ISSN 2375-091X
Research Article
African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 2 (3), pp. 060-074, March, 2014. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Importance of bushmeat to the economies of hunting households in logging towns Cameroon
Harry C. Rhodes
Faculty of Forestry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 12 February, 2014
Abstract
The focus of this study is on the importance of bushmeat to the economies of 99 hunting households in two logging towns, northern boundary of the Lobeke National Park, East Province of Cameroon. In this area, bushmeat was the major source of daily animal protein and an estimated 37 960 wild animals were killed each year or 104 animals per day. In general, 62% of the hunted animals were sold for cash income while 38% were consumed by the hunters and their families. An annual gross income from the bushmeat to hunters was estimated at 234 058 548 CFA Francs (US$ 469 117) while gross revenue from 11 other income generating activities accessed by the hunters was only 4.5% of the income from hunting. Various costs represented 69.4% of the gross hunting revenues. Average hunting income was twice higher than the income of a junior technician and about the same as that of a senior technician working at SEFAC (logging company). The income of hunters at the higher end of the income range was comparable to those of mid-career SEFAC managers. Such a lucrative business provides economic incentives to hunting despite all the suppressive measures. Moreover, the importance of a large bushmeat market is rarely detected and seriously taken into account when designing conservation policies aimed at protecting wildlife and fighting against poaching. The study stresses the need for empathetic approaches that favour more deliberate development and conservation policies while dealing with bushmeat issues in logging towns of the region.
Key words: Game, food security, hunting, poaching, wildlife conservation.
Harry C. Rhodes
Page: 60 - 74
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJTA/1010Research Article
Full Length Research Paper
Interspecific cross between improved cytoplasmic male sterile lines and enrich Chinese cabbage genetic resources
Deng Lama Lang
Department of Forestry, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 14 January, 2014
Abstract
The interspecific cross between improved cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) Brassica campestris ssp.pekinensis (Lour.) Olsson and B. oleracea var. acephala DC. aims to obtain kale male sterile lines and enrich Chinese cabbage genetic resources. The results indicated that there were serious segregations between the 2 parents, so as to descendants could not be obtained by routine pollination methods. Otherwise, interspecific hybrids have been obtained by young embryos culture in vitro and the best time of embryo rescue was the 9 - 11 day after pollination. Interspecific embryo collapsed at sphere stage, with endosperm nuclei being surrounded by cell walls. The morphology, fertility, microspore growth, vernalization and numbers of chromosome were conducted to prove the truth of interspecific hybrids. Leaf morphology was intermediate of the 2 parents. Anther shape and plumpness, nectary volume and numbers were matroclinous. The male sterility showed 100% both in degree and ratio. Interspecific hybrids microspore aborted clearly from mononuclear to dinuclear stage. Vernalization was also intermediate of the 2 parents. Chromosome number of hybrids was confirmed to be 2n = 19, which was the total count of gametophyte chromosome of 2 parents. Also, we obtained BC1 which was from F 1×kale, by pollinated several times, while the average compatibility index was only 0.0014. There were sluggish chromosomes in BC1 PMCs anaphase.
Key words: CMS Chinese cabbage, kale embryo culture, chromosome, F1, BC1.
Deng Lama Lang
Page: 56 - 59
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJTA/1009Review
African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 2 (1), pp. 050-055, January, 2014. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Serological tests used for detecting of toxoplasmosis
Dhirubhai Nehru Tata
College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 24 December, 2013
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widely prevalent cyst forming apicomplexan parasite present worldwide. Felines serve as definitive hosts, while all non-feline vertebrates including humans, act as intermediate hosts of the parasite. There are several serological tests available for the detection of T. gondii antibodies such as the dye test (DT), indirect haemagglutination test (IHA), complement fixation test (CFT), modified agglutination test (MAT), latex agglutination test (LAT), indirect immunofluorescent test (IFAT) and direct agglutination test (DAT). The dye test once considered as gold standard is seldom used nowadays, owing to potent hazardous effects because of involvement of live tachyzoites. Of late, enzyme linked immune sorbent assays (ELISA) have gained a lot of utility in diagnosing toxoplasmosis. Other than serological tests, bioassays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assays and histopathologies are also used. The various tests used for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, along with various molecules being employed, coupled with their advantages and limitations, are described and discussed in detail in the present review.
Key words: Toxoplasma gondii, diagnosis, enzyme linked immune sorbent assays (ELISA), molecular techniques, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Dhirubhai Nehru Tata
Page: 50 - 55
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJTA/1008Research Article
African Journal of Tropical Agriculture Vol. 1 (3), pp. 037-042, November, 2013. © International Scholars Journal
Full Length Research Paper
Evaluation of soil biological properties of 9- and 15-year-old stands in the oil palm plantation in Perak, Malaysia
Daljit Singh Karam1, A. Arifin1,2*, O. Radziah3,4, J. Shamshuddin3, Hazandy Abdul-Hamid1,2, Nik M. Majid1, I. Zahari5, Nor Halizah Ab. Halim5 and Cheng Kah Yen1
1Department of Forest Production, Faculty of Forestry, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
2Laboratory of Sustainable Bioresource Management, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
3Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
4Laboratory of Food Crops and Floriculture, Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
5Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]. Tel: +603-89467177. Fax: +603-89432514.
Accepted 26 July, 2013
Abstract
Opening land for oil palm cultivation provokes many debates around the world regarding on the fate of biodiversity. A study was conducted to evaluate and compare soil biological properties of 9-year-old (P1) and 15-year-old (P2) stands of an oil palm plantation in Bikam, Perak, Malaysia. Composite samples were collected at depths of 0-15 cm (topsoil) and 15-30 cm (subsoil) located within six subplots (20 m × 20 m). The microbial population count was estimated using a spread-plate technique, and the Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis assay was used to measure microbial enzymatic activity. A rapid ethanol-free chloroform fumigation extraction technique was used for microbial biomass extraction, and the extracts were respectively analyzed by wet dichromate oxidation and Kjeldahl digestion for biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). At the 0-15 cm depth, the microbial biomass C and N contents in the soils from both plots were significantly different (P<0.05). At the 15-30 cm depth, only microbial enzymatic activity was significantly different between plots. Although the addition of fertilizers to the soil is believed to be a predisposing factor, no significant differences in P1 and P2 plots for the biomass C and N in soils at the 15-30 cm depth were observed. Variations in the MBC/MBN ratio in soils of the P1 and P2 plots indicate that changes occurring in the soil microbial composition are due to the availability of soil organic substrates and N. Thus establishment of an oil palm plantation does contribute to changes in soil biological properties.
Key words: Oil palm, different ages, microbial population, enzymatic activity, biomass C and N, rapid chloroform-fumigation extraction technique.
O. Radziah, Nor Halizah Ab. Halim and Cheng Kah Yen, Daljit Singh Karam, Nik M. Majid, A. Arifin*, I. Zahari, Hazandy Abdul-Hamid, J. Shamshuddin
Page: 37 - 42
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJTA/1004Research Article
Full Length Research Paper
An analysis of the determinants of household level production and marketing of beans in Eastern Congo
Eliud Birachi1*, Rachel Zozo2, Bernard Vanlauwe3 and Jonas Chianu4 and W. Chiuri1
1International Center for Tropical Agriculture-Africa (CIAT), Box 1269 Kigali, Rwanda.
2Consortium for Improvement of Agricultural-based Livelihoods in Central Africa (CIALCA), CIAT-TSBF, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
3International Center for Tropical Agriculture-Africa (CIAT-TSBF), Nairobi, Kenya. 4African Development Bank.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 13 August, 2013
Abstract
Legumes and especially beans provide some of the most widely grown crops in the East and Central Africa region. The question of whether certain crops, specifically beans, are more beneficial to women than to men in relation to cash crops and other cereals, has been raised from time to time. In the central Africa region and in particular in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bean production has been promoted in the recent years. Beans contribute to better nutrition and soil fertility improvement in the region. The economic benefits and costs associated with beans production has not received adequate attention at the household level while taking into consideration male and female farm actors. Based on beans, this paper examines the differentiated profitabilities and costs of production for beans at the household level, among male and female farmers in the South Kivu Province of the DRC. The paper uses results obtained from a survey of 160 farmers in 10 villages in the South Kivu Province of DRC. Data was collected on household characteristics, costs, prices and quantities associated with bean production. Regression analysis was used to assess factors that influence the observedbean gross margins and production costs among the households. The results indicate the average age of bean farmers is relatively low and that there is no significant difference between the profits received by men and women farmers in spite of men incurring relatively higher production costs than women farmers. the results also indicate that larger surfaces put under beans do not necessarily lead to higher gross margins. Market access had factors such as physical location of the farmers vis a vis markets influenced to raise the costs incurred in bean production for those farmers located much farther away from major markets. Farmers located in remote areas suffer higher production costs in acquiring inputs, usually at higher costs than those located in optimal locations. Interventions that would enable such farmers to affordably access productive inputs are likely to impact positively on the farmers’ economic welfare.
Key words: Bean production and marketing, South Kivu, gender, gross margins.
Rachel Zozo, Eliud Birachi, Bernard Vanlauwe and Jonas Chianu and W. Chiuri
Page: 43 - 49
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJTA/1006Research Article
African Journal of Tropical Agriculture Vol. 1 (3), pp. 030-036, November, 2013.© International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The role of rural producer organizations in enhancing market participation of smallholder farmers in Uganda: Enabling and disabling factors
E. L. Ampaire1,2*, C. L. Machethe1,3 and E. Birachi4
1Department of Agriculture Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, LEVLO, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
2International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), P. O. Box 6247, Kampala Uganda.
3Post Graduate School of Agriculture and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, LEVLO, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
4International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), P. O. Box 1269, Kigali, Rwanda.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +256-772999609. Fax +256-(0414)-567635.
Accepted 18 September, 2013
Abstract
The study investigates the factors influencing the effectiveness of second-tier rural producer organizations (RPOs) in linking their members to output markets in Uganda. The percentage of farmers who sold some of their produce through the RPO was used as a proxy for effectiveness. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis indicated that RPO effectiveness was positively related to the size of a RPO and democratic leadership. On the other hand, the proportion of RPO leaders with leadership training, enforcement of internal control practices, bulking distance and size of executive committee had a significant negative effect on the effectiveness of such organizations. It was concluded that improving the effectiveness of RPOs required the (i) use of numerous sub-committee instead of many all-member meetings and smaller executive committees; (ii) dedication, respect and commitment by leaders of RPOs when imparting skills learnt in order to boost members’ morale; (iii) devising reward systems for leaders or putting in place stringent rules, such as leadership codes, to guide leader behaviour so as to prevent conflict of interest and possible elite capture; and (iv) policies guiding Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) lending conditions be reviewed to match rural producers’ economic status and seasonality of enterprises.
Key words: Marketing rural producer organizations (RPOs), RPO effectiveness, smallholder farmers, market participation, Uganda.
C. L. Machethe and E. Birachi, E. L. Ampaire
Page: 30 - 36
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJTA/1005