ISSN 2375-1134
Review
African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 5 (2), pp. 338-344, February, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Labor input of women tobacco farmers in Tabora, Tanzania
1Asmerom Kidane*, 2Aloyce Hepelwa, 3Kenneth Mdadila, Anita Lee4 and Teh Wei Hu5
1Professor of Economics and Statistics, University of Dar es Salaam,Tanzania.
2Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
3Department of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
4Senior researcher at the Public Health Institute, Oakland, California.
5Professor of Health Economics, University of California, Berkeley.
*CorrespondingauthorE-mail: [email protected], [email protected].
Accepted 16 April, 2017
Abstract
This study attempts to quantify the amount of labor women tobacco farmers spend in tobacco, maize and a third crop. Women labor input is measured in man-days and are compared with those of adult males and children’s labor input. A sample of 408 women tobacco farmers from the Tabora region of Tanzania were selected and interviewed. The result shows that 251 man-days per year is spent on farming activites; 42 percent of this is undertaken by women farmers. 78% of time devoted to farming is earmarked for tobacco farming. Out of the 198 days devoted to tobacco farming, 43% is undertaken by women. The contribution to labor input by children is only 5%. When classified by type of agricultural activities men spend more time in land clearing and planting, while women spend more time in weeding and harvesting. When classified by age, older women spend more time than younger women. Using a multiple linear regression, the determinants of the magnitude of women labor input were identified. The results indicate that women who spend more time in tobacco farming as being poor. They are relatively old, they get less or no remittance, they reside far from major towns, they do not have much wealth and have little access to alternative employment. The amount of time women spend in tobacco farming appears to be very high, and this is likely to lead to tobacoo related health hazards.
Keywords: Women, labor input, tobacco farming, Tanzania.
Asmerom Kidane*, Anita Lee and Teh Wei Hu, Kenneth Mdadila, Aloyce Hepelwa
Page: 338 - 344
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1049Research Article
African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 5 (1), pp. 300-306, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Agricultural cropping systems practices in association with planted tree species in Bangladesh
*Mohammad Karim, Pritilata Fazlul and Shabnam Azad
Department of Botany, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 18 August, 2017
Abstract
A relatively large percentage of the population in Bangladesh lives under the poverty line and is affected by the country’s degrading natural resources. Agroforestry has been seen as one of the few options to lift people out of poverty. Research into the costs and benefits of agroforestry was undertaken in Capasia Village in Northern Bangladesh. Initial results indicate that agroforestry may not only be an optimal livelihood solution for poor farmers, biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability but agroforestry systems also provide good economic rates of return. Thus the farmers who engage in agroforestry are benefited in different ways.
Key words: Agroforestry, poverty, farmers, livelihoods, conservation.
*Mohammad Karim, Pritilata Fazlul and Shabnam Azad
Page: 300 - 306
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1045Research Article
African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 5 (1), pp. 313-317, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Roles of non–governmental organizations in developmental issues on sustainable agriculture
Bhagat Narayan Patel
Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, University of Mysore, Humanities Block, Manasagangothri, Mysore-570 006, Karnataka, India. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 15 November, 2017
Abstract
Non-government organizations as a third sector institutional framework are playing a crucial role in providing strong support to the development issues. They have an important role, especially where the government and private sectors are showing less interest. One of the main sectors is agriculture. It is observed that many countries across the world provide support for modern agriculture, mainly to increase the productivity for commercial purpose without considering the environment sustainability (Pingali, 2001). However, the concept of sustainability of agriculture is gaining moment from last few years. Though many steps have taken by the government, it is observed that government programs have not succeeded up to the mark. Hence NGOs are emerging as a new thrust for the sustainability of agriculture. Alternative to High External Input Agriculture, states and NGOs across the world are attempting to develop a framework called Low External Inputs and Sustainable Agriculture (LIESA) for promoting Sustainable Agriculture Development (SAD) and in India some agencies have done a significant achievement. Organic agriculture system, that is based on ecological principles and applying ecological practices to maintain soil fertility, is to manage crop and animal health and to keep soil and water in a good condition. The objectives of the study are firstly, to analyse the role of NGOs in promoting sustainable agriculture. Secondly, to find on what extent NGOs are promoting awareness programs and upgrading marketing facilities. For the present study, a few NGOs have been selected randomly for detailed investigation and relevant information was collected by personal visits. Some NGOs had involved successfully with organic farming system. But in this study, 4 NGOs were selected from three districts of Karnataka. The overall analysis of the study reveals that NGOs are very prominent in effective implementation of government programs towards sustainability of agriculture and in influencing awareness programs and marketing facilities.
Key words: Non-government organizations, agriculture, support organic agriculture system.
Bhagat Narayan Patel
Page: 313 - 317
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1046Review
African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 5 (1), pp. 307-312, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Review
A review on new extension model to achieve sustainable agriculture
Shirin Hatami Alidoosti
College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 15 October, 2017
Abstract
Extension could play a key role in fostering sustainability through its educational programs but there has been a growing realization that traditional extension models have not been sufficiently effective in promoting adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Since sustainable agriculture is a knowledge-intensive system, it requires a new kind of knowledge, which differs from other forms on the basis of conventional agricultural practices. In fact, conventional extension system cannot accomplish sustainability in agriculture; because today's agricultural extension must consider environmental implications, social issues, and overall economic growth within the agriculture sector. The purpose of this paper is to describe new extension model to achieve sustainable agriculture.
Key words: Agricultural extension, sustainability, system.
Shirin Hatami Alidoosti
Page: 307 - 312
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1047Research Article
African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 4 (3), pp. 287-292, November, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Review
A study of the mechanisms of growth promotion by PGPR
*Yeslam Al-Dawoodi al-Sanea, Mohamed al-Jubeir and Mohaisen S. E.
Department of Biotechnology and Informatics, BUITEMS, Quetta, Pakistan. 4National Institute for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Pakistan.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 19 April, 2017
Abstract
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria have gained extensive importance worldwide. These are naturally occurring bacteria that actively colonize the plant roots and improve plant growth. Plants inoculated with some potential PGPR strains exhibit improved biomass production. It has been observed that PGPR exert their growth promoting effects on plants by utilizing a number of mechanisms. Taken as an example, PGPR improve legumes growth due to their potential involvement in nitrogen fixation. Supply of nutrients like phosphorous, copper, iron, sulphur etc. is enhanced in the plants having rhizosphere enriched with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. PGPR also act as bio-control agents by imposing their negative effects on the growth of disease causing bacteria, fungi and help in controlling insect pests. The research on PGPR has been on rise for the past few decades and several products containing PGPR have been commercialized for their use in agriculture. The more emphasis of scientists on these PGPR is due to the fact that these could only be the best alternative for the chemical products being utilized on a wide scale for getting improved yield. These chemical products are known to add to the pollutants prevailing in our environment. Therefore, the focus of this review is on the potential characteristics of PGPR that make them suitable alternative for chemical products being extensively exploited in agricultural practices.
Key words: PGPR, Nitrogen fixation, Bio-control agents.
Mohamed al-Jubeir and Mohaisen S. E., *Yeslam Al-Dawoodi al-Sanea
Page: 287 - 292
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1043Research Article
African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 293-299, December, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Review
A study of the patterns of sustainable agricultural growth in Nigeria
*Olayinka Davidson, Olayinka A. Hosea and Ahmed F. Huosman
Department of Agricultural Production and Management Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 10 July, 2017
Abstract
Over the years, agricultural development in Nigeria has been on a downward trend. This negative trend is attributed to the apathy from the people, the discovery of oil just before independence; and the after effects of the civil war of the late 60's. In addition to the local political problems, intensive agricultural research and delivery systems have been disappointingly low in some of the underdeveloped nations especially Nigeria as compared to the strings of successes in some Asian and Latin American countries. Several government initiatives and programmes aimed at improving food production and security have not yielded positive results either. Most of these programmes served as conduit pipes for government officials to carry away millions of dollars to foreign accounts. Various government agricultural programmes targeted at the poor farmers have not brought about the much trumpeted agricultural revolution - in terms of millions of people to feed and the produce to meet industrial needs. This paper takes a cursory look at patterns of agricultural growth in Nigeria, reasons for agricultural revolution, variables of sustainable agricultural development and strategies in developing a framework for public and private sectors participation in agricultural revolution in Nigeria.
Key words: Agricultural, development, programmes, revolution, government.
*Olayinka Davidson, Olayinka A. Hosea and Ahmed F. Huosman
Page: 293 - 299
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJA/1044