African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of leaf cutting on physiological traits and yield of two rice cultivars

Ali abdalla basyouni Abou-khalifa* A. N. Misra and Abd El- Azeem. K. M. Salem

Rice research and training center- Sakha – kafr el Sheikh- Egypt. Phone: 02-047-3248809. Fax 02-047-33225099 School of Biotechnology, Fakir Mohan University, Vyasa Vihar, Balasore-756019, India.

Accepted 10 October, 2021

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during two summer seasons 2003 and 2004 to study the effect of leaf cutting on physiological traits and yield of two rice cultivars hybrid (H5) (IR 70368 A /G 178) and inbred rice. The leaf cutting was followed from flag leaf as follows: 1.) L; Control = without leaf cutting, 2.) L1; flag leaf cut, 3.) L2; second leaf cut, 4.) L3; third leaf cut, 5.) L4; both flag leaf and second leaf cut. 6.) L5; flag leaf, second leaf and third leaf cut together. A split plot design with four replications was used; the main plots were devoted to the cutting of leaves, while the sub-plots were assigned to the two rice cultivars. Chlorophyll, sugar, starch and grain yield parameters were severely affected by L5, followed by L4, L1, L3 and L2 in sequence. However, as a single component affecting maximum to these parameters is the removal of flag leaf. The flag leaf contributed maximum to the yield of rice grains. L5, L4, L1, L2 and L3 treatments grain yield (relative % of control) by 59.87, 94.92, 44.89, 29.58 and 19.98 % respectively. Flag leaf contributed to 45% of grain yield and is the single most component for yield loss. The contribution of leaf removal in hybrid rice was minimum, suggesting the probability of maximum translocation of photosynthesis from stem to the grain during grain feeling stage of hybrid rice after leaf removal.

Key words: Rice, leaf cutting, physiological traits, yield and cultivars.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 10 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phytochemical and antioxidant screening of some plants of apocynaceae from South West Nigeria

Ayoola G. A.¹*, Folawewo A. D.¹, Adesegun S. A.², Abioro O. O.¹, Adepoju-Bello A. A.¹, Coker H. A. B.¹

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 24 September, 2021

Abstract

The phytochemical and antioxidant properties of Strophantus hispidus (stem and root), Voacanga africana (stem and leaf) and Thevetia neriifolia (stem and leaf) were investigated. The parts of the plants used were based on those used locally. All the plants tested positive for the presence of tannins, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides, all except S. hispidus (stem) tested positive for the presence of anthraquinone. Only V. africana (stem and leaves) and Thevetia neriifolia (leaves) tested positive for the presence of saponins, all except S. hispidus (root) tested positive for the presence of terpenoids. Only V. africana leaves and T. neriifolia tested positive for the presence of phlobatannins. The free radical scavenging activities were investigated based on the presence of flavonoids and tannins in all the plant materials. Preliminary screening of the free radical scavenging activity of the methanolic extracts of the plants with 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) using thin layer chromatography only tested positive for V. africana leaves. IC₅₀ values (concentration of sample required for 50% inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging activity) for the inhibition of DPPH were 0.048 and 0.054 mg/ml for V. africana and Vitamin C respectively. The phenolic content, total flavonoid content and proanthocyanidin contents of V. africana were determined as, 124, 30 and 90 mg as gallic acid, rutin and catechin equivalents per gram of extract respectively. A good correlation was observed between radical scavenging capacity of V. africana and total phenolic, total flavonoid and proanthocyanidin content (R² = 0.96 in all cases), showing that flav-onoids are likely to be responsible for antioxidant activity.

Keywords: Antioxidants, free radicals, phenolic content, proanthocyanidin content, total flavonoid, DPPH, Stro-phantus hispidus, Voacanga africana, Thevetia neriifolia.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 10 (1), pp. 001-010, January, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Market Participation Decision among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Southern Guinea Savannah of Oyo State, Nigeria

Oluwayemisi Abidemi SALUFU¹, Kabir Kayode SALMAN² and Mutiat Bukola SALAWU²

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

²Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan Nigeria.

Accepted 05 December, 2021                                                                                                                      

Abstract

Market participation of smallholder farmers has been a very serious issue in Nigeria, notwithstanding its positive benefits among smallholders’ producers towards reducing poverty. This study analyses the market participation decision by maize farmers in southern guinea savannah of Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage random sampling technique was employed to sample a total of two hundred (200) maize farmers from the southern guinea savannah of Oyo state using a well-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, household commercialization index, ordinary least squares regression and tobit regression model. Result showed that 58% of the farmers participated in the market with a high commercialization index of 81% (0.81) in the study area.  About 56% of the farmers were high commercial farmers, 4.5% were medium and 40.5% were low commercial maize farmers. 85% of the market participants were male headed households and majority of the farmers were educated. Tobit regression result revealed that marital status, annual gross farm income, gender amongst others determines farmers’ market participation. OLS result also indicated that the intensity of market participation was positively influenced by the quantity of production, contact with extension agents. The government and other policy makers should increase the marketing knowledge and skill of maize farmers through avenues like extension service, farmers’ organization and other means of capacity building.

Keywords: Maize marketing; participation decision; smallholder farmers; commercialization.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 10 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Technical, allocative and economic efficiencies of keeping newly introduced chicken strains among smallholder farmers in selected areas of Tanzania: an application of stochastic data envelopment analysis approach

Rogers Andrew¹, Jeremia Makindara² andYohana J Mgale³

Department of Rural Development and Regional Planning, Institute of Rural Development and Planning, Dodoma, Tanzania.

Department of Business Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.

Department of Rural Development and Regional Planning, Institute of Rural Development and Planning, Dodoma, Tanzania.

Accepted 04 November, 2021

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the technical, allocative and economic efficiency of keeping introduced chicken strain; Kuroiler and Sasso at the farm level by using the input constrained Stochastic Data Envelopment Analysis. Data were collected from farmers who participated in the African Chicken Genetic Gain project. The study applied a developmental research design, which involved providing of pre-brooded chicks to farmers in selected sites. The on-farm test involved a total of 202 farmers who were provided with six weeks old chicks. The findings show that farmers in the study sites were technically, allocatively and economically inefficient. The mean technical, allocative and economic efficiency indices were 19.9%, 68.8% and 12.9% respectively. In this regard, the study confirms the hypothesis that on average, smallholder chicken farmers were economically inefficient leading to the conclusion that there is considerable scope to improve chicken production and productivity through improving economic efficiency in input allocation and use. It is therefore, recommended that scaling up of the introduced chicken strains must be integrated with technical knowledge to ensure efficiency improves in keeping the introduced chicken strains. Moreover, actors in the poultry sub-sector should create better market information systems for efficient input procurement and sale of outputs.

Keywords: Economic Efficiency, Stochastic DEA, Chicken Strains, Farm level. 

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 10 (1), pp. 001-011, January, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of frozen food demand among consumers in Izmir, Turkey

Zerrin Kenano lu Bekta¹*, Bülent Miran¹, Özlem Karahan Uysal¹, Cihat Günden¹ and Murat Cankurt²

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, Bornova-Izmir, Turkey.

²Department of Agricultural Economics, Agriculture Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Agriculture, Aydın, Turkey.

Accepted 12 September, 2021

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the frozen food demand among consumers in Izmir, one of the three biggest provinces in Turkey. The study used a questionnaire survey of 271 randomly selected consumers; data was collected between December 2006 and February 2007. Heckman models were used for demand estimates. From demand estimates, price elasticity was found to be -0.53 for potatoes, -0.49 for peas, -0.28 for green beans, -0.80 for strawberries and -0.69 for cherries. The study calculated price premium that consumers would be willing to pay for consuming frozen food. It was found that consumers would pay an 82% price premium for frozen peas; 108% for frozen strawberries; and 130% for frozen cherries. It was found that consumers were not willing to pay a price premium for frozen potatoes or frozen green beans.

Key words: Frozen food, Heckman two stage estimation method, willingness to pay, Turkey.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 10 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of the much-needed capacities for farming small, micro and medium enterprise (SMMEs) in South Africa

V. M. Mmbengwa^1,2*, T. Ramukumba, J. A. Groenewald³, H. D. van Schalkwyk³, M. B. Gundidza⁴ and A. N. Maiwashe⁵

¹School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), George Campus, Republic of South Africa.

²University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa.

³Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa.

⁴School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 1710, Republic of South Africa.

⁵Livestock Business Division, Agricultural Research Council, P/Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa.

Accepted 21 November, 2021

Abstract

The capacity of small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the viability and sustainability of the enterprise. Various types of capacities need to be identified and used to guide farming SMMEs’ planning, implementation and support in the after-care phase. The main objective of the study was to identify and evaluate essential capacities that are instrumental in ensuring the financial success of farming SMMEs in South Africa. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to determine the performance of farming SMMEs under consideration. The results revealed that market capacity is essential for financial returns of farming SMMEs in South Africa. Farming SMMEs should be linked to sustainable markets and they must actively participate in both supply and value chains in order to be profitable. Thus, farming SMMEs and their support service stakeholders should consider market access as crucial during pre-and post settlement support. It is essential therefore, that both public and private sectors prioritise market access in their supportive programmes.

Key words: Profitability, capacities, planning, sustainable, performance.