African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

‎African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 589-597, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Influence of Basic Experimental Unit (BEU) for the evaluation of fresh matter of sunn hemp (C. juncea L.)

*Morena Rousseff de Mello, Antônio Machida and Sérgio Barrichello

Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.

Accepted 13 July, 2017

Abstract

The influence of the basic experimental unit size on the plot size estimation determined by the method of maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation model is unknown in sunn hemp. This study aimed to verify the influence of the basic experimental unit (BEU) size in the estimate of the optimum plot size obtained by the method of maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation model for the evaluation of fresh matter of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.). Fresh matter of sunn hemp at the flowering was evaluated in uniformity trials in two sowing dates. In each sowing date, 4,608 BEU of 0.5 × 0.5 m (0.25 m²) were evaluated and 64 BEU plans were formed with sizes from 0.25 to 64 m². In each evaluation period for each BEU plan, the first order spatial autocorrelation coefficient, variance, standard deviation, mean, coefficient of variation of the trial and the plot size were determined with the fresh matter data. For each BEU plan, the optimum plot size was determined by the method of maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation model. The estimate of optimum plot size depends on the basic experimental unit size. Determining the plot size to assess the fresh matter in basic experimental units as small as possible is recommended in order to prevent overestimation of the plot size and to contemplate all existing variability.

Key words: Crotalaria juncea L., experimental design, basic experimental unit.

‎African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 556-561, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Morphological variability of tepary bean landraces grown in Botswana

 *Nijel Amantle Mpule, Baralong Mompati and Mapela Kenosi

Department of Agricultural Research, Oilseeds and Grain Legumes, Ministry of Agriculture, Private Bag 0033, Gaborone, Botswana.

*Corresponding Author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 11 January, 2017

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Department of Agricultural Research in Sebele in the 2012 to 2013 season using nine accessions that were sourced from the National Plant Genetic Resource Centre (NPGRC), Gaborone, Botswana. Multivariate statistical procedures such as clusters and principal component analysis were used on 15 selected characters to assess agro-morphological variability among tepary bean landraces collected in Botswana. Few characters were statistically significant which suggest lower genetic diversity among the Botswana tepary beans. The first three PCA accounted for 77.12% of accumulated variation. Traits which revealed significant contribution to variation among accessions were number of leaves, plant spread, pod width, 100 seed weight and seeds per pod. The dendrogram results also showed that these characters contributed significantly to the grouping of accessions into three clusters. Three accessions GK011, MTS (Motsumi) and GK012 were separated from the rest of the accessions. However, GK012 and MTS (Motsumi) with highest number of valuable traits are recommended for plant breeders to use as parents in future breeding programs.

Key words: Tepary bean, agro-morphological traits, dendrogram, principal components analysis, multivariate analysis.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 5 (4), pp. 547-555, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determinants of demand for none agricultural rural employment (NARE) in Uganda: The case of the influx of motor cyclists (bodaboda) in Ntungamo District

¹Willy Turyahikayo* and ²Justus Ayesigye

¹Dept. of Economics, Makerere University Business School, ²Dept. of Accounting and Finance, Makerere University Business School-Mbarara campus.

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +256-772-957295, Fax: +256-414-505921

Accepted 04 March, 2017

Abstract

Agriculture is an important sector in Uganda’s economy because of its contribution to employment, exports and Gross Domestic Product. However, agricultural production has been declining over the past three decades. One of the reasons for this decline has been attributed to gross shift of the young and energetic youths as they seek for non-agricultural rural employment. The current study sought to investigate factors responsible for this trend using the increasing motorcycle riding business in Uganda as a case study. A sample of 226 riders was selected using simple random sampling from one sub-county. Findings showed that both push and pull factors were significant in explaining demand for non-agricultural rural employment. Whereas there are inhibitive low agricultural prices and land tenure systems, the study found attractive conditions in non-agricultural employment such as quick returns and social infrastructures that pull the youths from agriculture. The study recommended that the government and national research systems ought to develop an attractive environment to make agriculture “cool” for the youths as has been suggested in some circles. This could involve developing quick maturing crops, social amenities and mechanization of agriculture at a small scale level that targets the youths.

Keywords: Pull factors, push factors, rural employment, bodaboda, Uganda.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 5 (3), pp. 539-546, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Theory and practice: Changing faces of rural development policy in Ghana from 1957-2007

Dinko Hanaan Dinko

Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 27 March, 2017 

Abstract

The quest to create and expand opportunities for development in Ghana has evolved over the years and rural areas have been a field of development experiments. Successive governments since political independence in 1957 have professed various policies, projects and programmes to break the chains of poverty and free up opportunities for growth and stimulate prosperity. Nonetheless, rural areas remains chronically underdeveloped. The paradox of much attention and paltry progress brings to question the effectiveness of development policy in Ghana. This paper traces the trajectory of rural development policy over the first half century of Ghanaian development policy. It draws a parallel between prevailing theories in the past half century and how they shaped development policy. It finds that low agricultural output, rapid population growth and environmental change reign as the supreme triumvirate that has caged the potential of rural dwellers and sapped away progress. Analysis of primary and secondary data reveals a historical chasm between policy and practice. Rural development policy seems to follow a “shampoo” cycle and is often crafted for political capital and natural resource potential to the neglect of real potential and capabilities of the human capital. While rural areas may be geographically peripheral, they remain at the centre of development and developing these areas demands a bold new approach that recognises their potential in its true sense. The paper contends that rural development or underdevelopment is essentially human political agency and nothing else. It is argued that while development policy generally mirrors global trend, there are some local particularities. The paper concludes that development policy only works when political commitment is met with the consensual support of the rural dwellers.

Keywords: Rural development, policy, development practice, Ghana.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 5 (2), pp. 532-538, February, 2017. © International ScholarsJournals

Full Length Research Paper

Determinants of adoption and intensity of use of brooding technology in Kenya: The case of indigenous chicken farmers in Makueni and Kakamega Counties, Kenya

¹Christopher Njuguna K*,²Lucy W. Kabuage and ¹Eric K. Bett

¹Department of Agribusiness Management & Trade, Kenyatta University: P.O BOX 43844, Nairobi, ²Department of Animal Sciences, Kenyatta University: P.O BOX 43844, Nairobi.

Received 15 December, 2016; Revised 14 January, 2016; Accepted 17 January, 2017 and Published 02 February, 2017

Abstract

Indigenous chicken (IC) boosts the livelihoods of many smallholder famers in Kenya. IC constitutes 80% of poultry population in Kenya and kept by over 80% of the smallholders’ rural households. To increase IC productivity, use of brooders remains an option. Brooders enhance chick’s separation, reduce predation prospects, boost controlled temperatures and reduce trampling. However, information on determinants of adoption and use intensity of brooders among smallholder IC farmers in Eastern and Western Kenya remained scanty. Therefore, the study aimed at filling this gap. A total of 384 households were sampled using stratified random sampling procedure. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Secondary data was accessed from Makueni and Kakamega livestock offices. Descriptive analysis and Double-Hurdle econometric model were employed using STATA 13. Results revealed that farm size, training on poultry production and awareness of IC significantly influenced adoption decision. On the other hand, education level, household size, farm size, training on poultry production, distance to the training center and awareness of IC determined use intensity of brooders. We recommend that policymakers should target factors influencing adoption and use intensity of brooders. More infrastructures and extension agents should be deployed to boost information dissemination on brooding technology.

Keywords: Adoption, awareness, brooders, double-hurdle, intensity, indigenous chicken, training.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 5 (1), pp. 525-531, January, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of optimal agroforestry enterprise mix under production risk in Mbooni West district, Kenya

¹Kaseva DM^*, ²Mulwa RM and ¹Irungu P

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, P.0.Box 29053, Nairobi,

²Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP), Environmental Policy division, University of Nairobi, P.0.Box 30197, Nairobi.

E-mail: [email protected]

Received 05 November, 2016; Revised 14 December, 2016; Accepted 16 December, 2016 and Published 31 January, 2017

Abstract

Most arid and semi arid regions of Kenya have been experiencing deterioration in agricultural productivity translating to food insecurity and low levels of farm revenues. As a mitigation strategy, different agroforestry technologies have been innovated and disseminated to farmers in different agro-ecological zones. Since agricultural production is a risky activity, production risk should be taken into account, otherwise the policy briefs will be of little importance in real life. In a study sought to analyze the optimal agroforestry enterprise mix under production risk in Mbooni West district, first, it was necessary to evaluate the influence of production risk on net returns of various agroforestry enterprises. Then, the trade-off between the variability of net returns and expected returns to farm resources in the study area was determined. Multi-stage sampling was used and a semi structured questionnaire was administered through direct interviews. The paper applied an analytical procedure that made use of the conventional linear programming, and the Minimization of total absolute deviations (MOTAD) as the major tools. The results indicated that farmers in the study area are sensitive to production risk which influences their choice of farm enterprises and resource allocation. It was also confirmed that the farmers’ production decisions were not optimal but rational in the sense that they are risk minimizing. The study recommended the establishment of appropriate organizations and institutions that would cushion the small scale farmers against various forms of production risk.

Keywords: Agroforestry, production risk, trade-off, MOTAD, Mbooni West.