fatty acid profile, Health indices","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"7 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140489583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.21275
Namo Oat, A. Damfami, Timothy Namo
Bambara groundnut is an indigenous African legume, which is the third most important after peanut and cowpea in terms of consumption and socio-economic impact in semi-arid Africa. There is, therefore, the need for adequate research attention, especially with regard to yield improvement. In this study, nine genotypes of the Bambara groundnut (Cream with white eye, Black with white eye, Cream with brown eye, Cream with black eye, Cream with black eye and brown stripes, Cream with brown stripes, Deep-brown with white eye, Cream with black stripes and Brown white eye) were evaluated at Kuru, Nigeria (Lat. 090 44'N, Long. 080 47'E, altitude 1, 217 m above sea level) in 2018 in order to determine character associations and to analyse the pathways to grain yield. Results showed that emergence rate, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area index, relative growth rate, harvest index, number of pods per plant and shelling percentage were positively correlated with total grain yield. The Results of the path coefficient analysis showed that the number of days to onset of flowering exerted the highest direct influence on total grain yield. Then followed by harvest index, emergence rate, 100-seed weight, net assimilation rate, shelling%, days to 50% flowering, relative growth rate, number of seeds per pod, and number of pods per plant. The highest total effect (0.988) was observed in 100-seed weight, followed by days to first flowering (0.837), days to 50% flowering (0.701), shelling % (0.658), emergence rate (0.574), number of pods per plant (0.557), relative growth rate (-0.375), net assimilation rate (0.226), harvest index (0.183) and number of seeds per pod (- 0.126) in that order. The study demonstrated that combining correlation and path coefficient analyses is important in determining reliable trait associations that can be used for developing superior genotypes. Therefore, days to first flower, days to 50% flowering, harvest index, emergence rate and 100-seed weight should be considered as major selection indices for the improvement of the Bambara groundnut in the Jos-Plateau environment in Nigeria. Key words: Correlation, direct effect, indirect effect, grain yield, Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.
{"title":"Character associations and path analysis in bambara groundnut grown in mid-altitude highland of Jos-plateau, Nigeria","authors":"Namo Oat, A. Damfami, Timothy Namo","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.21275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.21275","url":null,"abstract":"Bambara groundnut is an indigenous African legume, which is the third most important after peanut and cowpea in terms of consumption and socio-economic impact in semi-arid Africa. There is, therefore, the need for adequate research attention, especially with regard to yield improvement. In this study, nine genotypes of the Bambara groundnut (Cream with white eye, Black with white eye, Cream with brown eye, Cream with black eye, Cream with black eye and brown stripes, Cream with brown stripes, Deep-brown with white eye, Cream with black stripes and Brown white eye) were evaluated at Kuru, Nigeria (Lat. 090 44'N, Long. 080 47'E, altitude 1, 217 m above sea level) in 2018 in order to determine character associations and to analyse the pathways to grain yield. Results showed that emergence rate, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area index, relative growth rate, harvest index, number of pods per plant and shelling percentage were positively correlated with total grain yield. The Results of the path coefficient analysis showed that the number of days to onset of flowering exerted the highest direct influence on total grain yield. Then followed by harvest index, emergence rate, 100-seed weight, net assimilation rate, shelling%, days to 50% flowering, relative growth rate, number of seeds per pod, and number of pods per plant. The highest total effect (0.988) was observed in 100-seed weight, followed by days to first flowering (0.837), days to 50% flowering (0.701), shelling % (0.658), emergence rate (0.574), number of pods per plant (0.557), relative growth rate (-0.375), net assimilation rate (0.226), harvest index (0.183) and number of seeds per pod (- 0.126) in that order. The study demonstrated that combining correlation and path coefficient analyses is important in determining reliable trait associations that can be used for developing superior genotypes. Therefore, days to first flower, days to 50% flowering, harvest index, emergence rate and 100-seed weight should be considered as major selection indices for the improvement of the Bambara groundnut in the Jos-Plateau environment in Nigeria. Key words: Correlation, direct effect, indirect effect, grain yield, Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140489801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.23390
MS SaniIssa, AA Saidou, NS Jangorzo, M. Karembe, Mahaman Sanoussi
ABSTRACT Family farms play an important role in food security and nutrition in West Africa. Family farms are rapidly changing and face many constraints. Thus, characterizing them is necessary for policy purposes. This study aimed to characterise family farms in Niger, focusing on the current constraints to family farms and existing agroecological intensification (AEI) options. A survey was conducted using a questionnaire administered to 108 family farms across the selected six study locations. We used descriptive statistics to characterise the family farms and the factorial analysis of mixed data (FAMD) and the Hierarchical Clustering of Principal Components (HCPC) to identify the types of family farms. Results showed that family farms, on average, encompass three households, and the majority (87.2%) of the family farms surveyed were managed by married persons where 25.7% of whom are female. Agriculture remains the primary source of income for 98.2% of people in the study locations, and the main second source of family income (47.7%) is animal husbandry. Family farms are mainly characterised by the presence of the main field (MF) (98%) led by the heads of households and the presence of the women fields (WF) (78%) led by the women. Regarding farm size, the average MF and the WF farm sizes were 3.0 ha and 1.5 ha, respectively. The main identified constraints to family farms were soil fertility decline (84.33%), a recurrent early end of the rainy season (84.33%), farmers’ low income (41.15%), and limited access to the market (24.70%). Twelve potential AEIs options across the study area were explored. In the MF, the major AEI options practised by farmers were: the application of organic manure as fertilizer (73.27%), cereal-legume intercropping (68.83%), and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (35.85%). Whereas in the WF, the AEI practices were the application of organic manure (55.28%), and cereal-legume intercropping (28.98%). Co-building an integrative approach that combines multiple AEI options in the same field is necessary to tackle the main drivers of the farming systems. Key words: Family farms, Agroecological intensification, diversity, farm typology, Niger
{"title":"Characterising family farms and their constraints and agroecological intensification options: a case study from the Sahelian zone, Niger","authors":"MS SaniIssa, AA Saidou, NS Jangorzo, M. Karembe, Mahaman Sanoussi","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.23390","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.23390","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Family farms play an important role in food security and nutrition in West Africa. Family farms are rapidly changing and face many constraints. Thus, characterizing them is necessary for policy purposes. This study aimed to characterise family farms in Niger, focusing on the current constraints to family farms and existing agroecological intensification (AEI) options. A survey was conducted using a questionnaire administered to 108 family farms across the selected six study locations. We used descriptive statistics to characterise the family farms and the factorial analysis of mixed data (FAMD) and the Hierarchical Clustering of Principal Components (HCPC) to identify the types of family farms. Results showed that family farms, on average, encompass three households, and the majority (87.2%) of the family farms surveyed were managed by married persons where 25.7% of whom are female. Agriculture remains the primary source of income for 98.2% of people in the study locations, and the main second source of family income (47.7%) is animal husbandry. Family farms are mainly characterised by the presence of the main field (MF) (98%) led by the heads of households and the presence of the women fields (WF) (78%) led by the women. Regarding farm size, the average MF and the WF farm sizes were 3.0 ha and 1.5 ha, respectively. The main identified constraints to family farms were soil fertility decline (84.33%), a recurrent early end of the rainy season (84.33%), farmers’ low income (41.15%), and limited access to the market (24.70%). Twelve potential AEIs options across the study area were explored. In the MF, the major AEI options practised by farmers were: the application of organic manure as fertilizer (73.27%), cereal-legume intercropping (68.83%), and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (35.85%). Whereas in the WF, the AEI practices were the application of organic manure (55.28%), and cereal-legume intercropping (28.98%). Co-building an integrative approach that combines multiple AEI options in the same field is necessary to tackle the main drivers of the farming systems. Key words: Family farms, Agroecological intensification, diversity, farm typology, Niger","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140490293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.24055
Y. Gaviria, FS Londoño, JE Zapata
In recent years, fish production has increased worldwide due to population growth and consumer interest in this type of product, proving an increase in the waste generated, with concomitant negative impact on the environment. Ecological footprint methodology is one of the sustainability indicators most used for assessing process environmental impact. This technique quantifies the effect of anthropogenic activities on the environment concerning water, forest products, infrastructure and carbon footprint, providing integral, comparable and reliable results. In this study, the environmental impact generated by taking advantage of red tilapia (Oreochromis Spp.) viscera to produce chemical silage and its implementation in the feeding of laying hens was determined, using the ecological footprint methodology as an indicator of sustainability. The productive system consisted of a red tilapia (Oreochromis ssp.) production farm located in the municipality of San Jerónimo, Antioquia (Colombia). The productive variables of the laying hens, laying percentage, egg weight and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. This chemical silage production process generates a reduction of 1.493 kg of CO2 per month compared to that generated by fresh viscera and are discharged into shallow dumps. Additionally, the main categories that generate the greatest impact on the production system are the use of natural resources and wastewater disposal. On the other hand, the productive variables of laying hens of the Isa Brown breed were not significantly affected by the inclusion of chemical silage at the 95% significance level, maintaining the percentage of laying and improving feed conversion. It was concluded that the use of fish by-products to produce feed for laying hens generates a reduction in the environmental load when compared to conventional waste disposal processes (landfill disposal). Red tilapia (Oreochromis Spp.) viscera chemical silage can be used as an alternative protein substitute in feeding laying hens for improved production performance. Key words: Ecological footprint, fish waste, layer hen, chemical silage, wastewater
{"title":"Ecological footprint of different laying hen production systems in San Jeronimo municipality Antioquia, Colombia","authors":"Y. Gaviria, FS Londoño, JE Zapata","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.24055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.24055","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years, fish production has increased worldwide due to population growth and consumer interest in this type of product, proving an increase in the waste generated, with concomitant negative impact on the environment. Ecological footprint methodology is one of the sustainability indicators most used for assessing process environmental impact. This technique quantifies the effect of anthropogenic activities on the environment concerning water, forest products, infrastructure and carbon footprint, providing integral, comparable and reliable results. In this study, the environmental impact generated by taking advantage of red tilapia (Oreochromis Spp.) viscera to produce chemical silage and its implementation in the feeding of laying hens was determined, using the ecological footprint methodology as an indicator of sustainability. The productive system consisted of a red tilapia (Oreochromis ssp.) production farm located in the municipality of San Jerónimo, Antioquia (Colombia). The productive variables of the laying hens, laying percentage, egg weight and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. This chemical silage production process generates a reduction of 1.493 kg of CO2 per month compared to that generated by fresh viscera and are discharged into shallow dumps. Additionally, the main categories that generate the greatest impact on the production system are the use of natural resources and wastewater disposal. On the other hand, the productive variables of laying hens of the Isa Brown breed were not significantly affected by the inclusion of chemical silage at the 95% significance level, maintaining the percentage of laying and improving feed conversion. It was concluded that the use of fish by-products to produce feed for laying hens generates a reduction in the environmental load when compared to conventional waste disposal processes (landfill disposal). Red tilapia (Oreochromis Spp.) viscera chemical silage can be used as an alternative protein substitute in feeding laying hens for improved production performance. Key words: Ecological footprint, fish waste, layer hen, chemical silage, wastewater","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"48 36","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140487314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.23700
OI Ettah, JA Igiri, JB Effiong, MA Iyam, IA Asuquo, FO Faithpraise, Otu Ikoi Ettah
The study analysed the efficiency of Watermelon (Citrullus lenatus) Production in Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting three hundred and sixty (360) respondents. Selection was done with purposive and simple random sampling, and data collected with a structured questionnaire. The objectives of the study were to identify the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, determine the technical efficiency and measure the total resource productivity of watermelon production in the study area. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and quantitative analytical tool of stochastic frontier model (Cobb Douglas production function). Socio-economic attributes like age, farm size, educational status and farm experience were described to show their relationship with watermelon production in the study area. Results of the stochastic frontier model showed that all the estimated coefficients of the variables of the production function were positive except fungicide. They included: farm size (0.0795), labour (0.0201), number of seed grown (0.926) and fertilizer (0.0207). This implied that watermelon output increases with increase in these variables. It was also shown that labour (0.441), fertilizer (0.475) and fungicide (-1.662) did not exert any significant effect on watermelon output as shown by their t-ratio values. For the factors affecting technical inefficiency of watermelon farmers, age of farmers and farm size were negative and significant at 0.05 levels of probability, while household size, educational qualification and farming experience were all positive and significant at 5% levels of significance and type of cropping was positive and significant at 10% level of significance. Non-farm income was positive and significant at 5% level of probability. This means that one unit increase in these variables would increase technical inefficiency of the farmers and hence decreasing their technical efficiency. Finally, the return to scale parameter returned the value 0.967 which indicated that watermelon production in the study area was in the Stage II of the production surface. Based on the results of the analysis the following were recommended. Watermelon farmers should be provided and encouraged to take loans, be assisted with extension services and become members of farmer associations, in order to boost their production. Also inputs such as farm size, labour, seeds, fertilizer and fungicide should be increased for optimum production. Key words: Watermelon, production, stochastic frontier model, technical efficiency, Nigeria
{"title":"Stochastic frontier technical efficiency analysis of watermelon (Citrullus lenatus) production in Nigeria","authors":"OI Ettah, JA Igiri, JB Effiong, MA Iyam, IA Asuquo, FO Faithpraise, Otu Ikoi Ettah","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.23700","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.23700","url":null,"abstract":"The study analysed the efficiency of Watermelon (Citrullus lenatus) Production in Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting three hundred and sixty (360) respondents. Selection was done with purposive and simple random sampling, and data collected with a structured questionnaire. The objectives of the study were to identify the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, determine the technical efficiency and measure the total resource productivity of watermelon production in the study area. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and quantitative analytical tool of stochastic frontier model (Cobb Douglas production function). Socio-economic attributes like age, farm size, educational status and farm experience were described to show their relationship with watermelon production in the study area. Results of the stochastic frontier model showed that all the estimated coefficients of the variables of the production function were positive except fungicide. They included: farm size (0.0795), labour (0.0201), number of seed grown (0.926) and fertilizer (0.0207). This implied that watermelon output increases with increase in these variables. It was also shown that labour (0.441), fertilizer (0.475) and fungicide (-1.662) did not exert any significant effect on watermelon output as shown by their t-ratio values. For the factors affecting technical inefficiency of watermelon farmers, age of farmers and farm size were negative and significant at 0.05 levels of probability, while household size, educational qualification and farming experience were all positive and significant at 5% levels of significance and type of cropping was positive and significant at 10% level of significance. Non-farm income was positive and significant at 5% level of probability. This means that one unit increase in these variables would increase technical inefficiency of the farmers and hence decreasing their technical efficiency. Finally, the return to scale parameter returned the value 0.967 which indicated that watermelon production in the study area was in the Stage II of the production surface. Based on the results of the analysis the following were recommended. Watermelon farmers should be provided and encouraged to take loans, be assisted with extension services and become members of farmer associations, in order to boost their production. Also inputs such as farm size, labour, seeds, fertilizer and fungicide should be increased for optimum production. Key words: Watermelon, production, stochastic frontier model, technical efficiency, Nigeria","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140488766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.23930
SM Abidi, M.I. Yamani
Microbiological contamination of food poses a significant risk to public health, as a popular ready-to-eat food in the Middle-East, falafel sandwiches require no processing. When ingested, their microbiological integrity is extremely important to the population’s health. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the microbial load of falafel sandwich and its basic components, which is an important indicator of hygiene and safety; to that effect, we tested 120 samples from different restaurants in Amman, Jordan (30 falafel sandwiches, 30 tahini salad, 30 hummus, and 30 falafel). The collected samples were transferred to the laboratory in the ice box and tested for microbiological and chemical analysis (pH and titratable acidity). Appropriate media were used in the enumeration: Plate Count Agar, De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe agar (MRS), Violet Red Bile Lactose Agar, and Baird-Parker Agar for mesophilic aerobes, lactic acid bacteria, coliforms, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. In all samples, the average pH was ≥ 5 and the average titratable acidity (as citric acid) was ≥ 0.55%, thus permitting the growth of many microorganisms. The samples were assessed for aerobic plate count (APC) and the counts of coliforms (CC), lactic acid bacteria (LABC), yeasts and molds (YMC), Staphylococcus aureus count (S. aureus), as well as for the presence of Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). Average APC of ‘falafel’ sandwich, ‘tahini’ salad, ‘hummus’, and falafel were 6.4, 6.3, 5.8, and 2.9 log10 CFU/g respectively; average CC was 2.3, 2.8,1.9, and 0.6 log10 CFU/g, respectively; average LABC was 5.6, 5.5, 5.3, and 2.4 log10 CFU/g, respectively; average YMC was 4.2, 3.8, 3, and 0.7 log10 CFU/g, respectively; average S. aureus was 2.09,1.68,0, and 0.3 log10 CFU/g, respectively. S. enterica and L. monocytogenes were not isolated from any sample. This might be due of the exposure to high temperatures during the frying process, ‘falafel’ samples had the lowest microbial load. The study revealed through these microbial counts, that hummus and tahini salad are most likely to introduce microorganisms to falafel sandwich. Key words: falafel sandwich, tahini salad, hummus, coliforms, lactic acid bacteria
{"title":"Microbiological and chemical profiles of retail falafel sandwich in Jordan","authors":"SM Abidi, M.I. Yamani","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.23930","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.23930","url":null,"abstract":"Microbiological contamination of food poses a significant risk to public health, as a popular ready-to-eat food in the Middle-East, falafel sandwiches require no processing. When ingested, their microbiological integrity is extremely important to the population’s health. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the microbial load of falafel sandwich and its basic components, which is an important indicator of hygiene and safety; to that effect, we tested 120 samples from different restaurants in Amman, Jordan (30 falafel sandwiches, 30 tahini salad, 30 hummus, and 30 falafel). The collected samples were transferred to the laboratory in the ice box and tested for microbiological and chemical analysis (pH and titratable acidity). Appropriate media were used in the enumeration: Plate Count Agar, De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe agar (MRS), Violet Red Bile Lactose Agar, and Baird-Parker Agar for mesophilic aerobes, lactic acid bacteria, coliforms, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. In all samples, the average pH was ≥ 5 and the average titratable acidity (as citric acid) was ≥ 0.55%, thus permitting the growth of many microorganisms. The samples were assessed for aerobic plate count (APC) and the counts of coliforms (CC), lactic acid bacteria (LABC), yeasts and molds (YMC), Staphylococcus aureus count (S. aureus), as well as for the presence of Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). Average APC of ‘falafel’ sandwich, ‘tahini’ salad, ‘hummus’, and falafel were 6.4, 6.3, 5.8, and 2.9 log10 CFU/g respectively; average CC was 2.3, 2.8,1.9, and 0.6 log10 CFU/g, respectively; average LABC was 5.6, 5.5, 5.3, and 2.4 log10 CFU/g, respectively; average YMC was 4.2, 3.8, 3, and 0.7 log10 CFU/g, respectively; average S. aureus was 2.09,1.68,0, and 0.3 log10 CFU/g, respectively. S. enterica and L. monocytogenes were not isolated from any sample. This might be due of the exposure to high temperatures during the frying process, ‘falafel’ samples had the lowest microbial load. The study revealed through these microbial counts, that hummus and tahini salad are most likely to introduce microorganisms to falafel sandwich. Key words: falafel sandwich, tahini salad, hummus, coliforms, lactic acid bacteria","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"217 3-4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140489953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.23955
R. Akelola, E. Wamukoya, J. Situma
Good nutrition optimizes benefits of ART (Antiretroviral therapy) and increases treatment adherence, both prolongs lives of PLHIV (NASCOP, 2014), without proper care and management it exposes them to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Key objective; to determine the effect of food-based nutrition intervention on the management of NCDs among PLHIV in Busia. The design was experimental using randomized control trial approach. The control group had 30 subjects who were fed on Plumpy‘nut while treatment group had 30 subjects who were fed on Power Porridge (PROLCARMIV), for 60 days. Subjects were purposively selected from the Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC) in Busia County referral hospital- Kenya, further study subjects were randomly selected using simple random sampling, assigned equally to each group. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire analyzed using Social Package for Statistical Sciences version 26. Prevalence of NCDS; 75.5% hypertension; 15.6% diabetes and 8.9% heart disease; post-intervention BMI for intervention group increased; laboratory analyses; Hb post–intervention results; mean levels were higher in intervention group (M=13.62, SD=2.69) p-value = 0.487 compared to control group (12.69, SD=1.24), p value= 0.471. Random Blood Sugar (RBS) were higher in control group (5.96, SD=1.70), with p value= <0.001, intervention group (M=5.79, SD=1.02), with p-value = <0.001. Post-intervention liver function test; TB, AST, and ALT showed higher SD indicating variability. Lipid profile; showed TC mean (4.39 (0.95) for control group; a mean of 3.78(0.94) for the intervention group: p=0.017; HDL for the control group with a mean of 1.58(0.57): mean of 1.14 (0.53) for the intervention group with p=0.036: TG for the control group, mean of 1.50 (0.50): for the intervention group with p= 0.017: mean of 1.14: (0.46): LDL for control group with a mean of 2.26 (0.66): mean of 1.43 (0.42): for the intervention group with p= 0.041: TC, HDL, TG, and LDL all exhibited significant decreases. Kidney function tests; no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion; Compliance for PROLCARMIV; 82.5%, attracting uptake of CCC services. PROLCARMIV can manage NCDs among PLHIV, answering the alternative hypothesis, this would inform policy. Key words: Food-Based Nutrition Intervention, HIV, NCDs, PLHIV, PROLCARMIV, Power Porridge
{"title":"Effect of food-based nutrition intervention on management of non-communicable diseases among people living with HIV in Busia County hospital, Kenya","authors":"R. Akelola, E. Wamukoya, J. Situma","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.23955","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.23955","url":null,"abstract":"Good nutrition optimizes benefits of ART (Antiretroviral therapy) and increases treatment adherence, both prolongs lives of PLHIV (NASCOP, 2014), without proper care and management it exposes them to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Key objective; to determine the effect of food-based nutrition intervention on the management of NCDs among PLHIV in Busia. The design was experimental using randomized control trial approach. The control group had 30 subjects who were fed on Plumpy‘nut while treatment group had 30 subjects who were fed on Power Porridge (PROLCARMIV), for 60 days. Subjects were purposively selected from the Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC) in Busia County referral hospital- Kenya, further study subjects were randomly selected using simple random sampling, assigned equally to each group. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire analyzed using Social Package for Statistical Sciences version 26. Prevalence of NCDS; 75.5% hypertension; 15.6% diabetes and 8.9% heart disease; post-intervention BMI for intervention group increased; laboratory analyses; Hb post–intervention results; mean levels were higher in intervention group (M=13.62, SD=2.69) p-value = 0.487 compared to control group (12.69, SD=1.24), p value= 0.471. Random Blood Sugar (RBS) were higher in control group (5.96, SD=1.70), with p value= <0.001, intervention group (M=5.79, SD=1.02), with p-value = <0.001. Post-intervention liver function test; TB, AST, and ALT showed higher SD indicating variability. Lipid profile; showed TC mean (4.39 (0.95) for control group; a mean of 3.78(0.94) for the intervention group: p=0.017; HDL for the control group with a mean of 1.58(0.57): mean of 1.14 (0.53) for the intervention group with p=0.036: TG for the control group, mean of 1.50 (0.50): for the intervention group with p= 0.017: mean of 1.14: (0.46): LDL for control group with a mean of 2.26 (0.66): mean of 1.43 (0.42): for the intervention group with p= 0.041: TC, HDL, TG, and LDL all exhibited significant decreases. Kidney function tests; no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion; Compliance for PROLCARMIV; 82.5%, attracting uptake of CCC services. PROLCARMIV can manage NCDs among PLHIV, answering the alternative hypothesis, this would inform policy. Key words: Food-Based Nutrition Intervention, HIV, NCDs, PLHIV, PROLCARMIV, Power Porridge","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"1 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140485959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.126.23115
FO Ouya, JO Pittchar, F. Chidawanyika, ZR Khan
Transformative rural smallholder agriculture addressing biophysical constraints requires farmer-led innovations for increased technology adoption. Following the need to further intensify the cereal push-pull technology (PPT) for pest and weed control through integration with vegetables, we conducted surveys to determine suitable vegetables across three different counties in Kenya namely Homabay, Siaya, and Trans-Nzoia. Farming in these areas is predominantly maize based and introducing vegetables to the system will improve household food and nutritional security, together with income. A systematic random sampling method was used to sample a total of 124 smallholder farmers who were interviewed during field days where farmer awareness of technology was mobilised. Descriptive results showed kale (47%) and black nightshade (30%) were the most preferred high-value vegetables for integration into push-pull plots in these regions. This was followed by cowpea (15%), onion (6%) and tomato (2%) underlying the wide range of farmer preferences and priorities. There were also gender differences in vegetable preferences with men preferring capital intensive and high value vegetables, while women preferred traditional vegetables. Results from multinomial logit model revealed that age of the farmer, education level, gender, and farming experience were determinants of smallholder farmers’ vegetable preferences for integration into the PPT plots. The contribution of these determinants to farmer preferences varied across different vegetables where the contribution of the market value of the vegetable in selection diminished with while the effect of farmers’ age. Overall, male farmers preferred capital-intensive and market-oriented vegetables in compared to their female counterparts. We conclude that gender and geographic location play a pivotal role in farmers` crop selection for integration in the PPT. Targeted awareness creation pathways accounting for these factors will be critical for wider adoption of the PPT. Key words: Food security, Multinomial Logistic Regression Model, Participatory rural appraisal, Sustainable agricultural intensification, Technology adoption
{"title":"Integrating vegetables in push-pull technology systems: gendered preferences of smallholder farmers in western Kenya","authors":"FO Ouya, JO Pittchar, F. Chidawanyika, ZR Khan","doi":"10.18697/ajfand.126.23115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.126.23115","url":null,"abstract":"Transformative rural smallholder agriculture addressing biophysical constraints requires farmer-led innovations for increased technology adoption. Following the need to further intensify the cereal push-pull technology (PPT) for pest and weed control through integration with vegetables, we conducted surveys to determine suitable vegetables across three different counties in Kenya namely Homabay, Siaya, and Trans-Nzoia. Farming in these areas is predominantly maize based and introducing vegetables to the system will improve household food and nutritional security, together with income. A systematic random sampling method was used to sample a total of 124 smallholder farmers who were interviewed during field days where farmer awareness of technology was mobilised. Descriptive results showed kale (47%) and black nightshade (30%) were the most preferred high-value vegetables for integration into push-pull plots in these regions. This was followed by cowpea (15%), onion (6%) and tomato (2%) underlying the wide range of farmer preferences and priorities. There were also gender differences in vegetable preferences with men preferring capital intensive and high value vegetables, while women preferred traditional vegetables. Results from multinomial logit model revealed that age of the farmer, education level, gender, and farming experience were determinants of smallholder farmers’ vegetable preferences for integration into the PPT plots. The contribution of these determinants to farmer preferences varied across different vegetables where the contribution of the market value of the vegetable in selection diminished with while the effect of farmers’ age. Overall, male farmers preferred capital-intensive and market-oriented vegetables in compared to their female counterparts. We conclude that gender and geographic location play a pivotal role in farmers` crop selection for integration in the PPT. Targeted awareness creation pathways accounting for these factors will be critical for wider adoption of the PPT. Key words: Food security, Multinomial Logistic Regression Model, Participatory rural appraisal, Sustainable agricultural intensification, Technology adoption","PeriodicalId":7710,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development","volume":"6 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140489047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}