Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (8), pp. 001-011, August, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of livelihood assets and strategies among tobacco and non tobacco growing households in south Nyanza region, Kenya

J. K. Kibwage^*, A. J. Odondo and G. M. Momanyi

¹Maseno University, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Tobacco-to-Bamboo Research Project Office, P.O. Box 333, Maseno, Kenya.

Accepted 09 March, 2018

Abstract

This study assessed household assets and livelihood strategies among tobacco-growing households in comparison to non-tobacco-growing households in the south Nyanza region, Kenya. It was meant to provide basic information that could be used to advice on local enforcement of Article 17 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) through crop and livelihood diversification as an alternative strategy to tobacco farming. A multi-stage and stratified random sampling procedure was used to select and survey 440 households (i.e. 210 tobacco and 230 non-tobacco) from the study area. The survey was carried out using a standard questionnaire with both structured and non-structured questions which was supplemented by four Focussed Group Discussions. The study established that an annual net income of a non-tobacco farmer is higher than that of a tobacco farmer with an average annual difference of $ 198 which is a significant margin in rural areas. Moreover, a tobacco farming household spends more income ( $ 35) per year on healthcare services than a non-tobacco household, an indication that the latter group is prone to illnesses. In terms of social life, tobacco farming is labour intensive and evidently encourages polygamy though to a large extent, it is also a common cultural practice in the area. It was also noted that majority of the non-tobacco farming households have better housing quality and educational levels, and higher enterprise diversity than their counterparts. In conclusion, although households engage in tobacco farming to improve their living standards, tobacco farming is basically responsible for poor and un-sustainable livelihoods in the region. Hence, there is need to provide other alternative livelihood strategies to tobacco-growing households.

Key words: Tobacco, livelihood assets, livelihood strategies, Kenya.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Energy usage and benefit-cost analysis of cotton production in Turkey

Erdal Dagistan¹*, Handan Akcaoz², Bekir Demirtas¹ and Yalcin Yilmaz³

¹University of Mustafa Kemal, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Hatay, Turkey.

²University of Akdeniz, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Antalya, Turkey.

³Vice-gavernor of Hatay Province, Hatay, Turkey.

Accepted 04 March, 2018

Abstract

The aim of this research is to determine the energy input and output involved in cotton production in the Hatay province of Turkey. The average energy consumption of the farms investigated in this study is 19 558 MJha^-1. Of the total energy, 2.87% is direct and 71.13% is indirect. Renewable energy accounts for 12.30% and energy usage efficiency is found to be 2.36. The total energy input into the production of one kilogram of average Turkish cotton is estimated to be 4.99 MJ. The dominant contribution to input is energy in the form of nitrogen fertiliser (40.28%), followed by water for irrigation (22.37%) and diesel-oil (17.04%). The cost of cotton production per hectare is found to be 2 246 $ha-¹ in the region, with 79.87% of this being variable costs. It can be concluded that intensive cotton farms are being operated in the area since the variable cost ratio is quite high. As a result of benefit-cost ratio (1.24) analysis, cotton production is found to be economically efficient.

Key words: Cotton, input-output analysis, energy analysis, production economics, Turkey.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Flavonoids from mulberry leaves by microwave-assisted extract and anti-fatigue activity

Wei Li¹*, Tao Li² and Keji Tang¹

¹Dezhou University, Dezhou, Shandong Province, 253023, People’s Republic of China.

²China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, 637002, People’s Republic of China.

Accepted 03 March, 2018

Abstract

Flavonoids from mulberry leaves (FML) were extracted using microwave-assisted extraction method (MAE). Several correlation factors were studied to optimise conditions at laboratory scale. The research results indicated that the optimal extraction parameters are as follows: ethanol concentration is 60%, material/solvent ratio is 1:15, microwave irradiation power is 560 W and irradiation time is 5 min. FML were tested in mice weight-loaded swimming model. Both high-dose and middle- dose of FML could obviously prolong the swimming endurance time, and had active effects on the serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hepatic glycogen and blood lactic acid levels in mice. The above results suggest that appropriate dose of FML possessed an anti-fatigue activity in mice.

Key words: Flavonoids, mulberry leaves, microwave-assisted extract, anti-fatigue.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (6), pp. 001-004, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Seromonitoring of especially dangerous diseases in small ruminants in the Republic of Tajikistan

Koshemetov Zh. K., Matveyeva V. M., Mamadaliyev S. M., Nurabayev S. Sh., Azhibayev A. Zh. and Orynbayev M. B.

Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Republic of Kazakhstan,

Accepted 04 January, 2018

Abstract

Seromonitoring for antibodies against especially dangerous viral infections in small ruminants in the Republic of Tajikistan was conducted. Antibodies to sheep pox and PPR viruses were detected in blood sera of small ruminants.

Key words: Virus, antigen, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, sheep pox, peste des petits ruminants.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (5), pp. 001-012, May, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Mainstreaming participatory and cross-disciplinary approaches in animal science research in developing countries

Jens Aagaard-Hansen^1*, Carl Erik Schou Larsen ², Niels Halberg³, Carsten Nico Hjortsø⁴, Quentin Gausset⁵ and Jolly Kabirizi⁶

¹DBL – Centre for Health Research and Development, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

² Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

⁴  Centre for Forest and Landscape Denmark, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

⁵Institute of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

⁶Namulonge Agriculture and Animal Production Research Institute, P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda

Accepted 09 January, 2018

Abstract

Conventional research approaches have lost considerable momentum after their astonishing achieve-ments during the green revolution. The negative side of focusing rigorously on production improve-ment was eminent around 1980 and led to considerations of environmental, gender and equity aspects - making agricultural development much more complex than previously. In the search for new ways of addressing the persisting problems of food insecurity and malnutrition, new ways should be explored. Based on the experiences from three international, African research projects, the article argues the case of participatory action research and cross-disciplinarity as some of the key elements in future animal science research in developing countries. The benefits are outlined as well as the challenges for the researchers and the donor agencies.

Key words: Action research, agriculture, agro-forestry, animal science, cross-disciplinarity, developing countries, livestock systems, paradigms, participation, poverty.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Development of the scheme to prepare specimens for sheep pox virus indication in objects of environment

Matveyeva V.M., Mamadaliyev S.M*, Koshemetov Z. K., Russanova A.M. and Troitskiy Y. N.

Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, Gvardeiskiy, Republic of Kazakhstan.

Accepted 26 February, 2018

Abstract

While isolating sheep pox virus from samples of air, water, hay and grain experimentally infected with this agent various filters and eluting media were tested. Possible usage of enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay (ELISA) for specific indication of the sheep pox virus in various objects of veterinary super-vision was investigated.

Key words: Specific indication, objects of veterinary supervision, concentration, elution, virus, antigen, en-zyme-linked immunosorbent assay.